Ehrlich's Hirings, Firings Reached Deep Into Ranks

But Ehrlich has overseen the dismissal of four times as many workers as Glendening, according to state personnel chief Andrea Fulton, who reviewed state records at the request of The Washington Post. She said Glendening fired 65 workers during the first three years of his administration.

In Maryland, more than 7,000 state workers serve at the will of the administration, a number that has increased during successive administrations as state agencies sought greater flexibility in hiring.

Beyond the number the Ehrlich administration said it has fired, it is difficult to determine precisely how many people have been pushed out in other ways, because the reasons for employee departures are confidential. But a review of personnel records and interviews with current and former employees make clear that the administration's tally of ousted workers does not account for those forced out through resignations, retirements and involuntary demotions.

At two of the state's largest agencies, for example, the number of employees forced out roughly equaled the number fired, according to interviews with workers and two personnel directors who were themselves ousted.

At the Department of Human Resources, about 27 employees were fired between Jan. 15, 2003, and March 2005, according to former personnel director Tom Burgess. But an additional 30 people were forced to resign or retire, or their positions were abolished, according to interviews with workers and Burgess, who was involved with many of the cases. Of the department's 7,400 employees, about 300 serve at the will of the administration.

Burgess, who received outstanding performance reviews, was told by superiors that he could choose to be fired or demoted. He took a five-pay-grade demotion to a different agency in early 2004 before quitting. He said he was told by superiors that he was fired because he had recommended that a high-ranking Democrat be promoted. Burgess is now working for the Baltimore city government.

At the Maryland Department of Transportation, approximately 24 people were fired between Jan. 15, 2003, and April 2004. During that period, an additional 21 resigned, retired or accepted demotions after being given termination letters, according to former personnel director George Casey. Of the department's approximately 9,300 employees, 837 are "at-will" employees.

Casey received an outstanding performance review, he said, but was fired after questioning raises for certain political appointees. State officials said they could not comment on personnel matters.

House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) described the ousted workers as "voiceless people, many of whom have been lifelong state employees, who have lost their livelihoods just because they had the temerity to participate in democracy."

In interviews, Ehrlich aides denied that workers had been forced out for political reasons and defended the governor's right to hire his own team.

"Where does it say anywhere in the law that the governor should replace only people in policy positions?" Hogan asked. "These people serve at the pleasure of the administration."

After Ehrlich's inauguration, widespread reports circulated that loyalists were compiling lists of disloyal state workers to be fired. Among them was Joseph F. Steffen Jr., the longtime Ehrlich aide and self-described "Prince of Darkness" who was fired in February for spreading rumors about Mayor Martin O'Malley's personal life.