Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy might have a challenger in the fall election — and it's an intriguing one.
Word is that former Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Bernstein is testing the waters. Bernstein may be best known for successfully defending former state Sen. Larry Young against bribery and extortion charges.
But he is also the husband of Sheryl Goldstein, director of the Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice. In that role, Goldstein works closely with the Police Department and other law enforcement agencies, and is an integral part of programs such as GunStat and issues dealing with juvenile justice. She has insight into the inner workings of the criminal justice system, and that would include the state's attorney's office.
Goldstein was brought in during the Mayor Sheila Dixon's administration and is a close ally of Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III; she might have to step down or take a leave of absence if her husband's candidacy comes together.
Goldstein declined to comment, and Bernstein did not return a phone call. Jessamy, for her part, said she believes Gov. Martin O'Malley "recruited" Bernstein and said she confronted O'Malley with the claim at an event over the weekend.
"I've heard from a lot of different sources that he's been recruiting. I told him, 'I'm ready for it,' " she said. "I think I have an outstanding record; I'm going to run on my record. I don't know what [Bernstein] is running on, but my record, it's a good one."
Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for O'Malley's campaign, confirmed that Jessamy approached O'Malley at an event for Associated Black Charities, but said it's "simply not true" that O'Malley is behind a potential Bernstein candidacy.
Jessamy was appointed in 1995 after then-State's Attorney Stuart O. Simms stepped down to head the state juvenile services agency, and she became the first woman to hold the position. A fiery leader, she's been a lightning rod for criticism over the years but hasn't faced much opposition come election season.
She ran unopposed in 1998, and in 2002 defeated two challengers in the primary — City Councilwoman Lisa Stancil and lawyer Anton Keating — by capturing 45 percent of the vote. In 2006, current liquor board commissioner Stephan Fogleman mounted an unsuccessful challenge with the slogan "fight crime, not cops," highlighting Jessamy's often tense relationship with the Police Department.
Prominent defense attorney Warren Brown considered running in 2002, and he says Bernstein has a legitimate shot if he decides to enter the race.
Brown said few public defenders or state's attorneys have the name recognition or pull to mount a credible challenge, and that many prominent private attorneys can't justify taking a pay cut to run for public office. O'Malley increased the salary for the position to $225,000 a year, in hopes of making the job more enticing to potential challengers.
"Pat Jessamy is a lovely lady, but I don't think there's any enthusiasm out there for her. She's just never really faced a formidable opponent," Brown said. "If [Bernstein] is talking about getting in the race, I can tell you [Jessamy] is going to have some problems."
Jessamy said she's active in the community and believes her office has been at the forefront of addressing issues that later become national criminal justice concerns. "Anyone who knows me knows that I get up every morning excited about what I do," Jessamy said. "I probably have more initiative, innovation and energy than any elected official in the state."
According to campaign finance records, Jessamy had $28,000 cash on hand as of January. Brown said Bernstein could easily match or exceed that in the coming months if he puts together a "well-oiled machine." But Jessamy said her annual fundraiser will be held in July and that she has allies who are ready to contribute big money should she face a challenge. (Speaking of the campaign finance database, records show Bernstein contributed $250 to Jessamy's campaign in 2006.)
Bernstein has until July 6 to file for the primary election. If he decides to run as an independent, he would have to file a declaration of intent by July 6 and submit the rest of his paperwork by Aug. 2.
Brown said his concerns about the state's attorney's office remain. "Morale is low, and their priorities are way off," he said. "You have prosecutors tying up courts for a bag of weed or a roach, where violent crimes keeping getting postponed to the point where when the time comes for trial, there's no witnesses, the case is old. They're missing the mark."
"She's had long enough to make an impact, but she really has not," he said.
Jessamy said she stands by her record. "If everybody else did their job as well as I do mine, I think we'd have a better city," Jessamy said. "I'm hardworking, honest and fair."
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