Ehrlich Made More Than $700,000 In 2009

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Republican Robert Ehrlich made more than $2.2 million in three years working as a consultant to attract business to a Baltimore law firm _ far more than his earnings as governor when he made $145,000 a year, according to details from tax returns he made public Friday.

Ehrlich, who is running for governor in a rematch against Gov. Martin O'Malley, signed his 2009 tax return Friday after receiving a six-month extension, spokesman Henry Fawell said. Ehrlich released details from his tax returns for five years after requests by The Associated Press. The copies made available did not include all pages from the returns.

Ehrlich's latest tax return shows that he made $734,663 in 2009 while working for Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. Ehrlich and his wife, Kendel, were paid $31,230 last year for a weekly radio show on WBAL Radio and for speaking fees. Aides said most of the money came from the radio show. Ehrlich stopped appearing on the radio show in June when he filed to run for governor. His wife continues to host the program on Saturdays.

The law does not require Ehrlich or O'Malley to release their tax returns, but candidates who don't make them public can leave themselves open to criticism from opponents who do release them.

"Kendel and I have always conducted ourselves in a very public and transparent way, while always respecting the fundamental and appropriate lines of privacy that every family deserves," Ehrlich said in a statement.

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