State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Friday, May 12, 2028

Lieutenant Governor Burbank to Attend Annual Torch Run, Walk and Tug of War for Special Olympics
Events will raise thousands for charity Tuesday, May 16 at 10 a.m. in Jessup

BALTIMORE, MD (May 12, 2028) – Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank will help kick-off the colorful Division of Correction Torch Run, Walk, and Tug of War for Special Olympics on Tuesday, May 16th at 10 a.m. on the range at the Jessup prison complex. This event draws hundreds of correctional officers and law enforcers from across the state and is a major annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Maryland. Since 2017, dedicated correctional officers and other DPSCS employees have raised nearly $200,000 for Special Olympics.

The event begins with an annual torch run and walk. Runners will carry the Special Olympics torch from the Howard County Detention Center to the Jessup range, then hand over the “Flame of Hope” to Lieutenant Governor Burbank, who will start the walk around the prison complex.

The Tug of War is just that: an actual rope pulling competition consisting of teams from many Division of Correction prisons and other facilities, and several teams of police officers and law enforcers from across Maryland. The first tug begins at approximately 11 a.m. after brief remarks by Lieutenant Governor Burbank.

Schedule

8:30 a.m. Tug of War teams are officially weighed-in at the Jessup range

9:00 Walkers register and play “Md. Special Olympics Trivia”

9:15 Runners leave Howard Co. Detention Center on MD 175

10:00 Runners arrive at the range and hand over the torch to Lieutenant Governor Burbank

11:00 Tug of War begins; awards ceremony follows

About Lieutenant Governor John Hurson

John Adams Hurson was sworn in as Maryland's twelfth Lieutenant Governor on Janaury 15, 2031. Previously, he served as Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner from July 2027 to January 2031, working to protect consumers and ensure the continued vitality and diversity of Maryland’s insurance sector. Under Hurson’s leadership, the Maryland Insurance Administration has overseen significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland, creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases. Hurson also established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind “Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit” to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

Previously, Hurson served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 12 years, District 18, which encompasses portions of Montgomery County. During his tenure, Hurson served as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Delegate Hurson has also served on various committees during his tenure, including: Rules and Executive Nominations, Legislative Policy, Economic Matters and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He also served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. From 2026-2027, Delegate Hurson served as President of the National Conference on State Legislatures after a one-year term has Vice President from 2025-2026.

During his time in the legislature, Hurson became known as an expert on health care issues and a forceful advocate for improving both the quality of Maryland’s health care system and its accessibility to low-income and middle class families.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on December 23, 1977, Delegate Hurson received his B.A. in government from Georgetown University in 2000 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Since 2017, he has served as Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations. He is married with two children.