Comptroller-elect Peter Franchot says he wants to take his new office beyond collecting taxes and balancing the state's books, and use his position to set a policy vision for the state, with stopping slot machines and boosting tobacco taxes the top items on his agenda.
The Montgomery County Democrat said he intends to use his new position to convince legislators that slot machines would harm the state's economic future and that raising the tobacco tax is the right way to pay for expanding Medicaid eligibility.
Franchot said in an interview with The Sun that the office he will take over next month has all the data needed to provide insightful analyses on slots, taxes and other issues.
He said he plans to call lawmakers to his office during the General Assembly session that begins Jan. 10, provide them lunch and show them PowerPoint demonstrations to back up his views.
"I campaigned as someone who has vision and values," said Franchot, a former state delegate who defeated Maryland political legend William Donald Schaefer in the primary. "People are thirsty for vision. ... I am going to give them a cohesive vision of the state's economic future, and I believe people will listen to it."
Traditionally, it is the governor and the legislature -- and in Maryland, where the executive's power is strong, mostly the governor -- who set the policy agenda for the state.
Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch -- the triumvirate whose turf Franchot might find himself invading -- might have a thought or two in these areas.
The comptroller is the chief tax collector and the keeper of the state's books -- which Franchot said he considers his top priorities. The office-holder also is a member of the three-person state Board of Public Works, which approves most contracts. Some of the other power brokers in Annapolis suggest that he would be well advised to leave it at that.
Both Franchot and O'Malley say they intend to cooperate.
"We look forward to working with the comptroller-elect on many issues in the next four years," O'Malley spokesman Steve Kearney said.
"I will be a good team player with Governor O'Malley," Franchot said. "I support him, but I will be independent."
But a new, muscular role for the comptroller has the potential to ruffle feathers among Franchot's former legislative colleagues.
