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Janice Wiles, executive director of Friends of Frederick County, said Wednesday she did not write or send an e-mail calling for Commissioner Blaine R. Young to step down from his daily radio talk show on WFMD.

Wiles was shocked to learn that Young (R) posted on his Facebook page Monday what appeared to be an e-mail from Wiles asking local activists to contact WFMD and call for Young to give up his show now that he is a member of the Frederick Board of County Commissioners.

Young's posting elicited 32 comments mostly from his supporters by late Wednesday morning, defending Young and his radio show.

But Wiles was surprised Wednesday when The Gazette called her Wednesday morning.

She said she sent no such e-mail, and knew nothing about Young posting it on Facebook.

"I had nothing to with that," Wiles said. "...I had nothing to do that e-mail."

As executive director of Friends of Frederick County, Wiles and the nonprofit organization have been vocal in promoting environmental conservation and urban sprawl since its formation five years ago.

Reached on the phone Wednesday, Young said he received the e-mail on Monday, and it appeared to be from Wiles and addressed to him and several other people. He said he chose not to post the names of the other recipients on his Facebook page because he thought it was inappropriate.

He said he had no reason to believe it wasn't from Wiles, but nor did he confirm it before posting it, and said he was pleased it wasn't from her.

"If it wasn't from her I'll correct it," Young said. "That's good to hear."

He said if it wasn't from Wiles, he does not know who sent it. He could not recall the address from which the e-mail was sent, and was not at his computer to check.

He said he was going to check later Wednesday afternoon, after this edition of The Gazette went to press.

Young was sworn in as a commissioner on March 3, after being chosen by the Frederick County Republican Central Committee last month to fill the seat of former Commissioner Charles A. Jenkins. Jenkins was appointed to represent District 3B in the Maryland House of Delegates in January.

Young has said he plans to file to run for commissioner in the Sept. 14 primary election.

Young has said he will not give up his radio talk show, until he files the paperwork this summer and officially becomes a candidate.

He will give up the show then because of the federal "Equal Access" law, which in general terms mandates that radio stations provide equal air time to all candidates.

Once Young files the paperwork to run for commissioner, he legally becomes a candidate, and WFMD must adhere to the federal law.

The e-mail Young posted on his Facebook page states that although Young is adhering to the letter of the law, he is violating the spirit of it by staying on the air.

The e-mail asks people to contact the radio station and tell them it is "inappropriate and unacceptable" to allow Young to continue broadcasting. The phone number and address of the radio station are included in the e-mail.

E-mail Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@gazette.net.