Politics

A senior official under former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is starting a lobbying and consulting firm. Jeanne Haddaway-Riccio is joining forces with Robert Rauch to form R & R Solutions, a lobbying and consulting firm. The new firm will be led by four principals including Haddaway-Riccio, Rauch, Ryan Snow and Jennifer Williams.

Advocates from both sides of the abortion debate say Vice President Kamala Harris’ sudden emergence as the Democratic presidential nominee has breathed new life into what has been a low-key battle for reproductive freedom in Maryland. The question is whether voters will feel the same on Election Day. “The whole world has changed. Even in Maryland, where we’re safe and we’re working hard to get the amendment, the excitement level is like on steroids.

For years, Baltimore’s leaders gave overdoses little public attention, even as the death rate swelled to unprecedented levels. But for a few weeks this summer, it seemed that the city would respond to its drug epidemic with new urgency. The City Council was about to hold four hearings — planned after The New York Times and The Baltimore Banner reported that the overdose rate here was far higher than in any other major American city.

Two vacancies in the House of Delegates are closer to being filled. Teresa Saavedra Woorman (D) will be sworn in next Monday as the newest member of the House, representing Montgomery County, in an afternoon ceremony in the State House. And this past Monday evening, the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee unanimously nominated Salisbury businessman and county GOP Chair Barry Beauchamp, to replace former Del. Carl Anderton (R-Wicomico), who just went to work for Gov. Wes Moore’s administration.

Today’s scheduled approval of $16 million in public funds to underwrite construction of an office building on West North Avenue proposed by P. David Bramble is just the start of what Mayor Brandon Scott has promised the developer of Harborplace. The complex deal involves more than 150 pages of lease agreements, ground rent contracts and rent schedules pertaining to Reservoir Square, Bramble’s townhouse and apartment project between the Bolton Hill and Reservoir Hill neighborhoods.

Prince George’s County voters appear to have selected District 5 council member Jolene Ivey (D) and Michael Riker (R) to face off for the vacant at-large council seat, according to unofficial results. More than 18,000 people cast their votes, picking from a crowded field of Democrats and Republicans who were vying to fill the position left open by the departure of former council member Mel Franklin (D). Franklin resigned in June after nearly 14 years of service on the body.

Council Member Zeke Cohen emerged from this year’s Democratic primary for City Council president far ahead of the other two candidates, including incumbent Nick Mosby. Cohen was elected to the council in 2016 and serves District 1 in Southeast Baltimore, which includes neighborhoods like Fells Point, Canton, Highlandtown and O’Donnell Heights.

State Sen. Craig J. Zucker (D-Montgomery) has a new day job. The lawmaker will become senior vice president of strategic development and government relations for Service Coordination Inc., a nonprofit that provides case management services and advocacy for individuals with disabilities or medically complex needs, and older adults across Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.