Dick Hug University System Regent
A majority of state delegates are sponsoring a bill to forbid members of the Board of Regents from helping state politicians fundraise for campaigns, showing concern for the integrity of the board in the midst of a scandal surrounding board Chairman David Nevins.
Del. Frank Turner (D-Howard) proposed the bill, which has 71 other sponsors – all Democrats – out of concern the integrity of the board has slipped in recent years. It would prohibit regents from soliciting political contributions or serving on fundraising bodies for any candidate running for state office.
“From my viewpoint, this is the most prestigious board in the state of Maryland. They have no shortage of applications,” Turner said. “[But] if you want to be a lobbyist, be a lobbyist … Their primary responsibility should be lobbying – for the Maryland university system.”
Regents, however, defended the board’s integrity.
Regent Dick Hug – who, as Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s chief fundraiser, is thought to be the logical target of the bill – said he doesn’t believe it’s a concern of ethical behavior but politics. Ehrlich (R) has appointed Hug to two terms on the board, with the state Senate confirming each nomination.
“They knew of my fundraising efforts and endeavors, yet there were no problems at that time,” Hug said. “It’s an election year and I’m sure that’s why it was submitted.”
Regent Frank Kelly said he thinks the bill would hurt the future of the regents, as it might discourage some from serving on it.
“I don’t think it’s serious, because the sword cuts both ways,” Kelly said. “You’re not going to get anyone to serve on the board.”
Hug said he also thinks the bill is unfairly discriminatory in which regents it affects.
“It exculpates out another regent who is fundraising on his own behalf,” Hug said. “Now that doesn’t make any sense at all.”
The bill specifically stipulates the restrictions do not apply to regents who are running campaigns of their own.
State political contribution records show Regent Jim Rosapepe appears to be gearing up to run for state Senate in College Park’s district, although he has not made any announcements.
Rosapepe did not have a comment on the bill last night.
Turner said the bill does not target Hug.
“I’ve heard there are other people down there doing that. It doesn’t target Dick,” Turner said. “It’s just my view of what a board should be.”
The board’s ethics were criticized last month when media focused on a meeting in which Nevins introduced the new president of Constellation Energy Group, his employer, to Senate President Mike Miller (D-Calvert and Prince George’s) and House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Anne Arundel).
Many have interpreted the meeting to be lobbying, which regents are prohibited from doing for anything but the University System of Maryland.
But regents have defended the meeting and said the lobbying ban is unclear.
“In my view he did absolutely nothing wrong,” Hug said. “He was there as a facilitator.”
State ethics officials will brief the board at its next full meeting on the issue.
Nevins did not return calls for comment last night.
Turner said past blanks have tarnished the board’s integrity as well, citing former chairmen Lance Billingsley and Nathan Chapman.
The lobbying ban came as a result of accusations Billingsley tried to use his position as chairman to launch a lobbying firm.
Chapman was indicted in 2004 of defrauding the state pension system of $5 million.
Tuition freeze hearing postponed
Due to a filibuster on a stem cell bill in the Senate yesterday, the hearing of a bill to freeze tuition was canceled yesterday. It will be rescheduled.
Miller is pushing the bill, giving it heavy weight in the legislature. A tuition freeze is also likely to be codified by earmarking surplus funds for health care benefits to offset the revenue that would be lost from a 4.5 percent tuition increase.
Contact reporter Scott Dance at dancedbk@gmail.com.
