Gifted Governor Doesn’t Keep Most Of His Presents

Gov. Martin O’Malley probably received the top item on his Christmas list this year on Election Day, but constituents and well-wishers from around the globe are sure to be sending holiday gifts toward Government House to fill in the space under the tree.

As governor of Maryland, O’Malley receives hundreds of gifts each year. According to records from the governor’s office, in 2009, he received 196 gifts. No totals are available for 2010 yet, but O’Malley spokesman Shaun Adamec said that many gifts have come in for the governor so far – especially after the election.

As governor, O’Malley cannot just accept gifts and send thank-you notes. Each gift is logged into a spreadsheet documenting the item, who it is from, the date it was received, and its value. Whether the governor kept the item for his personal use or passed it on to the state is also included on the spreadsheet, which is filed with his annual financial disclosure form at the State Ethics Commission.

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