New Republican Chairman Criticized for Supporting Democrat

A failed suggestion that two newly elected Republican councilmen back Democratic Councilman Ken Oliver for council chairman is drawing sharp criticism from some members of the party's county central committee.

The idea was put forth in an e-mail between newly sworn in party chairman Tony Campbell and six members of his executive board. 

"What's the point of having a central committee then?" said Chris DeFeo, a member of the executive board. "We should be getting behind our own legislators and our own party."

The e-mail was released anonymously to Patch.com. 

Some members of the board say that while they disagreed with Campbell's idea, the e-mails were private and should never have been leaked to the press.

Ken Anderson, the committee's treasurer and a member of the executive board, called the e-mail part of a private "brainstorming session."

"We discussed it, we rejected it and moved on to the next item," Anderson said, adding that the e-mail "should not have been sent out" beyond the members of the executive committee.

Oliver, who was re-elected to his third term, is the first African American elected to the council. Campbell is the first African American chairman of the county Republican Central Committee.

Campbell confirmed the authenticity of the e-mail that was sent to the central committee's executive board. He also provided a second e-mail written 90-mins after the original that showed he had told the group that he was withdrawing his idea.

In the Nov. 17 e-mail, Campbell writes that supporting Oliver would help efforts to reach out to black voters.

"Historically, Democrats have taken the black vote for granted while not allowing them to hold high office," Campbell wrote in the e-mail.  

In fact, the only reason Tony Brown is lieutenant governor today is because we Republicans nominated Michael Steele as our nominee in 2002."

The council chairman "will be a Democrat—the question is: can we put ourselves in a position to become a player in county government?" wrote Campbell.

Campbell added in the e-mail  that he intended to speak out on the idea as a private citizen if the six-member executive board declined to back it.

In an interview Thursday afternoon, Campbell backed off from that assertion.

"It wouldn't make any sense to do that now," said Campbell.

He said he wanted to make the two Republican members on the seven-member board more relevant.

The two new Republicans represent the most the party has had on the council since it had three members in 1990. At the that time, the three Republicans were able to create a coalition with Don Mason, a conservative Democrat from Dundalk, that resulted in Doug Riley being elected council chairman in his first year on the council.

It was the first time a Republican has chaired the council.

"The idea is to be part of the action and to make policy," Campbell said. "This was a way to do that."

"There was no action that was going to be taken without the approval of the executive committee," Campbell said.

But DeFeo said just raising the idea was a problem.

"I'm all about reaching out to the African-American community but I cannot support someone who has a questionable background," said DeFeo, referencing a 2009 court case in which Oliver pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of taking money from his campaign finance account for personal use.

Oliver received probation before judgment, fined and was sentenced to 50 hours of community service.

DeFeo said supporting a Democrat is unacceptable.

"If this is the direction he's going to go in with the party then he should resign," DeFeo said. "I'll be the first to ask him to resign and step aside to let another leader lead."

Huff, Marks not consulted

For their parts, the two incoming Republican councilmen say they had no idea that Campbell had floated an idea to support Oliver.

Huff, upon hearing of the e-mail from a reporter, called the idea "unreal."

"I think it's unfair to us on the council to even try to nudge us in a particular direction without consulting us first," Huff said.

Marks also said he had no knowledge of Campbell's e-mail before receiving word from a reporter.

The idea of trying to divide Democrats on the council held little interest for Marks.

"We're new to the council and we're trying to establish relationships with all the members," Marks said. "I don't think we should be dividing the council before we even take office.'

Ultimately, the effectiveness of Republicans on the council "is based on building relationships with the entire County Council," Marks said.

Campbell said he was in a "damned if I do, damned if I don't situation."

"If I go to the council members first, then the executive board would complain," Campbell said.

Campbell for Obama, Oliver

Campbell came under fire during during his primary election campaign because of his work for a group called Republicans for Obama where he also wrote a blog. During the election he told party members that he made a mistake in supporting Obama.

Members of the central committee say privately that Campbell was elected to head the party and be the most partisan Republican in the county. Supporting Oliver, another Democrat, so soon after the Obama controversy concerns some party leaders.

Campbell said his previous work for Republicans for Obama and his idea regarding Oliver are in no way connected or an indication that he does not support candidates from his own party.

Tom Henry, central committee second vice president, said he isn't drawing any conclusions about Campbell's support for Obama and Oliver.

"I'm taking a wait-and-see approach," said Henry. "Supporting Democrats alone is not a good thing."