Even Peter Franchot is Scared

I signed up for Peter Franchot's fan club a while ago so that I could get information about what he's up to. For the most part I don't have a problem with him in his new job. When he was in the General Assembly he was a first class divisive instigator. But since being elected as the Comptroller he has taken a more pragmatic view of politics and I think he's done an okay job.

In an email that I received this week, Franchot's spokesperson said:

Tuesday's elections in Pennsylvania and across the country confirmed what we already knew: 2010 will be an extremely difficult election year for incumbents. Two Republicans have already declared their candidacy for Comptroller, and more will likely follow. It is more important than ever for the people of Maryland to have a strong, independent advocate for fiscal responsibility overseeing the State's finances.

As you can see, despite being in a relatively comfortable situation by being a liberal Democrat in Maryland, incumbents are scared. And they should be. Incumbents should always be scared. We should not have the 90% re-election rate of incumbents. Every day we see examples of the destructive abuse of power. Term limitations I tell you!

Maryland Politicians? Ha!

Why are so few politicians in Maryland not born in Maryland? Do native Marylanders have an aversion to politics? You think I'm kidding? Check out this list of elected and appointed officials that are not Maryland-born.

State-level

Martin O’Malley Washington, DC

Peter Franchot New Haven, Connecticut

Anthony G. Brown Huntington, New York

John P. McDonough Scranton, Pennsylvania

Nancy K. Kopp Coral Gables, Florida

Thomas Perez Buffalo, New York

John Porcari Rochester, New York

State Senators

Nancy Jacobs Charleston, West Virginia

Alex Mooney Washington, D.C.

Andy Harris Brooklyn, New York

Delores Kelley Norfolk, Virginia

Bobby Zirkin Davis, California

Rona Kramer Washington, D.C.

Robert J. Garagiola Warren, Michigan

Brian Frosch Washington, D.C.

Jennie M. Forehand Nashville, Tennessee

Michael G. Lenett New York, New York

Jamie Raskin Washington, D.C.

James Rosapepe Rome, Italy

Paul Pinsky Camden, New Jersey

Nathaniel Exum Memphis, Tennessee

Ulysses Currie Whitevilel, North Carolina

John Astle Charles Town, West Virginia

Edward Reilly Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Lowell Stoltzfus Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Nancy King Niagra Falls, New York

Catherine Pugh Norristown, Pennsylvania

Maryland State Delegates

Kumar Barve Schenectady, New York

Talmadge Branch Northampton, North Carolina

Tony O’Donnell Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

John Donoghue New York, New York

Charles Jenkins Norfolk, Virginia

Tanya Shewell Piqua, Ohio

Gail H. Bates Washington, DC

Emmett C. Burns, Jr. Jackson, Mississippi

Shirley Nathan-Pulliam Trelawny, Jamaica

Dan K. Morhaim Los Angeles, California

Shane Pendergrass Los Angeles, California

Frank S. Turner Mt. Pleasant, New York

Anne R. Kaiser Washington, D.C.

Craig L. Rice Washington, D.C.

Kathleen M. Dumais La Jolla, California

Brian J. Feldman Pittsburgh, Pennsulvania

William A. Bronrott Washington, DC

Susan Lee San Antonio, Texas

James W. Gilchrist Washington, DC

Luiz R. S. Simmons Winchester, Virginia

Ana Sol Gutierrez El Salvador

Alfred C. Carr, Jr. Cleveland, Ohio

Hank Heller Washington, DC

Roger Manno California

Tom Hucker St. Louis, Missouri

Sheila E. Hixson L’Anse, Michigan

Heather R. Mizeur Blue Mound, Illinois

Barbara A. Frush Washington, DC

Benjamin S. Barnes Peoria, Illinois

Joseline Peña-Melnyk Dominican Republic

Tawanna P. Gaines Washington, DC

Anne Marie Healey Scranton, Pennsylvania

Gerron S. Levi Chicago, Illinois

James W. Hubbard Washington, DC

Marvin E. Holmes, Jr. Cleveland, Ohio

Joanne Claybon Benson Roanoke, Virginia

Carolyn J. B. Howard Deland, Florida

Michael L. Vaughn Tuskeegee, Alabama

Aisha N. Braveboy Washington, DC

Dereck E. Davis Washington, DC

Melony Ghee Griffith Albilene, Texas

Melony Ghee Griffith Washington, DC

Jay Walker Los Angeles, California

Veronica L. Turner Washington, DC

James E. Proctor, Jr. Washington, DC

Joseph F. Vallario, Jr. Washington, DC

Sue Kullen Verona, Italy

Peter Murphy Washington, DC

Virginia P. Clagett Washington, DC

Ron George Syracuse, New York

Mary Ann Love West Pittson, Pennsylvania

B. Daniel Riley London, England

David Rudolph Summit, New Jersey

Susan K. McComas Denver, Colorado

Richard A. Sossi New York, New York

Adelaide C. Eckardt Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Douglas Page Elmore Nassawadox, Virginia

Charles E. Barkley Elkins, West Virginia

Kirill Reznik Kiev, Ukraine

Saqib Ali Chicago, Illinois

Barbara A. Robinson Alexandria City, Alabama

Shawn Z. Tarrant Freeport, New York

Stephen W. Lafferty Washington, DC

Curt Anderson Chicago, Illinois

Ann Marie Doory Yonkers, New York

Margaret L. McIntosh Quinter, Kansas

Keith E. Haynes Shelby, North Carolina

Talmadge Branch Northampton, North Carolina

Hattie N. Harrison Lancaster, South Carolina

Jolene Ivey Washington, DC

Doyle L. Niemann Grand Island, Nebraska

Victor R. Ramirez San Salvador, El Salvador