Lori Sherwood

Lori Sherwood, the campaign manager for Rep. Al Wynn’s 2008 Democratic primary campaign in Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District, told PolitickerMD.com that money played a large role in the incumbents’ loss to community activist Donna Edwards on Tuesday.

“The amount of money spent by our opponent and independent expenditures was just too much,” Sherwood said.

Finance data conducted by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), four days before the primary, showed Wynn had actually raised more money for his campaign than Edwards. As of Feb. 8, Wynn raised $1,009,448 compared to $793,876 for Edwards. However, the figures do not include money spent by 527 groups, which are not regulated by the FEC and are not subject to contribution limits.

Denounces 'Desperate 11th Hour Attempt'

Edwards and her sonCongressional candidate Donna Edwards responded to the release of federal tax liens filed against her, which showed the fourth district Democrat developed a debt of more than $11,000 in unpaid taxes.

The papers, filed against Edwards by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), identified three instances when federal taxes had not been paid. According to the papers, the tax periods ended at the end 1994 in one instance, and on New Year’s Eve in 1995 and 1999 in the remaining two.

Those papers showed Edwards with a debt of $9,786.21.

Edwards told PolitickerMD.com that she had fully repaid the debt and subsequent interest.

“They're mine,” Edwards said. “I paid them.”

Alleges Illegal Financial Links Between Arca Foundation And Edwards Campaign

The campaign of incumbent Rep. Al Wynn filed a formal complaint today with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that the rival campaign of activist Donna Edwards has violated federal election campaign laws.

In a letter to the FEC, Lori Sherwood, the congressman’s campaign manager, wrote, “Based on my examination of various records and documents I believe the Donna Edwards for Congress Committee has received substantial assistance by way of unreported, in-kind contributions from organizations who profess to have operated independently of the Edwards Campaign.”

In a lengthy complaint, Sherwood claimed that as executive director of the social justice organization the Arca Foundation, Edwards was “responsible for administering and overseeing grants that are awarded and distributed” by the group – grants that go to some of her campaign's biggest supporters.

Edwards supporters protest Wynn fundraiser“Follow The Money,” Says Edwards While Wynn Ties Her To Halliburton

WASHINGTON D.C. - With the Democratic Fourth Congressional District primary five weeks away, the campaigns for challenger Donna Edwards and incumbent Al Wynn came head to head today just a block from the United States Capitol.

Wynn, scheduled to speak at a morning fundraiser in the offices of Entergy, a prominent energy lobbying firm, collided with protesters from the Edwards campaign as he stepped out of his car to enter the building on the corner of Constitution and Louisiana Avenues.

Wynn, escorted by office security, passed by signs reading, “Al Wynn has got to go,” “PACs over people,” and “Dirty money, dirty congress.” Once inside the building, protesters began chanting to passing cars, “Hey hey, ho ho, Al Wynn has got to go!”

With primary challenger Donna Edwards picking up the endorsement of the SEIU and UFCW earlier today, the campaign of Fourth Congressional District incumbent Democrat Al Wynn said that it remained confident in Wynn’s support in the labor community.  read more »

The race between Rep. Albert Wynn and community activist Donna Edwards is heating up as the two prepare for a rematch of their 2006 Democratic primary contest - a contest Wynn won by a 49.7%-46.4% margin, one of the narrowest of any incumbent in the nation.

"The campaign is going great and we have momentum," said Edwards' communications director Dan Weber. "Donna offers change for the people of the fourth district."