Bob Ehrlich

Robert Leroy Ehrlich Jr. is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 60th governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A member of the Republican Party, Ehrlich is notable for being the first Republican to hold the governorship in Maryland since Spiro Agnew left office in 1969. Prior to his governorship, he represented Maryland's 10th legislative district in the House of Delegates from 1987 to 1995 and served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Maryland's 2nd Congressional district from 1995 until 2003. After completing his term as governor, Ehrlich was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election in 2006 and later sought a rematch against his successor in 2010, which also did not result in victory. Following his political career, he returned to private life and took on a role in Mitt Romney's campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Early life and career

Bob Ehrlich was born on November 25, 1957, in Arbutus, Maryland, a suburb of Southwest Baltimore. He is of German descent and was raised in a family where his mother, Nancy Bottorf, worked as a legal secretary, and his father, Robert Leroy Ehrlich, was a commission car salesman. Ehrlich attended the Gilman School, a private preparatory school in Baltimore, before pursuing higher education at Princeton University. At Princeton, he was awarded a partial scholarship, captained the football team, and became a member of the Cap and Gown Club. He graduated in 1979 with an A.B. in politics, completing a substantial senior thesis on the political philosophy of Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

After his undergraduate studies, Ehrlich continued his education at Wake Forest University School of Law, where he earned his law degree in 1982. Following law school, he joined the Baltimore law firm Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver and began to engage actively in politics. His political career commenced in November 1986 when he successfully won a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, where he served from 1987 until 1995, representing parts of Baltimore County.

In 1994, Ehrlich entered the national political arena by running for the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the election to represent Maryland's 2nd Congressional district, succeeding Helen Delich Bentley, who had announced her retirement. During his tenure in Congress, which lasted until 2003, Ehrlich focused on legislation that supported employment for disabled individuals and advocated for stricter penalties related to gun violence. He served on several important committees, including the Energy and Commerce Committee, and was involved in various subcommittees that addressed health, telecommunications, and environmental issues. Notably, he was a co-chairman of the Congressional Biotechnology Caucus and a member of the Congressional Steel Caucus. Ehrlich's congressional career was marked by significant electoral success, winning all his elections by substantial margins.

Governorship

Ehrlich announced his candidacy for governor in March 2002, as the term of Democratic Governor Parris Glendening was coming to an end. Glendening's administration faced challenges, including a significant budget deficit and declining public support due to personal controversies. Ehrlich positioned himself as a challenger to Glendening's record, particularly criticizing the administration's environmental policies and perceived neglect of rural infrastructure needs. His campaign promised to enhance school funding, balance the state budget, and protect the Chesapeake Bay. His running mate was Michael Steele, who was the chair of the Maryland Republican Party and an African-American candidate, which added a notable dimension to the ticket.

Despite Maryland's historical tendency to vote Democratic, Ehrlich won the gubernatorial election in 2002, marking a significant political shift in the state. His administration was characterized by a focus on what he termed the "Five Pillars": fiscal responsibility, education, health, the environment, public safety, and commerce. Ehrlich opposed increases in sales and income taxes, advocating instead for the legalization of slot machines as a means to generate state revenue.

During his term, Maryland's unemployment rate fell from 4.5% in 2003 to 3.9% in 2006, with the creation of approximately 98,000 private sector jobs. This improvement was attributed in part to the state's proximity to the labor market of the national capital. In a notable achievement for disability advocacy, Ehrlich established a Department of Disabilities within his cabinet, marking the first time a state had a cabinet-level agency dedicated to this cause.

Ehrlich's administration also made strides in environmental policy. In 2004, he signed the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act, which aimed to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay by funding upgrades to water treatment facilities through a surcharge on water and septic bills. This legislation was expected to fulfill a significant portion of Maryland's obligations under the 2000 Chesapeake Bay Agreement.

Policy focus and legacy

Ehrlich's governorship was marked by a commitment to fiscal conservatism and a focus on infrastructure and environmental issues. His administration's emphasis on job creation and economic growth was evident in the declining unemployment rates during his tenure. The establishment of the Department of Disabilities was a significant step toward improving services and support for individuals with disabilities, reflecting a broader commitment to inclusivity in state governance.

Despite these achievements, Ehrlich's time in office was not without challenges. He faced opposition from the Democratic majority in the Maryland General Assembly, which complicated efforts to implement his policy agenda. His administration's initiatives, particularly regarding taxation and gambling, were met with mixed reactions from the public and lawmakers.

Ehrlich's governorship concluded in 2007 when he was defeated in his bid for re-election by Democrat Martin O'Malley. Following his departure from office, he attempted a political comeback in 2010 but was again unsuccessful. After his political career, Ehrlich returned to private life and took on a role in the 2012 presidential campaign of Mitt Romney, serving as the chair of the Maryland campaign.

Overall, Bob Ehrlich's tenure as governor of Maryland is characterized by his efforts to promote fiscal responsibility, enhance education funding, and address environmental concerns, alongside a focus on job creation and support for individuals with disabilities. His legacy includes both his role in breaking a long-standing Republican drought in the governorship and the initiatives he championed during his time in office.