Ryan Miner reports today that gubernatorial candidate (and current PG County exec) Rushern Baker is vetting Nancy Floreen (outgoing Montgomery County Council at-large member) to be on his ticket as lieutenant governor next year. Floreen is the last surviving completely unrepentant* member of Doug Duncan’s and Steve Silverman’s infamous “End Gridlock” slate of the early aughts. For those with short memories, this is the team that engaged in character assassination of all those opposed to full development-industry ownership of the county. Floreen has spent her entire 16 years in office trying to pave everything in sight, while opposing almost all economic justice and environmental legislation. I was among those looking forward to never hearing from her again, as she is forced out of office after next year, due to term limits.
As for Baker, I found him unexciting at Progressive Neighbors’ Gubernatorial Forum in October, but also unobjectionable. And, with his massive support from PG and increasing number of bigwig endorsements, I’ve been looking increasingly favorably towards his campaign to beat sitting governor Larry Hogan.
But principles are principles and if Baker picks Floreen, he will be dead to me.
*George Leventhal was also on that disgusting slate, but has not exactly been wearing it as a badge of honor, since.
©2017 Keith Berner
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