The MD GOP Chairman Resigns, Former First Lady Kendel Ehrlich Eyes The AA County Executive Post, and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Prepares Her "State Of The City" Speech

The chairman of the Maryland Republican Party is resigning. On Saturday, Alex X. Mooney sent a letter to the party's central committee announcing his plans to step down; he'll submit his official letter of resignation on March 1st, and his leadership post will be filled at the Party's spring convention in April. State GOP vice chair, Diana Waterman, will serve as chair in the interim (via the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post).

Former Maryland First Lady Kendel Ehrlich says she may wants to serve as Anne Arundel County Executive for the next two years... but ONLY for the next two years. Anne Arundel's top job needs an occupant until after the 2014 election, which is when now-former county executive John Leopold's term comes to an end. The Anne Arundel County Council is charged with finding a replacement, and Kendal Ehrlich says she's considering mounting a bid for the post; she says that if she's selected, she would not run for office in 2014, and would not raise any campaign money while in office (via the Baltimore Sun).

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is preparing to deliver her annual State of the City speech today. The address comes less than a week after a consultant deliverd a report showing that Baltimore is facing a structural deficit of about $750-million over the next decade. Mayor Rawlings-Blake says that she'll propose a series of "major reforms" to city government, aimed at eliminating the deficit and altering the city's tax structure. The speech takes place at 2:30 this afternoon (via the Baltimore Sun).

On today's edition of Inside Maryland Politics, WYPR's Fraser Smith talks to Andy Green of the Baltimore Sun about the potential effectiveness of Governor O'Malley's gun control proposals and the ongoing debate over the bill.

The debate over whether to eliminate the death penalty in Maryland gets started this week in Annapolis. The House Judiciary Committee and the State Senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee will be holding hearings Thursday afternoon on Governor O'Malley's proposal to end the death penalty (via our wire service).

The General Assembly is considering a bill that would bring up to 25-hundred slot machines to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport (via our wire service, WJZ, and the Baltimore Sun).

Lawmakers are also considering a bill would require many of Maryland's automated speed cameras to move. The bill, proposed by state Senator James Brochin, would require that all speed cameras managed by local governments be located within 500 feet of a school (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

Republican lawmakers are again pushing legislation that would require Maryland voters to show ID when they head to the polls. 34 Republican Delegates have co-sponsored this year's legislation (via marylandreporter.com). 

Now that steel manufacturing at Sparrows Point is over, the Maryland Port Administration is looking to take over the area known as Coke Point; the 3-thousand acres would initially be used as a containment area for dredge spoil... but as the Port continues to expand, the area could become a new marine terminal (via the Daily Record).

And in sports: You shouldn't expect Ray Lewis to be joining the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff. Head coach John Harbaugh told CSNBaltimore.com that he's spoken to the retiring linebacker about a position on the staff, but says Lewis isn't interested. The outspoken and emotional leader of the Ravens' defense is retiring after a 17-year career that culminated with Sunday's Super Bowl championship in New Orleans. Lewis is expected to work as a studio analyst for ESPN instead.