Two of the three Democratic candidates for governor debuted their first TV ads on Wednesday, a sure sign that this primary season is ramping up.
Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who is seeking to become the first lieutenant governor and first black person elected as governor, emphasized his military service in his ad.
Brown, 52, served as a helicopter pilot. In 2004, at the age of 43 and as a state delegate, Brown was called to duty in Iraq.
“It was my responsibility to serve and that meant going to Iraq,” Brown said in the ad.
A voiceover lauds Brown for his service: “When many in his generation chose Wall Street, Anthony chose military service.”
Brown credits his father, a Jamaican immigrant, for instilling in him a desire to “get an education, serve others.”
Gansler’s ad spotlights citizens around the state to point out his accomplishments as attorney general and Montgomery County state’s attorney: Penalizing polluters, winning $1.6 billion in mortgage relief and making the state safer, “because I brought the Beltway snipers to justice.” It also touches on his legal support for same-sex marriage and his inner city Baltimore youth lacrosse league.
Takoma Park Del. Heather Mizeur is also running for the Democratic nomination. Republican candidates include Harford County Executive David Craig, Del. Ron George, former Bob Ehrlich aide Larry Hogan and businessman Charles Lollar.
Recent polls conducted by the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun show Brown with a 2-to-1 advantage over Gansler among Democratic candidates.
The primary is June 24.
Videos via Anthony G. Brown, Doug Gansler
