John P. McDonough

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Baltimore) swore in Maryland’s 17th Secretary of State on Wednesday. Attorney John McDonough of Prince George’s County will be taking over for Interim Secretary of State Dennis Schnepfe, who has been serving since January 2007.

McDonough began immediately after being sworn in Wednesday, though Maryland law requires he be confirmed by the Senate during the next legislative session.

“I want to congratulate John McDonough on this appointment, and thank him for accepting this extraordinary responsibility as Maryland’s Secretary of State,” Governor O’Malley said in a statement.

“I am confident in John’s ability to serve the people of Maryland in this role, and look forward to having him as a member of our Executive Cabinet."

The Associated Press is reporting that John McDonough, a Prince George's County attorney and longtime campaign aide to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville), will be appointed secretary of state tomorrow by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Baltimore), his final cabinet appointment.

State Republicans have repeatedly criticized O'Malley for the salary of Dennis C. Schnepfe, who has served as an interim since January 2007, saying that making the appointment would save Maryland taxpayers money. Schnepfe's longevity in state government entitles him to a salary of $94,000 a year, while state law mandates the secretary of state be paid $78,750, on the lower side of cabinet salaries.

But the position is a largely ceremonial one: the secretary’s duties are largely relegated to ceremonial tasks like attending trade conferences on behalf of the state and occasionally attesting to the authenticity of the governor’s signature on documents. The office does not hold the power it does in other states as a certifier of elections.