Md.’s governor’s race: knowledge versus values

Regarding the recent commentary, “Despite positive polls, Larry Hogan may not be a shoo-in for re-election” (Aug. 13) by Jimmy Mathis, while I agree that “Mr. Hogan may have impressive approval numbers today, but whether that will translate into Democratic votes tomorrow may not be a given,” the real question is will Maryland voters be guided by knowledge or values?

There’s little argument that an informed voter may be more likely to go to the polls and support a candidate based on a specific issue such as education, taxes, infrastructure and health care to name a few. By all accounts, in the 2018 general election, many registered Democrats are expected to vote for the incumbent Republican Larry Hogan for governor. In this context, a particular kind of knowledge is less important for voters than the core political value that state government should function without acrimony.

For many likely voters, the final decision to support Governor Larry Hogan’s reelection will be an acknowledgement that the election is not for a counterbalance to the election of President Donald Trump, just to retain an effective governor. Unless, of course, Ben Jealous sets aside the bombastic rhetoric and assures voters he is the one who will always share their values — contrary to the growing suspicion among those of us living in the Washington suburbs that a second-term Larry Hogan may not.