Governor O'Malley Visits Harford Students

Governor Martin O'Malley could be a celebrity.

Polished and well-dressed with a smile that lights up a room, it was like he stepped off a red carpet and into the Student Center at Harford Community College this morning.

There were camera flashes galore.

A part of his "On Your Side" campaign tour, which launched in Annapolis, O'Malley is rallying around the state in an effort to get people amped up to vote for him in the Nov. 2 election for Maryand Governor.

His opponent, former Governor where a large number of people came out in support of him.

A more modest crowd of mostly students gathered in Harford's Student Center this morning to welcome O'Malley.

Many of the students  in attendance appeared to be linked to the college's re-emerging Democratic Club and/or Political Awareness Club.

With a jam-packed "tour schedule" with stops in Salisbury and Easton over the past 24 hours, O'Malley was more than 40 minutes late when he finally emerged to a round of applause from students.

Strolling through the Student Center, he stopped briefly to pose with HCC's Owl mascot, and several students who called out to him before hustling to be seated at a table, surrounded by students with involvement in political clubs.

"It's an exciting year," he said, as he settled in for the "discussion."

O'Malley referred to his appearance as a "roundtable" session, and started with a few student questions.

Spending the majority of his visit talking about how much he supports higher education, O'Malley specifically pointed out that he hasn't raised college tuition in four years. 

Taking several blows at his opponent, O'Malley told students Ehrlich raised tuition by 40 percent during his term as Governor and referred once to what he called Ehrlich's "phony tax cuts."

"We've had a record year of funding for public schools," O'Malley said, claiming other states are "jacking up" college tuitions, while Maryland holds steady.

Keeping the topics directed toward students, O'Malley spoke about economic opportunity and high-tech jobs that will be coming available in the area—most likely in reference to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) of Ft. Monmouth, NJ.

O'Malley referred to Aberdeen as being in the "science and security corridor."

HCC President Dennis Golladay was standing by while the Governor spoke to students. He seemed impressed that O'Malley chose to visit the college.  

"I think it's a great idea that he wants to come here and directly interact with students," he said.

O'Malley sat with the students for about an hour, and spent the majority of that time talking instead of taking questions.

"The whole economy is going through a change," O'Malley said, in reference to the recession.

He placed high emphasis on the importance of employment.

"There's going to be an imperative on innovation," he said, explaining society will need to focus on a "cleaner, greener" way of life, as the population continues to increase and the world's resources are strained.

Several local politicians were also on hand to support the Governor in his bid for reelection next month.

Former Aberdeen Council President Mike Hiob stood amidst the crowd talking to Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie, a Democrat who represents District A to include Edgewood, Joppatowne and Joppa.

"I'm not delusional, I don't think he's going to win Harford County," Hiob said, explaining he and fellow Democrats who have been campaigning for O'Malley don't expect to get more than 30 to 40 percent of the county's overall vote.

Guthrie, who is in the midst of his own campaign for reelection to the County Council, said he has also been stumping for O'Malley, walking door-to-door and passing out literature.

Former Delegate/County Councilwoman Barbara Kreamer, who also identified herself as the advisor to HCC's Democratic Club, said students were ecstatic about the Governor's visit.

"There's tremendous enthusiasm for Governor O'Malley within the student body here," Kreamer said.

Though it's unlikely for O'Malley to win in Harford, known as a Republican county, his supporters are still relentless.

"He's done a great job as Governor in the worst times since the Great Depression," Hiob said.