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Political Dynasty

Originally Published in the Frederick News-Post

Government Transparency

by Marta Hummel Mossburg

OP-EDS

Gov. Martin O'Malley frequently waxes poetic about creating "One Maryland."

The phrase connotes a happy place filled with enlightened people who bike or ride public transportation to work that pays at least a "living" wage while building a green economy with union labor.

But that's just cover. What he really means by the phrase is rule by one family -- his.

News last week that Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake hired O'Malley's brother Peter as her chief of staff is just the latest in a web of entanglements that makes it increasingly easy for him to pull strings all over the state.

Peter O'Malley resigned his unpaid position as head of the state Democratic Party after only two months on the job to take the post. Consider it an early endorsement by Gov. O'Malley for the incumbent mayor, who faces a slew of challengers in the upcoming election in four months, and a signal to donors about where to spend their money.

Dan Fee, campaign manager for Otis Rolley, one of Rawlings-Blake's challengers, said "It's not a show of strength" of the move to The (Baltimore) Sun. I wonder if he will say the same thing when the next campaign finance reports come out.

Having Baltimore under his thumb won't hurt when or if O'Malley runs for federal office.

Some other fun facts: Robert Curran, a member of the Baltimore City Council (D-3), is related to Martin O'Malley through his wife, Catherine "Katie" Curran O'Malley. Robert's father was first elected to that seat in 1953. His brother Martin also held the seat.

Katie O'Malley's father (and Robert Curran's brother), J. Joseph Curran Jr., was attorney general of Maryland. Mrs. O'Malley was appointed to Baltimore City District Court when her father was attorney general.

Gov. Martin O'Malley created the Appellate Courts Judicial Nominating Commission soon after his first election and appointed his father-in-law to it. I am sure he helps to ensure a fair and impartial process for picking the best judges in the state.

One other connection of note: O'Malley's brother-in-law, Saul Ewing lawyer J. Joseph "Max" Curran III, is shepherding the sale of Baltimore-based Constellation Energy and BGE to Exelon through the Public Service Commission. Curran previously was a PSC commissioner from 1999 to 2005. O'Malley has been a longtime public opponent of Constellation. Somehow this deal looks like it will make it once the right concessions to Annapolis are made.

Of relatives of political figures seeking high office, O'Malley once said: "I think we need to not punish spouses or siblings or the sons or daughters of political figures. I think we need to judge them on their own merits ..."

But what if the rest of the people in the state never have a chance at key positions because of the relatives of those in office? And what if political competition never has a chance because of a small group of people who control who, what, where and when those who have paid their dues will get a choice appointment? That kind of "One Maryland" should scare people of all political stripes.

Marta Mossburg is a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute. She lives in Baltimore.