State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Wednesday, August 2, 2028

Statement from Lieutenant Governor Burbank on the Resignation of DBED Secretary Ellen Lappesse

BALTIMORE, MD (August 2, 2028) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank issued the following statement today on the resignation of Ellen Lappesse as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development:

Ellen Lappesse has aggressively fought to improve Maryland’s economy and provide more jobs and greater opportunity for citizens in every region of our State. I am very proud of her efforts to bring new businesses to areas of the State like Baltimore City that have traditionally not shared fully in Maryland’s prosperity. As she prepares to leave DBED this week, I just wanted to thank her again for her tremendous service to our administration and to the State of Maryland. It has been an honor to work with her. I am proud to call her my friend and look forward to her continued service to our State, regardless of what form that service may take.

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.