Kendall StatonA candidate running for Montgomery County executive filed a lawsuit Wednesday against organizations that hosted a public candidate forum but didn’t let him participate.
Montgomery County Renter’s Alliance and Montgomery Community Media co-sponsored a county executive candidate debate forum Wednesday night.
Mithun Banerjee, a county executive candidate, wasn’t allowed to participate. He is seeking $870,170 in punitive damages in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Banerjee’s lawsuit alleged possible election interference. The filing also said the nonprofit organizations violated rules that govern their tax-exempt status by getting involved in political campaigns.
Banerjee told The Wash that, by excluding candidates from the forum, the organizations will make it harder for other candidates to win the upcoming primary.
“That itself is a corrupt system,” he said. “I’d given them emails notifying them they are violating law. I asked them to do corrective action. They decided not to.”
Rental Alliance: The lawsuit is frivolous.
In a written statement, Rental Alliance Executive Director Matt Losak said all Democratic primary candidates were invited to the forum. But, to participate, candidates had to meet the requirements for public matching funds or have raised more than $250,000 in campaign contributions.
The statement said the Renter’s Alliance made a good faith effort to explain the eligibility rules to Banerjee.
The alliance called the lawsuit frivolous.
“The Renter’s Alliance and [Montgomery Community Media] are Section 501-c-3 nonprofit organizations. Neither organization endorses any political party of candidate. The forum was provided as a service to educate and inform the public on the candidates’ views on housing policy,” the statement said.
Banerjee said his campaign is publicly financed and approved by the Maryland State Board of Elections, but he still wasn’t allowed to attend the forum.
He told The Wash he also filed a complaint with the Maryland governor’s office, U.S. Department of Justice and the Maryland State Board of Elections.
Montgomery Community Media Executive Director Jasmine White said in a written statement to The Wash that the media outlet did not select the participants from the forum and any views expressed at the event do not represent the organization’s views.
Montgomery Community Media remains committed to facilitating free speech, supporting open access to media and connecting people through shared information and community dialogue, the statement said.
Banerjee said his exclusion from the forum was “a shame to journalism.”
“Montgomery Community Media said they give voice to all people. That’s their commitment,” he said. “Did they give voice to me yesterday night? They didn’t.”
The case is Banerjee v. Losak, et. al, No. C-15-CV-25-005578, Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Wash staff
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