Governor

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, considered one of the leading prospective Democratic candidates for governor in 2014, said Tuesday that he will instead seek a third term in his current post. In an interview, Franchot, 65, said he made his decision after considering internal polls that showed him a much stronger candidate for re-election than for governor. He said he's happy with what he's doing now — running Maryland's tax system and serving as the state's fiscal watchdog.

The reaction of former Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. to the guilty verdict against his former aide, Paul Schurick, reveals in just a few carefully well-chosen words the political views that led to his failure as governor ("Schurick convicted: Former Gov. Ehrlich's ex-campaign manager guilty in robocall case," Dec. 7). Mr. Ehrlich's emphasis that his disagreement was with the decision "from a Baltimore City jury," not just with the jury, implies a nasty bias that is consistent with the unchecked partisanship that dominated his four years as governor.

In his South Carolina speech, Gov. Martin O'Malley said we have "cut state spending big time" ("O'Malley takes a tryout in S.C.," March 24). Since July 2007, Maryland's population has increased less than 1 percent a year and inflation has averaged slightly over 2 percent annually. Yet the governor's first budget in fiscal 2008 was less than $30 billion, while his most recent submission, for fiscal 2014, is over $37 billion - about a 4 percent annual increase over his tenure. Thus state government spending adjusted for inflation has actually increased on a per capita basis.

Isn't it amazing? When Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.was in office and wanted to initiate gambling, the politicians in Annapolis were morally opposed. Once a Democrat became governor, those objections suddenly disappeared. As a result, millions of dollars were lost, and surrounding states benefited, while our taxes skyrocketed. Now too late, our greedy politicians need to pay a commission and have a special session of the legislature to further bilk Marylanders of their money. This is what happens when greed and personal ambition override the public need.

I agree with letter writer Sharon Frierson that the view train and inter-city bus travelers get as they travel through Baltimore is atrocious ("City doesn't put its best foot forward," April 15). But the idea that the mayor of Baltimore or Maryland's governor is responsible for changing it is ridiculous. I am certain that neither of them dumped the garbage or destroyed the property or wrote the graffiti. This problem, like the violence in the city, will cease only when the community culture will no longer tolerate it. Anita Heygster, Pasadena Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

There was a photo caption in the Sunday Sun article ("Landmark Measures for Maryland" April 7) about Senate President Mike Miller, House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Gov. Martin O'Malley. The caption stated that "When the three of us are on the same page," according to the governor, it would result in the passage of the governor's "sweeping agenda. " In reality, it's more like a steamroller agenda. In reference to the so-called sweeping agenda, yes, the residents of Maryland who initially trusted the Three Ms have been "swept" under the carpet.

I have a question for all the people who once fought so hard against casinos in the state when Gov.Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.ran on a "slots" agenda: Don't you feel silly? Now these people can't seem to get enough of the millions of dollars being generated by gambling venues, or of the jobs that are being created in their neighborhoods. Just a few years ago, Gov. Martin O'Malleyand the dim bulbs in Annapolis said that using gambling money to fund education was "morally bankrupt. " Where is their "moral superiority" now?

I first want to commend The Sun's editorial board for their spot on assessment of expanding same-day voter registration to include change of party affiliation ("Voting early and easily," Jan. 22). As an independent voter and advocate of open primaries, this alternative is probably the closest compromise third party voters will get with a Democratic legislature. And please don't take my sincere compliment of this position lightly, as it comes rarely for the positions taken by this paper.

State Comptroller Peter Franchot is going to the farmers' market Sunday. This is news, I'd suggest, because he's bypassing the market near his Takoma Park home for the one under the JFX in Baltimore. Sounds like a man seeking votes, in the 2014 governor's race, as much as native produce. "You don't think he has a natural craving for cantaloupe and hand-picked silver queen corn?" Franchot's Chief of Staff, Len Foxwell, said when I bounced that theory off him. Franchot was the only big-name gubernatorial wannabe who schlepped to Crisfield earlier this summer for the annual Tawes crab-and-politics fest.

The governor has tested out his yacht and decided it is fit for duty.Parris N. Glendening, first lady Frances Hughes Glendening, their son, Raymond, and an invited friend took a two-hour cruise lTC on the Chesapeake Bay aboard the Maryland Independence Sunday afternoon, a spokeswoman confirmed yesterday.Dianna D. Rosborough, the governor's press secretary, said the Glendenings cruised from Annapolis to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and back as part of an inspection tour. Mr. Glendening decided he wants to use the yacht to promote Maryland to business leaders, she said.