Gov. Parris N. Glendening yesterday introduced a 21-member Economic Development Commission, a group of private-sector leaders he said would help his administration set economic development strategy and attract businesses to the state.
Also released at yesterday's State House news conference was the report of the governor's Economic Development Transition Group, which proposed a series of incremental changes, many of which were sounded during the governor's campaign last year.
"This is . . . a day that is going to put into motion a road map for Maryland's economic development," said the governor, who had announced his intention to name the development panel during his State of the State address last month. "We will make Maryland the benchmark for business development."
The commission will be co-chaired by Harbor Bank of Maryland President Joseph Haskins Jr. and retired Washington Post Co. President Tom Ferguson.
The members include Maryland-based executives of out-of-state companies, like NationsBank Corp. and Bell Atlantic Corp., as well as chief executives of big Maryland-based companies, such as McCormick & Co.'s H. Eugene Blattman and H. Furlong Baldwin of Mercantile Bankshares Corp. Also on the panel are small-firm lawyers, regional real estate developers and small-business owners.
There is one organized labor representative, Maryland AFL-CIO President Ed Mohler.
Donald Manekin, a senior vice president of the Columbia development firm Manekin Corp. and a member of the commission, said the panel will serve two roles.
First, it will help James T. Brady, the governor's choice to lead the restructured Department of Business and Economic Development, generate policy ideas and get them approved by the General Assembly.
Second, the panel will serve as ambassadors to business people who are considering moving or expanding into the state, envoys who can sell private-sector leaders on Maryland because of their own experience running businesses in the state.
"If the economy is going to work, it has to be business-driven," Mr. Manekin said.
The transition report said the commission will be expected to devise a strategic plan for the state's economic development efforts by the fall.
The 20-page report laid out dozens of more specific recommendations that may end up being part of the plan. Most of these are similar to proposals Mr. Glendening raised during his run for office.
The report said the state should set a target date for reducing Maryland's tax burden to no more than the national average.
The transition report also calls for changing state programs that offer low-cost financing to businesses locating or expanding in the state.
COMMISSION MEMBERS
Members of the Maryland Economic Development Commission announced yesterday by Gov. Parris N. Glendening:
Harold Adams ... ... ..chairman, RTKL Associates
H. Furlong Baldwin ... chairman, Mercantile BankShares Corp.
Eugene Blattman ... president/CEO, McCormick & Co. Inc.
Fred D'Alessio ... ... president/CEO, Bell Atlantic-Maryland
John P. Davey ... ... .lawyer
Malcolm Davis ... ... .president, Davis, Wrenn & Associates
Jeff D. Emerson ... ...CEO, HealthPlus Inc.
Tom Ferguson ... ... ..retired president, Washington Post Co.
Antoinette Ford ... ...president, Telspan International Inc.
Randall Griffin ... ...president, Constellation Real Estate Group
DSachin Gupta ... ... ..president, Earth Engineering & Sciences Inc.
Joseph Haskins Jr. ... president/CEO, Harbor Bank of Maryland
Susan Keating ... ... .senior executive, NationsBank Corp.
Clifford Kendall ... ..chairman, Computer Data Systems Inc.
Beth Kaplan ... ... ...vice president, Noxell Corp.
Donald A. Manekin ... .senior vice president, Manekin Corp.
William V. Meyers ... .lawyer
Ed Mohler ... ... ... .president, Maryland AFL-CIO
AGerald D. Truitt Jr. ..public affairs director, Delmarva Poultry
. .... ..... ..... ....Industry Inc.
Leslie Ransom Sr. ... .president, R&B; Unlimited
Thomas Stagnaro ... ...president/CEO, Univax Biologics Inc.