THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, April 9, 2014 p
The curious case of Julius Henson
Julius Henson is a street hustler and dean of Maryland’s political pundits. a thug. He grew up in Lafayette Courts, And for his unpardonable sin Henson one of Baltimore’s worst low-income paid a steep price. housing projects, and completed MorNot surprisingly, it was Henson who gan State University’s course work but came up with the Ehrlich campaign’s couldn’t graduate due to an unpaid bill. infamous last-minute robocall message After a spotty career during which he advising 112,000 Baltimore and P.G. sometimes lived out of his car, he found County black voters to relax and stay his calling in 1975 when he ran, unsuc- home because Obama and O’Malley cessfully, for clerk of the court. “That’s had already won (Obama wasn’t even what got me into politics,” on the 2010 ballot). Henson said. “I vowed to Subsequently, Henson never lose another election.” and Ehrlich’s campaign Since then he’s made manager, Paul Schurick, millions running nearly 100 were tried, separately, first political campaigns, with a 90 for voter suppression, and percent success rate. And desecond because the robospite his reputation as a politcalls failed to include an ical hit man (he calls himself “authority line” (i.e., every a “pure warrior”), Henson’s political campaign ad must clients have included goveridentify the political sponnors, congressmen, mayors, sor). state lawmakers and local ofMaryland’s voter supMY MARYLAND pression statute says “no ficials. His breakthrough win BLAIR LEE was Baltimore’s 1999 compperson can willfully and troller’s race, when Henson knowingly influence or atgot his girlfriend, Joan Pratt, tempt to influence a voter’s elected in a stunning upset against the decision whether to go to the polls ... establishment candidate. through use of force, fraud, threat, menHenson’s specialty is street tactics, ace, intimidation, etc.” I’m good with all dirty tricks, smears and whatever else but the “fraud” part. Clearly, Henson’s works. “Henson has a level of enthusi- and Schurick’s phony robocalls atasm and brass knuckles that Baltimor- tempted to keep black voters from going eans are not used to,” observed the late to the polls. But where do you draw the Art Murphy, one of the city’s savviest line? Aren’t most political ads fraudupoliticians. “He runs an in-your-face lent? And aren’t political “dirty tricks” campaign and does an excellent job. common in all campaigns? He is by far the best; he wins the big Turns out, however, that it didn’t ones.” A Henson detractor, the late Del. matter, and here’s where the story gets Pete Rawlings, put it differently: “Like really slimy. Schurick was convicted on war, politics is not a genteel game, but all counts, but Henson’s jury, 10 African there are rules of engagement and Ju- Americans and two whites, acquitted lius violates them.” Here’s how Henson him on the voter suppression charges describes his unorthodoxy: “The people and merely convicted him of conspirwho made that rule are the ones in of- ing to produce a political ad (robocall) fice and they want us to follow rules that that lacked an authority line, a misdebenefit them. ... I’m not going to play meanor. Apparently, Henson’s jury was their game.” sympathetic to his claim that he was Despite Henson’s unsavory tactics, a being targeted by the Democratic estabhost of otherwise reputable Democrats lishment “for jumping over the line.” including Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Leaving the courthouse, a beaming Parris Glendening and Elijah Cummings Henson said he was “elated” and “grateput him on their campaign payrolls. ful and thankful” for everyone’s support. But in 2010 Julius Henson made a big If he’d known what was about to hapmistake: He hired out to Republican pen, he wouldn’t have been so happy. Bob Ehrlich’s gubernatorial comeback The Baltimore Sun called the verdict against Martin O’Malley. “disappointing,” adding, “The judge has Being a hired hit man for Democrats the chance to set things right at sentencwas one thing, but doing it for Repub- ing. Mr. Schurick got 30 days of home licans, particularly Ehrlich, was unpar- detention, 500 hours of community donable. “What Henson did is akin to service and four years of probation for Karl Rove working to elect Democrats his offences. Mr. Henson deserves to be or James Carville flipping to the Repub- treated exactly the same ...” Well, Schlican side,” observed Frank DeFilippo, urick, the white man convicted of voter
suppression, and Henson, the black man convicted of being party to a political ad that didn’t have a tag line, were not treated the same. The judge threw the book at Henson: sixty days in jail, 30 days of home detention, 500 hours of community service and four years of probation during which Henson was prohibited from volunteering or working in any political campaigns. That’s right, a man actually went to jail because a robocall he was hired to produce failed to say “I’m Bob Ehrlich and I approve this ad,” a common infraction for which no one is prosecuted, much less sent to jail. The judge, an O’Malley appointee, blatantly ignored the jury’s verdict and treated Henson as if he’d been convicted on all counts. But wait, it gets worse. Always on the prowl for a headline, Attorney General Doug Gansler piled on by suing Henson for violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act because the robocalls failed to identify the name and phone number of the party placing the call. Gansler won a $1 million verdict against Henson while deciding not to bring the same suit against Schurick, who was convicted of the same violations. Having served his jail sentence and being barred from making a living as a campaign consultant, Henson decided to run this year for the state Senate in one of Baltimore’s most impoverished, destitute districts. Henson’s sentencing judge tried to rule Henson’s candidacy a probation violation, but it appears Henson will win on appeal. So Henson is challenging Sen. Nathaniel McFadden, a steadfast ally of Senate President Mike Miller. Henson calls Miller “a jerk” who rewards lawmakers “who are going to kiss his tail. I’m not going to kiss his tail. The only thing Mike Miller is interested in is making himself and his family richer.” The die is cast: the Democratic establishment, the media and Mike Miller are going to make Julius Henson’s defeat their top priority. None of them want to see another person in the state Senate as smart, as talented and as ruthless as Miller.
Blair Lee is chairman of the board of Lee Development Group in Silver Spring and a regular commentator for WBAL radio. His column appears Fridays in the Business Gazette. His past columns are available at www.gazette.net/blairlee. His email address is blairleeiv@ gmail.com.
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Distracted driving: a dangerous epidemic According to data from the Maryland Highway Safety Office, 231 people lost their lives and 29,050 others were injured in distracted driverinvolved crashes in 2011. That is a staggering statistic. I’m glad to see our state do more and more to raise the profile of this important issue in the hopes of preventing more Maryland residents from being injured on our roads — or worse. That’s why I’m joining Ford dealers from around the country to recognize April 2014 as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on Maryland’s roadways. We all see it practically every day. However, preventing distracted
driving doesn’t just mean refraining from activities like texting. Distracted driving is any activity — eating, caring for children, personal grooming or even driving “selfies” — that can divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving and endangers the safety of the driver, passengers and bystanders. It only takes a second to make a dangerous, and potentially life changing, mistake while on the road. Let’s take a moment today and recommit ourselves to remaining focused and safe on the road each time we get behind the wheel.
Alex Perdikis The writer is the general manager of Koons Ford of Silver Spring
Montgomery police’s I-270 strategy deserves praise, not criticism The recent police effort in Maryland to capture bank robbers on Interstate 270 by shutting down the highway deserves praise from the public rather than criticism [“Police taking heat for I-270 strategy,” March 19]. However, the March 11 decision to search from car to car for armed bank robbers apparently was judged by more than one motorist to be inappropriate police procedure. These same people taking objection would be the first to fling their outrage at public officials had a police chase been chosen as a course of action rather than the stopping of all
traffic. In an urgent and harrowing criminal situation, law enforcement made the right call in trapping the perpetrators and moving in for a clean capture. Rather than criticize, the public should recognize and appreciate the good judgment and restraint shown by police in this case. A successful resolution was reached without any further danger to the public. The various police units should be congratulated for their effectiveness as well as for their interagency efforts.
Barbara Balbiani, Chevy Chase
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County Executive Ike Leggett will recognize the extraordinary commitment and dedication of those whose work has made a positive difference in Montgomery County.
2014 Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Awards
Reverend Leon Grant has led an exemplary life of faith and service. As the Senior Pastor of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Rockville, Maryland since 1987, Rev. Grant has reached beyond the walls of his church to serve the broader community. He has been a community leader through service on the Montgomery County Correctional Facility Community Advisory Committee, as a member of NAACP Montgomery County Chapter, a Field Education Supervisor at Wesley Theological Seminary, and a Director on the Board of the Montgomery County Mental Health Association. Dr. Michael Lin represents the American ideal of the professional who focuses his skills on serving the greater community. Dr. Lin has used his talents to empower underrepresented communities and help Montgomery County build one of America’s most welcoming communities through his leadership roles with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), and his help founding the Asian American Political Alliance. He served as chair of MD Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and the Board of Trustees at Montgomery College. Nancy Scull has dedicated her life to the service of our neighbors in need. She has been a stellar advocate and tireless worker for programs that promote family self-sufficiency. She has served as coordinator of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) at HOC, as president of Bethesda HELP and Silver Spring HELP and a founding board member of Shepherd’s Table. Ms. Scull’s three decades of community volunteer service have helped provide emergency assistance and meals to thousands of our most vulnerable individuals and families.
The evening’s honorees include the winners of the Neal Potter Path of Achievement & the Montgomery Serves Awards
Adventist HealthCare • Ana G. Mendez University • Barwood Transportation • BioHealth Innovations • Carl M. Freeman Foundation • Choice Hotels • Community Foundation for Montgomery County Covanta Energy • County Executive Ike Leggett • Fitzgerald Auto Malls • Jewish Community Relations Council • Jewish Federation of Greater Washington • Johns Hopkins University • Lerch, Early & Brewer Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Properties, LLC • Montgomery College • Montgomery County Muslim Foundation • RAFFA, P.C. • SG Enterprise/Sol Graham • Safeway • Universities at Shady Grove (USG) The Sanford and Doris Slavin Foundation • Soltesz Associates • Southern Management Corporation • Verizon • Washington Gas • Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) • Westfield Wheaton
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