Martin O'Malley has broken another campaign promise and Bill Bronrott has failed to challenge him. The Martin O'Malley administration announced today the postponement of any effort to build the Purple Line until 2008. Instead of condemning Governor O'Malley's abdication of leadership, our delegate William Bronrott said it's not so bad and maybe we'll even get more Federal funds.

Leadership. Leadership is a vital quality in solving our transportation crisis. Unfortunately, we don't have it in Annapolis right now. Considering that it will take several years to build the Purple Line after all of the preliminary studies, court battles, and legislative squabbles are complete, we don't have a year to wait. Where is the outrage? I know there is outrage among the voters who believed O'Malley, Bronrott, et al when they said they were committed to the Purple Line. But where is the outrage from the various organizations, activists, and politicians who back the light rail from Bethesda to New Carrollton?

During the campaign, I made very clear that transportation was my top priority. As you can hear for yourself on the video interview posted on my website, I stated that my first action in Annapolis would be to introduce my comprehensive transportation plan. And that the first step was to begin work on the Purple Line. The people who voted for my opponents have certainly learned too late that our Democratic delegates simply are not committed to the Purple Line. If they were, they would be scolding Governor O'Malley for dropping the ball on transportation. And then they actually start doing something. It's a foreign concept: taking action.

Unlike our current elected officials, I am still working to promote and build the Purple Line. In my transportation plan, we will have a world-class railway that exceeds any other version. A bigger and better Purple Line that will serve the needs of Montgomery County in the 21st century. Our current government is lost in the fog of the 1960s. Let's help them to the door in 2010 by voting for real leadership and candidates who keep their promises.