Peter Franchot

Peter Franchot
34th Comptroller of Maryland
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 22, 2007
Governor Martin O'Malley
Larry Hogan
Preceded by William Schaefer
Personal details
Born November 25, 1947
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Anne Maher
Children Abigail
Nicholas
Alma mater Amherst College
Northeastern University
Website Official website

Peter V. R. Franchot (born November 25, 1947) was elected Maryland's 33rd Comptroller on November 7, 2006 and assumed office as the Comptroller of Maryland in January 2007. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2014.

Education and family

Franchot, born in New Haven, Connecticut, attended Phillips Academy of Andover, Massachusetts, obtained a B.A. in English from Amherst College in 1973 and graduated from Northeastern University School of Law with a J.D. in 1978. Franchot now resides in Takoma Park, Maryland with his wife Anne Maher and his two children, Abigail and Nicholas. He has served his community as treasurer of the Longbranch Sligo Citizens Association, and as a coach for the Takoma Park Youth Soccer League and the Montgomery County Youth Hockey League.

Career

Peter Franchot served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970. Franchot has experience as an attorney and a self-employed business development consultant. From 1980 to 1986, Franchot served as staff director to Congressman Edward J. Markey. Prior to his election to statewide office, Comptroller Franchot served 20 years (1987-2007) in the General Assembly, representing the people of Montgomery County, Maryland in the Maryland House of Delegates.

During his time in the Maryland House of Delegates, Franchot was a member of the Appropriations Committee and served on multiple subcommittees.

During Franchot’s service, prior to his appointment as the Comptroller of Maryland he served on several other committees as well.

Legislative notes

Comptroller of Maryland

Franchot's Inauguration, January, 2007(seated l-r: House Speaker Mike Busch, Senate President Mike Miller, Baltimore City Delegation Chairman Curt Anderson and Governor Martin O'Malley)

A candidate for Comptroller of Maryland, Franchot defeated incumbent William Donald Schaefer and fellow challenger Janet S. Owens in a close Democratic primary election[1] on September 12, 2006. He defeated the Republican nominee Anne McCarthy in the General Election on November 7, 2006. Franchot was sworn on January 22, 2007.[2]

Slots Campaign

Franchot campaigned against bringing slot machine gambling to Maryland. As a member of the House of Delegates, he led a successful coalition of lawmakers to oppose the Constitutional amendment to legalize slots. The coalition succeeded in placing before the voters a Constitutional amendment to legalize slots. In 2008, Franchot, along with hundreds of grassroots leaders from around the state, launched Marylanders United to Stop Slots to encourage a 'no' vote on the referendum. Franchot argued that the high social costs of increased crime, broken families and bankruptcies would outweigh any revenue gains. Franchot endorsed Obama in early January 2008 and actively campaigned for him across the state.

“Any education funding that goes into the Education Trust Fund is subject to being raided by the legislature," Franchot said. "That is what's happened historically; that inevitably is what will happen again."[3]

The gambling referendum passed by a narrow margin, 52 percent to 48 percent.

Awards

References

  1. 2006 comptroller primary results, Maryland State Board of Elections.
  2. Ovetta Wiggins, "Franchot Takes Office, Claims Expanded Role", The Washington Post, January 23, 2007, page B02.
  3. Matt Connolly, "Casino Companies Prepare for Expansion in Maryland", "The Washington Examiner, November 7, 2012.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
William Schaefer
Comptroller of Maryland
2007–present
Incumbent