Candidate asked to resign staff job

Miller letter sparks anger of Republican Sen. Harris

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

ANNAPOLIS — Even legislative aides can't escape the piercing partisanship in Annapolis.

The chief of staff to Sen. Andrew P. Harris was thrust into the spotlight last week when Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. asked her in a letter to resign or be fired, because personnel guidelines bar General Assembly candidates from working for the state legislature.

Kathy Szeliga, who has worked for the General Assembly for 14 years — the past six for Harris — plans to run this fall for a seat in the House of Delegates representing the 7th Legislative District, which includes parts of Baltimore and Harford counties. Although Szeliga has a campaign Web site and a Facebook page that lists her as a candidate, she has not officially filed with the state elections board, which Harris said allows his aide to keep her job.

The General Assembly's personnel policy indicates that a staffer must resign his or her position "once the employee has filed with the Election Board to run for a state legislative office."

Szeliga, who reported having more than $35,000 in her campaign account as of January, is scheduled to hold a fundraiser March 3 in Fallston with former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) as a guest.

Harris (R-Baltimore, Harford), who is running for the 1st Congressional District this fall, said Miller's ultimatum amounted to political bullying because it coincided with the ultra-conservative senator proposing several controversial amendments regarding state legislators' pensions. He said he would not fire Szeliga.

But Miller (D-Calvert, Prince George's) told reporters the move wasn't politically motivated. He cited a state attorney general's opinion and said Szeliga must either resign or suspend her campaign.

The standoff appeared no closer to resolution at week's end, with Szeliga refusing to step down on her own or suspend her campaign and an attorney representing Harris calling the attorney general's opinion erroneous, according to media reports.

abrody@somdnews.com