Roundup: Trone hits airwaves, state agency gets temporary leader, 529 testimony sought, AIB gets new member

Four days after announcing plans to seek U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin’s seat on Capitol Hill, Rep. David Trone (D-6th) released a 60-second video Monday entitled “Podium.”

The television ad, backed by a “seven-figure buy,” is scheduled to air throughout the state. Trone, who has put more than $40 million of his own money into congressional races, says in the ad that he received no support as a congressional candidate from PACs or lobbyists. He promises to focus his campaign on the opioid crisis, expanding mental health care and reforming the criminal justice system.

“There were 100,000 deaths from overdoses last year, and if we don’t do something about it, 100,000 this year. [About] 50,000 Americans take their lives due to mental illness every single year. And we have a criminal justice system where 1 out of 3 young Black men will be arrested. Is any of this acceptable to you?”

He continued: “As the founder of Total Wine & More, I was one of the first to ban the box and offer partner benefits to our employees. As a congressman, I made it my mission to help people struggling with substance use, mental health, and an unfair criminal justice system — without taking a penny from PACs and lobbyists.”

Trone will face opposition in the race for the open seat after Cardin chose not to seek reelection. Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (D) announced his candidacy with a video last week.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) is expected to announce her campaign this week, according to sources in a story published Monday by TIME. The two-term county executive from Maryland’s second-largest jurisdiction may release her plans to run for Senate in a video Tuesday and then hold an event Wednesday in the county, according to TIME.

Voters may already have heard from Alsobrooks in recent days.

In audio obtained by Maryland Matters, a robocall distributed last week has Alsobrooks to introduce herself while explaining that Cardin “is retiring from the Senate.”

Part of the message, which includes a phone number asking people to call, states: “I’m getting ready to run to replace him and would love to chat with you about my plan and ask for your support.”

The call did not include an authority line indicating who paid for it. A political adviser to the Alsobrooks campaign did not respond to questions seeking explanation.

Abed to temporarily lead state agency

Gov. Wes Moore (D) has picked a state government veteran to lead the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services.

Sam J. Abed, who was the state’s Juvenile Services secretary under both Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and Gov. Larry Hogan (R), started in the position Monday. He will serve in an interim capacity.

The agency had been without an executive director since earlier this year, when Chief Financial Officer Veronica Moulis stepped in as acting executive director.

Abed was Maryland’s secretary of Juvenile Services from March 2011 to January.

The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services has been criticized by lawmakers for inadequate grant oversight and management, as well as other management issues; in response, the General Assembly included several restrictions on agency spending in the upcoming fiscal year.

Gov. Wes Moore’s office said Monday that the state is undertaking an extensive search for a permanent director.

“Sam brings decades of experience to this administration in the areas of public safety and juvenile justice and we are fortunate to have him serving in this capacity,” Moore (D) said in a statement.

Treasurer’s office requests 529 testimony

The Maryland State Treasurer’s Office wants account holders in the Maryland 529 college savings program to submit written testimony and other documentation as the office transitions to handling the settlement process for holders of pre-paid college trust funds.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed legislation into law April 24 that not only transfer responsibility of the program to the treasurer’s office, but also abolishes the Maryland 529 board.

An accounting issue surfaced last year when the board outsourced management of the pre-paid accounts to an outside vendor. The board suspended interest payments to families holding pre-paid tuition accounts after it said incorrect account balances were shown on an end-of-the-year statement.

According to the new legislation, a claim may be filed by an account holder or qualified beneficiary for an account “that was open and existing on or after Nov. 21, 2021.”

“The voice of Maryland 529 account holders is critical in this transition, and we want to hear from as many voices as possible,” Treasurer Dereck E. Davis said in a statement. “While our office has been present at every hearing and has been heavily involved in this process, we want to ensure that Maryland families have an equal opportunity to share their stories before any decisions are made.”

Account holders can submit comments and documentation to [email protected] by May 19.

Fiduciary responsibility will transfer to the treasurer’s office June 1.

Educator joins AIB

Gov. Wes Moore (D) chose Justin K. Robinson to serve on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board that oversees the state’s multi-billion-dollar education reform plan.

Robinson, a Prince George’s County educator and member of the county’s teachers union, will replace Fagan Harris, who was appointed to the board before becoming the governor’s chief of staff. Robinson will serve the remainder of Harris’ term through June 30, 2024.

According to a press release from the governor’s office, Robinson will be the only teacher on the seven-member board that’s scheduled to convene Thursday in Anne Arundel County. It will mark the first time the board will meet in person since December. All other meetings have been held online.

Robinson was chosen from a list of two candidates — the other was former Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner (D) — forwarded to Moore by a nominating committee. Forty-five candidates originally sought the post.

The committee noted Robinson’s strengths and areas of expertise in “early education” and “teaching in public schools.” He’s currently researching teacher attrition in the doctoral program at Johns Hopkins University.

“I am honored to serve on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board,” Robinson said in a statement. “We must work together to lift up the next generation of leaders — and that starts in the classroom. I will bring my education expertise to the board and represent Maryland’s teachers, working tirelessly to improve quality and equity in Maryland’s education system.”

Republish