Maryland business leaders say relationship building will be the key to continued economic health as the mantle of power is handed over at the state level.
“I think that Maryland?s economy will continue to thrive, as it has for the past decade,” said Fred Mason, president of the state?s AFL-CIO labor organization. “It?s certainly a very attractive place of business with the port, highway systems and higher education institutions.”
Mason said labor leaders are poised to build job-creating relationships with the new state leadership.
“Labor is not anti-business,” he said.
“Oftentimes people get elected and take positions that are anti-labor. We recognize that labor does not create [jobs], that business creates jobs. I believe government has a role to play in ensuring that jobs are created in Maryland that are family-sustaining jobs. Business and working families can thrive at the same time,” Mason said.
At the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, whose Political Action Committee endorsed Gov. Robert Ehrlich in his unsuccessful bid for re-election, job creation also is on the front burner.
“I think the business community has to look forward to working with the new faces in Annapolis, and this state chamber has to continue to promote policies that lead to economic expansion and jobs creation,” said Will Burns, the chamber?s director of communication. “The business community has to seize the opportunity to educate the new folks and put our policy experts before them.”
Baltimore City business, meanwhile, is waiting to see that impact of City Council President Sheila Dixon has on the sector once she becomes mayor.
“It?s going to be interesting to see what happens the next 10 to 11 months as it relates to the mayor,” said Edwin Hale Sr., chairman and chief executive of 1st Mariner Bancorp, president and CEO of Hale Properties LLC, and owner of the Baltimore Blast Indoor Soccer franchise.
“Sheila Dixon becomes mayor and it will be interesting to see who runs against her,” said Hale. “I think that if Dixon is not going to be opposed [when she runs for a four-year term in a year] things will progress. If a bunch of people throw their hat into the ring, it will put a monkey wrench in the whole thing.”
