Governor Martin O'Malley Declares Rockville Maryland's 'Capital for a Day'

 

ROCKVILLE, MD (July 30, 2009) –Today, Governor Martin O’Malley and Maryland’s Executive Cabinet joined Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, Senator Jennie Forehand, Rockville Mayor Susan Hoffman and other local officials in Rockville, declaring it Maryland’s “Capital for a Day.”  The monthly program brings the State Capital to every corner of Maryland through a series of events across a diverse selection of Maryland cities, towns and communities. 

“I want to thank the people of Rockville for their hospitality today.  I’m so proud to return to my boyhood hometown to officially proclaim Rockville Maryland’s ‘Capital for a Day,’” said Governor O’Malley, making his announcement during a Cabinet Meeting held in Rockville’s Town Square.  “It’s important for families across Maryland to know that their government is working for them – putting families first and fighting to expand the safety net for working families during these difficult economic times.  Strengthening our local partnerships is absolutely critical to the progress of areas like Rockville.”

“It is an honor to have Governor O’Malley back in his old home town of Rockville,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett.  “I’m sure this Town Square looks far different from the days when he was growing up in Rockville. What you see here today represents a firm commitment and a significant investment in so many ways by the State, the County and the City in the redevelopment of Rockville Town Center.  It represents a job well done.”

Even in difficult economic times, development and progress continues in many parts of Montgomery County, including in Rockville, built on the foundation of a strong partnership with the State.  State funding of school construction projects has contributed to continued success among local students in the recent Maryland School Assessments.  Ninety-eight percent of Montgomery County elementary schools and 68 percent of middle schools made Adequate Yearly Progress on the 2009 MSAs.  At the elementary school level, 127 out of 130 schools in Montgomery County met the state performance goal—an overall success rate of 98 percent compared with 95 percent in 2008.  In Rockville, more than $14 million has been appropriated over the last three years for public school construction, renovation, and repair.

“This is such an incredible opportunity for the city,” said Rockville Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann. “We have a lot in common with the state, including our commitment to the environment and our desire to ensure we are taking a sustainable approach to development. Rockville has a long-standing history of working with the state and that has strengthened both our governments.”

Governor O’Malley has also prioritized many capital projects in Rockville, even during difficult economic times, including the Rockville District Court building, the Rockville Civic Center, and the Rockville Senior Center and Senior Center Park.  Rockville Town Center also received $5.5 million to assist in the redevelopment of the Town Center.

“Even in these tough times, Rockville has continued to progress, and this success is built upon a strong foundation of local-state partnerships over the years,” said Senator Jennie Forehand.  “I am thrilled the Governor has this opportunity to speak to his hometown, and declare it Maryland’s Capital for a Day.  The O’Malley-Brown Administration has worked tirelessly to continue to strengthen these partnerships that will benefit our residents for years to come.”

The Governor began the day at the Rockville Senior Center, where he joined his mother, Barbara O’Malley, Maryland Department of Aging Secretary Gloria Lawlah, Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John Colmers, and others for a discussion with local senior citizens on a number of issues, including the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s fight to close the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit “donut hole” for Maryland seniors.  In 2008, Governor O’Malley signed legislation that provides prescription drug assistance for thousands of Maryland’s seniors.  The bill effectively closed the eligibility “donut hole” in which thousands of Maryland seniors found themselves if their expenditures fell between the mandated benefit thresholds. 

The Governor then joined Tom Fulop , owner of Rockville Interiors, an interior design firm founded in 1971, for a tour of his Rockville facility.  After the tour, Mr. Fulop joined the Governor in a walk to Primo Italiano on Rockville’s Town Square, where they met with a group of about a dozen local small business owners and several local and state economic development officials for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of small business ownership in Maryland. Small business is the foundation of Maryland’s economy, comprising 97.7 percent of all employers and employing 53.4 percent of the private sector workforce.    

Governor O’Malley concluded the day with an official Cabinet Meeting in Rockville’s Town Square.  There, the entire Cabinet reviewed their respective schedules throughout the day, many of whom met with their local counterparts on the county and municipality levels.  The Cabinet then listened as Mayor Hoffman, County Executive Leggett, and Senator Forehand presented local issues for Rockville and Montgomery County, and ways the State can continue to strengthen the state-local partnerships that benefit all Maryland residents.

“Capital for a Day,” a program launched by Governor O’Malley in 2007, brings the State Capital to every corner of Maryland through a series of monthly events across a diverse selection of Maryland cities, towns and communities.  Previous “Capitals” have included Calvert County, Westminster, Hagerstown, Chestertown, Leonardtown, the Port Towns of Prince George’s County, Cumberland, Pocomoke City, Gaithersburg and Ellicott City.

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