Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman (D) on Monday grew to become the primary girl in Maryland historical past to carry that job, taking the oath of workplace at a ceremony in Annapolis.
Maryland
Brooke Lierman sworn in as Maryland’s first female comptroller
Lierman was a part of a historic, barrier-breaking Democratic ticket that features Anthony G. Brown, Maryland’s first Black legal professional common, and the state’s first Black governor, Gov.-elect Wes Moore, who will likely be inaugurated Wednesday.
Till this week, solely White males had served in these jobs.
Moore’s working mate, Aruna Miller, can even grow to be Maryland’s first immigrant to carry a statewide workplace.
“I’m actually excited, and in addition actually humbled to be the primary girl,” Lierman, 43, stated in an interview final week. “Frankly, I’m thrilled to be a part of a workforce … that’s breaking a number of obstacles multi functional election cycle.”
The comptroller oversees not solely about $16 billion in annual tax assortment and pays the state’s payments, but in addition handles the administration of a number of tax-related applications and data expertise. The publish holds certainly one of three votes on the influential Board of Public Works that oversees state contracts, and it holds broad energy that Lierman pledged to make use of in new methods to advertise monetary equality.
Explaining that “all of us do higher after we all do higher” could be her guideline, Lierman stated that she needs to be sure that Black girls beginning a enterprise can get the identical mortgage phrases as her White male counterpart, that Maryland “can by no means be a really nice state till Baltimore Metropolis sees its full potential.”
She was launched Monday by an iconic glass-ceiling breaker from Maryland, former U.S. senator Barbara A. Mikulski, the state’s first and solely elected feminine senator.
Mikulski stated Lierman “will stand sentry over the state’s funds. Brooke will likely be a watchdog, and she or he’ll bark when wanted and she or he’ll chunk when essential.”
As Lierman listened alongside her husband, Eben Hansel, and their two youngsters, Teddy, 10, and Eliza, 5, Mikulski known as her a fighter.
“She’ll fear concerning the macro points — the state income, stability of pensions. However she’ll additionally fear concerning the macaroni and cheese points, these points that impact you,” she stated.
Lierman had promised voters she would advocate for equitable tax insurance policies, together with proactively reaching out to seniors or households who are usually not claiming tax credit for which they qualify. She needs to improve the state’s taxpaying programs to make it simpler for enterprise house owners, and to advocate for the state’s funds for use in a means that makes the local weather extra sustainable.
She is a former two-term state delegate who rapidly rose into management, championing high-profile payments on transportation coverage and compensation for school athletes, amongst many different points.
“My focus, every and on a regular basis, will likely be how can we assist construct communities which are equitable, resilient and affluent in each nook of the state,” Lierman stated final week.
“I’m excited to do the work for Marylanders in each county, but in addition to be sure that the ladies of Maryland are being heard, whether or not it’s a Black girl beginning a retail retailer, or a Latino girl who runs a restaurant, or retired nurse who needs to be sure that she will be able to afford to remain in Maryland,” Lierman stated. “I wish to be sure that the ladies of Maryland are heard and I’ll have their again.”
Lierman takes over from Peter Franchot (D), who selected to not search fifth time period and as a substitute ran for governor final 12 months.
Franchot completed third in a crowded major area. In a non-public ceremony earlier than the inauguration, Lierman handed Franchot the primary of her “problem cash,” an engraved memento Maryland’s comptrollers have given out for many years. Franchot hugged her, and inspired her to “keep impartial.”