Dems shadow Steele at public events

GOP complains about Democratic researcher at non-campaign appearances; Lierman says so what?

Friday, March 17, 2006

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by Thomas Dennison

Staff Writer

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Gazette file photo

Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele’s run for U.S. Senate has been attracting attention from friends and foes alike.

ANNAPOLIS — For the past several weeks, the Maryland Democratic Party has dispatched a researcher to record, photograph and shadow Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, at his public events around the state.

The researcher, Jennifer Sconyers, has attended several events, ranging from a career day at Crossland High School in Prince George’s County on Wednesday to municipal visits to towns like Washington Grove in Montgomery County.

Paul D. Ellington, Steele’s chief of staff and longtime political consigliere, told The Gazette that the Democratic Party is worried that Steele is connecting with Marylanders and is willing to do anything for the party’s political gain.

Ellington said he expects Democrat researchers to attend campaign-related events, but attending public events such as municipal tours is excessive.

‘‘We have nothing to hide and our scheduling process is open,” he said. ‘‘We welcome the participation of all the public, but we find it somewhat interesting that the Democrats see fit to shadow the lieutenant governor at this early stage.”

Democratic Party Chairman Terry Lierman defended Sconyers’ work, and criticized Steele officials for questioning it. Lierman said other researchers have attended Steele events to keep records of what the lieutenant governor says.

‘‘If they’re nervous that someone’s listening to what the lieutenant governor saying, then he shouldn’t be talking or he is not telling the truth,” Lierman said. ‘‘This is an open process and these are public events that we’re attending.”

Ellington complained that Sconyers was acting like a reporter, which was irresponsible. Lierman said Sconyers was given specific instructions to identify herself as a Democratic Party worker if asked.

It’s not uncommon for researchers to shadow candidates. Steele, who has received significant financial support from the national GOP and President Bush, represents the best hope for Maryland and national Republicans have to take back one of Maryland’s U.S. Senate seats.

Spying on Steele has been a hot topic in the Senate race. A former researcher for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will plead guilty to a misdemeanor after fraudulently obtaining Steele’s credit report. A plea agreement will allow the former researcher to avoid jail.

Democrats contend that Steele is an unproven candidate and his official schedule as lieutenant governor is politically motivated. On Thursday, Steele made his 76th and 77th municipal visits to Queenstown and Centerville.

Democrats say the tours of the municipalities are campaign events cloaked in Steele’s official state raiment.

Ellington rejects that, saying that the lieutenant governor has made commitments to municipal leaders on key infrastructure upgrades from the state.

Lierman said his researcher will continue to follow Steele in case he makes another statement like the one several weeks ago when he compared embryonic stem cell research to Nazi experiments during the Holocaust. Steele later apologized.

‘‘It’s nice to know what your opponent is saying,” Lierman said.