Mayors of Salisbury, Hagerstown among Wes Moore's picks for administration

Dwight A. Weingarten, The Herald-Mail
·4 min read

Gov.-elect Wes Moore named nine additional people for his administration on Tuesday, a day before his inauguration as the state’s 63rd governor. Among the announced appointments are the current mayors of Salisbury and Hagerstown.

The announcement of nine on Tuesday follows 10 named by the Moore administration last week, including the secretaries of state and Emergency Management. The Cabinet historically has consisted of 26 individuals, and despite the majority of roles being named, key positions like the secretary of transportation have yet to be announced. Each of the Cabinet secretaries must be confirmed by the Senate, which has a Democratic majority this session.

“With each announcement, we continue to build a Cabinet that reflects the state we are humbled to serve,” Moore said in a release. “These leaders bring with them great knowledge and deep expertise.”

Mayors of Salisbury, Hagerstown picked by Gov.-elect Moore

Salisbury Mayor Jake Day has been named secretary of housing & community development in the administration of Maryland Gov.-elect Wes Moore.
Salisbury Mayor Jake Day has been named secretary of housing & community development in the administration of Maryland Gov.-elect Wes Moore.

Salisbury Mayor Jake Day, if confirmed by the state Senate, would lead the Department of Housing & Community Development. The department doled out millions of federal dollars in emergency rental assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, but affordable housing remains a challenge for many across the state. Like Moore, Day is a combat veteran and Oxford University graduate. Day is scheduled to address the city at a news conference at 6 this evening. The council agenda for special meeting at 5 p.m. has "election of mayor" on the agenda with an effective date of Jan. 27.

UPDATE: What's next for Salisbury now that its mayor is off to Annapolis?

More:How downtown hotel, events center would drive business in Salisbury

Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller, the subject of a pending ethics hearing, also is set to join the Moore administration albeit in a newly created role of special secretary of opioid response. Keller previously worked on the 26-member steering committee for Moore’s transition team.

Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller has been named special secretary of opioid response in the administration of Maryland Gov.-Elect Wes Moore.
Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller has been named special secretary of opioid response in the administration of Maryland Gov.-Elect Wes Moore.

The city ethics complaint against Keller stems from a substance-abuse prevention worker who claimed Keller used her position to discredit him. Keller has called the complaint "unfounded" and the case is scheduled to be heard Feb. 6.

UPDATE: Md. Gov.-elect Moore names Mayor Emily Keller as special secretary of opioid response

More:Md. Gov.-elect Moore names Mayor Emily Keller as special secretary of opioid response

More:Ethics complaint claims Mayor Keller told 'terrible lies.' 'Absolutely unfounded' she says

While the special secretary position did not exist in the Hogan administration, the role might be similar to the executive director position in the Opioid Operational Command Center housed within the Maryland Department of Health. That role, while not a formal secretary, functioned as a Cabinet-level position, according to Michael Coury, the communications director of the command center.

It was unclear Tuesday whether Keller would need state Senate confirmation.

Secretary of the Environment nominee comes from EPA background

Moore picked Kevin Atticks, the executive director of the Brewers Association of Maryland, as his nominee for secretary of agriculture.

Serena McIlwain, the undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, has been selected by Moore as his nominee for secretary of the environment. McIlwain also has served at the U.S. Department of Energy and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

An appointment of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in 2015, Secretary of Disabilities Carol Beatty has been asked to stay on in her role by the Moore administration. She previously served as the executive director of The Arc of Howard County.

Moore selected the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Maryland Executive Director Josh Kurtz as his nominee for secretary of Natural Resources. Kurtz led his foundation’s teams in Annapolis, Upper Marlboro and Easton, working to improve water quality.

More:Will Maryland lawmakers shake up state spending with their new power?

Rebecca Flora, a Chestertown resident, has been selected as nominee to lead the department of planning. She worked as the founding executive director of the Green Building Alliance from 1997-2008.

In Moore’s hometown of Baltimore, Carmel Roques has worked as president and CEO of the Keswick Multi-Care Center for the past decade. He selected the Columbia, Maryland, resident to be the administration’s nominee for secretary of aging.

Moore’s pick for secretary of commerce is Kevin Anderson, the founder and CEO of Cardinal Atlantic Holdings. He is married to Tiffany Anderson, an associate judge in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County.

During his weekly press conference Jan. 13, Senate President Bill Ferguson said Moore’s nominees would be subject to review and vetting.

Herald-Mail reporter Dave McMillion contributed to this report.

Update: This article has been updated to clarify the role of the executive director of the opioid operational command center.

Dwight A. Weingarten is an investigative reporter, covering the Maryland State House and state issues. He can be reached at dweingarten@gannett.com or on Twitter at @DwightWeingart2.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Moore picks nine more for administration, including two mayors