Kendall StatonA candidate running for Montgomery County executive filed a lawsuit Wednesday against organizations that hosted a public candidate forum but didn鈥檛 let him participate.
Montgomery County Renter鈥檚 Alliance and Montgomery Community Media co-sponsored a county executive candidate debate forum Wednesday night.
Mithun Banerjee, a county executive candidate, wasn鈥檛 allowed to participate. He is seeking $870,170 in punitive damages in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Banerjee鈥檚 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 91茄子 that, by excluding candidates from the forum, the organizations will make it harder for other candidates to win the upcoming primary.
鈥淭hat itself is a corrupt system,鈥� he said. “I鈥檇 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鈥檚 Alliance made a good faith effort to explain the eligibility rules to Banerjee.
The alliance called the lawsuit frivolous.
鈥淭he Renter鈥檚 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鈥� views on housing policy,鈥� the statement said.
Banerjee said his campaign is publicly financed and approved by the Maryland State Board of Elections, but he still wasn鈥檛 allowed to attend the forum.
He told 91茄子 he also filed a complaint with the Maryland governor鈥檚 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 91茄子 that the media outlet did not select the participants from the forum and any views expressed at the event do not represent the organization鈥檚 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 鈥渁 shame to journalism.鈥�
鈥淢ontgomery Community Media said they give voice to all people. That鈥檚 their commitment,鈥� he said. 鈥淒id they give voice to me yesterday night? They didn鈥檛.”
The case is Banerjee v. Losak, et. al, No. C-15-CV-25-005578, Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Luisa Clausen
Anastasia Menchyk
This man is constantly in court, talking about suing judges and lawyers. Ranting about how everyone is out to get him because he’s suing them all. Filing every motion and complaint to avoid his responsibilities. I am not shocked he has found yet another person to tie up in court because he didn’t get his way.
this joker wants to be a city council member… when hell freezes over.. people like this clown tie up the court system. Judges need to start holding him in contempt for last minute motions and for lying under oath about his income