Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Gov. Martin O'Malley and Cecil Delegate David Rudolph with business owners on North East's Main Street. Photo by Leo Heppner.
By David Healey
Gov. Martin O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown rolled up their sleeves on a steamy Thursday afternoon and got down to serious business: meeting and greeting folks during a walking tour of Main Street in North East.
The state’s two top elected officials were in town as part of a countywide visit that coincided with Cecil County being declared Maryland’s “Capital for a Day.” They toured Fairwinds Farm in Calvert and held a state cabinet meeting there, visited the Cecil County School of Technology, and planned a final stop for the day at W.L. Gore.
But it was on North East’s Main Street that the governor and lieutenant governor took a stroll and chatted with residents. They were greeted by Delegate David Rudolph and Mayor Robert McKnight, who served as the tour guides.
“It is our honor to have Gov. O’Malley and his cabinet visit and declare Cecil County as Maryland’s Capital for a Day,” Delegate Rudolph said. “I believe that by visiting our county that all of the state officials, including the governor, will learn a great deal about our county, our great history, our citizens, our needs, and our desire to work in partnership with the state to address those needs.”
While in North East, the governor very generously took time out for an impromptu interview with The Cecil Observer about his visit to the county, the Chesapeake Bay, and a big budget issue for county government: local teacher pensions.
“We’re going to talk to our small business owners about recession … recession and recovery,” the governor said. “The Main Street here in North East is the perfect example of why we’re investing in Main Street,” Gov. O’Malley said.
As for the Chesapeake Bay, which is so important to Cecil County, O’Malley agreed that despite tight budget times there are many steps individuals can take to help improve and protect the Bay.
“There’s a lot that all of us can do,” he said, indicating that conservation of water and energy help the cause. He said that local farmers have set a good example when it comes to protecting the Bay. “There’s a lot that we can learn from farms about reducing runoff.”
The governor and lieutenant governor accepting gift baskets from North East officials and town employees. Photo by Leo Heppner.
What about teacher pensions? This is a hot issue at the state level, where some officials would like to see the cost of funding local teacher retirements transferred to county government, which might create a “you sank my battleship” situation for strained county budgets.
“So far the lieutenant governor and I have succeeded in keeping that on the state ledger book,” Gov. O’Malley said. “It is a huge and growing cost, especially when you couple that with the decline in the stock market. There are many in Annapolis who believe the counties should share in part of that. It’s not the direction in which I’m looking. I would like to see it stay at the state level.”
The governor went on to stress the importance of education, especially during these difficult economic times.
“Our budget is lower now than it was four years ago,” he told The Observer. “The one investment that’s gone up is education … Everything else that your state government does is down one point one billion dollars.
“Whether it’s in Cecil County or anywhere else in the state, education is really the core of the economy,” the governor said. “What students are learning at the Cecil School of Technology, these skills help form the basis of the state education, where our strengths are science, security, health and innovation.”
Gov. O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Brown stopped at town hall to talk with town employees and residents, and then visited several businesses, including RSVP, the Silver Buckle, and Herb’s Tackle Shop — where a bumper sticker in the window proclaimed: “I fish, I vote.”
They then stopped at Steak and Main, where they joined some town residents for a break in the shade. The governor wanted to know what had brought current residents to Cecil County from other areas of the state.
The visit to North East was planned, but some seemed pleasantly taken by surprise at the sight of the governor walking around town.
“Look, it’s the governor!” came an excited shout from a passing school bus full of middle school students. Several faces appeared at the windows as the governor and lieutenant governor gave the kids a big wave, making their day.
Meeting and greeting on Main Street. Photo by Leo Heppner.
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley waves to a school bus Thursday in North East. Photo by Leo Heppner.
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That was an interesting visit by the Gov. O’Malley and a very good story Dave. I wish I had known about the visit.
I was curious how long he was in Cecil County, why Fairwinds Farms was chosen and why he didn’t have time for a few other stops.
For Cecil to be Capital for a Day, you’d have make time to see the rest of the area. From Conowingo to Crystal Beach, there’s a lot of history here.
Which county will be the next Capital? I like the idea of his visits and it was nice of him to take the time for us.
Thanks, Leo. It all seemed to turn out OK. Great photos! Best, David.