>> "STATE CIRCLE" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

>> CONNECTING MARYLANDERS.

TO THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE."

ANY MOMENT WE WILL PREVIEW NEXT WEEK'S EXISTENTIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND WE'LL HEAR FROM CANDIDATE ARE FOR GOVERNOR WES MOORE.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT THE OM I CHRON VARIANT HAS BEEN DETECTED IN MARYLAND ADDING TO CONCERNS ABOUT ANOTHER HAVE WAFT PANDEMIC.

NANCY YAMADA REPORTS.

>> I THINK IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, IF YOU'RE BOOSTED, IF YOU WEAR YOUR MASK, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.

>> Nancy: SENTIMENTS ECHOED BY GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN AFTER CONFIRMATION THAT THE OMICRON VARIANT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE U.S. >> OUR STATE WILL NOT WAIT TO LAUNCH OF THE PREPARED US IN EFFORTS.

>> Nancy: IN GERMANTOWN.

>> I'M VACCINATED.

I'M BOOSTERRED.

I STAY HOME AS MUCH AS I CAN.

>> Nancy: HOLIDAY SHOPPERS SAY WITH SO MUCH UNKNOWN ABOUT THIS NEW VARIANT, THEY ARE BACK ON HIGH ALERT.

>> FOR A LARGE PART OF THE POPULATION WHO HAS BEEN VACCINATED ALREADY, I THINK IT DOES NO PRESENT THIS IMMEDIATE CONCERN FOR FEAR.

>> Nancy: INFECTIOUS DISEASE DESIGN IT VERY WILL BETTER CHEN SAYS IT'S UNCLEAR WITH THE OPENICORN VARIANT IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE ATLANTA THE DELTA VARIANT.

>> WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE EXISTING VACCINES WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT.

IT MAY NOT BE 100% PROTECTION BUT THAT'S DID NOT WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT FROM ALL THESE VENES AND SO SOME PROTECTION ASK BETTER THAN NO PROTECTION, SO FOR PEOPLE WHO REMAIN UNVACCINATED, AGAIN IT'S ANOTHER REASON TO GET FULLY VACCINATED.

>> Nancy: THE GOVERNOR AND HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE URGING BOOSTERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE EL VISIBLE TO GET ONE BUT IT APPEARS NOT EVERYONE IS SO EAGER TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AGAIN.

>> I'M NOT FULLY COMFORTABLE WITH GETTING THE BOOSTER SHOT AGAIN OR GETTING THE BOOSTER SHOT, PERIOD.

I'M HOPING THAT THE TWO THAT I HAVE SO FAR IS WORKING AND IT'S KEEPING ME SAFE.

>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT FEAR-MONGERING.

LIKE THEY WANT US TO LIVE IN FEAR.

THOSE THAT ARE IN CONTROL, BUT ALSO I THINK THE VACCINE PEOPLE ARE MAKING A BUTT LOAD OF MONEY.

>> I'M NOTE AGAINST IT BUT I'M NOT GOING TO KEEP ON GETTING INJECTED WITH DIFFERENT STUFF OR WHATEVER IT IS.

>> Nancy: WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN FULL SWING -- >> I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH COVID FATIGUE AND JUST ARE TWILLING TO JUST SAY, I WILL JUST THROW CAUTION TO WIND AND DO WHATEVER I WANT, AND I WANT TO JUST WARN PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE MAKING THAT DECISION NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF BUT FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU WHO HAVEN'T MADE THAT DECISION YET.

AND MAYBE ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED OR OLDER AND WILL BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO GETTING VERY SEVERE INFECTION AND POSSIBLY BE HOSPITALIZED AND DIE BECAUSE OF THAT DECISION.

>> Jeff: NOW THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL CONVENE MONDAY MORNING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

THE MAIN FOCUS WILL BE DRAWING NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS FOLLOWING THE RECENT CENSUS.

MARYLAND'S CURRENTLY MAP HAS BEEN CRITTIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST GERRYMANDERED IN THE NATION NATION.

IT WAS DRAWN TEN YEARS AGO WITH THE STATED GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS.

AT LEAST TWO MAPS WILL BE INTRODUCED NEXT WEEK.

ONE FROM A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THAT APPEARS LESS GARBLED IN CENTRAL MARYLAND BUT OPENS THE DOOR FOR A DEMOCRAT TO POSSIBLY WIN THE EASTERN SHORE BASTED FIRST DISTRICT AND THERE'S ANOTHER PROPOSAL FROM A COMMISSION APPOINTED BY DR.

GOVERNOR.

THAT ONE FEATURES MORE EXACT DISTRICTS BUT IS NOT SEEN AS HAVING A CHANCE TO PREVAIL.

WE SPOKE WITH FORMER CONGRESSMAN ALBERT WYNN WHO REPRESENTED THE 4th DISTRICT IN THE U.S. HOUSE FROM 1993 UNTIL 2008.

CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I HEARD YOU ON NPR TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND YOU SAID THAT REDISTRICTING IS THE ESSENCES OF POLITICS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

"A.

WELL IN TERMS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY WITH PARTISAN CHARACTERISTICS, EACH PARTY IS TRYING TO GAIN POLITICAL ADVANTAGE, AND REDISTRICTING EVERY TENNEY-YEAR EXERCISE THAT WE DO, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHUFFLE THE DECK IN YOUR FAVOR IF YOU CONTROL THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

SO DEMOCRATS DO IT.

REPUBLICANS DO IT.

IT'S ESSENCE OF POLITICIANS.

>> Jeff: SO IF IT'S THE ESSENCE OF POLITICS, THEN ANYBODY ALONG AHEAD TO THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMING IN NEXT WEEK, MAYBE THEY'RE A GOOD GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE, MAYBE THEY'RE A REPUBLICAN OR AN INDEPENDENT AND THEY'RE HOPING THIS WILL RESULT IN SOME SORT OF NON-PARTISAN OUTCOME.

THEY SHOULDN'T HOLD THEIR BREATH.

>> Former Rep. Wynn: THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS IS A PHENOMENA THAT TAKES PLACE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN, AS A SAY, TO CREATE A POLITICAL ADVANTAGE TO ELIMINATE OPPONENTS OR IN SOME INSTANCES TO PROTECT PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE VULNERABLE.

THAT'S THE PROCESS.

>> Jeff: AND DEMOCRATS HERE POINT TO REPUBLICANS IN TEXAS AND OTHER PLACES WHO ARE GERRYMANDERING THE HECK OUT OF THEIR MAPS, AND I'M SURE IN TEXAS THEY PUT UP A PICTURE OF THE MARYLAND 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AS THE POSTER CHILD FOR IT, AND NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO UNILATERALLY DISARM.

>> Former Rep. Wynn: MY FAVORITE PHRASE.

NO ONE WANTS TO UNILATERALLY DISARM, WHICH IS TO SAY THE DEMOCRATS, GOOD GOVERNMENT AND ALL, ARE NOT PLANNING ON CHANGING THE WAY THEY DO IT UNLESS THE REPUBLICANS WERE TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE, AS WE WERE SPEAKING EARLIER, IT'S ALL DECIDED AT THE STATE LEVEL IN STATE LEGISLATURES.

THE CHANCE OF A CHANGE IS NOT REALLY THAT GREAT.

>> Jeff: BY THE WAY, ONE THING OF VIEWERS MAY BE WONDERING SINCE YOU USED THE REPRESENT THE 4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN MARYLAND, CURRENT INCUMBENT CONGRESS ANTHONY BROWN IS LEAVING THAT SEAT TO RUN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST -- YOU HAVE A SUCCESSFUL LEGAL CAREER, LOBBYING CAREER.

YOU'RE NOT PLANNING TO GET BACK INTO THE GAME, ARE YOU?

"A.

NOT AT ALL.

MY TIME HAS COME AND GONE.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RESULTS FROM THIS -- YOU GET A LOT OF CRAZY MAPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BUT YOU WIND UP WITH AN INCREASINGLY PARTISAN CONGRESS.

DO YOU AGREE THAT ST. THAT?

-J THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM.

DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN EITHER BLUE OR RED, AND SO THAT MEANS THAT WHEN PEOPLE RUN, THEY RUN FROM THE EXTREMES.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU'RE IN A RED DISTRICT, YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE MEAT TO THE REPUBLICANS.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE EXTREME POSITIONS.

THE MORE EXTREME, THE BETTER.

IF YOU'RE IN A BLUE DISTRICT, THE SAME THING OCCURS.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE MOST PROGRESSIVE VIEWS THAT YOU CAN TAKE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO GET ELECTED ARE NOT INCLINED TO COMPROMISE.

THE VOTERS ELECTED THEM BASED ON THOSE DECISIONS.

WHY SHOULD THEY CHANGE WHEN THEY GET TO WASHINGTON?

SO YOU GET PEOPLE WHO COME TO WASHINGTON BASED ON IDEOLOGY, NOT ON THE DESIRES TO LEGISLATE.

>> Jeff: AND THEY HAVE TO WORRY MORE ABOUT THE NEXT PRIMARY THAN THEY DO ABOUT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING, QUOTE, PRIMARY IYED.

S. THE CONVERSATIONS ARE THE INCUMBENT'S SURVIVAL.

HE'S PUSHING RAE DISTRICTING PLAN THAT PROTECTS HIS SURVIVAL.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PARTISAN CONVERSATION, OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THIS DISTRICT AS BLUE AS POSSIBLE OR WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THIS DISTRICT AS RED AS POSSIBLE POSSIBLE.

>> Jeff: AND YOU COMBINE THAT, THE INCREASING POLARIZATION OF CONGRESS WITH THE INCREASING POLARIZATION OF THE MEDIA, AND THEN YOU WIND UP WITH PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THEY'RE IN A REALLY BLUE OR REALLY RED DISTRICT AND THEY'RE WATCHING EITHER REALLY RED OR REALLY BLUE MEDIA AND HAVE NO IDEA THERE'S ANOTHER WORLD OUT THERE.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

WE JOKINGLY STATE FROM THE SIDELINES, PEOPLE COME TO WASHINGTON TO GET ON TV, NOT TO LEGISLATE.

ONE OF THE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION IT WITH REDISTRICTING, SOME TIME MINORITY COMMUNITIES ARE EXPLOITED EITHER BY SPLITTING THEM OR PACKING THEM TO ENGAGE IN THIS REDISTRICTING PROCESS, SO YOU'LL HAVE A DISTRICT WITH AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF MINORITIES SO THAT OTHER DISTRICTS WILL NOT HAVE ANY MINORITIES, AND THAT IS PART OF THAT PROCESS OF CREATING AN EXTREMELY BLUE OR AN EXTREMELY RED DISTRICT.

AND AGAIN, YOU SPLIT COMMUNITIES, YOU MANY TIME UNDERMINE MINORITY REPRESENTATION AND THAT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC.

>> Jeff: YOU REPRESENTED A DISTRICT AND MAYBE AROUND THE TIME IT WAS DRAWN THAT WAY, THAT WAS INTENTIONALLY DRAWN AS A MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICT, AND I THINK THE LAW SAYS YOU HAVE TO DO THAT WHEN THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

>> WELL, YEAH.

AND IN THAT INSTANCE IT MADE SENSE, BUT THERE WAS A QUESTION, AND I DON'T WANT TO GO TOO FAR INTO THE WEEDS, STAPLES SOMETIMES YOU SAY HOW MANY MINORITIES VOTERS DO YOU NEED IN A DISTRICT TO MAKE AT A REASONABLE DISTRICT FOR DIVERSITY PURPOSES BEFORE YOU REACH A POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE PACKING ALL THE MINORITIES TOGETHER SO THAT'S WON'T BE IN OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE THEY MIGHT INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO YOU WILL FIND REPUBLICANS DELIGHTED TO PACK AS MANY MINORITIES AS THEY CAN IN ONE DISTRICT SO THOSE MINORITIES WILL NOT BE IN OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE THEY COULD PRESSURE THE CANDIDATE TO PERHAPS BE MORE PROGRESSIVE OR MORE LIBERAL.

>> Jeff: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MARYLAND, WE HAVE EIGHT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

TWO ARE MAJORITY MINORITY, AS THINGS STAND NOW.

YOU WONDER IN A STATE WHERE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION IS NOT QUITE A THIRD OF THE STATE, SHOULD THERE BE A THIRD DISTRICT THAT'S -- I DON'T KNOW -- DESIGNED TO LOOK AT THE OR SOMEWHAT FAVORABLE FOR MINORITY CANDIDATES?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY DOABLE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF POLITICAL DYNAMICS.

I MENTIONED INCUMBENTANCY BEING ONE THAT STRONGLY INFLUENCES HOW THOSE LINES ARE DRAWN.

THEY SAY, NO, NO, I WANT TO KEEP THESE FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE IT HELPS ME WIN AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE HAVING THEM IN ANOTHER DISTRICT WHERE THEY WOULD CONSTITUTE A MORE VIABLE MINORITY VOTING BLOCK.

>> Jeff: FORMER CONGRESSMAN AL WYNN.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

NOW AS WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR, WE'RE JOINED BY DEMOCRAT WES MOORE.

MR. MOORE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> Wes Moore: IT IS MY JOY, JEFF.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> Jeff: LET'S START WITH YOUR BIOGRAPHY.

WHEN YOU MEET A NEW VOTER FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU HAVE A VARIED BACKGROUND.

HOW DO YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

>> Wes Moore: WELL, I INTRODUCE MYSELF AS SAYING FIRST I'M A PROUD MARYLANDER.

THIS IS WHERE I WAS BORN.

THIS IS WHERE I CAME OF AGE.

THIS IS WHERE I HAVE HAD SOME OF MY MOST AMAZING AND TRAUMATIC MEMORIES.

THIS IS WHERE I FELL IN HAVE LOVE AND WHERE MY WIFE AND I ARE RAISING OUR KIDS.

AND I'M RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY LIFE EXPERIENCE, WHEN MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, WHETHER IT WAS -- I LED STORAGES SOLDIERS IN COMBAT AS A PARATROOPER IN THE 82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION IN AFGHANISTAN.

I CAME BACK AND I STARTED A SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS HERE IN MARYLAND THAT WAS NEXT ONING ON HELPING TO BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY GO THROUGH CAN COLLEGE AND PROVIDE SUPPORTS SO THEY COULD MAKE IT THROUGH COLLEGE.

AND FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN THE CEO OF ONE OF THE LARGEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN AMERICA WHERE JUST IN MY TIME WEV ALLOCATED OVER $650 MILLION TOWARDS HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, EARLY CHILDHOOD, MENTAL HEALTH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND KNOWING THAT OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO INVEST SMARTLY, OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WORK WITH GOVERNMENT ARE ALL THINGS THAT MAKE ME UNIQUELY QUALIFIED IN THIS MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: SO YOU HAVE A LONG LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT A YOUNG AGE, NOT INCLUDING ANY POLITICAL EXPERIENCE, I BELIEVE.

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE YOU WANTED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND?

>> Wes Moore: I'VE BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN A POLITICS.

AND I KNEW EARLY IN MY LIFE THAT I WANT TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT WHERE I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD WHEN I WATCHED MY FATHER DIE IN FRONT OFY MOO, AND HE DIED BECAUSE HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND HE WAS UNSHAVEN AND HIS CLOTHES WERE DISHEVELED AND THERE WAS ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD INSURANCE.

WHEN MY MOM GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY ASKED HER QUESTIONS LIKE, IS HE PRONE TO EXAGGERATION?

AND HE WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS TO GO HOME AND GET SOME REST, AND IF IT GOT WORSE TO COME BACK AND HE DIED IN FRONT OF ME FIVE HOURS LATER, AND I WATCHED MY MOM BECOME A SINGLE MOM WHO WAS NOW GOING TO RAISE THREE KIDS ON HER OWN.

SHE DIDN'T GIVE HER FIRST JOB THAT GAVE HER BENEFITS UNTIL I WAS 14 YEARS OLD.

SO I KNEW FROM AN EARLY AGE THAT I WAS GOING TO SPEND MY LIFE FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE LIKE MY MOM, FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE LIKE MY DAD, FIGHTING FOR SO MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO IN OUR STATE IT'S A REMARKABLE STATE, BUT OPPORTUNITIES READILY AVAILABLE TO SOME.

IT'S JUST DANGEROUSLY ABSENT TO OTHERS.

AND SO I MADE THE DECISION THAT I WAS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR SEE THAT WE'RE AT A TIPPING POINT, THAT OUR STATE IS WRESTLING WITH OUR ABILITY TO GROW INCLUSIVELY, AND NONE OF US SHOULD BE SATISFIED WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY SITTING TO SOME OF THE MORE UNDERUNDER FUNDED AND UNDERPERFORMING, WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST HOSPITALS IN THE WORLD YET PEOPLE WHO LIVE DOWN THE STREET FROM THEM CAN'T AFFORD TO BE TREATED IN THEM.

IN THE ARMY WE LEARNED A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE AND THAT WAS THIS.

WE LEAVE NOBODY BEHIND.

AND THAT'S THE MANTRA THAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING RAISED AND ALLOCATED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT THE ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION ATTACKING ISSUES LIKE YOU COUNTRY, INCLUDING HEALTH CARE, WHAT DO YOU LEARN FROM THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT WORKS, WHERE THAT MONEY CAN BE EFFECTIVELY SPENT, WHERE MAYBE IT CAN BE -- THAT CAN BE IMPROVED ON?

>> Wes Moore: I LEARNED -- I LEARNED SO MUCH RUNNING.

ONE OF THE LARGEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN AMERICA WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT WORKS, PUT CAPITAL BEHIND IT WITH A CORE FOCUS ON SCALING.

AS A LEADER I AM VERY DATA DRIVEN AND HEART-LED, AND I THINK WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE MASSIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS DURING MY TIME THERE THERE.

I ALSO, THOUGH, KNOW THIS.

IF WE ARE NOTE FIXING THE SYSTEMS THAT CONTINUE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS, THEN WE ARE JUST CLEANING UP THE DEBRIS THAT COMES FROM BROKEN SYSTEMS.

AND AS I GO AROUND THE STATE, AND I'M TALKING TO PEOPLE, WHETHER WE ARE IN WESTERN MARYLAND OR THE EASTERN SHORE OR THE BALTIMORE REGION OR THE DC SUBURBS OR CENTRAL MARYLAND, THE THINGS THAT I'M HEARING FROM PEOPLE, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PARENT WHO IS SAYING MY CHILD IS SUFFERING FROM LEARNING LOSS AFTER WHAT THEY JUST HAD TO ENDURE, WHETHER IT'S THE WORKER WHO SAID, I HAVE LOST MY JOB AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE JOB IS GONE BUT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY IS NOW GONE, WHETHER IT'S THE PERSON WHO SAID I JUST WENT THERE THROUGH A GREAT JOB TRAINING PROGRAM BUT I DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WHERE THE JOB IS, YOU REALIZE THAT THESE ARE NOT NEW PROBLEMS.

THESE ARE GENERATIONAL PROBLEMS.

AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADDRESS GENERATIONAL CHALLENGES, WE NEED A MEASURE OF GENERATIONAL CHANGE.

FIND WAYS WHERE YOU'RE HAVING A GOVERNMENT THAT'S MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND THEN PARTNERING WITH EVERY SECTOR OF OUR SOCIETY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CONCRETE AND SYSTEMIC CHANGES IN THE WAY WE LIVE AND GROW AND THRIVE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF CANDIDATES.

OF COURSE, EVERYBODY'S REALLY TALKING ABOUT SIMILAR GOALS WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER ISSUES.

IS THERE A PLACE WHERE YOU FEEL THAT YOU STAND APART, AN ISSUE WHERE MAYBE YOU YOU TAKE A DIFFERENT TACK?

>> Wes Moore: I THINK IT'S BOTH ON THE ISSUE AND ALSO THE EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO GO AND GET THIS WORK DONE.

I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE CHANGE IN PUBLIC SERVICE FROM MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WHO HAS BEEN A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

SO WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH AND ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES.

THIS IS NOT ACADEMIC TO ME.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN BOTH THE BACK OF ECONOMICS AND THE FRONT OF THEM.

I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I'VE BEEN A OR LED ONE OF THE LARGEST NON-PROFITS OF THIS COUNTRY.

AND ONE OF SIX PEOPLE IN STATE ARE THE WORK IN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND I UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THAT NON-PROFITS ARE GOING TO PLAY IN ORDER TO CRETE THE CHANGES.

HOW TO CREATE A 21st CENTURY EDUCATION SYSTEM.

HOW TO CREATE A WORLD CLASS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT'S MOVING PEOPLE FROM WHERE THEY LIVE TO WHERE THEY WORK.

HOW TO FOCUS ON HOUSING AND MAKE SURE THAT HOUSING SHOULD BE A HUMAN RIGHT AND WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE IN HOUSING AND STAYING IN THEIR HOUSING.

SO IT'S BOTH ABOUT THE ISSUES AND AGGRESSIVENESS THAT I THINK WE CAN PUSH FORWARD, BUT IT'S ALSO I THINK PEOPLE ARE SEEING EVEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ENDORSEMENTS THAT OUR CAMPAIGN HAS RECEIVED, THE MOMENTUM THAT OUR CAMPAIGN HAS, THAT IT'S BOTH ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO SHOW A MEASURE OF DIFFERENTIATION AND WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON WORK AND WAGES AND WEALTH AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT'S ALSO A UNIQUE ABILITY TO WORK CROSS-SECTION MATERIAL TO GET THIS WORK DONE.

>> Jeff: YOU PICKED UP SOME ENDORSEMENTS THIS WEEK FROM A COUPLE OF WELL-KNOWN MEMBERS OF THE KIND THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT IN MARYLAND, WHICH IS NOTEWORTHY BECAUSE, AS WE MENTIONED, YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT IN MARYLAND.

>> Wes Moore: I HAVE BEEN HONOR IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SPURNED BY THIS CAMPAIGN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND TO YOUR POINT JUST THIS WEEK WE HAVE RECEIVED THE ENDORSEMENTS OF TWO FORMER CHAIRS OF THE MARYLAND DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SUSIE TURNBULL AND MIKE KRIER, THE FIRST SITTING -- THE COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ENDORSE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, COUNCIL WILL BE WILL BACKED MY CAMPAIGN.

SENATOR SHERYL KAGAN, THE ONLY SITTING COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENDORSE IN THIS RACE AND ROME COUNTY EXECUTIVE ENDORSE PD THE SENATOR TOBY PATTERSON IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY HAS ENDORSE DOLLARS OUR CAMPAIGN.

I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE FROM THE BALTIMORE REGION, AND OVER HALF OF THE BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL AND DELEGATION HAS ENDORSE DOLLARS MY CAMPAIGN.

AND YOU BRING UP A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT, JEFF, BECAUSE NIECE LEADERS ARE NOT ENDORSING ME BECAUSE THEY THINK I'M A NICE GUY.

THEY ARE ENDORSING ME BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN ME WORK.

THEY HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE ME WORK WITH THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE ENDORSING ME BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN MY VISION FOR THE STATE AND THEY KNOW YOU HAVE A UNIQUE PATH TO WIN, NOT JUST IN THE PRIMARY BUT TO WIN NEXT NOVEMBER AND TO ACTUALLY FINISH AND ACCOMPLISH A JOB THAT FOR DEMOCRATS IN OUR STATE HAS BEEN SO COMPLICATED AND CHALLENGING THESE PAST COTTON 20 YEARS.

>> Jeff: TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT UNIQUE PATH TO WINNING IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PREETI L. PRETTY MUCH RUNS EVERYTHING IN THE STATE BUT HAS LOST THREE OF THE LAST FIVE ELECTIONS FOR GOVERNOR.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

WHY SHOULD PARTY INSIDERS AND REGULAR VOTERS LOOK TO YOU AS THE PERSON WHO CAN WIN NEXT NOVEMBER?

>> Wes Moore: AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

YOU LOOK AT THE PAST 20 YEARS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, AND MARYLAND IS A TWO-TO-ONE REGISTERED DEMOCRATIC STATE BUT THE REALITY IS FOR THE PAST 20 úYEARS WE HAVE ELECTED A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR FOR 12 NEM.

AND I THINK BACK TO SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEUART PITTMAN SAID WHEN HE ENDORSED ME ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, AND HE ENS DOORED EARLY, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE REALLY TAKEN THAT YOU HAVE A SITTING COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO IS UP FOR RELEASING TO ENDORSED SO EARLY AND ENDORSED A CANDIDATE WHO HAS NEVER RUN FORE OFFICE, AND HE MADE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS.

SHE WAS COMPLIMENT RIFF MY VISION AND VALUES AND THE WORK THAT I HAVE DONE BUT ALSO HE SAID THIS.

HE SAID I THINKY WES IS THE PERSON UNIQUELY PREPARED TO WIN IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE HE SAID, TO WIN IN NOVEMBER YOU HAVE II TO DO TWO THINGS.

YOU HAVE TO BOTH ENERGIZE THE BASE AND NOT ALIENATE EVERYONE ELSE.

YOU HAVE TO ENERGIZE THE BASE BUT GO AFTER DISINVESTED VOTERS.

THE REALITY IS THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE MY ENTIRE CAREER.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO MR. MOORE.

PASS WE CONTINUE TO TALK TO THE CANDIDATES ALL OF THE INTERVIEWS WILL BE POSTED ONLINE AT MPT.ORG MPT.ORG/ASK THE CANDIDATES.

NOW THE SIGNS THEY ARE A CHANGING.

WELL-KNOWN BANK BRAND SUNTRUST AND BB&T ARE NOW TRUIST, AND SIGN COMPANIES HAVE BEEN BUSY PUTTING UP THE NEW LOGO AT LOCAL BRANCHES.

WE SPOKE WITH GREG FARNO, FROM YOU iOS REGIONAL PRESIDENT, ABOUT WHAT CONSUMERS NEED TO KNOW.

MR. FARNO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M SURE THOSE SIGN COMPANIES ARE HAPPY TO SEE CONSOLIDATION IN BANKING.

BUT FROM A CONSUMER STANDPOINT, IN TERMS OF THEIR OLD CHECKS AND DEBIT CARDS AND ALL THAT, WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW?

>> Greg Farno: JEFF, FIRST OF ALL, YEAH, THOSE SIGN COMPANIES ARE DOING A GREAT JOB RIGHT NOW AS WE WILL BE SWITCHING OUT OUR SIGNAGE AT THOUSANDS OF LOCATIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

BUT WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE FOR THE CONSUMER IS TO SEE US.

IF A CONSUMER SAYS, "I DIDN'T REALIZE YOUR SYSTEM WAS CONVERTED," THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT.

YOU DO NOT WANT THEM TO SEE ANYTHING.

WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO SEE, THOUGH, IS MORE ROBUST, ENHANCED PLATFORMS, CAPABILITIES, TECHNOLOGY.

MORE THAN THEY HAD BEFORE BUT DONE IN THE IN A SEAMLESS WAY.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT THE CONSUMER TO SEE THROUGH THIS MERGER OF SUNTRUST AND BB&T INTO TRUIST.

>> Jeff: IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL BUT ALSO LOCALLY FOR YOUR TEAM.

>> Greg Farno: ABSOLUTELY.

BRINGING TWO BIG BANKS TOGETHER IS NOT EASY.

WE'VE NOW BEEN AT IT, JEFF, THE MERGER CLOSED ON DECEMBER 19th SO IT'S COMING VERY RAPIDLY ON TWO YEARS.

THE PANDEMIC SLOWED IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY DILIGENT, TAKING OUR TIME, BEING METHODICAL, FIGURING OUT WHICH BANK'S SYSTEM MIGHTING BETTER THAN THE OTHER IN -- MIGHT BE BETTER THAN THE OTHER IN DEVELOPING THAT.

OUR PHYSICAL ASSETS, THINKING ABOUT BRANCHES, OFFICES.

I'M TALKING TO YOU TODAY FROM DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE WHERE WE CONSOLIDATED OUR TWO BIG OFFICE BUILDINGS INTO ONE, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT HAPPEN FROM NEW JERSEY TO MIAMI TO DALLAS.

SO A LOT OF THAT GOING ON, JEFF.

>> Jeff: I KNOW YOU HAVE A NICE VIEW BEHIND THOSE BLINDS OF DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE, BUT A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN HEADQUARTERED IN THE ORIGINAL DOWNTOWN NEAR CHARLES CENTER IN BALTIMORE HAVE BEEN SORT OF MIGRATING OVER TO THE HARBOR EAST AREA.

WAS THAT SOMETHING YOU LOOKED AT?

>> Greg Farno: SO HARBOR EAST IS BEAUTIFUL, JEFF, LOVELY AREA.

WE'RE VERY PROUD TO HAVE IT AS PART OF THE CITY.

BOTH HERITAGE, SUNTRUST AND BB&T, THOUGH, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ANCHORED HERE IN WHAT I WOULD CALL THE DOWNTOWN OR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

SO WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE THAT.

AND TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE WHOLE CITY OF BALTIMORE, BUT ARE COMMITTED TO DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE, AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT BOTH OF THE OFFICES TOGETHER AND KEPT IT IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

AGAIN, HARBOR EAST IS WONDERFUL AND IT'S NOT FAR AWAY, BUT DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE HAS GOT A LOT TO OFFER AS WELL, JEFF.

AND WE'RE PROUD TO BE HERE.

>> Jeff: WHEN THIS IS ALL DONE, WHAT IS TRUIST GOING TO LOOK LIKE FROM A REGIONAL MARYLAND STANDPOINT IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF BRANCHES, ASSETS, THAT SORT OF THING?

>> Greg Farno: AND SO LET ME GIVE YOU SOME IDEA.

WE'VE GOT OFFICES -- AND WHEN I SAY THE OFFICES, NOT BRANCHES BUT BUSINESS OFFICES -- ALL OVER THE STATE, HAGERSTOWN, FREDERICK, OWINGS MILLS, HUNT VALLEY, COLUMBIA, ANNAPOLIS, BALTIMORE, OCEAN CITY, SO WE REALLY ARE DEDICATED TO SERVING THE ENTIRE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WE DO THAT THROUGH A VAST BRANCH NETWORK.

AND, JEFF, THAT NETWORK WAS EVOLVING BEFORE THE MERGER.

IT WILL EVOLVE THROUGH THE MERGER.

AND AFTER THE MERGER.

AS OUR CLIENTS DETERMINE HOW THEY WANT TOBY SERVED.

SO SOME CLIENTS STILL LIKE GOING TO THE BRANCH.

SOME WOULD RATHER DO IT DIGITALLY.

AND WE HAVE SEEN AN ENORMOUS GROWTH IN DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS.

COMPANIES THAT ARE -- CUSTOMERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO INTERACT WITH US INTO THE COMPUTER, ON THE PHONE VERSUS GOING INTO A BRANCH.

SO WE CONTINUE TO EVOLVE OUR BRANCH MODEL.

SOME BRANCHES YOU'LL SEE ARE CLOSING.

GENERALLY, JEFF, THOSE ARE ONES THAT ARE A QUARTER OF A MILE, A HALF A MILE AWAY FROM ANOTHER BRANCH.

WE'RE OPENING UP BRANCHES.

WE OPENED UP A BRAND NEW BRANCH HERE IN BALTIMORE CITY ON NORTH AVENUE RIGHT AS YOU ENTER COPPIN STATE.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO MR. FARNO.

AND THAT IS STATE CIRCLE FOR THIS WEEK.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.