Delegate John Bohanan (D: 29B) has called “shameful” a flier put out by the Maryland Republican Party that says he is “working to protecting the criminal, not us.” Bohanan during the League of Women Voters Candidate’s Forum Tuesday at the Lexington Park Library said the flier contained “malicious and deceitful information” and urged his challenger Republican Deb Rey to repudiate it.
Bohanan made his comments during his opening statement while holding the campaign piece up for those in attendance to see. Rey, who came next, ignored Bohanan’s comments and waited for the remainder of the more than one-hour forum to come back and address them in her closing statements. She noted that the flier came from the Republican Party and was covered by the free speech provision of the First Amendment. “I will stand up for your right to free speech,” Rey told the audience.
Rey added, “I didn’t realize my opponent was so upset about this.”
Later Rey was asked by the Bay Net if she had any further comments about Bohanan’s charge that the flier contained false information. She asked what they were and referred to references at the bottom of the flier which she contended proved they were true. Rey said she was not using the flier as part of her own campaign literature.
Earlier in the day Bohanan sent out an email addressing the contention in the flier that “Bohanan voted to effectively repeal the death penalty.” Bohanan said, “in reality, I was one of the most vocal opponents of the repeal of the death penalty in House leadership.”
The flier shows a picture of a hypodermic needle and says, “Bohanan voted against eliminating taxpayer funding for heroin needle exchanges.” Bohanan said that is misleading in that he did vote for a bill several years ago sponsored by a Republican legislator that would have applied only to Baltimore city. He said he opposed a later bill that would have extended the taxpayer funding statewide.
The flier has been used in other parts of the state against other legislators. In his email, Bohanan provided a number of editorials from newspapers around the state calling into question the flier’s veracity.
The candidates differ on a number of points. Rey steadfastly contends the way to solve the state’s problems is to turn back the O’Malley Administration tax hikes and cut spending.
Bohanan emphasizes his break with the O’Malley Administration on a number of issues, including the death penalty, gun bill and the wind turbine issue, but he said in his closing statement, “You have to pick and choose your battles.”
Bohanan added, “It is critical for the local economy that we have state government involved in what we are doing. We need to work together to continue to grow that (economy) and safeguard it.”
Bohanan has been in the House of Delegates since 1999. This is Rey’s first political campaign.
The flier is pictured below
