Statement
Statement From County Executive Marc Elrich on Maryland's State of the State
For Immediate Release: Wednesday 1 February
It was serendipitous to begin Black History Month by attending the first “State of the State” by Maryland’s first Black Governor, Wes Moore. I thought the Governor’s address offered new perspectives and priorities missing from the previous administration. I greatly appreciated Governor Moore’s focus on the need for investment in Maryland’s most valuable asset, its people. I thought the way the Governor connected the dots between investing in our children, becoming the best state in the nation for public education, and his initiatives to provide recent high school graduates with opportunities for community service as a means of future economic development for the state echoes what we have been attempting to achieve here in Montgomery County. As we just witnessed during our Martin Luther King Day volunteer activities, strong participation in public service sets up our community groups and volunteer organization for success.
As a former elementary school teacher, I really appreciated how Governor Moore spoke specifically about the challenges of childhood poverty and how it impacts our schools and communities. This is a critical subject that we don’t talk enough about, and I believe Governor Moore can help elevate this conversation in Annapolis. We must take a hard look at the effects of childhood poverty on learning. Children who are hungry, neglected, lack proper parental supervision, or are bombarded with anxiety end up taking these problems, stresses and traumas into the classroom. Governor Moore adequately and concisely made this link in his remarks, and the cost it has on all of our students and schools. I look forward to supporting his efforts to eradicate childhood poverty in this state.
Furthermore, I have stated on many occasions that if we are to compete economically in our region, especially with Virginia, let alone with other jurisdictions around this nation and world, we must utilize our education assets to achieve economic development goals. This is a priority that Amazon cited specifically when they chose Northern Virginia over Maryland for the HQ2 project.
Governor Moore clearly understands this approach and it is welcoming to know that we now have a Governor who gets it. I look forward to working with Governor Moore and his team on our recent announcement regarding the new University of Maryland 3 - Institute for Health Computing. In the years to come it will add millions of square feet of development around the North Bethesda Metro Station. We’re also proud to expand Montgomery College into the new East County Education Center facility in White Oak later this year. These two projects are perfect examples for the rest of state on how expanding education opportunities strengthens our business community and improves the quality of life, especially for those who have been previously marginalized and left behind.
We look forward to working with Governor Moore, Lt. Governor Miller, and their new team. I feel that Maryland’s best days are to come, and Montgomery County will continue to be at the epicenter of the State’s success.
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Release ID: 23-007