mayor p.j. mayor? [applause] my fellow marylanders, the story of dr. gates, the story of janice and melissa, the people, the mayor, the sacrifice of our fallen heroes, these are our stories, the stories of courage and her samaritans. it is a tremendous honor to serve the people of maryland with all of you. faced with adversity of the national recession, the people of our state did not make excuses. instead they started businesses. they enrolled in night school and made difficult decisions around the kitchen table about how to do more for their children. they volunteered at churches, synagogues, mosques. they pulled their neighbors. what we have experienced together over these last several years, what we have shared with one another was not in denial or fear, nor was it merely hope. it was belief. it was belief in the dignity of every individual. our belief to advance the common good and the understanding that we are in this together. progress is a choice. job creation is a choice. whether we give our children a future of more or a future of less, this i