Maryland Voter Guide: 10 Reasons to Vote for Martin O'Malley

O'Malley is a Guy You'd Want to Have a Beer With. I'm not sure why it's so important to voters that their officials be the kind of fellas you can have a beer with, but operating on the theory that the collective wisdom of the voters is worth paying attention to, I decided to test the theory. That's right. Last year, before election season was upon us, I had a beer with Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley at the Carver Community Center in Towson. We both drank Guinness. He told me a story about why Maryland is really called "the Old Line State." His love of storytelling was second only to his graciousness, and a good time was had by all. Oh sure, when its appropriate, O'Malley loves rhetorical flourishes and uses a Clintonian cadence. But over beers? He's the front-man of a Celtic rock band and a down-to-earth guy who loves to spin a yarn.

O'Malley Picked One Heck of a Running Mate. If a person can be judged by the company they keep, then Martin O'Malley's reputation rose a little higher when he chose the estimable army aviator, Anthony Brown to be his running mate. Anthony Brown, a veteran and Harvard graduate, is a rising star by anyone's standards. Anthony Brown knows what it's like to grow up black in America, and has been an inspiration to urban kids. Brown knows what it's like to fight for his country, and has inspired soldiers. He knows what it's like to serve the public, and to bring all his talents to bear as a state legislator for Prince George's County. Brown is such a talent that a lesser man might have resisted putting him on the ticket for fear of being overshadowed. But O'Malley and Brown work well together, and make a great team for Maryland.

O'Malley Believes in Reaching Compromises. It would have been easy for O'Malley to oppose slot machines in Maryland; it would have given him one more round of partisan ammunition to fire at his opponent this election. Moreover, opposing slot machines would have pleased his Democratic base. But time after time in meetings with Democrats across the state, O'Malley has taken a less partisan tone. He's worried that slot machines and gambling may victimize vulnerable citizens and bring a criminal element with them, but he also thinks it's urgent to protect the jobs of Maryland's racing industry. He's sought a compromise on the issue that has irritated die-hard partisans, but pleased Marylanders who just want a solution, and not partisan bickering.

O'Malley Will Be Great for the Environment. Marylanders are a contentious lot, but one issue that crosses party lines is the environment. Maryland has been blessed with a unique combination of natural resources, and it's in our interest to preserve them. O'Malley has a great environmental record and has been endorsed by a slew of state environmental groups. As Mayor of Baltimore, O'Malley cracked down on polluters and reduced sprawl. He joined twelve states to join in a federal lawsuit to reduce mercury emissions and protect our air quality. O'Malley's campaign against lead poisoning has reduced the number of Baltimore City children harmed by lead by 65%. As Governor, he promises to protect Maryland's vanishing farm lands, encourage smart growth that reduces traffic, and fight development that threatens the Bay.

O'Malley is a National Leader on Homeland Security. O'Malley defies the political stereotype that Republicans care only about national security and Democrats care only about domestic issues. O'Malley is one Democrat who can walk and chew gum at the same time. He is considered such an expert on homeland security that mayors across America, from both parties, chose him to serve as the chairman of their Homeland Security Task Force. O'Malley has been at the forefront of securing Baltimore, a port city close enough to D.C. to be a target. He believes in giving more support and equipment to our state's first responders. O'Malley has made certain that Baltimore has provided chemical and biological protection to all firefighters, paramedics and police officers. He also believes in preparing for and preventing disasters before they can occur, which may be why Baltimore has been rated one of the few "well-prepared" cities, according to CNN.

O'Malley Thinks You Should Spend Less Time in Traffic. Maryland has the second worst commute in the nation. We've all been there, stuck in gridlock. So has O'Malley, who thinks that it's vital to clear up traffic and improve our quality of life. O'Malley lobbied congress in support of a high speed train to connect Washington D.C. to Baltimore, a step that would create more jobs and reduce traffic, all while lessening our dependence on foreign oil. In the meantime, O'Malley has fought for improved bus service - especially for the elderly, the disabled and the poor. But he still thinks investment in our state's infrastructure is an important step and that busing will not solve the problem. His willingness to tackle this issue straight on with a big vision may be one of the most lasting legacies he leaves Maryland as her Governor.

O'Malley Values Work More than Wealth. Wages that haven't kept pace with inflation, increased health care bills, and skyrocketing higher education costs are the things that are hurting Maryland's working families. O'Malley has shown himself to be a dedicated fighter on those issues. He thinks more should be done to protect Maryland's existing manufacturing jobs and he opposes shipping our jobs off to foreign countries. As Mayor, O'Malley fought to raise the minimum wage and helped spur economic growth in Baltimore to expand job opportunities for our citizens. As Governor, he'd make outsourcing more difficult. As Governor, he would do more to make health care and higher education affordable. Maryland needs a Governor who will alleviate the strain on those who work hard and play by the rules.

O'Malley Took on BG&E. When BG&E tried to raise their rates by more than 70% this year, O'Malley fought the move in court - over the current Governor's objections. This is one example of O'Malley siding with the people over the powerful, but not the only one. O'Malley believes it would be his job, as Governor, to stand up for consumers at the gas pump. Energy costs will continue to be a major issue for Marylanders in the coming year, and O'Malley has a passionate, pragmatic plan to help us fight that battle - and part of that includes fighting the influence of state energy lobbyists in forming our energy policies.

O'Malley Believes in Goals and Metrics. Talk is cheap; O'Malley has been at the forefront of making government accountable - not just in Maryland but across the country. His innovations with the CitiStat program led Time Magazine to name him one of the 5 Best Big-City Mayors. O'Malley is a policy wonk who likes to set challenges for himself and establish measurements to see if he can meet those challenges. Sometimes he falls short of his goals, but Baltimore City has been positively transformed because of his efforts. Baltimore may still have a way to go, but on every issue O'Malley has tackled as mayor, vast improvements have been made. At the end of the day, O'Malley is interested in results - and he has saved Baltimore City an estimated $100 million. Imagine what he could do for Maryland.

O'Malley Remembers the Little People. We all know how wrapped up in their own self-importance some politicians can be. The glamor could have been a real pitfall for a good-looking, charismatic, big-city Mayor like Martin O'Malley. But O'Malley doesn't forget the pragmatic truth about what a mayor's real job is - to help people. During both of Maryland's big blizzards, O'Malley has worried about the snow plows, sure. But he's also worried about the elderly, making city workers call more than twenty-thousand senior citizens to make sure they were doing alright. He's even sent policemen out into the snow with bread, milk, and toilet paper for those who got stuck in the storms. It would be comforting to have a Governor who we knew wouldn't forget about us in the hard times.