Nancy Grasmick: Maryland’s political survivor

Nine months ago, Nancy Grasmick’s state career seemed over.

Gov. Martin O’Malley made no secret about his plans to remove the Maryland schools chief from the post she had held for nearly two decades. The state school board hires the superintendent, but O’Malley sought legislation to extend Grasmick’s term several months, so a board dominated by his appointees could take over. They could then let her go and recruit a replacement.