WASHINGTON — Democratic candidate for Maryland governor, Doug Gansler, denies that he ordered his state police security detail to drive aggressively and unsafely. The state’s attorney general says the charges that surfaced this past weekend amount to dirty politics.
The Washington Post reported Sunday that Gansler demanded his drivers unnecessarily use flashing lights, sirens, run red lights and drive on the shoulder to avoid traffic to get him quickly to routine meetings.
“Not once. That story is 100 percent completely untrue,” Gansler has told News Channel 8.
The Post story is based, in part, on 2011 state police memos, written by Lt. Charles Ardolini, commander of the Maryland State Police Executive Protection Section. The memos accuse Gansler of “irresponsible behavior” and “a disregard for public safety.”
But Gansler says the rival democratic candidate for governor, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, is behind the charges.
“They’re running a campaign about dirty politics, dirty tricks, pulling out some memo that some henchman wrote two or three years ago,” Gansler says.
Brown has been endorsed by Gov. Martin O’Malley.
Gansler is hoping to put the controversy behind him. His newly named running mate, Del. Jolene Ivey of Prince George’s County, doubts the allegations will hurt the fledgling campaign.
“Do you know how many people I’ve heard from about this story, who are not reporters? Zero. Nobody cares about this story,” Ivey says.
Related stories:
- Gansler announces Del. Jolene Ivey as his running mate
- Gansler accused of ordering troopers to speed, run lights
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