Left to right: Rushern Baker (D), Jon Baron (D), Doug Gansler (D), Ashwani Jain (D), John King, Jr. (D), Wes Moore (D), Tom Perez (D), David Lashar (L) and Robin Ficker (R).
The Committee for Montgomery held its 32nd Annual Legislative Breakfast on Friday.
This year, the event featured a panel of candidates for the 2022 Maryland Governor’s race. The nine participating candidates were former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker (D), nonprofit executive Jon Baron (D), former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler (D), former Obama Administration official Ashwani Jain (D), former Secretary of Education John King, Jr. (D), Rhodes Scholar and combat veteran Wes Moore (D), former U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez (D), former Chief Operating Officer of the Maryland Department of Health David Lashar (L) and Robin Ficker (R).
One forum question noted national dialogue has renewed focus on justice and systemic inequality. When asked what the most pressing disparity in Maryland is, Baker pointed to the education system. He said kids already behind are falling even further due to COVID-19. He also noted a disparity in health care. Baron cited the state’s poverty rate. Over time, he said, low and moderate-income Marylanders have seen stagnant wages while income inequality grows. Jain said all inequities only increased with COVID-19 and looks to demand accountability in law enforcement.
King said his great-grandfather was enslaved in Gaithersburg. He wants every proposed bill from the General Assembly to include a racial equity impact statement.
Moore cited a report that found Maryland incarcerates more young Black men than any other state, with Mississippi in second place. He said these are economic disparities, too. Moore wants to focus on “work, wages and wealth.”
Perez stated people should have access to health insurance regardless of immigration status, and he hopes to connect people to jobs.
“Jobs and justice,” he said. Lashar also mentioned the state incarcerates a disproportionate number of young Black males. On his first day as governor, he said he would launch a review of all non-violent offenders in state jails to see if they can be made eligible for amnesty.
The Committee for Montgomery’s annual legislative breakfast featuring candidates for Maryland governor. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/L1HNjTPckn
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) December 10, 2021
On beltway widening and toll lanes, Baker said he is not in favor of adding highway toll lanes. The state should focus on providing needed transportation, he said. Baron supports partial highway expansion but not full widening. He would want to wait to see traffic patterns as a result of partial expansion before moving forward. Gansler favors the American Legion Bridge work. He said there is not a choice between addressing mass transit or traffic, and the state can and needs to do both. Jain opposed toll lanes and said he would ensure transparency in existing contracts. King said the American Legion Bridge work is worth it but toll lane expansion is “a mistake.” He considered ideas like reversible lanes but said that ultimately, it is necessary to focus on public transit.
When asked how he would use the state’s budget surplus and rainy day fund, Moore said he would use the money toward mass transit options and schools. Perez said he would invest in behavioral health supports in schools, work with employers to address a nurse shortage, and accelerate school construction. Lashar said he would leave most of the state’s rainy day fund for a rainy day. He noted the state received federal money and highlighted two of his priorities: East/West transit in Baltimore and law enforcement. Ficker said he wants to cut the state’s sales tax by two cents.
