Governor O'Malley Declares Hagerstown Maryland's "Capital for a Day"
Holds Cabinet Meeting with Local Officials, Tours Maymart, and Meets with Correctional Officers
HAGERSTOWN, MD (May 8, 2008) – Today, Governor Martin O’Malley spent the day in Hagerstown, MD with Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and his Executive Cabinet and declared that city Maryland’s “Capital for a Day.” The Governor began the day hearing from local veterans groups, elected officials and community leaders about the challenges and opportunities facing Washington County and surrounding areas.
Throughout the day, Governor O’Malley met with local veterans, community leaders, and residents, toured Maymart, a local celebration of the spring season, had lunch with local business leaders, planted a tree with local emergency service workers in memory of 9/11 victims, and toured the Maryland Correctional Training Center where he met with Correctional Officers.
“I am proud to officially proclaim Hagerstown as Maryland’s ‘Capital for a Day,’” said Governor O’Malley. “As Western Maryland’s largest city, Hagerstown represents the challenges and opportunities facing cities and towns throughout this region. Since our capacity for progress is not confined to the walls of the State House, neither too should our state capital. I am grateful to all the local officials and community leaders for taking the time to meet with me today to discuss how we can work together to move our One Maryland forward.”
Governor O’Malley touted Hagerstown as an example of the progress occurring through Maryland, noting that Washington County gained 1,800 new jobs last year, and saw $130 million in new investment, including 1.3 million square feet of new industrial and commercial construction.
“As we continue to make progress for Marylanders, we must not lose focus on our more rural areas and our smaller towns," said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. "I am pleased to join Governor O'Malley and the rest of our cabinet today in focusing on the issues, challenges and opportunities right here in Hagerstown."
Delegate John P. Donoghue joined the Governor at events throughout the day, including a meet and greet with local elected officials. “Governor O’Malley’s visit to Washington County shows his commitment to maintaining a strong working relationship with residents and businesses here,” said Delegate Donoghue. “This partnership is only strengthened through visits like this, and a continued dialogue with local officials in our region.”
“On behalf of the City of Hagerstown, our City Council and the citizens of our community, I'd like to thank Governor O'Malley for visiting Hagerstown and choosing our beautiful home as Maryland's ‘Capital for a Day,’” said Hagerstown Mayor Robert Bruchey, III. “Hagerstown's motto is that our city is a great place to live, work and visit, and the Governor and his cabinet will see that here today in the wonderful qualities of our town.”
Governor O’Malley began the day with a breakfast meeting with Washington County veterans, where he highlighted legislative and budget initiatives to support veterans particularly in rural Maryland. The Governor noted the recent establishment of a full time Maryland Veterans Administration office in Hagerstown to assist local veterans in filing their claims. Later, the Governor held a cabinet meeting where he and the cabinet heard from local elected officials who delivered presentations on their respective jurisdictions and issues affecting Western Maryland constituents.
During a visit to the public square following the cabinet meeting, Governor O’Malley toured through May Mart, a celebration of spring featuring local merchants. May Mart kicks off Hagerstown’s “Market in the Square” season, a Farmer’s Market gathering that takes place throughout the spring. The Governor greeted local vendors of food and crafts during the tour.
Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown then held an informal meet and greet with local officials of Washington County, where the Governor also presented a proclamation in honor of National Nurses Week to Washington County Hospital Nurses. During an afternoon press conference, Governor O’Malley officially declared Hagerstown the first Maryland “Capital for a Day” of 2008, and honored local emergency service workers by planting a tree in memory of 9/11 victims at a memorial site in Hagerstown City Park. The memorial was established by Hagerstown's Mayor and City Council, Washington County Commissioners and the County's delegation to the Maryland General Assembly and developed by the Washington County Citizen Corps in 2004 to honor those fallen heroes who died in service to their country. The Governor’s tree planting began the memorial beautification process.
“The men and women we honor with this memorial were brave Marylanders who dedicated their time on earth to those who would walk it after they departed,” said Governor O’Malley. “They were driven by the same desire to look forward that drives us today – our shared conviction that tomorrow can be better than today and each of us shares a personal responsibility to make it so.”
Later, Governor O’Malley joined local business leaders at a lunch sponsored by the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce, where he spoke with members about the activities and needs of small businesses in the Western Maryland region.
That afternoon, Governor O’Malley visited the Maryland Correctional Training Center, where he met with Correctional Officers and toured the Division of Correction K9 Training Center, where Division of Correction officials have pioneered a program to breed their own contraband-detecting dogs. In addition to saving the state significant money by breeding them at the facility, the program allows for faster training of the animals.
