By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com
Former House of Delegates member Brooke Lierman was sworn into office on Jan. 16, making her the first woman comptroller of Maryland and the first woman to hold an independent, statewide office.
“I am honored and humbled to share this day with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” Lierman, the 34th comptroller of Maryland, said. “He served the people with the promise of a day when a Wes Moore, an Aruna Miller, an Anthony Brown could all assume the highest seats in the state office.”
The ceremony was held in Annapolis, Md., at the Treasury building at 3 p.m.
Former Gov. Larry Hogan, former Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Gov. elect-Wes Moore were in attendance, along with many other state and local politicians.
“Lierman has shown us through the work she has done for the environment, stopping gun violence, protecting workers’ rights that she will make sure the world is a better place than she found it,” Angela D. Alsobrooks, the newly re-elected Prince George’s county executive, said. “I can’t wait to continue pressing forward with Lierman and many others who have been entrusted to lead.”
Lady Brion, a Baltimore-based poet and curator, performed an original spoken word piece centered around hope for change, action and progress in the state.
“This is when we shatter the glass ceiling and take the shards to carve a new pathway. Where femininity is not a deficiency or inadequacy,” Lady Brion said. “Let’s work with Brooke to make a difference.”
Hogan administered the oath of office for Lierman as one of his last acts as governor.
“I say it’s about time that a woman is elected to an independent state-wide office,” Hogan said. “Maryland has set a shining example for the rest of the country as we conduct a peaceful transition of power. I hope Brooke and the Gov. Elect have a good connection like me and the former comptroller, Peter Franchot, did during our tenure together.”
After taking the oath, Lierman delivered an acceptance speech that applauded bipartisanship.
“The phrase ‘We all do better when we all do better’ is the guiding principle of our comptroller office,” said Lierman. “We understand that Maryland can never be a truly great state until Baltimore city reaches its full potential.”
Lierman continued, “Governor Hogan, thank you. I know I was not your first choice, but in these days of instability in our public discourse, it is even more important that you are here today, so thank you so much.”
Tashi McQueen is a Report For America Corps Member.
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