Comptroller’s Race: Campbell Says He’d Be A Better Financial Watchdog Than Franchot

A new $87 million computer system has nearly paid for itself in tracking down delinquent taxpayers, says Democratic Comptroller Peter Franchot. But Republican challenger William Campbell says the Maryland Integrated Tax System is destined to cost almost three times as much – a claim a Franchot aide called untrue -- and also raises privacy concerns as it interfaces with other state databases.

This is just one of the issues you’ve never heard about in the mild-mannered and nearly invisible race for state comptroller.

Franchot is proud of his four years as chief tax collector and fiscal hawk on the Board of Public Works. But he said “we’ve got some big problems” with revenues down and record unemployment, and the state needs to “hold the line” on spending and debt.

Campbell insists it’s much worse than that. “We’re in deep trouble. We’re on the brink of a financial collapse,” he said.

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