Courtesy Photo Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown spoke at Martin's in Walkersville for the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner on Friday. Purchase this photo

"The governor and I, it's no surprise, we're running," Brown said. "Because the fight that we started is not over. There is a tremendous amount of work to be done."

Brown, a Democrat, was the keynote speaker at the annual Jefferson -Jackson Day Dinner, sponsored by the Frederick County State Democratic Central Committee.

O'Malley and Brown were elected with about 53 percent of the vote in 2006, defeating incumbent Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican. In 2006, Frederick County voters cast 43,536 votes for Ehrlich and 28,644 for O'Malley.

"We need your help," Brown said. "(Delegates) Sue Hecht and Galen Clagett need your help. Maryland needs your help. And my question is, are we ready for 2010?"

Brown told 130 people in attendance at the Martin's in Walkersville that their administration is focusing on job creation, providing education funding and eliminating childhood hunger.

Brown's comments were tempered by the economic downturn. He and O'Malley recognize the economic downturn is hitting families, he said.

"Things are a lot better, however, in Maryland than they are in other states, but that doesn't mean that people aren't struggling in our communities," he said.

Along with the federal stimulus, Brown also said that the Frederick community will benefit from the federal Base Realignment and Closure program. It is expected to bring about 1,400 jobs to Fort Detrick.

In addition to creating jobs, Brown said that Maryland needs to continue funding all levels of education and provide social aid.

"If families can't survive this crisis, we won't be able to thrive," Brown said.

With that in mind, he said Maryland is increasing its contribution by $22 million to the free and reduced-price lunch program for children. The state is also expanding unemployment insurance to 420,000 part-time workers, he said.

Frederick Democrats were jubilant Friday night, celebrating a successful presidential election and increased registration numbers in Frederick County.

Republicans still outnumber Democrats in the county, and Sen. John McCain carried the county in the 2008 presidential race.

But the Democrats are within 5,000 registered voters in the county, and came within 1,100 votes of winning in the presidential race, central committee President Robert Kresslein said.

The central committee gave out two awards, recognizing Myrna Whitworth and Ron Wolf as the Outstanding Democrats of the Year.

Brown congratulated Frederick County Democrats for their work.

"I pledge that the governor and I will work with you to continue building the Democratic Party here in Frederick ," Brown said. "To turn it from red to blue in short order."