Baltimore County Council candidate decides against suing opponent

Posted: 1:05 pm Wed, July 14, 2010
By Danny Jacobs
Daily Record Legal Affairs Writer

The campaign of a Baltimore County Council candidate has decided not to file a legal challenge to a primary opponent’s Perry Hall voter registration.

Mike Ertel’s campaign initially filed an administrative complaint with the state Board of Elections questioning Bill Paulshock’s residency in the Fifth District on the county’s eastside, where they are both running as Democrats.

But last week the board canceled a hearing set for later this month, saying the proper venue for his challenge is Baltimore City Circuit Court. The deadline for Ertel’s suit was Tuesday, or nine weeks before the primary election.

Ertel said Friday he had not ruled out filing suit.

Cathi Forbes, chairwoman of Ertel’s campaign, wrote in an e-mail Tuesday night that the campaign instead will “bring this matter to the public’s attention and … allow the court of public opinion to decide whether a person who violates the law should be elected to make laws.”

Forbes also did not rule out legal action against the state Board of Elections for not acting on the campaign’s complaint.

“We do not believe it is our job to do the job of the Board of Elections,” Forbes wrote. “By choosing to not investigate the matter, they are, in our opinion, aiding and abetting voter fraud.”

Paulshock’s mom, Genevieve, lives at 9016 Belair Road, an address shared with Bill’s Seafood and Catering Co., which he owns and operates from a separate building attached to the house. According to the Baltimore County Board of Elections, it is also the voting registration address of Bill Paulshock, who owns two other homes in Ocean City and Kingsville. Kingsville is located in the county’s Third District.

Paulshock acknowledged Tuesday that he has not always been registered to vote at the Perry Hall address as his statement announcing his candidacy claims. County voting records show he was registered to vote at his Kingsville address for three years beginning in September 2001 before reverting back to the Perry Hall address.

“That’s something I have to stay alert on,” he said.