Brooke Elizabeth Lierman – Candidate for Comptroller (Moderately MOCO Candidate Introduction Series)

This post is part of the Moderately MOCO Candidate Introduction Series. Candidates who did not receive the questionnaire via email or need more information can get access through our contact form. The information in this post was submitted directly by the candidate and does not represent the views of Moderately MOCO or its publication.

Basic Information

Political Party: Democratic

Campaign Website: brookelierman.com

Social Media:

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Why Are You Running For Office?

I’m running for re-election to continue the work of reimagining and revitalizing the Office of the Comptroller. In just the past 3 years, we have launched innovative platforms to build a more transparent and responsive agency. We’ve launched important and proactive measures to ensure Marylanders have access to their money – like our new Unclaimed Property site, faster payments for small businesses and child care centers, and the EarnedIt Campaign to help low-income families access their tax credits. And, for the first time in our agency’s history, we’re sharing economic intelligence through reports and dashboards to provide clarity to policymakers and the public during this time of extraordinary complexity. While the Trump Administration continues its lawless cruelty against our immigrant neighbors, and through its illegal tariffs, I will continue calling for us to do more to build a state where everyone can afford not just to survive, but to truly thrive. I am focused on working in partnership to create a state that is more equitable, more resilient and more prosperous so that all Marylanders can reach their full potential.

What Is The Biggest Issue Facing Voters In This Race?

Affordability. Maryland families are being squeezed from every direction: rising housing costs, child care, groceries, utilities, and now gas costs at the same time that the Trump Administration cut 25,000 federal jobs in Maryland, and is actively working to cut benefits for families. The Comptroller’s office has tools to help, from making sure every eligible family claims the tax credits they’ve earned, to pushing for smart, long-term economic planning, to protecting the pension system that secures retirements and encouraging businesses to participate in our state’s portable retirement account program, MarylandSAVES. I’m focused on using every lever of this office to make Maryland more affordable and more resilient.

What Experience Best Prepares You For This Role?

Three things. First, doing the job: for 3 1/2 years, I have led our team of 1300 people in 12 offices across the state. We’ve successfully transitioned from COBOL main frame systems to modern IT platforms; we’ve rebuilt our compliance unit to one that is closing the tax gap; and, we’ve launched innovative programs that reach Marylanders where they are. Second, my eight years in the House of Delegates taught me all about the ins and outs of state government and working with community leaders, so I’m able to use that knowledge and those relationships to build connections and transform outcomes. Finally, my career as a civil rights and disability rights attorney prepared me to be an effective fighter and advocate for our families, communities, and small businesses.

What Would You Like Voters To Know About You Personally?

As a Montgomery County public school graduate, I know the importance of investing in our public schools – and continue to work to find ways to support our schools and families. After graduating from Dartmouth College, working as an AmeriCorpsVISTA member and organizer, and graduating from the University of Texas School of Law, I clerked for a federal judge in Baltimore, where my husband and I settled. I’m a proud mom of two kids who attend Baltimore City public schools, and almost every decision I make is shaped by wanting to leave them and their generation a better Maryland. I love Maryland and want to ensure that we are both striking back against the cruelty and chaos coming from the Trump Administration, but also proactively finding solutions for families and small businesses, and making government work better for all Marylanders.

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