Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who is currently running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, has expressed opposition to a proposed transmission line project due to potential adverse effects on his personal business interests. This is not the first time Hogan has faced allegations of aligning his political stances with his financial benefits.
The political race sees Hogan contesting against Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, the Prince George’s County Executive, in what is anticipated to be a competitive election.
The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project
The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project is a proposed 70-mile electric transmission line planned to traverse through Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick counties. Supporters argue that the line would alleviate frequent blackouts and reduce high utility costs in communities plagued by an electricity demand that surpasses the current grid’s supply capacity.
Hogan articulated his opposition through an opinion piece in the Baltimore Sun in July, stating residents were unaware of the project’s rapid progression and the potential detrimental effects on their properties and communities.
Potential Conflict of Interest
Notably absent from Hogan’s op-ed was any mention of how the proposed transmission line might affect undeveloped land owned by Hogan Companies, a real estate firm he established in 1985. This land in New Market, Maryland, is earmarked for potential retail development.
Hogan’s decision not to divest from Hogan Companies upon his election as governor in 2015 sparked controversy. Instead, he arranged a “not blind trust” with the Maryland Ethics Commission, allowing him to maintain oversight of his company’s operations while in office.
The New Republic reported in January 2020 that, during his tenure as governor, Hogan supported state construction initiatives that increased the value of his real estate holdings. These included significant improvements to roads and sidewalks near a housing development he owned.
According to Public Citizen, a progressive government watchdog, Hogan accrued more than $2 million from his real estate ventures while in office, marking the highest earnings by any sitting governor in Maryland history (source).
Senate Campaign and Financial Ties
Despite these past controversies, Hogan has not committed to divesting from Hogan Companies if elected to the Senate. His financial disclosures from July reveal real estate investments valued between $7.97 million and $25.7 million, linked to Hogan Companies.
In his Senate bid, Hogan has received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, who similarly declined to divest from his real estate interests during his presidency.
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