Kopp re-elected Md. treasurer, vows to work with legislature

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ANNAPOLIS — Treasurer Nancy Kopp, sworn in Tuesday to her fifth term as the treasurer of Maryland, vowed to work with lawmakers on their priorities after some suggested, albeit briefly, that her time might be up.

A clerk reading the hand-tallied votes of delegates and senators may have given the impression that the four-term treasurer was a shoo-in. She garnered 134 of the 183 total votes cast. Kopp’s path to re-election, however, required her to address the Legislative Black Caucus and its concerns about her Board of Public Works voting record. Kopp is one of three members on the board; the others are Gov. Larry Hogan and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

“You have given me the opportunity in the last week or two to meet with you both as a caucus and individually and let you know I think the treasurer serves with you and serves to address, most particularly, these problems that are going to be coming up in the very near future. Problems of the disparity of access and of benefits and of wealth across the state exacerbated by the problems of environmental challenge, of climate change.”

Kopp, who served 27 years in the House as a delegate from Montgomery County, has held the treasurer’s position since 2002.

Late last summer, members of the Legislative Black Caucus raised concerns about her Board of Public Works voting record. Some lawmakers had expressed concerns that Democrat Kopp too often, in their view, votes with Republican Hogan.

Kopp was one of three  candidates interviewed last week by a joint legislative panel. Other candidates were William Campbell, a Republican who twice ran unsuccessfully for comptroller, and Elliott Reed, a former federal employee who briefly was a candidate for the House of Delegates from Prince George’s County and is now a stay-at-home father.

The joint panel overwhelmingly recommended Kopp.

In the House Tuesday, lawmakers from the House and Senate passed in hand-written ballots. Campbell received six votes and Reed two.

There were a number of write-in candidates. Del. Ben Brooks, D-Baltimore County, led the pack with 24 votes.  Sen. Andy Serafini, R-Washington, received five votes.

Other write-in candidates included Del. Talmadge Branch, D-Baltimore City; Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes, D-Eastern Shore; Ben Jealous, the most recent Democratic nominee for governor; former Del. Maricé Morales, D-Montgomery County; Alexandra Hughes, the chief of staff to House Speaker Michael Busch; and Harriet Tubman.

Del. Darryl Barnes, D-Prince George’s and chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, said Kopp’s 2017 vote with Hogan to award a $263 million 10-year contract to operate the lottery to Scientific Games International was particularly troubling.

“In particular the vote that threw the red flag was her vote on the lottery contract that went, when we had a minority that was qualified, she voted (with) the governor. That was one of the major concerns. There were other concerns throughout her history as treasurer that just drew red flags for us.”

Barnes said he and others wanted to see the contract go to Lanham-based Gaming Innovations. The consortium, which included a minority-owned company, bid $50 million lower than Scientific Games International and had filed a protest with the Board of Public Works. Kopp joined Hogan in voting for the high bidder. Comptroller Peter Franchot voted against the contract.

“She pledged to work with us on issues centered around minority contracting and ensuring that we have an opportunity, when those things come about, that she consults with the caucus on our feelings on who we want to see those opportunities going to,” said Barnes.

Barnes’  highlighting of the lucrative gaming contract Tuesday was the first time the Legislative Black Caucus has been specific in its concerns about Kopp’s voting history on the board.

In August, Branch, the Baltimore Democratic delegate who has served on four legislative committees that make recommendations on the appointment of the treasurer, requested a 12-page report of split votes on the three-member Board of Public Works over a period of three years.

In requesting the report, Branch said he initially was looking for “nothing specific” but later acknowledged an interest in Kopp’s voting record.

Barnes said Kopp, in her discussions with the caucus, addressed their concerns.

“The caucus brought her in and interviewed her and she answered a slew of questions. She promised to be as transparent with the caucus as she possibly can and to work with the caucus on issues that we have raised with her,” said Barnes, following Kopp’s swearing-in.

Kopp, in a speech following her swearing-in, vowed to work with the legislature, which appoints the position every four years. She invoked the name of Del. Howard “Pete” Rawlings, the late Baltimore City Democrat, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and father of former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake.

“We are fiscally prudent and we are socially responsible,” said Kopp quoting Rawlings. “And one without the other isn’t worth pursuing.”