Under Maryland state law, UMMS board members can’t serve more than two consecutive five-year terms. However, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and governors before him, who select members for the board, let some stay on past the limit.
In a statement to The Washington Post, a spokesperson for the governor said the term limits will be enforced now.
“These practices were handed down from both Republican and Democratic administrations. Governor Hogan is working to put an end to them so we can help restore public trust in UMMS,” the spokesperson said in an email to the Post.
A new bill signed into law in April will dissolve UMMS’ current board and appoint a new one by the start of 2020. The two-term limit will remain, according to the report.
Baltimore-based UMMS has been dealing with controversy surrounding contracts with its board members after it was revealed the system paid then-Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh $500,000 for 100,000 copies of her Healthy Holly children’s books while Ms. Pugh was a member of the health system’s board. Ms. Pugh has since resigned as mayor amid the scrutiny over book deals she made with entities she had influence over.
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