GOV.-ELECT HOGAN RELEASES THANKSGIVING MESSAGE TO MARYLANDERS

Maryland Governor-elect Larry Hogan and his wife, Yumi, have released the following Thanksgiving Day message to residents of the state:

My fellow Marylanders,

As we traveled the state over the last few years, we were privileged to meet many thousands of Marylanders from all walks of life, in cities and suburbs and on farms, young families just starting out and retirees, skilled tradesmen and professionals.  Nearly without exception, the men and women whom we met along the way were grateful to call themselves Marylanders.  For whatever their individual challenges and circumstances, they believe that if we work together—across the lines of party, geography, income, and race—we can change Maryland for the better.  And we will.

As we enjoy our Thanksgiving meals, let us not forget our obligations to the farmers and watermen whose hard work produces our food and those who bring it to market, and the vital work of restoring our economy so no one goes hungry.  And as we gather with family and friends this holiday season, let’s not forget those with empty seats at their tables for loved ones serving our nation abroad, or those who gave the last full measure of devotion for our freedom and liberty.  

In giving thanks to our Creator for our blessings, for our great nation and a beautiful state, I am profoundly grateful for the trust Marylanders have placed in me as their next governor, and keenly aware of the hard work and challenges that lie ahead for my administration, our colleagues in the legislature, and the state employees whom I will soon be honored to call co-workers.

In closing, we wish you and your family health and happiness this Thanksgiving.

Your friends,

Larry and Yumi Hogan

GOV.-ELECT HOGAN NAMES DOUG DUNCAN, 19 MORE MEMBERS TO TRANSITION TEAM

Maryland Governor-elect Larry Hogan expanded his transition team by 20 yesterday, again drawing from a diverse, bipartisan group of Maryland residents. Notable among them were several Montgomery County residents, including one of the county's most prominent political figures, former County Executive Doug Duncan.

His personnel review team now includes Montgomery County resident Katja Bullock, former Special Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel for Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, and a highly-regarded and longtime elected official with the Montgomery County Republican Party; Ande Fulton Rhodes, Personnel Director for Anne Arundel County and former Personnel Director for the State of Maryland; and Diane Baker, former Deputy Appointments Secretary for the State of Maryland.

Named to his business regulation review board were Jim Soltesz, President and CEO of Soltesz, Inc., a Maryland-based engineering and design firm; Ed Dunn, CEO of American Mechanical Services; and Abba Poliakoff, attorney at the firm Gordon Feinblatt, LLC.

Hogan also created a Transition Advisory Board, which includes 3-time Montgomery County Executive and Rockville Mayor Doug Duncan (D); Ambassador Ellen Sauerbrey, diplomat and former candidate for Governor of Maryland; Jimmy Rhee, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Trade in the Commonwealth of Virginia; Helen Bentley, former U.S. Congresswoman; Joe Bartenfelder, former Delegate and member of the Baltimore County Council; Doug DeLeaver, Director of Community Relations for the Maryland State Police; David Craig, Harford County Executive (R); Kelly Schulz, Delegate (R-Frederick); Montgomery County resident Sam Malhotra, Founder and CEO of Subsystems, an IT services company based in Rosslyn, Virginia;  Steve Hershey, State Senator (R-District 36); former Lieutenant Governor candidate, Del. Jeannie Haddaway (R-District 37-B); Chris Shank, State Senator (R-District 2); Dr. Juliette Bell, President of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and Luis Borunda, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Maryland Hispanic Business Conference & President, and CEO of U.S. Hispanic Youth Entrepreneur Education.

Doug Duncan

Selecting the pro-business Duncan, as well as prominent businessmen like Soltesz and Malhotra, suggests Hogan is strongly focused on the challenge of improving the state's moribund business climate. Given that Democrats are in the majority, the inclusion of Duncan will likely give Hogan an advantage in outreach, particularly in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties, where Duncan has been very active in the business community since leaving office.

LONGTIME MD SCHOOLS SUPER NANCY GRASMICK, BLAIR LEE AMONG 6 HOGAN TRANSITION APPOINTEES

Maryland Governor-elect Larry Hogan (R) added 6 diverse new members to his growing transition team Monday, including 2 well-known names in state politics. Former state school superintendent Nancy Grasmick served two decades in that role - so long that the Maryland Education Department's headquarters is named after her. She clashed with outgoing Governor Martin O'Malley over failing Baltimore schools when the latter was mayor of Charm City.

Another name very familiar to Montgomery County residents is that of Blair Lee IV, a Silver Spring developer and Gazette columnist whose family has a tremendous legacy in Maryland politics.

The others appointed are former State Senate Minority Leader Marty Madden (R); State Senator Joe Getty (R); economist Anirban Basu; and retired Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Alexander Williams Jr.

Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm in Baltimore. Basu was named one of Maryland's 50 Most Influential People by The Daily Record, and is often quoted in local newspapers. He has written economic development plans for Baltimore and Baltimore County, and lectures at Johns Hopkins University. Basu will serve as economic development and economic policy advisor to Hogan during the transition.

Judge Williams was President Bill Clinton's first African-American nominee to the federal bench. He was appointed to the U. S. District Court for the District of Maryland in 1994. A graduate of the Howard University School of Law, Williams also served as State's Attorney for Prince George's County from 1987 to 1994.

It's notable that Senator Getty represents part of Baltimore County, a jurisdiction that played a key role in Hogan's upset victory of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown in the November 4 election. Getty will lead the legislative and policy transition team.

"I am pleased to have these well-respected, distinguished, and incredibly talented Marylanders serving on our transition team as we work to take Maryland in a new direction," Hogan said at a press conference in Annapolis Monday afternoon.

HOGAN NAMES TRANSITION TEAM LEADERS

Maryland Governor-elect Larry Hogan named two senior leaders of his transition team yesterday at a press conference at the Tawes State Office Building, home of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Hogan selected Baltimore native Robert “Bobby” Neall to head his budget and tax team during the transition period, and Carville Collins to serve as general counsel.

Neall is a former state senator, delegate, Anne Arundel County executive, and businessman. “There is no better person in my mind to put our fiscal house in order than Bob Neall,” Hogan said. Collins is a partner of the law firm DLA Piper in Baltimore and Annapolis, and served on Governor Ehrlich’s transition team in 2002. At Wednesday's press conference, Hogan said, "these are the most trusted guys I have, and they’re going to help build the rest of the transition team.”

Hogan also held meetings with the President of the Maryland Senate, Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., and Comptroller Peter Franchot yesterday.

WHAT THE ELECTION RESULTS MEAN FOR TRANSPORTATION IN BETHESDA

The upset victory by (unofficial) Governor-elect Larry Hogan (R) last night, and voters' approval of a lesser-known Statewide Ballot Question, could mean a long-overdue focus on Montgomery County's unfinished highway system. Hogan's defeat of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown means the challenger's promise to focus scarce transportation funds on road construction and improvements can now be realized in actual policy terms.

Should Hogan deliver on his promise, Bethesda could be a major beneficiary of state funding and support. Assuming Hogan would support the long-delayed new Potomac River crossing to the Dulles area, there would actually be someone on our side of the river to pick up the phone that's been ringing from Virginia's Department of Transportation for years. A seeming victory by incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) leaves another high-profile bridge supporter in place, as well.

Given that 25% of traffic on the American Legion Bridge is traveling to, or from, the Dulles area, and the albatross that lack of direct access to Dulles Airport has been for economic development here, the compelling case for a new bridge could finally have a high-profile advocate in Hogan (should he choose to act on it).

The other big winner locally last night? The Town of Chevy Chase. Just 24 hours ago, the planned Purple Line light rail was considered by most as a done deal. State and county leaders vowed in recent weeks to hold a groundbreaking on the project next year. Yet, when the sun rose this morning, the Purple Line's future is in doubt. Hogan does not support it, and it's hard to imagine his administration getting on board. Chevy Chase residents and Capital Crescent Trail supporters who have been fighting the transit project have to feel a transfusion of confidence. This thing really might not happen at this point, an unimaginable outcome until now. At a minimum, it's going to be a much heavier lift for the County Council and General Assembly, both of which overwhelmingly support the Purple Line.

Money intended for light rail, and the severely-watered-down Corridor Cities Transitway bus project upcounty, could now be available for the Montrose Parkway extension, grade-separation of failing intersections, and other road projects, widening, and improvements. Greater capacity on roads would also translate into faster Metrobus and Ride On service.

Hopefully 8-car trains for the Metro Red Line will still be a priority, as that is essential to handle existing and planned development in downtown Bethesda and beyond. It would also help if Hogan would take a tougher approach than the previous administration to forcing leadership and operational changes at Metro. How Richard Sarles lasted so long - and got a raise, to boot - presiding over a system that (in practical terms) shuts down every weekend remains one of the great puzzles of humankind.

Speaking of money, Maryland voters delivered a clear message to politicians in Annapolis last night - hands-off our transportation tax dollars. Abuse of Maryland's Transportation Trust Fund is a lot harder this morning, as (at current count) 81.6% of statewide voters said elected officials should not be able to divert those funds to non-transportation uses, or budget-"balancing" chicanery.

A governor supporting projects that move the vast majority of commuters - and a new legal restraint on misuse of the dollars needed for those projects - mean Bethesda residents could be mildly optimistic about finally getting something done about our failing transportation system.