Heated path at governor's house sparks fight
Democrats criticize cost of coils under new walkway
A heated brick walkway leading to the governor's mansion sparked partisan criticism this week over how Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is spending money.
Workers replaced an aging brick path inside the gated grounds of the historic Government House and installed costly heating coils beneath it so it won't need to be shoveled in the winter. Democrats were outraged.
Hogan spokesman Douglass Mayer said the state agency responsible for maintaining the grounds decided to install heating elements to extend the life of the replacement walkway.
He said Hogan wasn't consulted in advance. The entire project cost $130,000, Mayer said, and the heating elements cost $30,000.
“The governor was aware the sidewalk was being replaced, but he did not know that heating elements would be installed,” Mayer said. Regardless, he said, “it's going to save money over the life of the project. Saving money is important and something the governor supports.”
The walkway, visible from the street but inaccessible to the public, stoked an ongoing spat with Democrats in the legislature over spending priorities.
“It just goes to the heart of the value system this administration has,” House Speaker Michael E. Busch said. “Ninety percent of the people who go in there are the corporate donors and the fat cats.”
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller called the walkway heating “excessive.” He noted that the sidewalks leading to the State House are not heated.
In the past, Busch and Miller have chastised Hogan over whether he was neglecting landscaping on the State House grounds, where all three men have offices.
Mayer said the governor's office takes Busch's criticism “with a giant grain of salt.”
If the speaker wants the governor to let the mansion and State House grounds fall into disrepair, he said, “then that is certainly something we'll look into.” Mayer said the scope of the walkway project was determined by the Department of General Services and paid for out of its maintenance budget.
The mansion is one of several historic buildings under the purview of the Maryland Historical Trust. Its maintenance is paid for by both taxpayer money and a private foundation.
In June, Hogan hosted an invitation-only black-tie fundraiser at the mansion to benefit the Foundation for the Preservation of Government House of Maryland.
Mayer said the walkways are maintained by the Department of General Services, while the foundation handles preservation efforts inside the house.
According to legislative analysts, the walkway is part of more than $676,000 worth of tax-funded maintenance and repair projects underway at the historic mansion.
Mayer said there is similar heating technology at the entrance of the House of Delegates parking garage.
“If the speaker does not like or wish to utilize this type of technology for his own members, that's no problem,” Mayer said. “We'll have guys out there tomorrow morning with jackhammers, and we will rip the entire thing up.”
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