ISSUE:

In his first year living at Government House in downtown Annapolis, Gov. Martin O'Malley took the sedate route in Halloween decorating: Two ghosts and a scarecrow. Hay bales. Cornstalks. A pair of leaf wreaths. Some mums.

Under O'Malley's predecessor in the mansion, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the capital became an inflatable nation. A giant blow-up pumpkin, an air-filled Dracula, tombstones, giant eyeballs and loads of other holiday trimmings blanketed Maryland's front lawn.

YOUR VIEW:

As the Christmas season, with its own decorating extravaganza, marches ever closer, what kind of decorations do you prefer outside the governor's mansion?

Tell us what you think at arundel.speakout@baltsun.com by Thursday. Please keep your responses short and include your name, address and phone number. A selection will be printed next Sunday.