Great story, Bryan.

It's sad to see what's happened to David Marks in his short time on the Council. But it's not hard to understand. Money controls everything in Baltimore County. And the developers have the money.

Marks' comment about people from "all political persuasions" electing him is irrelevant. He has an odd habit of referencing partisanship in response to many questions, which is just silly at the local level. Here, as those who pay attention know, it doesn't matter whether you are a Democrat or a Republican. It only matters whether the developers can trust you to vote their way.

Apparently they believe Marks will.

Great work Bryan!

If anything, Marks has declared he is going to self term limit himself after this election. Maybe he thinks he can take their money and then burn them since he's not going to run again. A dangerous gamble to say the least but he does need to explain himself here.

Where was Bryan Sears all summer long when David Marks was downzoning jundreds of acres to limit development? Were the developers happy with that? I am beginning to think Mr. Sears has a selective bias on Mr. Marks, who has been an extraordinary councilman for Towson and for our environment.

A famous politician once told me "A poor politician is a poor politician."

Bryan,

You engaged Bart enough. The coverage issue is settled to all reasonable people.

Bryan, you know that I have seen and felt personally the corruption that lies within the halls of Towson, and I applaud every attempt you make to shine light on the comings and goings here in our home county. To the best of my recollection, the Councilman certainly did criticize elected officials who have been bought and sold by developer money, but he certainly did not make a promise to refrain from taking developer money. And why shouldn't he? He has an election to win in two years in the county's most competitive district, and Republicans are routinely underfunded and outspent. As for the Democrats, it's a proven fact that some have indeed been corrupted, and David was right to point it out when he did.

The story, while excellent as always, and the ensuing comments, while... interesting as always, seem to finger some inevitability of future actions, but I encourage your readers to investigate David's record. He left a much higher paying job to volunteer for this post. He has consistently been a friend to the communities he represents, supporting and protecting the rural areas of his district while at the same time fostering a much needed renaissance in Towson's core. He has his heart in the right place. That's the man I know, and the man I and so many others continue to support.

I remain, at heart, a Republican activist, motivated to action because I know I'm working to help the people in this great county of ours that aren't corrupt.

Bryan this is disappointing. I thought you were above the same opinionated muckracking that infects just about every other "news" source local and national.

Let's talk "facts" then everyone.

This is trash journalism, another hit piece on a good Councilman. No wonder Bryan Sears is stuck as an internet blogger when junior talent leapfrogs over him to the Sun.

First, John Patterson is a partisan supporter and spouse of the campaign manager for the guy David Marks beat. Sour grapes. Your guy lost.

Second, why would Marks want to talk to an internet blogger like Sears who twists people's words and relies on unidentified sources for so many of his hit pieces?

These guys aren't raising money for Marks out of the goodness of their hearts. They will get their payback eventually. Anyone who doesn't see that is just being naive.

I appreciate Bryan Sears and the Patch for shining a light on this change of heart on the part of Councilman Marks.

Hmmm....seems like Bryan is critical of David....but not sure why....for playing politics? Is your comment response you openly state that patch reporters covered davids downsizing work, but that's not mentioned in the story. All that is mentioned is a hint of hypocrisy in light of a fundraiser from a 3 yo statement. Really? Go cover the bail hearing or something. I don't know Mr marks but his record is pretty good in terms of public service. Sounds like a political sadbagging story gone awry.

Most of the commenters ignore the fact that Councilman Marks just got caught trying to put in a bill that affected the 6th District waterfront (yet he represents the 5th District). The bill would have allowed massive upzoning to what is allowed now. A bill that was heavily influenced if not entirely written to benefit one of Gildea / Smith's clients. It was withdrawn due to publicity by Bryan Sears' article.
Now Marks is taking large sums of money from the same development attorney group.

It is just hilarious see the posters lamenting the fact that politicians ask for money for campaign contributions. In this country?

Business people donate money to campaigns in order to get an audience before the politician and state their case, for or against something. It is the politician's job to independently make a judgement to the plus/minus of the proposal. Does money influence that decision?

Ask Mitt Romney if the $400 million being spent by the Koch Brothers will influence his decisions if he gets elected.

James, you want to attack Marks for his support of Bill 42-12 which, as initially drafted (by the lawyers), would have allowed a PUD in Bowleys Quarters in spite of the intense community opposition. (No, the bill would not have "allowed massive upzoning" - it would have allowed the Council to approve the PUD process in such places.) As you noted, the affected area is not in Marks District, so did you ever consider that maybe he didn't realize it's impact there? I give Marks the benefit of the doubt that this bill was sold to him by some sneaky lawyer as being a benefit to something in Marks' own District (and Quirk). It's to his credit that he changed it when he was made aware of its consequences and responded to public input. Other Council members have not done that in many cases.

Mike:
Marks is a very smart person and he knew exactly who and where the county bill applied. I'm not really attacking Marks as much as I'm trying to highlight that these dealings are dangerous to the citizens of Baltimore County. This is the problem with our system. Our elected officials need to resist the temptation to have special interest groups (Development Attorneys in this case) do large donor fundraising for them. It is just too hard to resist their undue influence otherwise.

Was that the same Steve Kolbe who writes, "corruption that lies within the halls", who knowingly broke the County Zoning Laws to better himself. The same Mr. Kolbe who sued, quite unsuccesfully and wasted County time, money and efforts when all he had to do was follow the zoning laws as written. And now he wants to lecture folks about corruption. Has Mr. Kolbe once since then approached his Councilman or any Councilman and suggested changes to the laws or was he just in it to better himself in the eyes of the republican candidate for governor and gather attention to himself and who parlayed that little episode into the job as head of the Baltimore County Republicans. It seems it's as if that's an accurrate description.Nice try Mr. Kolbe, when you start following the laws as written you can then begin to lecture the rest of us about corruption. BTW, your candidates top guns both were found guilty, seems like you were the third strike and now you're out!

Perhaps David Marks thinks that his record is so obviously not that of a patsy (willing to do whatever the money tells him to) that if some of his constituants who happen to be developers want to raise money for him than why shouldn't he accept it. I don't see any evidence that he's promised them some special favor for the money. They can lobby him if they want to and they can give him money. That doesn't mean he's obligated to view it as a bribe and give them anything and everything they want.

Observations:
1. Fair game for Sears to compare before/after quotes on Marks. Marks can't duck a reporter now that he is in the show. He is accountable for past/present comments. Not that it is bad. It is part of maturation process.

2. Marks Was not courageous with rezoning. To down zone cemetaries and storm drain areas is the height of grandstanding. Bryan McIntire down zoned hundreds of acres against vehement opposition. That was courage.

Marks is currently owned by the Smith clan....sad but true.

If any of the Patch readers actually believe that any candidate running for any public office can do so on the small amounts of money gained from non partisan individuals, or community organizations,they live on a different planet than I do.The golden rule still governs..that is,"He who has the gold rules".Obviously,anyone who gives money to any candidate,regardless of amount,expects ,some sort of special consideration by the candidate at some future date.It has always been that way since the days of our Founding Fathers..An elected official is to judged by how he or she performs in the public area once elected.I think that the record of David Marks speaks well of him during his first two years in office.Before you cast arrows at him,let's see how he performs in the next two years,and the electorate will decide.

Reminds me of Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack when he handed the judge of the tournament money and said "keep it fair, keep it fair."
Maybe he has evolved - go figure.

Steve's comment is hilarious - but true!

the U.S. attorney should open an office in the county office bulding. easier to question all the players there.

I would love to hear David Marks take on the need for campaign finance reform...he seems to be playing on both sides of the greed driven developer fence at this point.
Perhaps Bryan Sears will attend this event in search of answers. Does the press have to make a donation to be able to attend?

Joe, political contributions are already POST TAX DOLLARS. Plus as the Supreme Court has decided in the Citizens United case political contributions are tied to freedom of speech therefore taxing it would be highly unlikely and probably deemed unconstitutional. And, this magical website you speak of where Contributors are listed, it already exists. Check out the Maryland State Board of Elections.

If the Councilman were active in appeasing developers, I could see an argument here. Instead, I've seen Marks severely limit or restrict development through zoning initiatives throughout the county, something I'm sure his opponents in the previous election would not have been so quick to accomplish. Downzoning hundreds of acres does not seem like the action one would take if one were trying to appease developers - I know a developer in my neighborhood who is not pleased at the moment as the property he owned was downzoned.

For now, it's a fundraiser. I don't believe it's an about face or a sign of things to come. Hopefully it provides a fair amount of money to support his next campaign, as I'd like to see him back in office after his next election.

Of course, "for now it's a fund raiser". These guys see Marks as a long term politician because of the good stuff described by supporters on this particular blog. Guys like the Smith clan have grown up playing and profiting from both the real estate development and the political game...it's in their blood...we won't see, or feel the results of "payback" for years to come, but the "Marks'er" will for sure be there.
Marks is the hen in the fox house with the need for this type of fund raiser...I would expect better from him.

I am so disapponted both personally and as a community leader. Taking money from Guildea and Smith is far from independent behavior.

Of all of the people to accept money from, l would never have guessed that Councilman Marks would accept campaign funds Smith, Gildea, Schmidt lawyers. Smith and Guidea (and the other partner Larry Scmidt) represent the old Baltimore County way.

Larry Scmidt is the other partner whose is not named as part of the fundraiser probably because he is the current Board of Education President. Mr. Schmidt was the Baltimore County Liquor Board Chair for 13 years and then a Baltimore County Zoning Commissioner and is now controlling the Board of Education. This seems like it is too inbred of a relationship with Baltimore County government.

Jim Smith is also in that law practice and I would never have thought that David Marks would be associated with him politically.

I do not want to see David Marks transformed by Baltimore County's "good ole boys" into a politician who strives to keep things in Baltimore County the way they were.

David Marks has done some fine things for the Community of Carney. I just cannot believe he will take money from this group right in my own neighborhood at Bowman's in Carney.

I am going to talk to Councilman David Marks to get the details on this fundraiser. He has always been truthful with me.

David Marks usually comments on threads that pertain to him....wonder why he is avoiding this one like the plague?

From today: http://towson.patch.com/blog_posts/marks-campaign-responds-to-tammany-hall-blog