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Comptroller of Maryland

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Comptroller of Maryland
Great Seal of the State of Maryland
Flag of the State of Maryland
since January 16, 2023
Style
Member ofBoard of Public Works, among others
SeatLouis Goldstein Treasury Building
Annapolis, Maryland
AppointerGeneral election
Term lengthFour years, no term limit
Constituting instrumentMaryland Constitution of 1851
Inaugural holderPhilip Francis Thomas
WebsiteOfficial website

The comptroller of Maryland is a constitutional officer of the U.S. state of Maryland. Thirty-four individuals have held the office of comptroller since 1851, when the office was created. The incumbent is Brooke Lierman, a Democrat.

Election and term of office

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The comptroller is elected by the people to a four-year term on Election Day in November, and takes office on the third Monday of the January next succeeding. There is no limit to the number of terms a comptroller may hold.[1] Likewise, neither the Maryland Constitution nor the Annotated Code of Maryland prescribe any qualifications for the office, such as residency, age, or even citizenship requirements.[2]

In the event of a vacancy in the office of comptroller, the governor may appoint a successor to serve the balance of the term.[3] The comptroller may be removed from office by the General Assembly through impeachment.[4] However, the comptroller cannot be recalled under Maryland law.[5]

Powers and duties

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The comptroller's office was established by the second Maryland Constitution of 1851 due to concern for potential fraud and corruption in the administration of the public treasury.[6] Pursuant to this mandate, the comptroller effectively functions as Maryland's chief financial officer. The constitutional duties of the office begin with the broad mandate to exercise "general superintendence of the fiscal affairs of the State", which includes maintaining the general ledger. To this end, the comptroller prescribes and operates the statewide accounting system, administers payroll to state employees, and prepares the state of Maryland's annual comprehensive financial report. As it concerns collecting taxes, the comptroller conducts income and sales tax audits of taxpayers for compliance with state and local laws, processes tax returns, settles delinquent tax receipts, and enforces business licensing and unclaimed property laws. It is by virtue of the Disposition of Abandoned Property Act that the comptroller's office publicizes taxpayers' forgotten bank accounts, insurance benefits and other unclaimed assets. Likewise, the comptroller (or a deputy) draws all warrants for payment of money on the state treasury and countersigns all checks drawn by the state treasurer on state deposits. The comptroller also prescribes the formalities for transfer of evidences of State debt and countersigns such papers.[7][8]

List of comptrollers of Maryland

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No. Image Name Term Party
1 Philip Francis Thomas 1851–1853 Democratic
2 Henry E. Bateman 1853–1854 Democratic
3 William Pinkney Whyte 1854–1856 Democratic
4 William Henry Purnell 1856–1861 Know Nothing
5 Dennis Claude 1861 Democratic
6 Abram Lingan Jarrett 1861–1862 Democratic
7 Samuel Snowden Maffit 1862–1864 National Union (previously Republican)
8 Henry Hollyday Goldsborough 1864 National Union (previously Republican)
9 Robert John Jump 1864–1867 National Union (previously Republican)
10 William James Leonard 1867–1870 Democratic
11 Levin Woolford 1870–1878 Democratic
12 Thomas James Keating 1878–1884 Democratic
13 J. Frank Turner 1884–1888 Democratic
14 L. Victor Baughman 1888–1892 Democratic
15 Marion deKalb Smith 1892–1896 Democratic
16 Robert Patterson Graham 1896–1898 Republican
17 Phillips Lee Goldsborough 1898–1900 Republican
18 Joshua W. Hering 1900–1904 Democratic
19 Gordon T. Atkinson 1904–1908 Democratic
20 Joshua W. Hering 1908–1910 Democratic
21 William B. Clagett 1910–1911 Democratic
22 Charles H. Stanley 1911–1912 Democratic
23 Emerson C. Harrington 1912–1916 Democratic
24 Hugh A. McMullen 1916–1920 Democratic
25 E. Brooke Lee 1920–1922 Democratic
26 William S. Gordy, Jr. 1922–1939 Democratic
27 J. Millard Tawes 1939–1947 Democratic
28 James J. Lacy 1947–1950 Democratic
29 J. Millard Tawes 1950–1959 Democratic
30 Louis L. Goldstein 1959–1998 Democratic
31 Robert L. Swann 1998–1999 Democratic
32 William Donald Schaefer 1999–2007 Democratic
33 Peter Franchot 2007–2023 Democratic
34 Brooke Lierman 2023–present Democratic

References

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  1. ^ "Article VI, Section 1, Maryland Constitution of 1851". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  2. ^ "Comptroller of Maryland: Origin and Functions". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "Article VI, Section 1, Maryland Constitution of 1851". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "Article III, Section 26, Maryland Constitution of 1851". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "Laws governing recall in Maryland". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Comptroller of Maryland: Origin and Functions". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Article VI, Section 2, Maryland Constitution of 1851". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "About the Agency:Office of the Comptroller". Maryland Office of the Comptroller. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
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