Gifts for Governor Include Books, Knickknacks, Spitzers' Produce

One perk of being governor: You get lots of free stuff.

During his first year on the job, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) netted numerous books, T-shirts, baseball caps, candy and assorted trinkets and treasures, according to a recently filed disclosure form. The latter category included a University of Maryland hood ornament, a ceremonial outfit from Liberia, a silk Korean scarf and a slot-machine magnet, valued at $1.

Some of the 116 gifts listed were thank-yous from people the governor visited or hosted in Annapolis. Others appear to be more random gestures of goodwill. The majority were either accepted on behalf of the state or donated to charity.

Some of the givers have very familiar names. In early December, O'Malley accepted a gift from then-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) and first lady Silda Wall Spitzer. That was about three months before news broke of Spitzer's involvement with a high-priced prostitution ring. The gift: "Jar of produce from their garden." Value: "Unknown."

O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said the Spitzers' produce probably was a holiday gift sent to other governors as well. Maine Gov. John E. Baldacci (D) had sent a "box of potatoes" a few weeks before.

O'Malley's library grew by no fewer than 40 books in 2007, and some givers appear to have been trying to send a message.

In July, Timothy F. Maloney, a former Maryland delegate and informal O'Malley adviser, gave the governor a copy of "Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789-1989," by Michael Beschloss. O'Malley was then crafting a package of tax increases and budget cuts designed to fix Maryland's long-term finances.

David M. Traversi, a self-described "best-selling author, speaker and executive coach" sent O'Malley a copy of his book, "The Source of Leadership: Eight Drivers of the High-Impact Leader," in September. The same month, Dr. Brad Sachs, a Columbia-based psychologist, gave O'Malley "three books on raising adolescents," valued at $44. The governor has four children, the eldest in high school.

O'Malley's list includes several gifts intended for other members of his family.

Last May, after being admitted to a hospital upon feeling faint, first lady Catherine Curran O'Malley received several gifts. Harford County Executive David R. Craig (R) sent a fruit basket, valued at $75.

Among those sending flower arrangements was Comptroller Peter Franchot (D), who publicly sparred with O'Malley and other leading Democrats later in the year. Franchot, incidentally, reported receiving no gifts on his disclosure form.

O'Malley Optimistic Despite Education Funding Shortfall

During a pair of radio interviews last week in the Washington area, Gov. Martin O'Malley was peppered with questions about why state school construction dollars for Montgomery County had fallen short of $55 million, a goal to which the governor agreed during last fall's special session.