D.C. Board of Trade backs O'Malley
The Greater Washington Board of Trade, which endorsed Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. in 2002 and 2006, has abandoned him this year and thrown its support behind Gov. Martin O'Malley in a move related to Ehrlich's opposition to building the proposed Purple Line in suburban Washington as a light rail line.
The board's statement explicitly mentions transportation issues as being major factor's in its endorsement of O'Malley, who has proposed a $1.6 billion light rail project for the Purple Line.
“As demonstrated by his unwavering support of light rail for the Purple Line and his dedicated follow-through on the soon-to-open Inter-County Connector, Governor O’Malley has focused on improving the region’s transportation infrastructure,” said Jim Dinegar, president and CEO of the Board of Trade.
The business group has signaled an estrangement from Ehrlich since the former governor appeared in Montgomery County this summer and said he would pull the plug on current light rail plans for the Purple Line, along with the Red Line in Baltimore. At the time, Dinegar wondered aloud whether Ehrlich had come to the county to win votes or lose them.
The endorsement is reflective of a wider breach between Ehrlich and the state's business establishment. The Greater Baltimore Committee, which plays a similar role to the Board of Trade in its region but doesn't endorse candidates, has been a vocal supporter of O'Malley's $1.8 billion Red Line plan.
Ehrlich has said the state cannot afford to build the Purple and Red lines as light rail but has suggested he could support their construction as bus rapid transit lines. But Dinegar has said that a bus line would not provide the type of permanence that would give developers confidence to build around stations that rail would.
Ehrlich has retained the support of other business groups. He announced today that he has received the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
Andy Barth, an Ehrlich spokesman, suggested a reporter ask whether O'Malley has made any promises regarding a gas tax increase, which the board supports. The reply from O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese: "Absolutely not."
Comments
Is transportation the ONLY issue that they considered? If so, not a very thorough assessment of the two candidates.
Posted by: Ron | September 30, 2010 3:53 PM
And how will the new light rail lines be paid for?
Posted by: john | September 30, 2010 4:02 PM
Good to see the business crowd abandoning Ehrlich. Ehrlich claims to be "pro-business" but he opposes transit lines, hiked corporate fees, and wants to cut education funding. Not exactly the formula for growing businesses and jobs.
Posted by: rmem | September 30, 2010 4:46 PM
Let's look at the thriving businesses along current loot rail stops. Wait most of those businesses have closed.
Posted by: Matt | September 30, 2010 4:48 PM
Has the MTA actually made money on our current light rail ?
Maryland is in debt and wants to build another light rail? Absurd!
Posted by: Jeff Davis | September 30, 2010 5:09 PM
So now Martin has to go out of State to get support. I hope the State employees who were furloughed remmeber him in Nov.
COMMENT: "Out-of-state" is a bit misleading. The board includes many businesses based in Maryland, as it did when it endorsed Ehrlich in previous campaigns. Furloughs, of course, are a llegitimate issue.
Posted by: Joe-Ball | September 30, 2010 6:37 PM
@John - If you want to know how these new light rail lines will be paid for - look in the mirror. You, me and all of the other highway users (I say that because truckers get soaked to pay for these boobdoggles, too.) are going to have to ante up. The freeloaders on mass transit pay only a small percentage (40% IIRC) of operating costs and ZERO toward capital costs.
Posted by: Gary | October 3, 2010 4:45 AM
And your roads are equally subsidized, Gary.
Posted by: Jed | October 4, 2010 10:23 AM
If they were smart, anyone who voted for Ehrlich in 2002 and 2006 should also abandon him this year!
Posted by: George | October 6, 2010 9:20 PM