Governor-Elect Larry Hogan Shares His Vision For Md. With WJZ
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- For only the second time in nearly 50 years, a Republican is going to run the state of Maryland.
Governor-elect Larry Hogan makes history Wednesday, but Tuesday night he opened up to Vic Carter in a WJZ exclusive.
Larry Hogan insists he's just a regular guy with a passion to make Maryland better.
Vic Carter: "You're obviously a bit of an anomaly in the state of Maryland: a Republican governor, only the second one in recent memory.
Larry Hogan: "Nearly 50 years."
Carter: "Nearly 50 years. What does that say to you?"
Hogan: "I think it had a lot to do with our campaign that was not a partisan campaign. We had just as many Democratic votes as Republican. Every single day during the campaign---in every community, in every neighborhood, doesn't matter if they were white or black or Democrat or Republican---people came up to me and said, `I've never voted for a Republican in my life but I'm voting for you because I desperately want to see Maryland go in a different direction."
Carter: "What did you have to give up personally in order to become governor of the state of Maryland?"
Hogan: "Well, at least for a little more than a year, it was pretty much seven days a week, 18 hours a day. You know, it's a sacrifice but I did it because I love this state. I've been a lifelong Marylander who was concerned about the direction we were heading and I thought the real people from the real world ought to get into politics and make a difference."
Carter: "How has it affected your family so far?"
Hogan: "They're excited. My wife is going to make a terrific First Lady---the first Asian First Lady in Maryland's history. I have three grown daughters and a two-year-old granddaughter, who's the cutest thing you'll ever see in your life. They're really excited and looking forward to it and I can't wait to get them over to the government house and have our first family dinner."
Carter: "You feel confident in your term as governor and if there's a second term that you would never raise taxes."
Hogan: "We're not going to raise taxes. I was elected to cut taxes. That's what my entire campaign was about and an overwhelming majority of Marylanders throughout the entire state---Republicans, Democrats and Independents---agree with that message. They do not want us to preside over the status quo. They want dramatic changes."
Carter: "What is it about you---about Larry Hogan the individual---that made him get elected besides the things you've talked about? What is it about you individually?"
Hogan: "I guess I was able to connect with people. I went from one end of the state to the other. I went to Baltimore City and all 23 counties probably 10 times each and I shook over 100,000 hands. I listened to the concerns of people from all across the state who felt disconnected from Annapolis and what I heard over and over again from them was, `Thanks for being here. We've never seen anybody come talk to us before!' That I listened and that I was a regular guy and that I told it like it is. They felt that they could relate to me and I think that connection with the voters had a lot to do with us winning the race."
Hogan said he can't wait to get to work. One of the first things he'll tackle is the budget, which is due 24 hours from when he takes office.
WJZ will be live with complete coverage of Inauguration 2015. Vic Carter and political reporter Pat Warren will be in Annapolis as Larry Hogan is sworn in. We'll bring you the ceremony live on WJZ Wednesday starting at noon.
