Update, 2:40 p.m.: O'Malley said Tuesday afternoon that Ehrlich and Cordish appear interested in "trying to scare people into approving slots at the mall."
"Mr.
In a related development, O'Malley's campaign started airing radio ads in the Baltimore market Tuesday that say Ehrlich's work for Cordish shows he is "a hired gun for special interests."
Original post: Developer David Cordish on Tuesday knocked Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) for siding with opponents of Cordish's planned slots casino at Arundel Mills mall.
"He apparently must want to raise taxes," Cordish said of the governor, citing projections of the hundreds of millions of dollars the 4,750-machine facility could generate for the state and Anne Arundel County.
Anne Arundel voters must decide Nov. 2 whether to let a zoning law stand that is needed for Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. to move forward with its planned casino, which would be Maryland's largest.
O'Malley has voiced sympathy for homeowners surrounding the mall, who oppose the casino, and said he believes racetracks are better locations for slots than shopping malls.
"I don't understand his position, but he's entitled to his position," Cordish told a group of reporters. "He's the governor."
The law firm of O'Malley's opponent, former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), was hired by Cordish last year to do public relations work related to the casino while the zoning measure was pending before the Anne Arundel council. The zoning law has since been petitioned to the ballot by citizens and will appear as Question A in Anne Arundel.
Ehrlich, who lives in the county, has said he will support the measure.
O'Malley "ought to be doing what Governor Ehrlich is doing and supporting Question A," Cordish said, adding that he was not prepared to endorse a candidate for governor.
Cordish spoke at a meeting with reporters in his company's headquarters at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. He called the group together to push back against what he characterized as false television ads and mailers being produced by opponents of the casino.
Those include the owners of Laurel Park racetrack in Anne Arundel, a potential slots site if the casino bid collapses.
Cordish argued that the failure of Question A would lead to a "multi, multi-year delay" before slots would become operational anywhere in the county. Among other things, the Anne Arundel County Council would be forced to start over on its debate about appropriate zoning for slots.
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