High-stakes money game
Howard judicial race: Glendening's lust for campaign cash undercuts his appointee.

by The Baltimore Sun

October 9, 1996 Page(s): 22A
Edition: FINAL
Section: EDITORIAL
Length: 427 words
Biographee: EDITORIAL

Record Number: BSUN475448

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WHEN OFFICIAL appointments are on the line, the party doing the appointing and the party seeking to be appointed shouldn't risk crossing the ethical divide. That's why Gov. Parris Glendening should have nixed the idea of a fund-raiser arranged with the help of Diane Leasure, whom he appointed to Howard County's Circuit Court eight days after the event. And Judge Leasure should have recused herself from an event that makes it appear she was trying to score brownie points.

The governor has become a notorious fund-raiser as he bulks up his war chest to scare off potential Democratic challengers. The pause between his campaigns for a first and second term is barely perceptible. He has unabashedly pressed business and civic leaders for cash and help in selling tickets to big-money events. Now, it seems, he has ensnarled an appointee in his fund-raising fare.

Business and civic leaders feel compelled to tip the campaign coffers if they expect rewards from the State House. Likewise, Judge Leasure must have found it beneficial to help plan the fund-raiser while Mr. Glendening was considering her for a judgeship.

The judge served on a committee that arranged the $350-a-person golf tournament held last October. Although no ethics codes prohibited her from planning the fund-raiser, her participation brought an unsettling appearance of going too far to secure the job. That's too bad. Judge Leasure's resume for the judicial post was spectacular and could speak for itself. She clearly was a highly qualified candidate for the circuit judgeship. Combine her credentials with Mr. Glendening's commitment to diversity, and she was an obvious choice.

Yet, she felt compelled to raise money for the governor. Why? Does everyone -- even a judicial appointee -- who deals with him believe he or she needs to contribute to his campaign before getting a second look? Or worse, are they afraid of retribution if they don't contribute?

There is a certain amount of politics in nearly everything involving elected officials. But Mr. Glendening seems intent on taking matters to an alarming level in his quest for a massive re-election kitty. When he involves appointees or potential appointees in his high-stakes money game, he's not doing them any favor.

Pub Date: 10/09/96

Copyright 1996 The Baltimore Sun Company