A legislative audit revealing a convicted child sex predator working in Maryland’s foster care homes, as well as other sex offenders living at the same addresses as vulnerable youth in Maryland’s foster care program, reminds us that Gov. Wes Moore is too distracted to be a safe and effective leader for our state. The Office of Legislative Audits released a heartbreaking report exposing catastrophic failures in the Maryland Social Services Administration. Hundreds of vulnerable children are living in hotels — some were under the care of a convicted murderer. Meanwhile, hundreds more miss basic health care demanded by ; legislative leaders, like routine physical exams or dental cleanings. This report is soul-crushing to read and underscores the urgent need for competent, vigilant and focused state leadership. Our current governor falls short in every one of these areas.
Maryland taxpayers invest heavily in the governor’s office. It’s baffling that a simple spreadsheet audit, something a curious college intern could do, revealed seven convicted sex offenders living at the same addresses as Maryland’s vulnerable youth. This is a shocking gap that a competent governor’s office should have caught and fixed. Executive leadership demands more than a charming smile and soaring rhetoric; it requires a discerning eye for competence, which Moore’s administration lacks.
The prolonged tenure of former Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi is primary evidence that Moore prioritizes politics and ideology over administrative competence. In May, another devastating audit showed the Department of Juvenile Services failed to ensure background checks for vendors working with youth, allowing at least one person with disqualifying criminal convictions to work directly with at-risk kids. Maryland taxpayers deserve confidence that their state’s executive will prioritize the safety of our children and the efficient operation of government. Moore’s track record suggests otherwise.
Vigilance is the heartbeat of executive leadership, but Moore’s administration is sorely lacking. This latest audit found 280 vulnerable children living in hotels under unlicensed one-on-one providers between 2023 and 2024, with some care billed to the state at over $1,200 per day. The audit acknowledges that we don’t even know the nature and quality of care that cost Maryland taxpayers over $10 million. Only a critical lack of vigilance could miss such a glaring issue.
While taxpayers might offer some grace for bureaucratic sprawl, Moore’s dramatic staff and salary expansions should have closed these service gaps. Instead, he and Maryland’s Democratic Party seem to prioritize flashy showmanship over competency in addressing critical failures. This mindset likely explains why over 50% of children in state care didn’t receive timely dental exams, as noted in the audit. Maryland Democrats aggressively confront those who raise alarms about systemic issues like violence, crime or neglect. Yet, our most vulnerable children continue to pay a heavy price for a lack of vigilance and competence.
The greatest challenge facing Maryland’s executive branch is Moore’s lack of focus. He insults Maryland taxpayers’ intelligence by denying his national political ambitions while making painfully obvious political appearances on national media platforms and being entertained at luxurious residences of celebrities in Italy.
These distractions pull him away from the mental and physical presence needed to tackle Maryland’s pressing issues, including domestic migration away from our state, a crushing cost of living and a looming energy crisis. Maryland’s governor must be fully committed to this state in our moment of need. Moore’s talents are better suited to a role as a political activist or nonprofit leader, where his charisma could shine without the demands of vigilant governance.
Maryland taxpayers deserve a leader who values competence, vigilance and focus above all else. The audit’s findings are a wake-up call: Our children’s safety cannot be compromised by an administration that overlooks glaring failures. Taxpayers expect their $22 million investment to deliver results, not excuses. Gov. Moore must step aside and leave the professional governing of our state to someone who can deliver the leadership Maryland demands.