Del. Kumar P. Barve (D-Montgomery) has decided not to enter the race for comptroller next year.
Because the state’s current tax collector, Peter V.R. Franchot (D) is running for governor, there will be no incumbent in the 2022 race for comptroller.
Del. Kumar P. Barve (D-Montgomery), chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.
Several elected officials from around the state — including Barve — have been mentioned as potential candidates for the post.
But in an interview Thursday, the 62-year-old accountant and financial analyst said it would be “difficult to mount a statewide campaign given my responsibilities.”
Barve is chairman of the House Environment & Transportation Committee.
“I like what I do,” he said. “At this point the environment is more of an interest and concern for me, so I really want to focus on that.”
His decision not to run comes on the heels of news that Del. Brooke E. Lierman (D-Baltimore City), raised $407,916 over the past year. The only announced candidate thus far, Lierman reported $588,292 in her campaign account as of Jan. 13, far more than any of her potential rivals.
Bowie Mayor Timothy J. Adams (D), a wealthy government contractor, is expected to formally enter the race soon. State Sens. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery) and James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s), as well as Montgomery County Councilman Tom Hucker, are also considering candidacies.
Barve said it was too soon for him to endorse.
“There are some good people running,” he said.
Bruce DePuyt
Reporter
Bruce DePuyt is a contributor to Maryland Matters, where he was a full-time reporter until December 2022. Previously, DePuyt spent nearly three decades on local television, including 14 years as producer and host of “NewsTalk” on NewsChannel 8 in the Washington, D.C., region. He was a reporter and anchor on “News 21” in Montgomery, where he also served as producer and host of “21 This Week.” He then became a reporter and anchor at NBC affiliate WVIR in Charlottesville, Va. He appears occasionally on WTOP (103.5 FM), WAMU (88.5 FM) and MPT.
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