From my normally quiet corner of Maryland's Eastern Shore ... the Republican candidate for state senate is being sued by Hershey, the chocolate giant.
Naturally, Steve Hershey has darted immediately to the shelter of the Constitution:
“The Hershey Company’s allegations raise serious questions about infringing on my constitutional rights of freedom of speech, freedom of association, and participation as a candidate in the political process in a non-commercial venue,” Sen. Hershey said in a statement.
District 36 (General Assembly, not Congress) along with the rest of the Shore's 9 counties tends Republican. It's the usual rural redness, plus a dollop of historical anti-Annapolism.
After the June 24 primary, the Republicans seem to be still interested in sending the teabagster contingent to the State House come January.
In the case of Steve Hershey, from Queen Anne's County, he was appointed by local Republican central committees to fill the seat vacated by longtime state senator E.J. Pipkin last August. He prevailed in Tuesday's Red primary.
"E.J.," as he was popularly known, left to move to Texas. Independently wealthy, he was not so much the rabid rightwing type. He resigned to go back to school, of all things.
In a true pie fight last fall, the four Republican central committees of District 36 deadlocked on two choices from the House of Delegates to fill his seat. With two names, the governor was constitutionally obliged to choose one. His pick was Hershey.
It seems that Hershey, like red candidates who've appropriated theme songs from unwilling artists, has at best a vague idea of intellectual property rights. His conflict with Corporate Hershey extends back to 2002.
The Hershey Co. has filed suit against state Sen. Steve Hershey ... saying he’s infringing on the popular candymaker’s trademarked logo design.
The federal lawsuit, filed Friday, June 6 in Maryland, alleges Sen. Hershey is unlawfully using campaign materials “in a manner that falsely indicates to consumers that Hershey has sponsored, endorsed, authorized or otherwise is associated” with the politician, according to the complaint.
You can read the full story here: http://www.myeasternshoremd.com/...
The accompanying photo is priceless.
Steve Hershey heard from Corporate Hershey twelve years ago when his campaign signs allegedly looked too much like the chocolate logo. After his campaign for Queen Anne's County commissioner, he said he'd retire the design.
In 2010, running for state delegate, Steve Hershey heard from Corporate Hershey again about the font and colors on his oblong signs.
It will be interesting to see how a third offense plays out. Maybe "three strikes and you're out" could be adapted from the Republican crime platform to fit this situation.