Del. Heather Mizeur Joins 2014 Gubernatorial Candidates on the Trail // PLUS: Former Baltimore Exec Jim Smith is Back

Del. Heather Mizeur

Maryland Delegate Heather Mizeur, a Montgomery County Democrat, surprised many politicos by announcing last August that she was weighing a run for Governor in 2014. She appears to be moving forward with that interest based on recent news accounts. A pair of recent Baltimore Sun articles indicate that Mizeur appears to be actively campaigning for Maryland's top spot in the 2014 Democratic Primary. First, Sun reporter Annie Linskey reported on a star-studded fundraiser for Maryland marriage equality in New York last week. Apparently, George W. Bush's daughter Barbara Bush dropped by the fundraiser for Question 6, but more interesting are the article's comments about Heather Mizeur (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: ...The event was a fundraiser for Maryland's same-sex marriage campaign. The idea for it was hatched at a dinner a few months back with Gov. Martin O'Malley, actor Josh Charles and Brian Ellner, who ran the New York pro-same-sex marriage battle....

And, just as I was filing my story, word went out that Barbara Bush -- the former first daughter -- had stopped by. She didn't want to be interviewed and didn't want her photo taken. But she did proclaim to love Baltimore, where her sister Jenna taught for a bit....

Later a few women asked me to take pictures while they posed with Mizeur, saying they wanted an early shot with the country's "first gay governor...." 

MIZEUR CAMPAIGNING ALONGSIDE 2014 GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES: Consistent with the news account above, Maryland Juice has been hearing reports that Del. Mizeur has talked openly of running for Governor among LGBT activists and within fundraising circles for weeks now. But a clearer sign that she's really going for it, is that Mizeur is on the campaign trail speaking alongside the previously known 2014 candidates (Anthony Brown, Doug Gansler, Ken Ulman and Peter Franchot). See the latest report from The Baltimore Sun, covering a Western Maryland Democratic Summit yesterday:

BALTIMORE SUN: Western Maryland Democrats may get a preview of the 2014 gubernatorial race Saturday as the likely contenders for the party's nomination converge on the Rocky Gap resort in Allegany County....

Lt. Gov.  Anthony Brown, Attorney General Doug Gansler, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and Montgomery County Del. Heather Mizeur -- all of whom have signaled an interest in a State House run -- will each get  a chance to impress Democrats from one of the most heavily Republican parts of the state....

former B'more Exec Jim Smith

THE RETURN OF JIM SMITH? - Notably, The Baltimore Sun article above also mentions that former Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith is back on the scene (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: Also on the program is former Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, who continues to sit on a campaign war chest of more than $500,000 though he hasn't been on the ballot since 2006.... 

Smith previously contemplated running for Comptroller in 2010, but dropped out even after raising nearly $1 million. What's he up to now?