Franchot Swallows His Words, Offers Beer And Apology To Elections Officials

Linda Lamone, the beer — and the apology — are on their way.

In the wake of a relatively smooth Election Day, Maryland Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D) acknowledged on Wednesday that he was wrong to call for the resignation of the state’s chief elections administrator and top deputy — and he sought to make amends.

Speaking during the freewheeling opening remarks portion of the bimonthly Board of Public Works meeting, Franchot cited a recent Washington Post op-ed, by Donna Britt, that stressed the value of forgiveness “as a necessary first step for us to move forward as a nation.”

And the comptroller, an announced candidate for governor in 2022, said he intended to follow the columnist’s advice himself.

“I promised the state Board of Elections, particularly Linda Lamone, whose resignation I mistakenly called for, I guess, a while ago, and deputy administrator Nikki Charlson,” he began, “that if they and the local boards could show us a diligent and dedicated [and] successful election, against my skepticism, which has obviously been demonstrated … I promised on Sept. 23 I would deliver — if I was wrong and everything went well — a few well-earned six-packs of Maryland craft beer, later this week, as a small token of my gratitude.”

With his BPW colleagues watching with bemused looks, Franchot then held two six-packs up to his computer camera. For those keeping score at home, one was Evolution Craft Brewing Co. Lot No. 3 IPA brewed in Salisbury; the other was RaR Brewing’s Country Ride Ale, out of Cambridge, which he mistakenly referred to as Country Pride.

Franchot then said he would personally deliver the beer, along with his apologies and his congratulations, to the BOE’s offices later this week. His staff confirmed that the brews were delivered Wednesday.

“Hopefully they won’t start drinking the beer until all the provisional ballots are finished being counted,” Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) said, with a chuckle.

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