Impallaria Staff Make Congressional Calls From State Phone
Del. Rick Impallaria said Thursday that calls from his legislative office to reporters reminding them of his congressional campaign kick-off announcement were "an honest mistake."
The calls to reporters at Patch and Marylandreporter.com came from a number assigned to Impallaria's legislative office in Annapolis.
The aide, who didn't identify herself, did acknowledge to a reporter that she was not campaign staff and did work for the legislative office.
When asked why she was making the calls from the delegate's legislative office on a state phone she replied "I'm just doing what I was asked to do."
Impallaria is running in a five-way Republican primary for the right to challegen five-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger in the 2nd Congressional District.
In an interview 30 minutes later at state Republican headquarters in Annapolis, Impallaria acknowledged that the calls came from his staff but said any violation of legislative ethics was unintentional.
"Delores must have picked up the state phone by accident," Impallaria said. "Normally we would use the cell phones for a call like that."
"It was an honest mistake," he added.
Using state offices and staff for campaigning is a violation of legislative ethics though such violations typically result in little more than a hand slap.
Last month Del. Kathy Afzali, a Frederick County Republican who is running for congress in Western Maryland, apologized for sending an email to supporters from her state account. In that email she asked for donations to her congressional campaign, according to a story published in The Gazette.
Impallaria's announcement in Annapolis comes less than 30 days before the April 3 Republican primary. He informally announced his candidacy in January after filing on the last day.
Since then, the delegate said he's "been laying the ground work" for his campaign including calling voters in the district, creating a campaign website, and doing a little fundraising.
A recent report for Impallaria was not available and the delegate said he didn't know how much he had raised.
In the end, the reminder calls didn't have the desired effect. Only one reporter attended the briefing along with a legislative intern.
The intern sat quietly in the back of the room while Impallaria casually discussed the differences between himself and fellow Republican candidates Larry Smith and Sen. Nancy Jacobs.
After it was over, Impallaria offered the intern a chance for a photo but the intern didn't have a camera.
"So who do you work for?" Impallaria asked the intern.
Wait for it.
"Actually, Sen. Jacobs," he replied as he walked out the door.
K Blue
2:13 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Uh-oh. ""Delores must have picked up the state phone by accident," Impallaria said. "Normally we would use the cell phones for a call like that." Why would they make calls like that on any phone on government time?
Bryan P. Sears
2:47 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
The delegate told me that they would have been at lunch at that time. The time stamp on my phone log shows that the call from his legislative office came in at 11:26 a.m. and lasted about 2 minutes.
K Blue
10:10 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
Even if she was at lunch, it still begs the question of why a legislative employee, who by her own admission is not campaign staff, was asked to and made that call at all even if she did use the wrong phone by mistake.
Fred Cullum
2:26 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Simply because they know they can get away with it. Makes no difference who did it, the candidate is still responsible for actions on behalf of their campaign.
Tim
2:45 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Oh please.
Cue the "they work for us, how dare they make a phone call or two on any phone while on the job" crowd. Probably the same folks who slack off for 3 hours a day at their own jobs.
Shoot, I'm too late!
DARRELL HAMMERBACKER
5:21 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
I can't believe people are whining about this when Martin and the thieves of the Democratic Party of this State are robbing us of Billions of Dollars,PETTY PETTY PETTY
Hans-Adam III, Prince of Liechtenstein
6:51 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
I always have been able to get through to Delegate Impallaria day or evening on both his office number and cell number. In fact you can call Impallaria anytime and he'll answer the call or get back to you promptly.
It's kind of obvious that the use of the office line was an innocent error.
Frieda Gramenia
12:33 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
Nancy sent her intern to spy was that on State Time?
K Blue
10:14 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
Thats a good question. The article doesnt say what time of day the briefing event was held.
Just Sayin
6:55 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
Pretty obvious that this was an innocent mistake...I would think people would be more concerned about the fact that Nancy voted for OweMalley's Bloated Budget, In State Tuition for Illegal Aliens and in support of the deregulation of BGE. This all adds up to a lot more than a 25 cent phone call...If you have 25 cents left....call someone who cares....Del. Impallaria.
leroy
3:51 pm on Monday, March 19, 2012
If we post anonymous lies, do they become true?
Tom Barnes
7:26 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
First you would have to believe Imp the Simp were an 'honest' person to believe there was an 'honest' mistake. He's not. He is a sneaky snake in the grass. Always has been, always will be.
Buck Harmon
9:46 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
That can be seen in his expression...
Proud to be liberal
9:12 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
“Del. Rick Impallaria said Thursday that calls from his legislative office to reporters reminding them of his congressional campaign kick-off announcement were ‘an honest mistake’…The aide, who didn't identify herself, did acknowledge to a reporter that she was not campaign staff and did work for the legislative office…she replied ‘I'm just doing what I was asked to do...’ Using state offices and staff for campaigning is a violation of legislative ethics….”
An honest mistake? This just shows that Impallaria is ignorant of ethics or just flaunts them. This worker should not have been making any calls at all on a cell phone or any type of phone as she was not on the campaign staff and Rick should not have asked her. But this is typical of this man and it does not surprise me.
jane costello
5:30 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Is this the uslessys currie defense of "I was too stupid", nice try Rick,that won't fly.You've Ben around long enough. Have a nice career in the state.
AG
10:44 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
If you are reading this Rick, only the liberals who are trying to score points against you care about this. There is so much corruption in this state that your detractors are over looking, it shows they are hypocrites.
Proud to be liberal
5:11 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
AG That's a good rationalization for breaking the law: why be honest and have a shred of integrity if others break the law? And as far as I know, Carrie is a dem. and we looked at him so who is the hypocrite?
AG
8:42 am on Thursday, March 15, 2012
OK, let him pay the $0.50 restitution. And Ulysses Currie is a great example. Wholesale corruption there, and he gets a slap on the wrist. But make a couple of phone calls and you libs was to get him for corruption. How about the Owe'Malley land deal on the eastern shore a couple of years ago... Nada. Here is one, Maryland is a sanctuary state, in direct violation of Federal Law. Again, nothing. But make a phone call when you shouldn't, and you are in real trouble (if you are a Republican that is).
Do you wanna watch the Dem's squirm, how about this. Record all phone calls from legislators to non Maryland government owned telephones and make them public record. You will see something akin to Cockroaches fleeing when the light is turned on.
I am not saying Del Impallaria was faultless, but corruption is so bad in Maryland that this righteous indignation you libs have is just a ruse to try and score points against him. If you really cared about corruption you would do something about the big stuff first. Since you don't, I have to believe you are just a political hack playing Maryland political games.
RARE MARYLAND INDEPENDENT
5:25 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
No big deal - oh wait, he is a Republican. 30 years Mandatory and a $500,000 fine.
He has no chance to win anyway.
jane costello
6:39 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
RMI, cry me a river, life is so unfair. Was the action allowed by law, no,has Mr. Imparallia been around long enough to know that, yes. Then he was negligent in his duties not to train his staff or just blatantly broke the law and said "charge me" if you can.