John B. King in 2022 MD Governor's race


On Civil Rights: Great-grandfather enslaved; must grapple with racial equity

He said he would focus on inequity, emphasizing that he would be the first Black governor of Maryland, where his great-grandfather was enslaved. "If you look at the issues that we are facing today .?.?. they are all very much tied to the state's history around the institution of slavery, around segregation and discrimination," King said. "I think it's important for us as a state to sort of grapple with those issues of racial equity and to build a future that provides opportunity for all."
Source: Washington Post on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Apr 20, 2021

On Civil Rights: We undermine societal improvement by burying historic racism

So many of our challenges today are tied to that history around slavery and segregation and red lining. We can`t wish it away. We can`t bury it. And if we do, we risk undermining our ability to improve our society. And that sadly, I think, is the hope here that we sort of freeze our society in the systemic racism that has plagued us since the beginning.
Source: Maryland Matters on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Mar 2, 2021

On Education: Expand education access; seek universal preschool

He said he planned to focus on expanding education access beyond the state's sweeping new program known as Kirwan, seeking universal preschool statewide and saying "we have no future" unless Maryland's public school system provides a high-quality education to all students.
Source: Washington Post on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Apr 20, 2021

On Education: Inspiring public school teachers saved my life

[Gubernatorial candidacy announcement speech]: "My life is proof of the positive difference that public institutions can make in people's lives," King said in the announcement. "I lost both my parents as a child, my mom when I was 8 and my dad when I was 12. Public schools and inspiring public school teachers saved my life. Even when I struggled as a teenager and got kicked out of high school, it was teachers and a school counselor that gave me a second chance. I am running for governor of Maryland because we can't afford to rely on chance for more Marylanders to have the opportunity to succeed."
Source: MarylandMatters.org blog on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Apr 20, 2021

On Energy & Oil: It's past time to act on climate change, shift to renewables

We are already seeing the devastating consequences of climate change, from the wildfires in California to hurricanes in the South and Southeast to dangerous flooding here in Maryland. It is past time to act on climate change by dramatically accelerating the shift toward renewable energy and to creating good jobs greening our homes and businesses.
Source: Maryland Matters on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Oct 5, 2021

On Principles & Values: Teacher, administrator, Obama's Secretary of Education

King, the former U.S. secretary of Education under President Obama, announced his 2022 gubernatorial bid Tuesday. Education will be one of King's foremost talking points on the campaign trail, and he touted his lengthy resume as an educator in his announcement. King started his career as a teacher and school administrator, and later became New York State's commissioner of education before joining the Obama administration.
Source: MarylandMatters.org blog on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Apr 20, 2021

On Principles & Values: A progressive problem solver; work to expand opportunity

King is the president and CEO of The Education Trust, a nonprofit aimed at closing achievement gaps for low-income and minority students. Last October, King also launched a political advocacy group--Strong Future Maryland--to back progressive policies and press state lawmakers on many of the same issues. "I am a progressive problem solver who has been in government roles doing the work to expand opportunity for folks," King said.
Source: Baltimore Sun on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Apr 20, 2021

On Principles & Values: Crises can be catalysts for change: it's up to us

Crises do not have silver linings, but they can be catalysts for change. What happens next is up to us. Do we have the courage to fight for the more just future our children deserve? To make room at the table for those who have been left out, unseen, and unheard? To be visionary and not shortsighted?
Source: Maryland Matters on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Oct 5, 2021

On Tax Reform: If we have to pay a little more in taxes, we should

[On taxation]: "I'm a progressive, so there's a job the government is supposed to do," he said. "We all pay taxes, as members of society, to ensure that we have what we need as a society. If we have to pay a little more in taxes, we should."
Source: Maryland Matters on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Mar 2, 2021

On Tax Reform: Ask wealthiest to pay fair share, end corporate giveaways

An equitable economic recovery will require effective, strategic leadership to strengthen both our physical infrastructure--like public transit and broadband access--and our social infrastructure--like paid family leave and access to quality, affordable childcare. Some will say we can't afford to make these investments now. I say we can't afford not to. We can pay for them responsibly, by asking the wealthiest among us to pay their fair share and ending tax giveaways to big corporations.
Source: Maryland Matters on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Oct 5, 2021

The above quotations are from 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Aug 01, 2023