GOVERNOR O'MALLEY OPENS FIRST DEBATE WITH FOCUS ON JOBS, TOUGH CHOICES TO PROTECT OUR PRIORITIES

Baltimore, MD (October 11, 2010) -- Governor O'Malley opened this morning's debate focused on jobs and the tough choices necessary to move Maryland forward. The Governor offered an honest assessment of the tough choices made to create jobs, transform Maryland's economy, and protect Maryland's priorities during difficult economic times. Governor O'Malley asked for continued support to move Maryland forward.

"We are starting now to create jobs again in Maryland - 33,000 jobs created since January in our state," said Governor O'Malley. "We are starting now to transform our economy and climb out of this deep recession, and that is why the choice the people of our State have to make in this election is so very important."

"The former Governor says he wants to take Maryland back. I humbly ask for your support to move Maryland forward," O'Malley said.

Governor O'Malley highlighted accomplishments during his first term including cutting state spending by $5.6 billion, standing up to big banks to help keep families in their homes, record investments in public education to help build the nation's #1-ranked public school system, fighting to make college more affordable, bringing violent crime to its lowest level since 1975, and restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

"With decisiveness and fiscal discipline we have cut state spending by greater amounts than any Administration in history; and yet together, we have also protected our priorities -- public safety, public education, and the environment. We have improved our schools, we've made our neighborhoods safer, we've made college more affordable for more families, and we have taken strong actions that are working to restore the health of the Bay," said O'Malley.

"There are two qualities I love most about the people of our State: number one, our core belief that we're all in this together. And number two, when the people of Maryland face adversity, we don't make excuses, we make progress; we move forward. And we never give up."