So, Mayor Brandon Scott has just unleashed what amount to bling wheels on steroids – a fully loaded 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer that will cost Baltimore taxpayers $163,495, after upgrades and customizations. WBFF Let that sink in: $163K for a city -run SUV. Meanwhile, in more humble Montgomery County, our esteemed County Executive Marc Elrich has kept things comparatively restrained – a suburban (Suburban) reportedly pegged around $85,000, and a Mustang Mach-E that clocks in at just $56,000. (Yes, even the county’s EV tastes are cheaper than Scott’s SUV lust.)
Let’s compare: Elrich’s vehicle choices are the automotive equivalent of ordering the steak – not tomahawk -ribeye with caviar. Scott, by contrast, is ordering the seven-course gala feast and billing it to the city.
The Bronco Brawl: Who’s showing off harder?
Baltimore’s new ride is not just expensive – it’s extravagantly so. The vehicle itself reportedly was priced around $98,716, but the upgrades (lights, sirens, communications gear) pushed it over the top. WBFF And he replaces a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban that cost ~ $77,785 with upgrades, from the Pugh administration – so this is more than double the price. WBFF
Scott signed a law in late 2023 requiring that Baltimore’s administrative fleet procure 100% zero -emissions vehicles by 2030. Mayor Brandon M. Scott Yet his new ride is a mild hybrid – far from a full EV – and certainly not zero -emissions. WBFF The cognitive dissonance would be funnier if it weren’t so tragic for the taxpayers.
Meanwhile, Elrich – bless his frugal heart – has leaned into EVs in Montgomery County via public programs like the EV Purchasing Co -op, to nudge residents toward emissions reductions. Montgomery County, MD He’s not out there buying armored SUVs at taxpayer expense.
So the question naturally arises: will Elrich now cave to peer pressure and demo Elrichmibile: Hummer EV Edition? You can picture the headline: “Montgomery County Executive buys $150K Hummer EV – to keep up with Scott”. It’s the kind of one -one-upsmanship that turns public service into an arms race of vanity.
And while we’re on the topic of county vehicle budgets, let’s not forget Montgomery County has purchased a number of Chevy Silverado EVs for the public fleet. Who’s footing that bill? The same folks who pay for roads, schools, and public safety: county taxpayers. If Scott’s SUV purchase is infuriating, be ready for the ripple effect – because once the mayor sets the “luxury baseline,” everyone else is pressured to match it (or get mocked for driving a Civic).
Elrich, who long framed himself as the thrifty, climate -aware leader, is now risked being outdone in flamboyance. If he remains true to his modest M.O., he’ll let Scott knot ties with million -dollar fleet purchases while holding steady with pragmatic EVs for public service. But if he caves – buy that Hummer EV – we’ll know the showmanship won.
Scott’s new ride isn’t just a poor look – it’s a loud message that his “service” comes first, then the budget. It’s a message Elrich ought to reflexively reject – but with Scott’s SUV now blocking the sun, does he even have the shade to stand under?
And yes — I know I’m putting lipstick on a couple of pigs here. But at least Elrich and Scott bought American. Credit where due: Brandon Scott avoided the temptation of a G-Wagon.
Ian Schwartz is a columnist for Direct Line Contact at Ian.Schwartz@mcgopclub.com
Direct Line News is a Maryland-based free-access publication committed to the Republican reform tradition.
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