Hogan’s Green Bag Appointments: Leggett to Board of Regents

Many Democrats helped smooth the way for Republican Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.’s robust reelection margin in 2018. One of the most prominent: Then-Montgomery County executive Isiah Leggett.

Leggett, a former Maryland Democratic chair and path-breaking political leader, never endorsed Hogan, but he praised the governor regularly. And he served as master of ceremonies during Hogan’s second inauguration last month.

Hogan on Friday announced that he was nominating Leggett to serve on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents.

Leggett’s appointment was one of 124 “Green Bag” appointments that Hogan passed along to the state Senate – part of the annual tradition, dating back to the 17^th Century, of the governor submitting nominations for various state boards, commissions and other positions in a green satchel.

“Marylanders deserve the most capable and dedicated representatives for these critically important positions, and we are extremely proud of the qualified individuals being submitted today,” Hogan said in a statement. “These appointments reflect the diversity of our state, and I am confident that these appointees will help us continue to change Maryland for the better.”

Leggett, whose three terms as county executive ended in December, was one of several former political officeholders to be nominated to state positions.

Former state Sen. Gail H. Bates (R-Howard and Carroll), who was defeated for reelection last year, was nominated to serve on the state Board of Education. Former Del. Frank S. Turner (D-Howard), who retired last year, was nominated to serve on the Howard Community College Board of Trustees. Former Del. Marice I. Morales (D-Montgomery), who lost in the 2018 Democratic primary, was nominated to serve on the Montgomery College Board of Trustees. Former state Sen. Martin G. Madden (R-Howard), who previously served as a special assistant to Hogan, was nominated to serve on the board for the Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance Co., a quasi-governmental agency that offers workers’ compensation insurance.

Bates, a former math and home economics teacher who spent 17 years in the General Assembly, was one of three Hogan appointments to the state school board – and he’s continuing his tradition of picking board members with experience with private, religious or charter schools.

Hogan also nominated Clarence C. Crawford, a former federal manager who founded a faith-based ministry in Prince George’s County, Teach ‘em to Fish, and also serves on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board, which he joined last April. And he renominated Jean C. Halle, a former Baltimore Sun executive who is CEO of Calvert Educational Services, a private home-schooling company.

Hogan also made three nominations to the state Commission on Civil Rights. Gary C. Norman, an attorney, was renominated to a six-year term. Eileen M. Levitt, who runs a human resources company in Columbia, and Allison Umali Dichoso, a top manager at the Federal Reserve Board, were also nominated.

Other noteworthy first-time nominees includes:

— Geneau M. Thames, general counsel and director of compliance at the Harford Mutual Insurance Co., to the State Ethics Commission

— Andrea Fulton Rhodes, a longtime state and county personnel director, to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities

Noteworthy reappointments include:

— State Insurance Commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr., a former state legislator who ran unsuccessfully for Baltimore County executive last year

— Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith

— Mindy L. Herman to the Public Service Commission

Chris Cavey, Hogan’s appointments secretary – a job Hogan himself held under former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) – presented all the appointments to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) on Friday morning. The Senate must confirm the nominations.

In a related development, the Senate unanimously confirmed 48 of Hogan’s nominees on Friday, including Jason M. Stanek to be chairman of the Public Service Commission. Previously, Stanek had been a top staffer on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Click here to see the full list of “Green Bag” appointments.

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