The persons and groups behind the social media campaign urging voters to approve Question F, which would allow apartment buildings at Baltimore’s Harborplace and Inner Harbor Park, remain unclear despite a state-mandated disclosure report.

Recent ads advocating a “yes” vote on the measure have been described as “sponsored,” “authorized” and “paid for” by Baltimore for a New Harborplace.

Late yesterday that ballot committee filed a legally required finance report with the State Board of Elections, only to say that it has received $0.00 in contributions – and has spent no money – on the campaign.

So how did it manage to buy ads in the Baltimore Banner and Baltimore Sun as well as campaign through robotexts and on Facebook and other social media?

By relying on two private vendors, who spent $100,000 in media buys and research between September 1 and September 24.

The committee says it owes $40,000 to Victoria Research, a Takoma Park polling firm, and $60,704.20 to Fells Group, a digital ad firm in Baltimore.

The committee further reports no money in the bank and being $6.08 in arrears for service fees to M&T Bank.

Connections to MCB Real Estate

On Thursday, Maryland’s Supreme Court reversed a lower court order that deemed Question F unconstitutional, paving the way for the ballot question to go before city voters on November 5.

Approval of the ballot measure would permit MCB Real Estate and its co-founder, F. David Bramble, to construct apartment towers and other commercial structures on the site of the mostly shuttered Harborplace pavilions and adjoining Inner Harbor Park.

Baltimore for a New Harborplace was formed last June by Leland Shelton, MCB’s director of government relations, who was also Mayor Scott’s campaign treasurer until last fall.

The committee’s treasurer, Jonathan Sandoval, is MCB’s development director. Its chairman, Jon M. Laria, was a lobbyist for MCB at City Hall before his retirement as managing partner of Ballard Spahr.

Sandoval and Laria signed the finance report yesterday, which covered the period of June 17 to October 6.

Neither has responded to questions from The Brew about how the committee planned to repay the vendors and whether the names of contributors will be disclosed in the future.

The committee’s next report to the Elections Board is due on October 25.

Statement by Chair

Jon Laria released the following statement to The Brew:

“The report simply reflects that no contributions were made prior to the end of the reporting period. Expenses were contractually incurred but were not yet payable, and contributions will, of course, be made to cover those and any additional expenses which are expected.  

“The contributions will be shown on the next report which will be available prior to the election, along with any additional activity for the next reporting period. Accordingly, that report will be correct and complete, as is the report just filed.”