2014 GOVERNOR: Former Baltimore Exec Jim Smith Weighing Race? // PLUS: Del. Heather Mizeur's Ballot Question Web Ad

2014 GOVERNOR: Maryland's 2014 gubernatorial race is in full swing already, as several of the candidates are very active on the campaign trail. Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown & Attorney General Doug Gansler will both be appearing at the Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club barbecue this Saturday. Meanwhile, The Kent County News caught Howard County Executive Ken Ulman stumping for votes in Chestertown, Maryland. During remarks at a luncheon, Ulman outlined his views on government reform and Howard County's experiences (excerpt below):

KENT COUNTY NEWS: Kenneth Ulman, Democratic county executive of Howard County, was in Chestertown Friday, promoting a prospective run to succeed Martin O'Malley as governor. Speaking to a luncheon group at the Hotel Imperial, Ulman touted his success at bringing businesses to Howard County, and said he could do the same as governor....

He then segued into telling how he worked to help Howard County survive the economic downturn. He said that instead of giving county employees county-owned cell phones or letting them take cars home, he granted stipends to cover their official use of their own phones and vehicles, at a savings of $700,000. “I took away their trucks, but they kept their jobs....”

Ulman said the business environment in Maryland has led to the loss of jobs to Delaware and Virginia, both of which perceived as more business-friendly. He said that by working with business owners seeking to relocate, he had enticed several to choose Maryland locations by “making it easy to set up shop....”

DEL. MIZEUR ATTEMPTS TO CONNECT TO VOTERS THOUGH THE INTERNET: Another 2014 gubernatorial candidate, Delegate Heather Mizeur, today released a web video highlighting her views on three of the ballot questions facing voters this November. I'm guessing that she is hoping to broadcast her views on the referenda to try and raise her profile and connect with voters who care about the issues. In the video below, she urges a "vote for" the Dream Act (Question 4), a "vote for" marriage equality (Question 6), and a "vote against" gambling expansion (Question 7):



The video is part of a series of social media efforts by Mizeur to weigh in on hot-button issues. The Tweet below, for example, recently went viral. Will these efforts help Mizeur build a statewide operation for 2014? We shall see!

forrmer B'more Exec Jim Smith

FORMER BALTIMORE EXECUTIVE JIM SMITH WEIGHING 2014 GOVERNOR? - Maryland Juice recently reported that former Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith had a speaking role at a Western Maryland Democratic event. We wondered what he might be up to, and knowledgeable sources quickly suggested he is pondering a run for Governor in 2014. See the commentary and analysis from one knowledgeable source:

ANONYMOUS SOURCE: Jim Smith is still interested in Governor but would run only if lots of Washington area candidates (and none from the Baltimore area) got in the race.  He does not view Ken Ulman as a Baltimore area candidate.

So, if Heather is really in this (which I think she is) Jim will likely jump in and snag the support of the entire Baltimore business community.  The Baltimore labor community will not be far behind.  Baltimore is still where the most organized and concentrated power groups are.

More on the 2014 Governor's race soon!