School Board Member Says Bill Targets Her

The vice president of the Baltimore County Board of Education says a bill sponsored by state Sen. Bobby Zirkin targets her solely because of the person she married.

Valerie Roddy said Thursday there was "no reason based on my actions as a board member over the last four-and-a-half years to introduce such legislation so I can only conclude this is a personal attack designed to retaliate against anyone named Roddy."

Valerie Roddy is married to Patrick Roddy, a former lobbyist for Baltimore County who know works for Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan and Silver.

Zirkin said the bill is preventing possible conflicts of interest.

"I think in terms of members of the school board, they should be above any appearances of impropriety," Zirkin said.

Patrick Roddy and his firm in 2007 represented a company that unsuccessfully sought to place a cell phone tower on the grounds of Randallstown High School. Valerie Roddy had not yet been appointed to the board. Zirkin pointed out the client during the discussion of his bill.

"Neither my husband nor his law firm have represented any clients before the board of education since my appointment," Roddy said.

"I am disappointed that a member of the Senate would use his office to launch a personal attack," Roddy added.

Zirkin and Patrick Roddy are currently at odds with each other over the actions of another of the lobbyist's clients.

Columbia Gas Transmission is seeking to build a natural gas pipeline parallel to one it already owns that runs through the county into Harford County. That new pipeline would run through the neighborhood where Zirkin lives.

Zirkin didn't reference the conflict in the delegation meeting but spoke about it in an interview.

"I think he's a jackass," Zirkin said of of the lobbyist. "If he's not trying to put a cell tower where kids are, he's trying to ram a gas pipeline where people live. It's always something."

Zirkin called Patrick Roddy "dirty" and, when asked to explain, said he based his comment on the clients the lobbyist represents.

"I consider it dirty when you take money to stick it to communities," Zirkin said. "He and his firm are always involved in doing something bad to citizens. It seems no matter what the issue that he and his firm are involved and trying to stick it to somebody."

Zirkin initially denied a personal bent but later said "we all take it personally when someone is trying to stick it to your constituents, stick it to your neighborhoods or stick it to people in general."

Valerie Roddy acknowledged the the dispute between her husband and the senator.

"The senator is entitled to his opinion," Valerie Roddy said, adding that she believes the bill is not specifically about her husband.

"I look at this bill as it's all about me," Valerie Roddy said.