The Democratic candidates for governor brought members of Maryland?s business community surprising news at a luncheon forum Tuesday: Gov. Robert Ehrlich, the stridently pro-business Republican incumbent, is actually bad for business and gives bad advice to business leaders.
Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan and Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley, who rarely share the same podium, touted their own records, saving their criticism for Ehrlich?s term in a forum sponsored jointly by the state Chamber of Commerce and High Tech Council.
Ehrlich advised business leaders in 2004 to “get dangerous” and stop financially supporting Democrats who vote against their interests. “What horrible advice,” Duncan said. “We need to bring people together, not divide people. Political gridlock has taken over Annapolis.”
“I don?t want you to be dangerous,” O?Malley said. “As a neighbor, I want you to be successful, creative, profitable. I don?t think the governor should incessantly badmouth our business climate.”
Both men were especially critical of Ehrlich?s record on higher education, saying a well-trained work force is a cornerstone of Maryland?s economic growth.
Ehrlich cut state university budgets in his first two years, leading to tuition increases.
Duncan also said Ehrlich had not shown leadership in growing high-tech companies.
Ehrlich spokesman Henry Fawell scoffed at the barbs, noting the state?s low 3.4 percent unemployment rate and the creation of 100,000 jobs in the last three years. He said the governor had a strong record in support of the biotech industry from his days in Congress and had signed the stem cell research bill that will make Maryland a leader in the field.
“No governor in Maryland history has invested more money in Maryland colleges and universities,” Fawell said, including doubling funding for need-based scholarships.
Duncan provided examples of economic successes from his county, including the revitalization of downtown Silver Spring, and advocated the creation of a Research Diamond for high-tech. “What we don?t have is a coordinated strategy at the state level,” Duncan said.
O?Malley talked of improvements made in city schools and services after decades of decline by bringing the business community inside government. He said Maryland should invest in development and production of vaccines.
“I was impressed with both men,” said Robert Wallace, an author and entrepreneur who has worked with the governor?s Commission on Minority Business Enterprise Reform. “We?ve got a lot of good choices, including Ehrlich.”
