GUBERNATORIAL RACE IN MARYLAND: IN CONTESTED PRIMARY, ONE CANDIDATE TO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE DESPITE RULES TO CONTRARY
Release: May 18, 2010
Contact: Fran Griffin, 703-862-6741
Gubernatorial Candidate, Brian Murphy, Accuses Maryland GOP of Being Tone Deaf
Republican Party is Missing Golden Opportunity in Maryland
CHEVY CHASE, MD -- Brian Murphy, Republican candidate for Governor of Maryland, today strongly criticized the Maryland Republican leadership for exercising a rare clause to fund Bob Ehrlich's primary candidacy for governor - before Ehrlich has even filed for office. This unusual move may enable Ehrlich to receive upward of $1 million from the Republican National Committee (RNC) to use in his primary bid against entrepreneur Brian Murphy. Ehrlich will face Murphy in the Republican Primary on September 14.
"The national mood is anti-big government, anti-tax and spend, and anti-incumbent. So what does the Maryland GOP do? They back someone who has a record of being pro-big government, pro-taxes and pro-spending," said gubernatorial candidate Brian Murphy. "Are they tone deaf? Do they not sense the mood of the country? If there has ever been a time for a fiscal conservative to win in Maryland, this is it.
"Maryland needs to get its fiscal house in order, and we can't afford to let this opportunity slip away. Voters deserve choices. Isn't that the point of a primary? Ehrlich and I disagree on nearly everything, and all I'm asking for is an open debate on the issues," Murphy said.
"Rule 11," states that in a contested primary neither candidate is to receive funds or an endorsement from the Republican National Committee. However, there is a clause which allows the state party leadership to make an exception by endorsing one candidate thus allowing the RNC to fund that candidate in a primary. A vote to endorse Ehrlich by three Maryland GOP officials has entitled the candidate to RNC funds, according to this exception to the rule.
"This is exactly the type of elitist behavior that is infuriating Americans from both parties. Maryland Republicans should be allowed an honest primary between two very different Republican candidates," Murphy said. "We must unify the party on our core principles and put forth the best candidate to win the governorship. I believe my ideas are the best ideas to take Maryland in a new direction. Is it unreasonable to think the voters, not party leadership, should pick the candidate?
"This is exactly the type of elitist behavior that is infuriating Americans from both parties. Maryland Republicans should be allowed an honest primary between two very different Republican candidates," Murphy said. "We must unify the party on our core principles and put forth the best candidate to win the governorship. I believe my ideas are the best ideas to take Maryland in a new direction. Is it unreasonable to think the voters, not party leadership, should pick the candidate?
"For the past 8 years, Maryland's budget has been a fraud and a disgrace. Bob Ehrlich broke records when he grew our budget by almost 40%. When O'Malley took over as governor, instead of repealing the spending, he paid for it by passing record tax increases. Now we have record deficits and record unemployment. Voters are tired of these kinds of records. I pledge to move Maryland toward a fiscally-sound economy - one that will attract businesses to the state and grow our economy. We need to get more private sector jobs in Maryland, not an increase in the state coffers."
Brian Murphy is a successful Maryland businessman with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He is founder of the Plimhimmon Group, whose first investment, the Smith Island Baking Company, has been featured in The Washington Post, the Wharton Magazine, the Baltimore Sun, and other publications for its principled approach to job creation in Maryland. A Business Week article on the Plimhimmon Group is expected later this week.
The Democratic Party will also have a primary election on September 14, and the winners of the respective parties' elections will square off against each other in the November 2 General Election.
The Democratic Party will also have a primary election on September 14, and the winners of the respective parties' elections will square off against each other in the November 2 General Election.
For more information on the Brian Murphy for Governor campaign, see
http://www.brianmurphy2010.com/ To set up a press or media interview, contact Fran Griffin at fran@brianmurphy.com or 703-862-6741.
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com
