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When it comes to policy prescriptions, Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D) and retired Baltimore City District Court Judge Katie Curran O鈥橫alley (D) have more in common than not.
Both agree that violent crime should be one of their priorities; that the office should partner with local state鈥檚 attorney鈥檚 offices when deciding to prosecute police officers; that government transparency through the Maryland Public Information Act needs to be expanded; and that more resources from the office need to be aimed toward the office鈥檚 civil rights and environmental protection units.
The most contentious question during a Wednesday evening forum was what kind of experience concocts the best candidate: legislative or prosecutorial?
The question hangs in the air as Maryland鈥檚 sitting Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D), who is retiring after a decades-long career in Maryland politics, has both.
Former First Lady Curran O鈥橫alley, who spent 30 years in Baltimore City courtrooms 鈥� 10 of them as a prosecutor 鈥� said that the next attorney general needs to lead the office by experience.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just like a principal,鈥� she told moderator and Maryland Reporter Editor Len Lazarick. 鈥淒o you want a principal who鈥檚 never been in a classroom?鈥�
鈥� 鈥� That kind of experience you don鈥檛 give to others 鈥� you have to lead with that experience and that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 the better candidate for this job,鈥� she continued.
Brown, who served as Maryland鈥檚 lieutenant governor under his opponent鈥檚 husband, former Gov. Martin O鈥橫alley (D), and as the majority whip and Judiciary Committee vice chair in the House of Delegates, said the experience of Maryland鈥檚 assistant attorneys general 鈥渇ar exceeds any of the candidates who are currently running.鈥�
He said that the office needs someone who will be in Annapolis all 90 days of the legislative session to fight for the needs of the state鈥檚 top prosecutors.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 happen by politicians in an ivory tower,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淚t happens by people with legislative experience to get things done in Annapolis.鈥�
Wednesday night鈥檚 forum was hosted by the League of Women Voters and co-sponsored by Maryland Matters, Maryland Reporter, Maryland Nonprofits, Maryland Latinos Unidos and the University of Baltimore鈥檚 Schaefer Center for Public Policy.
It was more lively than the Republican forum held Tuesday, which was only minutes long after attorney general candidate and former Anne Arundel County Councilmember .
Both Brown and Curran O鈥橫alley took turns name-dropping 鈥� the latter most notably mentioning her father, former Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. (D), and Brown noting his close connection to Frosh. They also spent time challenging each other鈥檚 backgrounds.
鈥淚鈥檓 not running to be the chief lobbyist for the state of Maryland, I鈥檓 running to be the AG,鈥� O鈥橫alley said, knocking Brown鈥檚 experience as a legislator. 鈥淪o having a good 鈥� relationship with the legislature is certainly very, very vital but that鈥檚 not something I鈥檒l have a problem with. But knowing exactly how to try cases 鈥� when to try cases 鈥� is really vital.鈥�
Brown pushed back, saying judges don鈥檛 know how to work a crowd as large as Maryland鈥檚 General Assembly.
鈥淛udges and prosecutors 鈥� are making an argument to a jury of six to 12 people. You go to Annapolis, you鈥檙e making your case go 188 people,鈥� Brown explained. 鈥淭hey represent all four corners of this state. They bring their own interests and priorities and you鈥檙e competing with that.鈥�
Next Tuesday, Democratic candidates for comptroller, Bowie Mayor Timothy L. Adams and Baltimore City Del. Brooke E. Lierman, will appear in a virtual forum with the same sponsors at 7 p.m. Register here to watch that forum.
