Defeated Alderman Candidate Claims Opponent Received Unlisted Contributions

Ward 6 Alderman Candidate Steve Conn has filed a petition with the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, claiming his opponent failed to report campaign contributions that could exceed $1,000.

Kenneth Kirby won the Ward 6 November General Election over Conn with 54 percent of his district's votes in a bitter political fight.

A week before the election, Conn filed a defamation lawsuit against Kirby for Kirby's use of campaign material that Conn said included false accusations about his history as a volunteer with the Annapolis Police Department. The case is  pending.

Conn's latest court filing again focuses on Kirby's campaign work, specifically on contributions Kirby received. 

In his petition, Conn claims the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee contributed in total more than $1,000 to Kirby's campaign, which would be a violation of the city's code.

Within Conn's court documentation are copies of customized campaign mailers provided by the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee (ADCC). These services, on top of the $500 contribution, likely exceeded the $1,000 maximum, Conn argues.

Kirby offered no comment on the filing when reached by phone. But he noted that Conn had not yet conceded the election.

"That, to me, is the real story here," Kirby said. 

Candidates found to have violated the city's election code are ineligible for election and could face misdemeanor charges, according to the city's website.