Del. Peter Franchot, a self-described “business consultant” who rents office space from one of the biggest lobbying firms in Washington, won the Democratic nomination for the comptroller?s office.
He does not mention his affiliation with Cassidy & Associates, the lobbying firm mentioned above, or his other outside activities in campaign material or in his official biography.
We wonder why? What does he have to hide?
He surely does not hide his ambition to remake the Comptroller?s office into a bank for pet causes.
Here are some of the things he supports: Higher teacher salaries, lower college tuition, expanding health care coverage, and building a “balanced” transportation system with more public options.
He also pledges to not “acquiesce to the national gambling industry.”
Huh?
Remind us what office he is running for again?
The fact that Democratic voters chose him over Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens and incumbent WIlliam Donald Schaefer speaks to the fact that many people liked his ideas. We like many of them, too.
The problem with all of these promises is that he can?t fulfill them. The job of the comptroller is primarily to collect taxes.
The other main duty is to sit on the Board of Public Works, which votes on state contracts.
As comptroller, he would also help to oversee the state?s pension system.
These are important duties. More importantly, they are the duties he is charged to perform to the best of his ability.
He must discuss how he plans to fulfill them.
Psychology shows we do much better in jobs that we like to do. That?s troubling because so far it sounds as if Franchot would rather do anything but the job that would be under his charge.
His opponent, Republican Anne McCarthy, the former dean of the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore, understands the position and acts as if she would like to do it.
“My goal is to safeguard the financial interests of all Marylanders ? people from all walks of life, not just special interests,” she says on her Web site.
We relish the truth in advertising that the general election campaign will bring.
The people of Maryland deserve to know that their comptroller candidates can deliver on their promises.
