Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown Hosts Successful Meeting of Nation's Lieutenant Governors

Showcases Maryland’s award-winning StateStat efficiency model, elected NLGA Vice Chair

 

BALTIMORE, MD (July 31, 2009) – The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) closed its annual meeting today with a reception at Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the Orioles versus Red Sox baseball game. Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown, the newly-elected Vice Chair of NLGA, boasted that the annual meeting was a great success and provided lieutenant governors an important opportunity to discuss a broad range of issues, including health care reform, the economics of education, cyber security and water management.

“This year’s annual meeting was successful on so many levels. I’m thankful for the opportunity to meet with my colleagues from across the nation to engage them in substantive conversations about governing and to share ideas and best practices,” Lt. Governor Brown said. “I am humbled to accept the position as Vice Chair of NLGA and I applaud Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton’s leadership over the last year. I look forward to working more closely with our new Chair and my neighbor from Virginia, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling.”

Earlier today, Brown led a demonstration, along with Governor Martin O’Malley’s Deputy Chief of Staff Matt Gallagher and StateStat Director Beth Blauer, of Maryland’s StateStat program and fielded questions from colleagues about the model. StateStat is a performance-measurement and management tool implemented by Governor Martin O’Malley to make our state government more accountable and more efficient. Modeled after the CitiStat program that he developed as Mayor of Baltimore City, Governor O’Malley is using this data-based management approach to make Maryland’s government work again for the people of our State. The CitiStat program has been studied and emulated by countless jurisdictions from around the globe. CitiStat received the “Innovations in Government” Award by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and now Governor O’Malley is bringing these same principles to the management of statewide services.

“NLGA members got a close look at the triumphs and challenges being met in other states. Lt. Governor Brown put together a provocative agenda for us to address issues like health care and education in the context of a rough-and-tumble economy and active debate at the national level. Maryland was a great and gracious host state and served up instructive lessons in good state government,” said Wisconsin Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, outgoing Chair of NLGA.

The NLGA meeting was funded completely by corporate sponsorships and private contributions. The meeting is expected to create nearly $500,000 of economic impact in Maryland.

“I am honored to be elected by my colleagues as NLGA Chair and look forward to continuing the conversations and exchange of ideas that has made this meeting so successful,” said Virginia Governor Bill Bolling, newly-elected Chair of NLGA. “I applaud Lt. Governor Brown for putting together such a great meeting and serving as such a welcoming host. I am particularly happy that he and I will be working together more closely over the course of the next year and hope we can build on the strong, historic partnership our states have forged.”

Brown closed the meeting by hosting a reception on the Club Level at Oriole Park during tonight’s Orioles vs. Red Sox game. Prior to the game, Brown joined Massachusetts Lt. Governor Tim Murray on the field to greet players from both teams. Brown then threw out the ceremonial first pitch while wearing a personalized Baltimore Orioles jersey.

“Lt. Governor Brown put together an exceptional showcase of Maryland’s assets which can teach lessons to other states about port leadership, government accountability through StateStat, and sustainable growth through transit-oriented development,” said Julia Hurst, NLGA Executive Director.

Mississippi Lt. Governor Phil Bryant will host next year’s NLGA Annual Meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi.

 

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