Secretary of state selection elicits cheers and jeers

McDonough, former Rosecroft lobbyist, will write referendum language

‘‘I think that people are wise to question how the text of this referendum is being drafted, and I think that people will be scrutinizing this even more carefully to make sure that it is reasonable and evenhanded,” said Aaron W. Meisner, chairman of StopSlotsMaryland.

But Meisner added his hope that McDonough will be fair-minded. ‘‘I’m going to have to assume that he’s going to be serving the people of Maryland and not his former employers as he works to craft this question.”

McDonough, 58, was Rosecroft’s lobbyist in Annapolis from 1985 to 2006. The Oxon Hill racetrack vied for years to be included in slot machine legislation, but Prince George’s lawmakers blocked efforts to include it in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal that passed the General Assembly during last year’s special session.

But McDonough vowed to leave his pro-slots advocacy in the past.

‘‘It’s just like being an umpire,” he said. ‘‘If I call a strike, the batter’s going to be unhappy. If I call a ball, the catcher’s going to be unhappy. All I can do is call balls and strikes, and let the players play the game.”

McDonough’s appointment, which is subject to Senate confirmation, fills a Cabinet position that has been held by interim Secretary Dennis C. Schnepfe since O’Malley (D) took office in January 2007.

Schnepfe’s steady management enabled the administration to take its time in choosing a permanent secretary of state, O’Malley said. ‘‘We knew if we waited long enough, we’d find a great person to do this job.”

It also comes less than a month since The Gazette reported Republican allegations of cronyism that Schnepfe was being paid more than state law allowed. Schnepfe was paid $94,608 a year, because of his 30-plus years as a state government employee. McDonough will make $78,750 in his first year. The salary goes up to $81,667 in the second year, and to $87,500 in the fourth year.

‘‘I’m fine with the salary,” McDonough said Wednesday. ‘‘Money really wasn’t a motivating factor in this. It was the opportunity to be in public service and to be associated with the administration.”

The timing of the appointment is curious, said House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) of Lusby.

‘‘I think it highlights the importance of an effective minority voice,” he said. ‘‘We’re glad that the governor has decided to follow the law with regard to an appointment of secretary of state and we will continue to offer these constructive suggestions in the future and hope that we will continue to see a positive response and reaction. That’s what will make government work better.”

O’Malley made no mention of the GOP’s quarrels or whether it affected the timing of the appointment.

‘‘We will scrutinize the actions of all executive branch offices, including the secretary of state’s office going forward, and if they cross the line, we’ll be unbashful in putting that out,” O’Donnell said.

But McDonough’s allies said he will bring a balanced perspective to the politically delicate issue of slots. During the 2006 campaign, McDonough coordinated legislative tickets in Prince George’s and recruited candidates for the county Democratic Central Committee at a time when not everyone was on the same page.

‘‘As you can imagine, there was a lot of tension,” said Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Dist. 23) of Bowie. ‘‘But he was really able to be the shock absorber between everybody.”

And O’Malley said McDonough offers the unique ability to bridge the political chasm between the Baltimore and Washington regions because of his participation with the Greater Washington Board of Trade and Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and as a Maryland Stadium Authority board member.

‘‘John has always had a finger on the pulse of our state,” O’Malley said. ‘‘... There are not a lot of people who have an understanding of the who’s who of both of those metro economies, not to mention the statewide landscape. John brings that strength.”

But Maryland campaign watchers also partially credit McDonough with Townsend’s disastrous 2002 gubernatorial bid, including the selection of onetime Republican and retired Navy Adm. Charles R. Larsen as her running mate, a choice that alienated black Democrats.

‘‘One valuable thing you learn in politics is you don’t win all the time,” McDonough said.

McDonough worked at a Calverton law firm through 2006 before establishing his own Prince George’s practice. One of his three daughters, Caitlin, is a legislative aide to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach, and his wife is Prince George’s County’s interim corrections director.

Schnepfe will return to his job as administrator of state documents for the secretary of state.

‘‘He’s done a tremendous job and he’s one of the few people that we’ve ever given a promotion [to] and [he’s] asked every month when he might step down,” O’Malley said.

Maryland’s secretary of state is less prominent than in states where it is an elected office. The department monitors and enforces the law relating to charitable solicitations, notary certification and promoting the state to other states and countries for trade opportunities.

Staff Writer Daniel Valentine contributed to this report.