By Doug Donovan Sun Staff

May 6, 2005
A day after attacking Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s leadership on juvenile justice issues, Mayor Martin O'Malley stood yesterday in support of his Republican opponent's signature issue: slots.

At an upbeat Walters Art Museum event to promote events leading up to the May 21 Preakness Stakes, O'Malley joined an Ehrlich official and a leading advocate of Maryland's horse racing industry in saying that the viability of racetracks depends on slot machines.

The Democratic mayor said critics have questioned the morality of his position backing a limited number of slot machines at racetracks to help the industry compete and to keep the Preakness in Baltimore.

But, O'Malley countered, "Where's the morality in doing away with 18,000 [Maryland] racing jobs?

"The Preakness is Baltimore's version of the Super Bowl," said O'Malley, who is expected to run for governor next year. "We need to rise above partisan politics."

The setting of O'Malley's comments - surrounded by the museum's equine exhibit - seemed fitting considering the political jockeying that followed. Although Ehrlich's economic development chief, Aris Melissaratos, spoke of cordial collaboration with O'Malley during the event, the governor's office changed its tune later in the day.

"The mayor has flip-flopped on this issue, expressing quasi-opposition and quasi-support for months, if not years," said Ehrlich spokeswoman Shareese N. DeLeaver.

"If Mayor O'Malley truly is a proponent of slots, then he needs to be a workhorse, not a show pony," DeLeaver said.

The mayor's rival for the Democratic nomination for governor, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, blasted O'Malley yesterday.

Duncan said in a statement: "The mayor had it right in February this year when he called slots 'morally bankrupt.' He has it wrong when he endorses Governor Ehrlich's number one legislative priority."

Duncan described slots as a "quick fix" that will increase crime, addiction and other social problems.

Racing industry kudos

O'Malley called slots "morally bankrupt" when Ehrlich proposed using them to finance education initiatives and balance the state's budget. The mayor has said repeatedly that he supports legalizing a limited number of slots at racetracks to help the racing industry compete with surrounding states that allow the devices and are able to offer richer purses for horse races. He is also concerned about losing the Preakness.

The mayor's comments received support from the racing industry at a time when Magna Entertainment, the Canada-based owner of Pimlico Race Course, says that without slots it will stop investing in the Northwest Baltimore track and its other course in Laurel.

"These are difficult and serious times for the horse industry," said Joseph A. De Francis, president and chief executive officer of the Maryland Jockey Club, a Magna subsidiary.

At yesterday's event, De Francis thanked the mayor for his longtime support for slots at racetracks. He also praised Ehrlich's leadership on the issue.

Ehrlich's proposed legislation to legalize slots has failed to pass the Democrat-controlled General Assembly for three consecutive years.

"We can only hope the legislature can level the playing field for us," De Francis said. "We can't compete without slots."

'Taken for granted'

He also thanked O'Malley for saying the Preakness is "taken for granted" by Marylanders.