Comptroller of Maryland

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The Comptroller of Maryland, United States, currently Peter Franchot, is the state's chief financial officer and is also elected by the people for a four year term. The comptroller is not term-limited. The office was established by the Maryland Constitution of 1851 due to concern about the potential for fraud and corruption in the administration of the public treasury. The constitutional duties of the office begin with the broad mandate to exercise "general superintendence of the fiscal affairs of the State", which includes collecting taxes and maintaining the general ledger. The Comptroller (or a deputy) countersigns all checks drawn by the State Treasurer (who is elected by the General Assembly) upon the deposits of the State. The Comptroller also prescribes the formalities for transfer of other evidence of State debt and countersigns such papers.

In addition, the comptroller's office audits taxpayers for compliance, handles delinquent tax collection, and enforces license and unclaimed property laws. The agency publicizes forgotten bank accounts, insurance benefits and other unclaimed assets of taxpayers. Acting as Maryland's chief accountant, the comptroller pays the state's bills, maintains its books, prepares financial reports, and pays its state employees.

[edit] List of Comptrollers of Maryland

Order Name Term
1 Philip Francis Thomas 1851-1853
2 Henry E. Bateman 1853-1854
3 William Pinkney Whyte 1854-1856
4 William Henry Purnell 1856-1861
5 Dennis Claude 1861
6 Abram Lingan Jarrett 1861-1862
7 Samuel Snowden Maffit 1862-1864
8 Henry Hollyday Goldsborough 1864
9 Robert John Jump 1864-1867
10 William James Leonard 1867-1870
11 Levin Woolford 1870-1878
12 Thomas James Keating 1878-1884
13 J. Frank Turner 1884-1888
14 L. Victor Baughman 1888-1892
15 Marion deKalb Smith 1892-1896
16 Robert Patterson Graham 1896-1898
17 Phillips Lee Goldsborough 1898-1900
18 Joshua W. Hering 1900-1904
19 Gordon T. Atkinson 1904-1907
20 Joshua W. Hering 1907-1910
21 William B. Clagett 1910-1911
22 Charles H. Stanley 1911-1912
23 Emerson C. Harrington 1912-1916
24 Hugh A. McMullen 1916-1920
25 E. Brooke Lee 1920-1922
26 William S. Gordy, Jr. 1922-1939
27 J. Millard Tawes 1939-1947
28 James J. Lacy 1947-1950
29 J. Millard Tawes 1950-1959
30 Louis L. Goldstein 1959-1998
31 Robert L. Swann 1998-1999
32 William Donald Schaefer 1999-2007
33 Peter Franchot 2007-present

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