ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — Former Maryland Attorney General Douglas “Doug” Gansler hosted a minor event called “A Day in St. Mary’s” on June 11, 2021, for public officials and frontline workers in various departments to discuss new policies.
“We want people to feel and be safe in their environment, so we will not do a huge show for the event. But, we are doing more listening to people on the front lines,” Gansler told TheBayNet.com. “We are meeting with people from the health, education, and environmental spaces. We are hearing their concerns, so over the next year, we can continue to develop our programs and plans.”
For those who do not know, Doug Gansler is the former Democratic Attorney General of Maryland. He was first elected in 2006 over Republican Scott Rolle. Then, he was re-elected in 2010 in an uncontested election.
After being elected attorney general twice, he ran for governor’s office in 2014. In 2014, Gansler’s campaign was filled with controversy, which many believed to cost him the election.
As Gansler launches his new gubernatorial campaign, he is well aware of the past circumstances, but he believes that his resume and experience will answer everyone’s questions for them.
“I am the only person running for governor who has experience getting things done on the statewide level and has progressive and practical values,” Gansler said. “
Additionally, he is hosting “A Day in St. Mary’s” to address many of the educational disparities that the pandemic exposed while giving attention to the area in Southern Maryland.
“I’m talking to a group of teachers about the education disparities including the broadband issues that have come to light. We need to make sure that rural areas have their last line of broadband,” Gansler said. “It was highlighted during the pandemic that there is a real disparity in internet access for people that are now living in the city [St. Mary’s].”
Gansler is also working with small businesses to rebuild themselves after having a rough patch during the pandemic.
“I have talked to small businesses about what I call carry infrastructure. It’s about stopping inequities in terms of inclusion and diversity. It’s not just based on race but on socio-economic status and working families that did not have a safety net,” Gansler said. “They thought they had a safety net until the pandemic hit. They realized they were one check away from not being able to take care of their family.”
Lastly, Gansler spoke with environmentalists about maintaining what he believes is Maryland’s greatest asset, the Chesapeake Bay.
He believes that policies that he will bring to the table will be fairly easy to pass since he would have the Maryland General Assembly behind him as governor.
“I think [implementing these policies] will be less difficult because we will have a Democratic governor with a democratic general assembly. This is something that we have not had in a long time,” Gansler said. “I also think that there is a will to get it done. I think if we have true leadership and someone with experience in leadership we’ll get it done.”
Gansler plans to continue hosting these events across the state, and specifically to places like Southern Maryland.
“I am going to continue to go to different parts of the state. I will continue coming to Southern Maryland, Eastern Shore and parts of the state that Democrats have traditionally neglected,” Gansler said.
In the past week, Gansler has gone to Western Maryland, Eastern Shore, Baltimore County, and Montgomery County with the same approach.
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