MSA head’s supporters offer defense

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - It looks like the O’Malley administration has its targets set on another high-ranking official.

But Maryland Stadium Authority Executive Director Alison Asti still has a job — for now.

“If you look at her job performance, she has done everything that has been asked of her and more,” said Robert McKinney, former board member and past MSA chairman. “I don’t have a governor to protect or attorney general to protect, but I think if Alison is released it’s to the [detriment] of the MSA and the citizens of the State of Maryland.”

Asti declined comment. McKinney said Asti recently has had run-ins with people connected to Gov. Martin O’Malley. After O’Malley appointed Frederick Puddester on July 1 as the new MSA chairman, he orchestrated a straw poll of current board members in an effort to vote Asti out of her position, McKinney said.

In 2005, Asti drew the ire of O’Malley’s father-in-law, Attorney General Joseph Curran, when the MSA retained attorney Billy Murphy in a court case regarding the Washington Nationals moving into the region without going through a formal bid process, McKinney said.

A problem started “sometime during my administration,” former MSA Chairman Carl Wright said. “Things never really challenged until the Billy Murphy [incident].”

McKinney, who was a board member during the Murphy incident, said that the MSA has always had the right to hire council under its constitution.

“We had an inside, nasty little battle,” McKinney said. “That was one strike on the board against Ms. Asti, who was following the board’s interest.”

As for current board members being approached, two could not be reached and two others declined comment. Board member Dennis Mather said he was not approached about a vote, but that’s no surprise to him.

“I think that people know that I am supportive of Alison and the job she has done and there is no reason for her to be removed other than politics,” he said. “She deserves better, but the other side is each governor has the right to do what they want to do, and if they can get the votes they have the right to do that.”

O’Malley declined comment. His office directed all comments to Puddester, who did not return multiple calls.

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com

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