Due to a problem in typesetting, there was a garbled line in the Friday editorial "Brady for Maryland's Economy." The line should have read that a top priority for James T. Brady's economic-development team is persuading Dr. Robert C. Gallo "to locate a world-class virology laboratory at the University of Maryland instead of Virginia."
The Sun regrets the error.
Gov. Parris N. Glendening picked wisely in selecting Baltimore business executive James T. Brady as his top economic development aide yesterday. The two are in agreement that Maryland's job-creating efforts need a major jump-start if this administration is to dispel the state's long-standing reputation for being indifferent to business interests.
Both of them put it in blunt terms yesterday. The governor said, "Maryland currently is not competitive" in the battle for new commerce. There is, he said, "a sense of urgency." Mr. Brady, looking at things from a corporate leader's perspective, said, "In the 1990s, to be viewed as a state that is not pro-business is suicidal."
Mr. Brady is well suited to do what the governor said is his long-term goal: "Make Maryland the benchmark for business development by the turn of the century."
Turn of the century? Mr. Brady said he hopes to do it in three years and that the turnaround will start immediately. The secretary of the new Department of Business and Economic Development understands problems of corporate America as managing partner of Arthur Andersen & Co. in Baltimore and as a heavy-hitter in civic and business circles. He knows the state, the city and the region. He recognizes what needs to be fixed and he has a good idea how to do it.
He will have the personal involvement of his friend the governor, who is staking his future on making Maryland a leader in job growth. In battling other states for plant relocations and new industries, Mr. Brady made it clear, "I am a very bad loser." Aggressiveness in pursuing corporate clients will be a hallmark of his tenure.
Another hallmark will be ending bottlenecks for businesses needing state permits and other assistance. John D. Porcari, who served as Mr. Glendening's development specialist in Prince George's County, has the task of ramroding business matters through the state bureaucracy. The governor called Mr. Porcari his "personal ombudsman."
Further strengthening the Glendening team is the appointment of James D. Fielder as deputy secretary. He amassed an enviable record luring companies to Harford County, which has one of the top success records in Maryland.
Among the new team's first challenges: Making sure Alex. Brown & Sons finds a new home in downtown Baltimore; outmaneuvering Pennsylvania officials so that McCormick & Co. builds its $21 million distribution center south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and winning an uphill fight to persuade Dr. Robert C. Gallo, one of the leading AIDS researchers, to locate a world-class virology laboratory at the University of Maryland instead of Virginia.
Economic development is the new governor's top priority. His choice of Jim Brady has cheered the business community and demonstrated a solid commitment to fostering private-sector job growth.