Subpoenas to Be Issued in Md. Firing Probe

During testimony yesterday, the committee heard from four former employees of the Department of Natural Resources who said that, after Ehrlich took office, they were let go without being given a reason. Three said they had been active in Democratic politics.

One of the witnesses, Bruce A. Gilmore, said his boss told him in March 2003 that his job as director of licensing and registration services was included on a list of positions sought by people active in Republican politics. One month later, he said, he was given the choice of resigning or being fired.

Another witness, Diane R. Evans, said she was also let go in the spring of 2003. She said her bosses assured her that performance had nothing to do with the decision, but when she asked if politics was involved, there was no answer.

Evans had been a Republican before switching parties in an unsuccessful bid for Anne Arundel County executive in 1998. She joined the state agency the following year.

Asked by the panel if she was given a job as a political favor from then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening, she said, "It's a safe bet."

The panel also heard testimony from an employee ousted during the Glendening administration. Former wildlife director Mike Slattery said he believes he was fired because of philosophical differences over hunting and trapping. As an at-will employee, he said, he believes that was the administration's prerogative.

"I believe what they were doing was what they believed was in their best interest," said Slattery, who was rehired by the Ehrlich administration and is an assistant secretary.

Republicans pointed to Slattery's and Evans's testimony to suggest that such hirings and firings happen in every change of administration.

"Just so everyone knows, this administration hires Democrats, and some of the people we've had in here [who have been fired] have been Republicans," said Del. George C. Edwards (Garrett).

Staff writer Matthew Mosk contributed to this report.