Governor O'Malley Honored with The Keystone Center's 15th Annual Leadership in Government Award
WASHINGTON, DC (June 12, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley this evening will be honored with the Keystone Center’s Leadership in Government Award, an award that recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership, outstanding problem solving skills and efforts to seek consensus based solutions to some of the most challenging issues facing society.
“Governor O’Malley was chosen for the Keystone Center’s Leadership in Government Award for his strong sense of vision and drive to initiate positive and ground-breaking change in energy and environmental policy, as evidenced by such accomplishments as the launch of Maryland’s EmPOWER initiative and important advancements in natural resource protection,” said Keystone Center Director of Communications Robyn Brewer.
Since 1994, the Keystone Center has recognized leaders with a sense of vision and a capacity to bring about change. This award will represent the first time that the Keystone Center has honored a Governor for Leadership in Government.
“I was taught at an early age that public service was a powerful vehicle for social change, for advancing the common good, and for ensuring the dignity of every individual,” said Governor O’Malley. “It is an honor to receive such a prestigious award, especially one that has been awarded to so many great leaders.”
In his first 16 months in office, Governor O’Malley ha been a leader in energy and environmental reforms, and successfully:
- Created the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund to help restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay
- Led efforts to improve the Chesapeake Bay, signing laws to improve stormwater management and require phosphorus-free detergent, and accepting regional Forest Conservation Agreement.
- Established BayStat to coordinate public, private, non-profit efforts to save the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
- Created the Climate Change Commission to develop an action plan to address climate change in Maryland and rising sea levels in the Chesapeake Bay.
- Fought for and signed into law the Clean Cars law to clean our air.
- Launched the EmPOWER Maryland Initiative, setting the most ambitious goal in the nation to decrease per capita energy consumption 15% by 2015.
- Fought sprawl and traffic by blocking the massive Four Seasons development on the Bay, fully funding Program Open Space and restoring Maryland’s leadership in Smart Growth.
- Joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, working with 9 other states to reduce emissions and fight global warming.
- Boosted renewable energy with a law making solar energy more affordable, and the Clean Energy Schools initiative to put solar panels on schools.
- Helped farmers protect the land by keeping farming profitable, investing a record $8 million in cover crop programs and tripled annual budget for MARBIDCO and agricultural innovation.
- Passed the Oyster Restoration Act to restore oyster population of the Bay.
The Keystone Center, which was founded in 1975, strives to develop solutions to societal issues through the innovative use of deliberative frameworks, inclusive processes and analytical information. With focuses on energy, environment, heath and science, The Keystone Center has developed an international reputation for excellence in smart public policy and for building solid foundations for future leadership.
Previous recipients of the Leadership in Government Award include Senators Olympia Snowe, Pete Domenici, John Chafee, John Glenn, Richard Lugar, Daniel Inouye and Christopher Dodd; Congressmen Sherwood Boehlert, John Dingell, Henry Waxman, James Oberstar and Congresswoman Nancy Johnson as well as Secretary Hazel O’Leary. Leaders in industry, environment, education and the spirit of Keystone will also be honored at this event.
