Bob Ehrlich: A few words of advice for Larry Hogan

So you are Larry Hogan, a successful small businessman who took a shot in deep-blue Maryland and won an election for governor against all odds.

Your political skills are considerable, having inherited same from your father, who had been a county executive and U.S. congressman. But now you find yourself the chief executive of a $40 billion enterprise, having never before served in public office.

Election-night euphoria has given way to the realities of being a governor-elect, particularly the heavy lifting that is “transition.” A new government needs to be pieced together in two months under the watchful eye of media still trying to figure out who you are and what you’re going to do.

Complicating matters are the countless phone calls, e-mails and texts from campaign supporters looking for that invite or job-appointment or favor. That’s the easy part. What to do with those who spent the past year trying to take you down but now scramble to cover their tracks in this era of divided government? They, too, now want to be “in” with the new administration.

The public mood (especially in the Baltimore suburbs) is supportive. The Republican base is expectant. Even some left-of-center types are willing to wait and see; seems even they could not stomach the thought of four more years of tax (a lot) and spend (more). Most important, an unknown number of successful Marylanders have placed on hold their plans to move to a more favorable environment — and all because of one election.


In Annapolis, an initial series of strong Cabinet appointments has been well received, and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) have been generally positive in their public comments.

But three significant challenges present themselves.

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