Governor O'Malley Declares Leonardtown Maryland's "Capital for a Day"
Holds Cabinet Meeting with Local Officials, Presents Check for Waterway Improvements and Meets with Leadership at Patuxent River Naval Air Station
Leonardtown, MD (July 17, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, joined by their Executive Cabinet, today spent the day in Leonardtown, MD and declared the town Maryland’s “Capital for a Day.” The Governor began his day hearing from local elected officials, including Mayor J. Harry “Chip” Norris, St. Mary’s County Commission President Jack Russell, State Senator Roy Dyson and Delegate John Bohanan, Jr. about the challenges and opportunities facing St. Mary’s County and surrounding areas.
“I am proud to officially proclaim Leonardtown Maryland’s ‘Capital for a Day’,” said Governor O’Malley, standing in the Town Square. “Since our capacity for progress is not confined to the walls of our State House, we’re proud to bring the State Capital to the people of Maryland where they live and work. As one of Maryland’s oldest cities and the site of an impressive waterfront revitalization, Leonardtown is a fitting place for today’s events, as it showcases Maryland’s historic past and even brighter future.”
Governor O’Malley praised the progress Leonardtown has made and reaffirmed the State’s commitment in working with their local partners to move forward together. Through the first two years of the O’Malley-Brown Administration school construction funding for St. Mary’s County has increased by 73% or $7.2 million when compared to the first two years of the previous administration. The State also provided $6.3 million for Evergreen Elementary School, a ‘green school’ and the County’s first new school since 1980. In addition, Governor O’Malley praised St. Mary’s County’s elementary and middle school students for attaining a remarkable increase in their Maryland Student Assessment scores, an improvement from 60 percent in mathematics in 2004 to 83 percent in 2008.
“Over the last 17 months, I’ve been honored to visit with friends and neighbors in Leonardtown on several occasions and I am excited to return again today as part of ‘Capital for a Day,’” said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. “When Governor O’Malley and I took office, we promised to strengthen our One Maryland and throughout our history, the people and the towns of Southern Maryland have been an important pillar of our state’s many strengths.”
During the press conference, Governor O’Malley announced a new initiative to advance Maryland’s efforts toward smart sustainable growth. The Maryland Sustainable Communities Initiative, a joint program of the Maryland Departments of Planning, Housing and Community Development, and Business and Economic Development, provides resources and technical assistance to communities, such as Leonardtown, with limited resources to balance economic, environmental and social needs by developing plans that meet State and local goals.
“The Town of Leonardtown is very excited to have the Governor in town and to be named Maryland’s ‘Capital for a Day,’” said Mayor Chip Norris. “I hope during this visit we can show off all of the improvements we have been able to make in Leonardtown over the past few years, largely as a part of the Governor’s Smart Growth Program.”
Aftwerward, Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown joined local elected officials for lunch at the Leonardtown wharf, where they sampled food from local restaurants and took in the vast improvements made to the wharf. During lunch, Governor O’Malley presented Mayor Norris and the St. Mary’s County Commissioners with a $743,720 check for waterway improvements to the wharf.
“Improvements to our scenic waterways such as Breton Bay and the Potomac River ensure that even more Marylanders get to experience the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay,” said Governor O’Malley. “Local projects supported by the State’s Waterway Improvement Fund, such as the Leonardtown wharf, allow these important recreational and economic resources to flourish, creating a positive impact for all of Southern Maryland.”
The waterway improvement funds, which includes $200,000 to help finance construction of piers, tie ups and slips for boats, canoes and kayaks at the Leonardtown Wharf Public Waterfront Park, are part of the more than $1.72 million Maryland has invested in Waterway Improvements and Program Open Space funding to revitalize the Leonardtown Wharf. The Wharf, is a key economic development project that will create 168 permanent jobs and bring more than $173,000 annually to the Town and County. This funding is a portion of the $20 million in state Waterway Improvement Funds Governor O’Malley approved for more than 130 projects in 21 counties and Baltimore City in FY ’09.
Later that afternoon, Governor O’Malley visited Bowles Farm, a former tobacco farm that has since been diversified into an agri-tourism operation, for a tour and a meet and greet with local farmers. Governor O’Malley and Secretary of Agriculture Roger Richardson discussed important agricultural programs with local farmers such as, cover crop funding, the tobacco buyout program and Maryland’s Buy Local Campaign.
Governor O’Malley’s last stop was a visit to the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, where he met with Naval Leadership and toured the Atlantic Test Range. Governor O’Malley participated in a round table discussion with Vice-Admiral David Venlet, additional base leadership and St. Mary’s County Representatives to discuss emerging technologies, encroachment and workforce recruitment and retention at the base.
“I am pleased that Governor O’Malley was able to visit one of our county’s fine farms and the Naval Air Station Patuxent River during his day,” said St. Mary’s County Commission President Jack Russell. “Agriculture in our county is adapting to the times and the Naval Air Station is not only our largest employer and economic engine, but is also at the forefront of new technology to meet our country’s defense requirements.”
The ‘Capital for a Day’ program, launched one year ago by Governor Martin O’Malley, brings the State Capital to every corner of Maryland through a series of monthly events designed to bring state government to areas of the state that rarely see a Governor and all the heads of government in one room. Five more such events are planned covering a diverse selection of Maryland cities, towns and communities including Pocomoke City, Maryland’s port towns, Cumberland, Gaithersburg and Ellicott City. Hagerstown and Chestertown have already been named Maryland’s ‘Capital for a Day.’
