The candidate and the (alleged) pimp
In what may be the best/worst story of this election season, the Tribune's Robert Gehrke reports that Democratic legislative candidate Kelly Ann Booth was until recently engaged to an alleged whore monger.Steven Maese will go on trial later this month on charges of running a prostitution ring. And, yes, this is the same guy who is linked to the firing of county prosecutor Kent Morgan. The DA's office alleges Morgan leaked confidential information to Maese who is charged with running prostitutes out of the Doll House escort service.
Booth, who is running for Roz McGee's vacant House seat, says she was unaware her beloved, who she recently broke up with, was involved with the Doll House or was criminally charged. Kelly Ann's got some fast talking to do at the Democratic Convention next week. This ain't going to cut it:
Love is a difficult thing. If the delegates would like to choose me based upon who I fell in love with, I suppose that could be an issue, but I have a decade worth of community service and ... good public works that they should look at.
Unfortunately, Kelly Ann, most delegates — and voters — are going to look at it this way: If you didn't know your sweetie was up on prostitution charges, you're stupid. If you did know, but thought you could hide it, then you're dishonest (and stupid).
The Democrats should be thanking Loki — or whomever Dems pray to — that this story broke before the convention — not in October when the Republicans would have popped it and taken Roz's Salt Lake seat.
With New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer's resignation a recent memory, all Utah is waiting for the inevitable list of politically connected Doll House customers to surface.
18 Comments:
Glen, great story.
I think nobody in their right mind would vote for this woman. Love's got nothing to do with it.
SLC Democrats are smarter than to elect this woman.
LOL! Truer words have ne'er been spoken Glen. We'll know the Utah dems are completely disfunctional if they nominate this ninny.
No, it doesn't look good for Kelly Ann. Sad, because she is politically smart and has worked hard to gain her footing in SLC politics. I know her, know her to be the real thing. But there's no doubt this choice in men will reflect on her judgment abilities with voters. Too bad.
The prospect of a Republican using this against Booth is the only reason they are running this story now. If Booth were already the Democratic nominee, this story would never see the light of day.
I feel a Rebecca Walsh column coming on. Any bets?
Possible themes:
1. It's not fair that women have to be held accountable for their SO's actions.
2. If Mormons weren't so repressed, then there wouldn't be any need for prostitutes and Booth would be on her way to the Legislature.
3. Don't forget Utah Republicans have their share of sexual indiscretions (Cal Bird, Brent Parker).
4. Booth should be elected because this happened (At the moment, I can't think of what reason Walsh would use, but she's really good at coming up with stuff like that).
Glen got it exactly right. The fact that she broke up with him as soon as she found out was smart, but the fact that it took her so long to find out something like that can't make anyone more comfortable with how reliable she would be as an elected official.
If she did know earlier (which some people will assume), then this is that much more of an indictment against her fitness for office.
The Republican's WOULDN'T USE THIS! What are you INSANE! Did you not witness the vast right wing conspiracy of the Clinton Administration? Did you not see Larry Craig, or the Catholic Sex Scandal.
Thank you Glen, you made us proud as Democrats, you removed the blood from the water for the Great WHITE Republicans.
Kelly Ann is a complete moron. Any delegate who would vote for her needs to seriously consider their own morals. Thank God this came out before she became the next district rep. She is destroying everything that we dems stand for.
I am voting for Brian King hands down. Kelly Ann is obviously not capable of helping our community in anyway. We need someone with some common sense and morale.
To Booth's buddy who claimed that she is politically talented, guess again. Part of the reason this story broke is because KAB is a MORON, both politically and romantically. If she had any political wits to her she wouldn't have spoke on the record on behalf of the "stripper tax" the same day as Steve Maesse (yes, her only knowing about her beloved's hedenous connection is a bald-faced lie). And her "decade of service"? Give me a break, it's not service to the community if you're primary motive is to have that service serve your own political aspirations.
You idiots. She didn't speak on any stripper tax. She spoke on behalf of water fluoridation. Listen to recording, it's not that hard.
The reason this story broke is because some friends and campaign workers of Brian King made sure it broke.
Kelly Ann Booth has done nothing wrong. How many of us have been fell in love o later find out that our loved one had a past.
I will be voting for Kelly Ann. I can't believe how dirty one of King's campaign staff was when I asked him about this. He said things that I later found out where complete lies. Maybe there should be a blog about how this story came to be, ad how some lawyers decided to break the news after promising not too.
As I understand it, Anonymous at 9:26 a.m. is correct. Ms. Booth didn't testify about the stripper tax. But she did put her ex in touch with a lobbyist who worked to get it appealed.
The question I have, with apologies to Howard Baker, is "What did Kelly Ann know, and when did he know it?" Mr. Maese was arrested in October of 2006. His preliminary hearing was in April of 2007, after he and Ms. Booth started seeing each other. They were engaged in October of 2007. But she didn't find out about his involvement with the Doll House until March of 2008? For someone as politically astute as Ms. Booth claims to be, that seems difficult to believe.
When their application to start a nursing school was rejected, did she ask why? Could the reason for the rejection have been because her ex ran an escort service, and was under indictment for soliting prostitution?
If, as she claims, Ms. Booth only found out about this a "couple of weeks ago," she should have come forward then, not left it to the press to figure out. Voters will accept an honest mistake (we all make them). But by not coming forward immediately, it looks more like she knew the truth and was trying to cover it up. The cover up is always worse than the original transgression. Remember Watergate, anyone?
I think Ms. Booth's lapses in judgment in this whole episode raise serious questions about her ability to represent the voters in her district at this time. The best course of action for her is to drop out of the race, keep away from Mr. Maese, and rehabilitate her reputation.
I agree with the sentiments expressed at 1.13 p.m. This isn't about tearing Ms. Booth apart, but she has so poorly handled this situation that one has to question her judgement and poltical acumen. It would be prudent for her to gracefully drop out of the race, rebuild damaged relationships, attend to her emotional health, and then consider entering the political arena at a later time when she is mature enough and savvy enough to make the debate about the issues of the day, not questionable choices in her personal life.
I really do feel sorry for her and hope she will do what is best both for the party and for herself.
Mr. Maese is NOT quiet about his prior business. Granted, he doesn't run around in a purple velvet suit. But when asked, he was always up front about what he did for a living. Make no mistake; this was a mutually beneficial relationship. Neither individual was unaware of the other's assets or liabilities and neither was blissfully unaware of the other's aspirations. Mr. Maese is a shrewd business man and Ms. Booth is a calculating individual who wants nothing more than to be a politician. Frankly, those are the ones to watch out for.
I find it unbecoming for a woman to play the stupid card, any woman, but especially one with an advanced education. Most women Google by the third date. Most women in law run a quick docket search. Kelly did neither as she was fully aware of his alter ego.
I think Kelly Ann Booth had an extremely unhealthy self esteem to be with someone like him for as long as she did. A friend of mine is a former neighbor of Mr. Maese, and Maese came off as an aggressive and intimidating man. Many times my friend was tempted to call the police due to constant fighting that bordered on violence. Unfortunately for Kelly Ann, he was too intimidated by Maese to get on his bad side.
Mr. Maese is a horrible man who treats everyone he knows like crap. He will walk on anyone to climb to the top. KAB was one of many women who think they can change a man and end up losing in the end. I'm not saying she is innocent, in fact I know she knew about all of this. They were both hoping it would all just go away. How wrong they were...
I personally know both SM and KAB and can tell you that they spoke of this matter (the pending trial) with me, both alone and together, long before they even got engaged. The lack of integrity both of them have shown is very disappointing.
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