Duncan Quit Race for Guv

Doug Duncan, left, with former Calvert County Commissioner Bobby Swann just before he quit the race for governor in the last election.  Some politicians are noted for the races they win, others for the races they lost.  Duncan will be remembered for the races he quit.  ST. MARY'S TODAY photo
The nice guy from Montgomery County has sunk any hopes that a Montgomery County politician can win a statewide race, likely dooming the mouthy Doug Gansler's chances to become Attorney General...Doug Duncan is out of the race for Governor, leaving Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley more energy and resources to remind Maryland's Democrats who voted for Robert Ehrlich that the GOP has had it's chance to govern and what do we have to show for it:  the highest taxes ever imposed on Marylanders for registering autos and trucks in the history of the state; the highest real estate assessment rates in the history of the state, the largest state budget in history; the worst environmental record in the history of efforts to save the Chesapeake Bay, with the state and local inspectors turning a blind eye on regular storm water management violations by local builders.   The Ehrlich Administration has decided to write off Southern Maryland by ignoring the area's most critical need: transportation.  Sen. Roy Dyson has repeatedly called on the Ehrlich Administration to build a second span over the Patuxent River at Solomon's to untie the daily knot of traffic which backs up in both directions for the two-lane bridge. But not only has Ehrlich opposed the expanded bridge, but he has also opposed preserving the railroad right of way and building commuter rail service to Southern Maryland.  This is a no-brainer, and O'Malley strongly supports expanded transportation infrastructure for Southern Maryland with an emphasis on mass transit.   The GOP is caught in the pockets of the highway contractors lobby and the cash they supply.  
 

Doug Duncan, the Montgomery County Executive who has been running for statewide office since 1998, each time ducking out and playing chicken with destiny, has once again pulled out of a race for the Democratic Party nomination for Governor.  Duncan, the 3-term and popular Montgomery Democrat, was working hard to become Governor as Parris $pendening was winding down his term in office.  Duncan appeared all over the state and at a Calvert County Democratic Club meeting in Prince Frederick in 1999 he was asked if he was really crazy enough to try to beat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in the Democratic Primary or was he just running a stealth campaign for the U. S. Senate in case Sarbanes decided not to run again.  "I am running for Governor," declared Duncan.   The bristles in the county executive's back were up and he stormed away in a huff.  He didn't run for Governor in 2002, instead letting Townsend have a free ride for the nomination on her way to defeat in November.   Perhaps Duncan should have stayed in the race that time.  Now, citing clinical depression, Duncan is pulling out of the race which he was trailing badly behind Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley.   O'Malley has been working hard and gaining support all over the state while GOP Governor Robert Ehrlich has improved both his tan and his golf game by lowering his handicap. Report from WABC 7    WTOP report    Statement by Martin O’Malley