Governor/Lt. Governor

We have to say, we expected more. We know that Martin O'Malley left City Hall and wound up in the governor's mansion just as the state economy was slowing down, and shortly before the national economy blew a gasket. After the fat budgets Robert Ehrlich enjoyed during his four-year tenure, O'Malley was left with scraps, and then less, to pursue the agenda he'd sold to voters statewide. Still, the charisma and dynamic leadership that helped vault him off the City Council's backbench and onto the road to national Democratic buzz have been little in evidence during O'Malley's four years as governor. More than once, we found ourselves wondering, What's he doing down there?

Ehrlich deserves credit for a number of things relating to his 2002-2006 term as governor. He pursued a relatively moderate agenda and did little harm to, and even some good for, many things more liberal Marylanders hold dear--for example, boosting spending on the environment ("The Pie Slicers," Feature, Oct. 20). But his wholesale dumping of Democratic bureaucrats at the beginning of his term is only one aspect of his stewardship that speaks to his partisan nature more than his centrist reasonableness.

The field of third-party candidates serves up a number of sincere contenders with some interesting ideas ("Third Wheels," Mobtown Beat, Oct. 20). This is especially true of the progressive Green Party candidate Maria Allwine, running with lieutenant governor candidate Ken Eidel. The Libertarian ideas/ideals of Susan Gaztañaga (running with lieutenant governor candidate Doug McNeil) could hold broad appeal for progressives and free-range conservatives alike. On the other hand, Constitution Party candidate Eric Delano Knowles (running with lieutenant governor candidate Michael Hargadon) presents a hard-right-leaning platform unlikely to appeal much to a wide constituency in this state. More than anything else that limits their viability, the third-party candidates bring to the race no executive or legislative experience, and this election has to be about getting things done.

Both O'Malley (running for re-election with incumbent Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown) and Ehrlich (running with former Maryland Secretary of State Mary Kane) have proven their ability to run the state. The question now is, in what direction? Ehrlich's campaign rhetoric of lowering taxes as the solution to most ills is disingenuous considering that state government is running on fumes as it is, and a significant part of his plan to create new jobs is to make it easier for businesses to deny unemployment insurance to Marylanders who've lost their jobs, which shows a lack of connection with the realities faced by so many in the current economic climate. Voters have already rejected Ehrlich's stewardship once, and bringing him back for another go-around, with the state's economy in such precarious health, is regressive at best. O'Malley's forward progress has been cautious and perhaps necessarily slow, but we'll take it.

Endorsement: O'Malley/Brown

For decades, the Maryland comptroller's office was something of a sinecure, politically speaking, rarely changing hands despite its critical power over the state's purse. Former state legislator and first-term Democratic incumbent Peter Franchot has nonetheless run the office like someone was chasing him. True to campaign promises, he has provided an independent vote on the state Board of Public Works, including questioning some highly questionable land deals. He has also taken to reforming and updating the state's tax collections and legislative audits with vigor. Republican William Henry Campbell brings to his campaign an admirable reasonableness, a welcome politically moderate stance, and a wealth of experience from serving as chief financial officer for giant organizations such as Amtrak, but he has not proved himself the better man for this important job.

Endorsement: Franchot

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