Executive Nominations Committee hears 16 gubernatorial nominees, moves to approve slate

The Maryland Executive Nominations Committee convened for its final public hearing of the year to consider 16 nominees to state boards and commissions and moved to approve the slate after brief presentations.

Chairman Ben Brooks opened the hearing and the committee proceeded through introductions. Senator Michael West introduced Paul Trabuzzi, the governor’s nominee to the Maryland Economic Development Commission; Trabuzzi said economic development to him means “jobs, jobs, jobs,” and emphasized a focus on bringing and retaining business and employment in Maryland. Several nominees described private-sector leadership or long careers in public service as qualifications for the boards to which they were nominated.

Other nominees who addressed the committee included Frank Wishi for the Maryland Transportation Authority, who described past engineering and construction-management roles overseeing a multimillion-dollar annual program; David Lair for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Board, who cited two decades of work on health financing and affordability; and Dr. Howard Haft and Dr. Nona Mimi Noll, both presented for seats on health-related commissions and who described clinical and executive roles in state public health and hospital leadership, respectively. Kristen Green, nominated to the Racing Commission, said she would bring retired-racehorse aftercare expertise. Student nominees for higher-education panels — Msali Andreas (Maryland Higher Education Commission) and Lia Mahari (University System of Maryland Board of Regents) — said they would represent student perspectives on policy and campus services.

Dr. Kimberly Mlan, nominated to the Veterans Home Commission, described a three-decade federal and military career working on veterans’ health and benefits and cited experience with intergovernmental coordination and legislation affecting veterans’ care. She told the committee she would prioritize “veteran-centered care, strong governance and accountability, and partnership and alignment” if confirmed.

The committee concluded the public hearing portion with expressions of thanks to staff and the appointments office. A motion and a second were recorded to approve the evening’s nominees; committee members voiced assent and the meeting proceeded to adjournment. The transcript records no roll-call vote tally or named mover in the public hearing text provided.

Next steps: the nominations proceed according to statutory processes for confirmation; the transcript does not specify a formal recorded vote tally or further scheduling details.