Brooke Lierman ready for ‘awesome responsibility’ as she prepares to be sworn in as Maryland comptroller – WTOP News

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After Brooke Lierman raises her proper hand and recites the oath of workplace as comptroller Monday, she doesn’t know what she’ll do instantly afterward.

“I [don’t] know precisely what I’ll do, what’s going to occur, or what it would really feel like,” she stated throughout an interview Friday. “I’ve to think about it would really feel overwhelming, joyous and barely terrifying all on the similar time. It’s an superior duty that Marylanders are giving to me and I don’t take that frivolously.”

The Democrat from Baltimore, who served within the Home of Delegates for eight years, would be the state’s first lady elected to the place and to an unbiased state authorities workplace.

The three p.m. swearing-in ceremony will happen outdoors of the Goldstein Treasury Constructing in Annapolis. In response to the state’s Structure, that individual will “enter on the duties of his [or her] workplace on the third Monday of January…” As a result of the Structure-mandated date falls on Martin Luther King. Jr. Day, Lierman will spend the morning earlier than her swearing-in at a service occasion within the metropolis of Baltimore.

In addition to household, mates and colleagues who plan to attend the out of doors inauguration, two well-known ladies are anticipated to present remarks: former U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D) and Prince George’s County Govt Angela Alsobrooks (D).

Mikulski, a Baltimore native, was the longest serving lady ever in Congress: from 1977 to 1987 within the Home of Representatives and 1987 till her retirement in 2017 within the Senate. She additionally was the primary lady elected to signify Maryland within the Senate.

Lierman selected Alsobrooks, the primary lady elected as county govt in Prince George’s County, as an honorary chair on the transition crew.

The comptroller-elect already has an inventory of priorities for the workplace, which has greater than 1,000 workers however a myriad of vacancies in numerous divisions.

For example, Lierman plans to ask the legislature for cash to rent a number of attorneys to conduct “high-level” audits of firms that require subtle tax experience.

One other precedence shall be guaranteeing employees, who “are underpaid and present as much as work not assured parking,” obtain the required sources to do their job successfully.

Different priorities embrace hiring know-how personnel to keep up and replace the comptroller’s web site, and reviewing contracts that come earlier than the Maryland Board of Public Works to make sure state businesses meet the minority enterprise enterprise targets.

“I shall be working arduous to make sure that I’m combating for extra sources for the staff within the workplace and that we’re creating extra more healthy and extra productive workspace as nicely,” Lierman stated. “That’s all about ensuring that we are able to serve the folks of Maryland higher.”

The comptroller’s seat turned open when Peter Franchot (D) determined to hunt the Democratic gubernatorial nomination within the July main election. He served as comptroller since 2007.

Lierman praised the Democratic crew of Gov.-elect Wes Moore, Lt. Gov.-elect Aruna Miller and Legal professional Basic Anthony Brown for additionally making historical past as the primary folks of colour elected to their respective positions.

“We’re all breaking obstacles collectively,” she stated. “Maryland voters stated, ‘We’re prepared to interrupt these obstacles and elect these high-quality folks…as a result of they’re proper for the second and proper for the roles.’”

Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore Metropolis), chair of the town’s Home delegation, stated her fellow Baltimorean additionally deserves some credit score.

She summarized how Lierman gained monetary information serving on the Home Appropriations Committee and as Home chair on the Joint Committee on Pensions.

“I believe that it actually means rather a lot to not solely me as a lady in Maryland, however…additionally seeing a lady in a statewide elected function. We don’t see that fairly often on this state,” Smith stated. “I do know that she’s not going to drag up the ladder behind her now that she’s ascended. She desires to proceed to succeed in out and attain again to the subsequent technology of younger ladies.”