More Than 50 Local, State Officials Back Adams' Bid For Comptroller

By Bennett Leckrone, Maryland Matters

March 17, 2022

Bowie Mayor Timothy J. Adams, a Democratic candidate for state comptroller, released a list of more than 50 endorsements from Democratic officials across Maryland Thursday.

Adams’ mass endorsement release follows a long march of endorsements for his Democratic primary opponent, state Del. Brooke E. Lierman of Baltimore City.

Among the local and state officials throwing their support behind Adams in the comptroller race are Del. Darryl Barnes (D-Prince George’s), the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus; Prince George’s County Council President Calvin Hawkins, Prince George’s County Councilmember Jolene Ivey, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby, Baltimore City Council President Nick J. Mosby, and former Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young,

“Maryland’s taxes will be in safe hands with Tim Adams,” Ivey said in a statement. “His experience with growing and running his successful company positions him as the front runner in the knowledge he’ll need to protect our money. His life experiences as an African-American man who has had to adapt to a physical disability make him a role model for all of us.”

Adams, the first Black mayor of Bowie and the founder and CEO of the multimillion-dollar defense contracting firm Systems Application & Technologies, has said he wants to overhaul the state’s procurement process to be more competitive for businesses owned by women and people of color as part of his campaign. He has touted his business leadership acumen on the campaign trail.

“I know that Maryland can do more to take care of our most vulnerable, ensure that everyone pays their fair share, and finally deliver on the promise that minority and women-owned firms have a fair opportunity to do business with the state,” Adams said in a press release. “As an entrepreneur and mayor who has broken down these barriers and successfully governed during the pandemic, I’ve shown how change can become our reality instead of a political slogan. Now is the time for trusted leadership and executive experience.”

In addition to Barnes, 13 other state delegates who serve with Lierman endorsed Adams, including House Economic Matters Chair C.T. Wilson (D-Charles) and several members of the Prince George’s and Montgomery County delegations to the General Assembly.

“Tim Adams is my candidate because I am convinced he understands the needs of diverse communities like those in Montgomery County,” Del. Gabriel T. Acevero (D-Montgomery) said in the Adams campaign news release. “I know that he will go to Annapolis to fight for accountability and fight for justice. He is the change we need.”

The endorsement from more than a dozen state delegates, including several in prominent leadership roles, is particularly noteworthy: Lierman has racked up endorsements from many of her legislative colleagues, including House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) and Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) as part of her own campaign.

Sen. Michael A. Jackson (D-Prince George’s) also endorsed Adams.

Adams’ campaign appears to retooling after largely flying under the radar for most of this year. He recently brought on Jyot Singh, who had been press secretary for the campaign of erstwhile Democratic gubernatorial contender Michael Rosenbaum. And Kevin Harris, a national Democratic strategist who worked for the Ben Jealous gubernatorial campaign in 2018 and has held several jobs on Capitol Hill, including executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus, has signed on as a consultant.

Adams reported raising $2,142,040 in 2021 and has largely bankrolled his own campaign. Lierman took in $1,736,469.

Harford County Executive Barry Glassman (R) remains the lone declared Republican in the comptroller race. The competitive Democratic primary election for comptroller comes after incumbent Peter V.R. Franchot (D), who has held the position since 2007, announced his own gubernatorial bid.

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