Story Category: Politics »

Center Maryland recently published a list of 50 people in Maryland who they referred to as “Influencers.” On that list were two St. Mary’s Countians: Republican St. Mary’s County Commissioner Todd Morgan and Michael Whitson, a Democrat.

This is how Josh Kurtz, who writes a weekly column for Center Maryland and who is editor of the Environment and Energy Daily, described them:

Todd Morgan: Yes, he’s a St. Mary’s County commissioner and a rising star in Southern Maryland politics – and he’s already being recruited by Republicans to challenge either state Sen. Roy Dyson (D) or Del. John Bohanan (D) in 2014. But equally important, he’s president of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, a forward-looking business and civic group in a rapidly changing region, designed to support and promote the Patuxent River Naval Station and the businesses and industries that feed off it. While wearing both hats, he’s never taken his eyes off the most important prize: caring for his wife, who was in a horrific car accident last summer and remains in rehabilitation.

Mike Whitson: This business and civic leader in St. Mary’s County runs a real estate and insurance business. But he’s better known as a top money man for Steny Hoyer and John Bohanan who serves on the Maryland Transportation Authority and is the leading fundraiser and booster for the historic Sotterley Plantation down there.

Kurtz, who was involved in the selection process, said the list was created unscientifically by discussing the idea among the people who work in and around Center Maryland. He wrote in his column, “Please remember that this list is entirely subjective and not meant to be definitive. Just because someone is missing from it doesn’t mean that he or she isn’t an “influencer.” We had a pretty big and impressive universe of important political players to choose from.”

Center Maryland describes itself as follows on its website http://www.centermaryland.org/

“Maryland had a long tradition of moderate, pragmatic leadership, with Democrats and Republicans coming together to build the university system, promote economic growth and plan for our state’s future.

Increasingly, however, Annapolis is becoming more like Washington. The incentives in Maryland’s political system are set up to elect and reward behavior that drives our public discourse toward narrow political extremes. As a result, actions are taken without considering the broader impact on our state’s families and businesses – with the computer services sales tax serving as one of the more recent and egregious examples.

“It’s time to draw people back to the center – to find common ground on common sense policies where we can make progress.Center Marylandisn’t about people or posturing –it is about creating a platform to advance reasonable and responsible ideas.

“Led by some of Maryland’s most successful political thinkers, strategists and fundraisers, Center Maryland will provide an effective counterbalance to the polarization and populism that too often wins the day in Annapolis.

“Center Maryland recognizes that government cannot solve all of society’s problems. But government can and should be an effective partner – working with the private sector – to move our state forward.

“Moderate political leaders understand the critical role played by entrepreneurship and innovation in lifting our state. The private sector is a force to be nurtured. And both government and business share a responsibility to return Maryland to the moderate, pragmatic leadership that has been central to our state’s success.”