OBAMA STUMPS FOR BROWN: President Barack Obama will make a stop in Maryland this weekend to support Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown’s campaign for governor, the White House said Tuesday. John Fritze and Erin Cox of the Sun write that the president plans to visit Upper Marlboro on Sunday for a rally intended to energize voters for the state’s marquee political contest, which pits Brown, a Democrat, against Republican nominee Larry Hogan.
- Jenna Johnson of the Post writes that Obama will join Brown and Maryland lawmakers at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro to encourage Marylanders to cast their ballots early.
NO MAGIC WAND: Larry Hogan told the Annapolis Capital that he is sure about Maryland’s problems and knows how to approach finding remedies. But, he added, “I don’t have a magic wand, and I don’t want to make promises I can’t deliver. But I can assure you I’m going in there with a completely different mindset.”
HOGAN SCHOOL PLAN CRITICIZED: Hagerstown Mayor David S. Gysberts and Maryland Del. John Donoghue — both Democrats — held a news conference Monday to “draw attention” to Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Hogan’s savings plan, Julie Greene and Kaustuv Basu for the Hagerstown Herald Mail. Gysberts claimed Hogan’s plan would result in $450 million in school construction funds being cut. However, when asked by a Herald-Mail reporter on Saturday whether he would reduce funds for school construction, Hogan said he would not.
BROWN ON POT LEGALIZATION: Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown wants college students to know that he hasn’t quite reached the tipping point where he would fight to legalize marijuana in the state of Maryland if elected governor, reports Phil Davis for the Salisbury Daily Times.
GUN CONTROL STILL AN ISSUE: A Maryland measure enacted last year tightening the state’s gun-control laws has been a recurring issue in the governor’s race, writes Brian Witte of the AP in the Salisbury Daily Times. Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, a Democrat, and Republican Larry Hogan have collided over the law in their two debates so far.
POST BACKS FROSH FOR AG: In backing Brian Frosh for attorney general of Maryland, the editorial board for the Post writes that this race has been widely billed as a mismatch, for good reason. The Democratic nominee, state Sen. Brian Frosh, is one of the most effective and admired lawmakers in Annapolis. The Republican candidate, Jeffrey Pritzker, a corporate lawyer, has a scant record of public service.
LEGGETT BLASTS SHALLECK: Kansas played an unlikely role in Monday evening’s debate between candidates for Montgomery County executive, as incumbent Ike Leggett (D) contended that Republican challenger Jim Shalleck’s proposed budget cuts would turn the county into a mini mid-Atlantic version of the Sunflower State, Bill Turque reports in the Post.
- Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has pushed through deep reductions in taxes and spending. Critics say the results have been disastrous. The state had a revenue shortfall of $300 million, and its credit rating was downgraded, according to Bill Turque and John Wagner in the Post.
MEET CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE TILGHMAN: Bill Tilghman, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in the First District, will be available to talk with voters at a town hall meeting on Friday, Oct. 17, writes Cheryl Mattix in the Cecil Whig.
A RARE GLIMPSE: At the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal an aide in the Clinton White House reached out to Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening and asked the fellow Democrat to back off his criticism of the president, John Fritze of the Sun writes of a new round of documents released by the Clinton Presidential Library on Friday.
Gov. Martin O’Malley got a little muddy helping kids from Hollyfield Station Elementary School restore a stream bed of the Upper Little Patuxent River in Ellicott City Tuesday. The project is being managed by the State Highway Administration out of new transportation funds. SHA administrator Melinda Peters is holding the mic.
WHERE DOES JALISI LIVE? Hasan M. “Jay” Jalisi owns many properties in his capacity as the owner of a real estate management company, but the question of where the candidate for House of Delegates hangs his hat is drawing questions, reports Bryan Sears for the Daily Record. Jalisi is one of three Democrats vying for three seats, against one Republican, in the 10th District in Baltimore County. He is also the subject of a complaint filed both with the Maryland State Board of Elections and in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.
YOUNG, GARDNER CLASH: Frederick County executive candidates Blaine Young and Jan Gardner clashed Tuesday in a rough-and-tumble debate that covered ground from growth and development to taxes and jobs, reports Bethany Rodgers in the Frederick News Post. Young (R) accused Gardner of having “tax-and-spend ways” and lacking empathy for the residents who saw their properties downzoned during her time as county commissioner. Gardner (D) charged Young with prioritizing developers over citizens and running a smear campaign fueled by hundreds of thousands in donations from special interest groups.
WATSON VS. KITTLEMAN: Howard County executive candidates Courtney Watson and Allan Kittleman agreed Tuesday night that this year’s election is critically important to the county’s future. Where they differed was over whose vision would best serve Howard residents. Amanda Yeager reports the debate story in the Sun. The story is topped by a video of highlights from the debate.
- Republican Sen. Allan Kittleman was on the defensive for much of an hour-long debate with Democrat Courtney Watson in the race for Howard County executive Tuesday night, defending his record on school funding and public safety against aggressive criticism from Watson, writes Len Lazarick in MarylandReporter.com.
JOHNSON PROFILE: Rema Rahman of the Annapolis Capital profiles George Johnson, the Democratic candidate for Anne Arundel County executive who has run for the seat before and had been expected to win.
SCHUH PROFILE: Elisha Sauers of the Annapolis Capital profiles Republican candidate for Anne Arundel County executive Steve Schuh, who ran a bruising primary campaign against incumbent Laura Neuman.
JOHNSON WON’T RESIGN: Democrat George Johnson said Tuesday night he would not step down from his state post as superintendent of the Natural Resources Police after the Maryland GOP called on him to resign for allegedly using taxpayer resources in his campaign for county executive, writes Rema Rahman for the Annapolis Capital. The Republican Party said it intends to file a formal complaint with the state, claiming Johnson violated public ethics laws by using his office for campaign purposes. Johnson said his campaign would be unaffected.
PEREZ TO REPLACE HOLDER? U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez is considered to be a front-runner to replace Attorney General Eric Holder. WYPR’s Fraser Smith talks to the Baltimore Sun’s John Fritze about Perez’ close relationship with President Obama and why the Marylander would be a controversial nominee.
What fun! Replacing Holder with Perez. One scandal goalie for a communist. Yea!