It's Business as Usual, at Least Until the Court Rules, Lobbyist Assures His Clients

By Annapolis Notebook
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Clients of Bruce C. Bereano, one of Annapolis's most colorful lobbyists, recently received some "very positive news" in a memo he penned regarding a long-disputed suspension of his license by the State Ethics Commission.

In a decision issued on Flag Day, Bereano noted, Maryland's highest court agreed to review a lower court ruling that would force him to forfeit his lobbying privileges for 10 months because of a prohibited compensation arrangement.

With the Court of Appeals agreeing to review the case, the Ethics Commission sanction "cannot go into effect and is stopped," Bereano wrote Friday in a memo to his clients. "I can and will be able to continue to lobby for you . . . and provide full services, effort and representation like I have always done. You are fully covered and respectively have nothing to worry about."

Bereano suggested it could take a year before briefs are filed, the court hears the case and a decision is reached.

The case stems from a 2003 Ethics Commission ruling that Bereano entered into a forbidden "contingency contract" that paid him a percentage of the receivables of a company seeking to win contracts for foster-care services. Bereano has maintained his innocence, arguing that the commission improperly applied a 2001 law retroactively.

The commission's action was upheld in subsequent court rulings.

Bereano has been a fixture in Annapolis for years, reporting earnings of $653,612 between November 2005 and October 2006, a figure exceeded by only nine other lobbyists during the period.

His influence with the executive branch was curtailed in January with the arrival of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), who pledged not to do business with lobbyists who are convicted felons. Bereano was convicted of mail fraud in an unrelated episode more than a decade ago that knocked him off his perch as Annapolis's top lobbyist.

Bereano has maintained a healthy practice, however, and represents about 50 clients, including such high-profile groups as the Licensed Beverage Distributors of Maryland, the Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of Maryland and the Greater Baltimore Urban League.

-- John Wagner

Don't Look for O'Malley

The advertisement for tonight's event on the Maryland Democratic Party Web site seems pretty straightforward: "Governor O'Malley Invites you to a Reception honoring Senator Brian Frosh."

But Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) will not be attending the fundraiser in Baltimore, nor is the use of his name meant to convey his support for Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery) in his bid to succeed Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), who might retire when his term ends in 2010.

"I wish it did," said Frosh, who is among several Senate Democrats jockeying to replace Miller if he retires. "I needed to raise some money, and [the governor] agreed to let me use his endorsement."

O'Malley is on vacation this week, fishing in Upstate New York with son William. Although the governor is a fan of Frosh's, aides said, he has not weighed in on the Senate contest.

Besides Frosh, others eyeing Miller's post include Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's) and Sen. Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles).

Frosh said fundraising prowess is an aspect of the job that his colleagues will consider when picking Miller's successor.

"One of the jobs that the next president has is to raise money to help Democrats get elected to the Senate," Frosh said.

-- John Wagner

Definitely on the List

As he campaigns for Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is maintaining a close relationship with the first Democrat he tried to help win the White House: Gary Hart.

The former Colorado senator was a guest at the governor's mansion in Annapolis on two successive nights last month: one at which he was the featured dinner speaker on homeland security; the other at which O'Malley and other alumni of Hart's 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns reunited.

Aides say Hart, who co-chaired the U.S. Commission on National Security for the 21st Century, has been particularly helpful to O'Malley on homeland security since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

-- John Wagner