Whalen, Quirk 'Dance' in Campaign Finance "Elves" Video

A group opposed to the redevelopment of a portion of Spring Grove Hospital Center is wasting no time criticizing relationship between Catonsville developer Steve Whalen and Councilman Tom Quirk and other westside elected officials.

The group known as Catonsville Promenot posted a video featuring Whalen, Quirk as well as Dels. Steve DeBoy and Jim Malone. The Developer and four westside Democrats are shown as elves dancing to a hip-hop version of Nutcracker Suite.

The group produced and posted the video on YouTube last week in between the time that Whalen was charged by the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor for making straw donations to Quirk and a Jan. 3 hearing where Whalen pleaded guilty to all five charges.

Members of the Promenot group include Rebecca Dongarra, a Democrat who ran against Quirk in 2010, and her husband Paul Dongarra.

In a July 2012 interview, Quirk criticized the Dongarras for their involvement.

"They continue to engage in these petty personal attacks and I resent it," said Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat.

"I think Paul Dongarra spends every day doing everything he can to attack my personal integrity and character and I've had enough of it," Quirk said.

In that same interview, Quirk said he was not ashamed of supporters who donated money to his campaign.

"Campaigns are expensive and you have to get your message out to thousands of people," Quirk said. "I'm proud of my contributors and proud of my campaign.

"Steve Whalen can be a controversial figure but he's also done a lot of good for the community," Quirk said.

Paul Dongarra was involved in alerting the Office of the State Prosecutor to donations made to Quirk through a friend, employee and personal trainer connected to Whalen. Those donations ultimately lead to Whalen's indictment and guilty plea. Dongarra spoke to Patch about his involvement and this week wrote a blog post outlining his personal views on the donations.

This is the third video the Promenot group has offered up on local political issue.

Last summer, the group highlighted campaign donation relationships between Whalen and Quirk and other area elected officials.

Last fall, the group criticized Councilman Todd Huff, a Timonium Republican, for zoning changes that "upzoned 1,000 acres" of land as part of the comprehensive zoning map process completed in August.