O'MALLEY-BROWN RECEIVE ENDORSEMENT OF BALTIMORE MINISTERS COALITION

Coalition of Baltimore Ministers put their support behind O'Malley-Brown for reelection

Baltimore, MD (October 26, 2010)-- Governor Martin O'Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown today received the backing of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, a coalition of more than 200 Baltimore ministers.  The endorsement took place outside of Friendship Baptist Church in northeast Baltimore.

"It's an honor to have the support of these distinguished men and women of God, and I'm humbled by their faith and trust in the Lieutenant Governor and me," said Governor Martin O'Malley.  "In this challenging economy, we've fought to maintain our shared priorities, even in the toughest of times, of providing those core services to our neighbors in need.  When it comes to protecting these priorities, creating jobs and delivering results, we must continue to move forward over the next four years."

Rev. Dr. Alvin J Gwyn, Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church and President of the IMA, had this to say:  "The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Baltimore has been involved in the struggle for human rights and equality for the past 75 years. Our record of accomplishment speaks for itself. We are convinced these perilous and uncertain times in which we now live, gives rise to the necessity of strong, determined, and moral leadership. We are in desperate need of political leadership that embraces moral concepts and guarding virtues in order to combat the selfish greed and disrespect for human rights that now plagues our country."

He continued, "Governor Martin O'Malley has been a consistent partner with the faith community in helping us to resolve and eliminate the problems that have hindered the growth and progress in educational needs, affordable housing, small business concerns, crime prevention, and fiscal responsibility. It is towards this effort that we endorse him as he continues to demonstrate to us that he is capable to meet the challenge of taking us forward into a brighter and more responsible future."

The IMA is a network of more than 200 ministers from predominantly African-American congregations working together for social justice and issues important to Baltimore neighborhoods.