McDonough testing gubernatorial waters
Del. Pat McDonough says people are talking to him about running for governor and he’s decided to listen — up to a point.
McDonough said he is beginning a “testing the waters” process, which he defined as “something less formal than an exploratory process.”
McDonough, a Republican who represents the 7th District, has previously expressed an interest in running for county executive.
But over the past few months, the three-term delegate said he has been getting calls from listeners to his radio show on WCBM, and also comments from people he meets encouraging him to run for governor.
“My feelings are that Gov. (Robert) Ehrlich is still has the best chance” to unseat Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley.
Ehrlich has not yet declared his intentions for the 2010 election, despite a “Draft Ehrlich” movement among some state Republicans.
“I’ve come to the conclusion (O’Malley) needs to be replaced,” McDonough said. “There is no hope if (O’Malley) feels he can propose a tax increase in an election year.”
McDonough said he plans a more formal announcement about his “testing the waters” process in the next few weeks. He said he’ll continue to talk about issues such as the state budget, education, gangs and Constellation Energy.
“I think we need to have a debate about state issue at the same level of passion as we are having a discussion about the federal bailout and health care,” McDonough said.
McDonough will also continue to talk about illegal immigration.
“I won’t be the illegal immigration governor, but it will be one of my top five issues,” McDonough said.
Currently, Republican Mike Pappas, a Towson lawyer and Perry Hall resident, has said he plans to run for governor. Pappas said he intends to run even if Ehrlich decides to run, something McDonough said he will not do.
McDonough said that exploring a run for governor does not rule out that he will ultimately run for county executive.
“It’s a test,” McDonough said. “I’m not a prophet. Who knows how people are going to react?”