Dayhoff Soundtrack

Monday, August 21, 2006

20060820 Frederick County Commissioner election questionnaire

Frederick County Commissioner election questionnaire
August 20th, 2006

I found out about the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce commissioner questionnaire from reading Clifford G. Cumber’s August 18, 2006 “Political Notebook” on the Frederick News-Post website.

For anyone not familiar with Mr. Cumber’s work, you should check out the Frederick News-Post and take a look at his political coverage. It is excellent.

For the Frederick County primary election for commissioner, the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce has posted on their web site responses to a questionnaire. You can find it by clicking here.

Gee, I wish someone would do this in Carroll and Howard County - - Information on all the candidates – all in one place.

It is 72 pages long… Happy reading.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
http://www.thetentacle.com/
Westminster Eagle Opinion and
Winchester Report
http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/
http://www.kevindayhoff.com/

20060820 Carroll County Primary Election Coverage

Carroll County Primary Election Coverage
Last updated August 20th, 2006

Listed below are the candidates for elected office in Carroll as of the June 27th, 2006 filing deadline.

This post will stay here at the top of the blog posts until the primary.

The primary election is Tuesday, September 12th, 2006.

Of course, since it is a primary, I will probably not endorse anyone. I have never felt that endorsing candidates in a primary to be very smart. Once the primary election is over, you have to work with these folks and since, to the best of my knowledge, all the candidates are human, folks tend to have a memory… I know that I do…

Anyone who dares to leave the comfort of the little cocoon of their life and stick their necks out to run for political office is a winner. They are all to be respected and congratulated.

As time allows, I will attempt to get something for each and every candidate up on the blog. If you are a candidate or a supporter of a particular candidate and you have information that you would like to see on the blog, please feel free to email it to me at kdayhoff@carr.org. Please include the term: KDDC in the subject line. As time allows, I will be happy to get it up on the blog.

The best way to search for information about any particular candidate is to use the search engine at the very top left of the blog. Go to the silver bar at the top of the page and look for an entry field to the left of “search this blog.” It is an excellent search engine. Type in the last name of a particular candidate and hit enter.

The last day to register to vote in the Tuesday, September 12th, 2006primary is Tuesday, August 22, 2006

The last day to register for the November 7th, 2006 general election is October 17th, 2006

You may download a registration application form here. The phone number for the Carroll County Board of Elections is: (410) 386-2080. The web site for the Carroll County Board of Elections is here. If you have not had the opportunity to work with the folks at the Carroll County Board of Elections, you will pleasantly surprised how friendly, knowledgeable and helpful they are. They are definitely in the customer service business. (Disclosure: I was an election judge for 10 years in the 1990s…)

If you see any mistakes on this page, please email me at kdayhoff@carr.org and let me know. Please include the term: KDDC in the subject line.

State Senator, District 04
Paul Chamberlain (R)
(I) David R. Brinkley (R)

State Senator, District 05
(I) Larry E. Haines (R)
Michelle Jefferson (R)

State Senator, District 09
Rich Corkran (D)
(I) Allen H. Kittleman (R)

House Of Delegates District 04b
(I) Donald B. Elliott (R)
Bob Lubitz (R)
Timothy Schlauch (D)

House Of Delegates District/Circuit 05a
William C. Niner (R)
David D. Wallace II (R)
(I) Tanya Shewell (R)
Haven N. Shoemaker Jr. (R)
(I) Nancy R. Stocksdale (R)
Scott C. Stone (R)
Kevin R. Utz (R)

House Of Delegates District/Circuit 09b
Larry Helminiak (R)
(I) Susan Krebs (R)
Anita Lombardi Riley (D)

Judge Of The Circuit Court District/Circuit 05 (Choose two)
(Non-Partisan)
(I) Barry J. Hughes
(I) Thomas Stansfield
Kevin D. Wise

Carroll County Commissioners (Choose three)
Douglas Eugene Myers (R)
(I) Perry L. Jones Jr. (R)
Wade Emory Miracle (R)
Dave Greenwalt (R)
(I) Dean L. Minnich (R)
(I) Julia Walsh Gouge (R)
Christopher Eric Bouchat (R)
Doug Howard (R)
Michael D. Zimmer (R)
Mary Kowalski (R)
Dennis E. Beard (D)
Vincent F. DiPietro (D)
Richard F. Solomon (D)

Clerk Of The Court (Choose one)
Sarah E. Hackett (R)
Donald Sealing II (R)
Diane O'Leary (R)
Pamela L. Masimore-Grimes (R)
Florence J. Barnes (R)
Marlene K. Titus (R)
Nimrod Davis (D)

Judge Of The Orphans Court (Choose three)
(I) Dorothy V Utz (R)
(I) Herbert J. Reisig (R)
(I) John D. Carbaugh (R)
Richard Thomas Yates (R)

State’s Attorney - Unopposed
(I) Jerry F. Barnes (R)

Sheriff - unopposed
(I) Ken Tregoning (R)

Board Of Education
(Non-Partisan)
George E. Maloney
(I) Gary Bauer
(I) Patricia W. Gadberry
Dan Dekowski
Dave Roush
Ernest F. Sharff
Eric M. Weber
Barbara Shreeve

Register Of Wills
(I) Paul G. Zimmermann (R)
V. Valerie Shultz (D)

####

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
www.thetentacle.com
Westminster Eagle Opinion and
Winchester Report
www.thewestminstereagle.com
www.kevindayhoff.com

20060820 KDDC CC Primary Election Coverage

20060831 KDDC Candidates on Frederick County Ballot

Candidates on Frederick County Ballot

This post will stay here at the top of the blog posts until the primary. The primary election is Tuesday, September 12th, 2006.

Listed here are the candidates on the local Frederick County, MD ballot according The Tentacle:

*- indicates incumbent

** - indicates General Election Candidate – No Primary

CONGRESSIONAL SIXTH DISTRICT

Roscoe G. Bartlett (R) * Frederick County

Joseph T. Krysztoforski (R) Baltimore County

Andrew Duck (D) Frederick County

Barry J. C. Kissin (D) Frederick County

Donald Leo Toker Jr. (D) Montgomery County (withdrawn)

Robert E. Kozak (Green) Frederick County **

STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 3

Tim Brooks (R) Frederick

Alex X. Mooney (R) Frederick *

Hugh M. Warner (R) Frederick

Candy O. Greenway (D) Frederick

George D. Wenschhof (D) Frederick (withdrawn)

STATE SENATOR DISCTRICT 4

David R. Brinkley (R) New Market *

Paul Chamberlain (R) Taneytown

HOUSE OF DELEGATES DISTRICT 3-A

Patrick N. Hogan (R) Frederick * **

Linda Naylor (R) Frederick **

Galen Ronald Clagett (D) Frederick * **

Sue Hecht (D) Frederick **

HOUSE OF DELEGATES DISTRICT 3-B

Roy Burke II (R) Brunswick

Richard B. Weldon Jr. (R) Brunswick *

Paul Gilligan (D) Burkittsville **

HOUSE OF DELEGATES DISTRICT 4-A

Joseph R. Bartlett (R) Middletown *

Paul S. Stull (R) Walkersville *

Maggi Margaret Hays (D) Walkersville (added)

HOUSE OF DELEGATES DISTRICT 4-B

Donald B. Elliott (R) New Windsor

Bob Lubitz (R) Westminster

Timothy Schlauch (D) Westminster **

FREDERICK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Ronald L. Bird (R) Frederick

Mike Cady (R) Frederick *

Samie Conyers (R) Frederick

Micky Fyock (R) Woodsboro

David Gray (R) Walkersville

Thomas C. Henderson (R) New Market

Charles A. Jenkins (R) Frederick

Elaine McCulloh Kessinger (R) Frederick

John R. Lovell Jr. (R) Jefferson *

Edward Lulie (R) Jefferson

Stan Mazaleski (R) Emmitsburg

Joan McIntyre (R) Frederick

Billy Shreve (R) Frederick

John L. Lennie Thompson Jr. (R) Walkersville *

Richard M. Floyd (D) Jefferson **

Jan H. Gardner (D) Frederick * **

Kai John Hagen (D) Thurmont **

Ron Wolf (D) Frederick **

Diane Dougherty Zimmerman (D) Frederick ** (withdrawn)

FREDERICK COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY

Dino E. Flores Jr. (R) Frederick

Charlie Smith (R) Middletown

William Bill Poffenbarger (D) Frederick **

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

Sandra K. Dalton (R) Walkersville**

Richard O. Gibbs (D) Frederick**

REGISTER OF WILLS

Virginia P. Fifer (R) Frederick*

Patricia A. La Grange (R) Frederick

Irene Hawkins Weddle (R) Walkersville

Sarah E. Finefrock (D) Frederick (added)

JUDGE OF THE ORPHANS COURT

James S. Grimes (R) Frederick

Tim May (R) Frederick*

Adrian McC. Remsburg (R) Middletown

John M. Tregoning (R) Frederick *

Fern I. Hines (D) Union Bridge **

John H. Norman (D) Monrovia **

FREDERICK COUNTY SHERIFF

Harold L. Domer Jr. (R) Thurmont

William G. Folden (R) Jefferson

Chuck Jenkins (R) Thurmont

Thomas Johann (R) Woodsboro

Tony Lawson (D) Jefferson

Charles I. Tobery Jr. (D) Emmitsburg

DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE (Female)

Anne L. Dudley – Frederick

Barbara Adele Fine – Middletown

Diana L. Fink – Ijamsville

Maggi Margaret Hays – Walkersville

Janine Mahraun – Frederick

Florence D. Schell – Walkersville

DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE (Male)

Sushil K. Bhattacharjee – Frederick *

Russ Currey – Middletown *

Jim Hall – Frederick

Ted Jensen – Frederick (withdrawn)

Bob Kresslein – Middletown *

Adam Schultz – Thurmont

Stephen G. Slater – Jefferson

Tony Soltero – New Market

REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Bill Ashton – Frederick *

Robert A. Bree Rettig – Ijamsville

Mechelle Brooks – Frederick

Tim Brooks – Frederick *

Senitta Renee Conyers – Frederick

Dino E. Flores Jr. – Frederick

Phillip Greene – Frederick *

Michael Hough – Frederick

Blaine Mossburg – Frederick

Eric T. Myers – Middletown

Katherine Nash – Frederick

Jacqui Nigh – New Market

Carol Lee Powell – Frederick

Mary C. Rolle – Frederick

George Elias Salibi – Frederick

Kelly M. Schultz – New Market

Bryan Smith – Frederick

FREDERICK COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (Non-Partisan)

Daryl Boffman – Frederick *

Bonnie Smith Borsa – Frederick *

Fern Brittain Jr. – Frederick

Barrie S. Ciliberti – Frederick

Whitney McDyer Duck – Brunswick

Angie L. Fish – New Market

Lanie Lile – Frederick

Leslie Ann Mansfield – Frederick

Mike Schaden – Frederick *

Jean Smith – Mount Airy *

Jonathan Switzer – Frederick

####

Sunday, August 20, 2006

20060820 KDDC Senator Sharon Hornberger

Senator Sharon Hornberger

7:30 PM Sunday, August 20^th, 2006

By Kevin Dayhoff

We received word a little while ago that former Carroll County Senator Sharon Hornberger has passed away. Senator Hornberger’s career is the focus of my next Westminster Eagle column that will not be in print until next Wednesday, August 23, 2006. The column was filed several days ago.

As a tribute to Senator Hornberger, please see an advanced copy of my column below. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, former Westminster Common Council president Ken Hornberger and the Hornberger family. Senator Hornberger’s passing is a great loss to the community.

_________________

Senator Sharon Hornberger

August 23, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff (648 words)

The election season is upon us. Like late summer blooming flowers, festive signs are along roads everywhere. The news media is full of letters to the editor and advertisements.

There are some new faces and new ideas appearing in this election. One of the many things we can be especially proud of, is the growing diversity of our Carroll County elected leadership. It is critical that our elected leadership look like the citizens they represent. We should be proud to have so many women in elected leadership and so many women candidates for this fall’s elections. We have had women in leadership for so long that we have come to take it for granted, but it wasn’t always so.

One of the trailblazers for Carroll County was Senator Sharon Hornberger. On November 30, 1989, Mrs. Hornberger was appointed by Gov. William Donald Schaefer to fill the Senate seat vacated by Senator Ray Beck when he was appointed a Circuit Court Judge. She was the first woman to serve in the Carroll County Delegation to Annapolis.

At the time, she was 45 years old and had served as an administrative assistant for Senator Beck. Born in Frostburg, her father was a minister. Later her family moved to Baltimore, where she graduated from Eastern High School. She moved to Carroll County in 1975.

Ron Brewer, who was chair of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, during this time period, remarked recently that “Sen. Hornberger was very dedicated and enthusiastic person for the Republican Party and the Central Committee. She was his ‘go-to’ person for when he needed to get things done. She had her act together and once she set an agenda, she stuck with it and got it done… You could tell in her special touch with people that she was a minister’s daughter.”

Sen. Hornberger and her husband, then-Westminster Common Council President, Ken Hornberger, worked hard to make Carroll County a better place to live in a time of change and growth.

Delegate Don Elliott, who served with her in the Maryland General Assembly, remembers that Sen. Hornberger “was a pleasure to work with. She worked in the Republican ‘vineyards’ for many years and was very effective. Before she was appointed Sen., she was an indispensable legislative assistant for Sen. Beck.”

This is a point that then-Delegate Joe Getty remembers well. He served in the Maryland General Assembly with both Senators Beck and Hornberger and he recently observed that “many people don’t realize how important a legislative assistant is in Annapolis. I learned that first hand in the House. Sharon was top-notch legislative assistant for Ray Beck… She was so good that she was selected to be his replacement.”

Mayor Lloyd Helt was mayor of Sykesville for three terms from 1981 to 1993 and president of the Maryland Municipal League in 1985, and he remembers that Sen. Hornberger was “very helpful for municipalities… She had an open door for me or any other mayor or councilmember from Carroll County.”

Sam Greenholtz was a Westminster Councilman when Senator Hornberger was in the Maryland Senate. He is now president of the Greater Westminster Development Corporation, and he recalls Sen. Hornberger’s “great love for Westminster. Oh sure, she looked out for all Carroll County municipalities, but her first love is Westminster. She likes people. She is a people person. She looked out for us, no doubt about it. She is a very down-to-earth individual who would always go out of her way to help people.”

It is important we remember the leaders who have gone before us and laid the foundations of success, which we now tend to take for granted. Carroll County is a better place because of many folks like Sharon Hornberger, who ignored that old saw, “this is the way we have always done it.” We all owe her a huge debt of gratitude and a big thanks.

(The photograph is on the Maryland State Archives web site)

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

####

20060819 KDDC Hybrid Owners of America

Hybrid Owners of America

August 19^th, 2006

Wonkette calls to our attention that a “New lobbying group, “Hybrid Owners of America” to demand unlimited access to smug attitudes. [Detroit News]”

I own a hybrid. I sure hope that I don’t have a “smug attitude.”

I bought it for a number of reasons.

Not in any particular order… Although one of the main reasons I purchased it is because I wanted to reduce the amount of money I send to folks in the middle-east who want to cut off my head. Talk about playing a role in our own victimization.

I don’t think continuing to depend on fossil fuels (dinosaur crap) is good for the environment.

I like the cost savings.

The article can be found here: Detroit News

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Hybrid owners get lobby

Organization will push for the existing and new incentives for users of alternative fuel cars.

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Hybrid vehicle owners have it pretty good: tax credits, unlimited access to car pool lanes and free parking in some places.

Now they'll have their own lobbying group in Washington.

Taking a page from the SUV Owners of America, a new group calling itself "Hybrid Owners of America" will kick off its lobbying efforts today to "advocate for the interests of the more than half a million Americans who already own hybrid gas-electric cars and other vehicles."

…

The hybrid owners group is founded by the Newton, Mass.-based Civil Society Institute, a group that lobbies for higher fuel economy requirements. Its Web site is www.40mpg.org.

Read the rest here.

Kevin Dayhoff

####

20060819 KDDC Wi Fi for Carroll County

Wi-Fi for Carroll County

August 19^th, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Although getting a conversation about Wi-Fi for Carroll County among the candidates for political office in this fall’s Carroll County elections has failed to get any traction, apparently it is being discussed as a campaign issue in our neighbor to the south, Howard County.

As I was grazing the blogs of my colleagues in Howard County, I came across this excellent post by Evan on the Howard County Blog: “Wi-Fi.”

In my column for the Westminster Eagle, I have written two pieces specifically on Wi-Fi, which has received enthusiastic response from readers, however, hardly a peep out of the candidates. (09/07/05 - If technology available, why not Wi-Fi? And 08/02/06 -Building ramps to information highway will pave the way to Carroll's future)

As a matter of fact, I am seeing little of substance out of many the candidates for office in Carroll County except a lot of bile.

Issues such as managing growth and development are being discussed as well as taxes. These issues are important – especially, well – both. I mean, it is imperative that we maintain a well-thought-out approach to growth in order to maintain what quality of life we have left in Carroll County.

Diversification of the tax base and over-all tax relief is also an important subject.

However, I’m seeing little conversation about growing our commercial and industrial tax base and most importantly – attracting jobs to Carroll County.

I have as little interest in more houses in Carroll County as the next person, however, that limited and well managed growth approach must not disallow appropriate business and employment base growth. Unfortunately that is just what is happening.

Of course, one of the best ways to thwart further erosion of our quality of life is to look for ways to support the business of agriculture in Carroll County and I’m not seeing much of that conversation either.

In the near future, if it is not already here, the issue of Wi-Fi will be a critical infrastructure, quality of life and business development issue in Carroll County.

A Columbia Flyer editorial on August 3^rd, 2006, states accurately and succinctly:

“Like running water, electricity and cable television before it, wireless Internet capability will soon be widely considered a part of living and doing business in American communities.

Some day in the not-too-distant future, it'll likely be a utility that people take for granted.

Communities that don't have it will find themselves at a competititve disadvantage for attracting and retaining business and keeping residents happy.

So it's good to see that the three candidates for county executive all realize that and support efforts to lay the groundwork for widespread Wi-Fi in Howard. (emphasis mine)

Officials will have to find the answers to two pressing questions: What's required, and at what cost? The sooner they can accomplish that, the better.

But, make no mistake, this technology is coming. And in a few years, we'll probably be wondering how we lived without it.”

Read it again. This time, every time you see the word “Howard,” replace it with the word “Carroll.”

I did a search on “Wi-Fi” on the Westminster Eagle’s web site and came up with:

09/07/05 - If technology available, why not Wi-Fi? By Kevin E. Dayhoff

I've been fascinated with public Wi-Fi and all the possibilities it can provide Carroll County.

On Aug. 15, Silver Spring, in Montgomery County, announced that it now has...

08/02/06 - Building ramps to information highway will pave the way to Carroll's future 2006-08-02 00:00:00 Kevin E. Dayhoff Building ramps to information highway will pave the way to Carroll's future By Kevin E. Dayhoff

The politics and economics of roads, growth, development, bu...

09/21/05 - Letters

While the decision to take the Westminster Bypass off the county plan may come as a disappointment to the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce membership, it is clear that the commissioners did n...

09/21/05 - Report from the 'Left Coast' discovers (sort of) intelligent li 2005-09-21 00:00:00 Opinion Report from the 'Left Coast' discovers (sort of) intelligent li By Kevin Dayhoff

Greetings from sunny Southern California. I'm writing this week from the "Left Coas...

06/28/06 - What are local candidates for office proposing for the future of Carroll County? 2006-06-28 00:00:00 Kevin E. Dayhoff What are local candidates for office proposing for the future of Carroll County?

Many Carroll Countians are clamoring to hear discussions about plans and i...

_________________

Meanwhile, I did a search on the Columbia Flyer’s web site on “Wi-Fi” and came up with:

08/03/06 - County catching on to Wi-Fi Internet

If the county ever offered free wireless Internet service in all of downtown Columbia, it would be a welcomed addition, Go said. p>Although senior county officials have made no formal plans to ...

03/27/03 - At a glance

Resident David Hlass is challenging incumbent Linda Odum for the Long Reach seat on CA's 10-member board.

The proposal, offered by County Council member Chris Merdon, now goes before the c...

08/03/06 - What is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi, which stands for wireless fidelity, is a way certain devices can connect to the Internet outdoors without using wires.

Wi-Fi accessible devices, such as computers and personal digital as...

08/03/06 - Wi-Fi inevitable, and we need to be ready 2006-08-03 00:00:00 Opinion Wi-Fi inevitable, and we need to be ready OUR VIEW

Like running water, electricity and cable television before it, wireless Internet capability will soon be widely co...

02/16/06 - New Columbia health club flexes its muscles

Lifetime Fitness, a Minnesota-based health club conglomerate with facilities across the country, opened Feb. 9 on Lee DeForest Drive in east Columbia, about a two- or three-minute drive from Co...

06/17/04 - I-95 project may be wave of the future

The project is part of Maryland's strategic approach to provide assistance to tourists and business travelers and to show businesses that Maryland is on the technological cutting edge. p> If s...

We need to begin a meaningful conversation about Wi-Fi in Carroll County yesterday.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

www.thetentacle.com

Westminster Eagle Opinion and

Winchester Report

www.thewestminstereagle.com

www.kevindayhoff.net

_____

Technology Wi-Fi, Technology

20060819 KDDC More on Cardinoma Ben

Saturday, August 19, 2006

20060819 Hybrid Owners of America

Hybrid Owners of America

August 19^th, 2006

Wonkette calls to our attention that a “New lobbying group, “Hybrid Owners of America” to demand unlimited access to smug attitudes. [Detroit News]”

I own a hybrid - - a Prius. I sure hope that I don’t have a “smug attitude.”

I bought it for a number of reasons.

Not in any particular order… Although one of the main reasons I purchased it is because I wanted to reduce the amount of money I send to folks in the middle-east who want to cut off my head.

Talk about playing a role in our own victimization.

I don’t think continuing to depend on fossil fuels (dinosaur crap) is good for the environment.

I like the cost savings.

The article can be found here: Detroit News

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Hybrid owners get lobby

Organization will push for the existing and new incentives for users of alternative fuel cars.

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Hybrid vehicle owners have it pretty good: tax credits, unlimited access to car pool lanes and free parking in some places.

Now they'll have their own lobbying group in Washington.

[…]

The hybrid owners group is founded by the Newton, Mass.-based Civil Society Institute, a group that lobbies for higher fuel economy requirements. Its Web site is www.40mpg.org.

Read the rest here.

Kevin Dayhoff

####

20060819 KDDC Carroll Co. Commissioner Dean Minnich

Carroll Co. Commissioner Dean Minnich

August 19^th, 2006

For more information click here.

Pasted below, please review Carroll County Commissioner Dean Minnich:

Dean’s Thoughts

What I stand for:

Frugal, efficient and open government

Quality schools

Managed growth allowing for affordable and incremental investment in public safety (fire and ambulance services, policing, courts and justice system) and a sustained quality of life.

Economic development

Preservation of farms and open space.

Thoughts on government:

The less government, the better; but government must provide the foundation to protect the overall quality of life in the community.

Local government, closest to the people, is best. State and Federal government should defer to county and municipal governments whenever possible.

State mandates should be better funded. Up to 80 percent of the cost of local government goes to fund mandated services required by state or federal laws; only 20 percent of the local budget is left to the discretion of the commissioners. No state or federal legislation should be passed without funding by the entity that creates it. If a state or federal law is passed with funding, and that funding is subsequently reduced or eliminated, the law should be automatically repealed.

Thoughts on taxes and revenues:

Growth should pay for growth. Seven of ten homes sold are sold to new arrivals. We need to find alternatives to the property tax and rising assessments to pay for residential growth. Most new residents could afford and would be willing to pay a fee at settlement that would take the pressure off current homeowners.

Anything that impacts the financial reserves of property owners on fixed incomes should be required to have a safety valve or exclusion, so senior citizens or long-time residents are not assessed or taxed out of their homes by growth or rising costs of government caused by new residents.

Thoughts on rules and regulations

The fewer bureaucratic regulations, the better. Basic rules for order are laid out in a reasonable master plan, in which the citizens have a voice. Out of that come planning and zoning ordinances and the foundation for allowing people to live together in communities with a maximum of personal liberty while recognizing the rights of others to the enjoyment and value of their homes and property.

Economic development

We are predominantly a residential county, but we must continue to maintain and grow our economic base to help pay for the costs of services, provide employment and economic vitality, and enhance our sense of balance and community.

First, we will help local businesses and industries grow and prosper. Second, we will work with the towns and state agencies to encourage appropriate new industry that will add to the overall well-being of our county. That emphasis will include the new high-tech economies of research, knowledge and high-tech information/communications, through the development of employment campuses in strategic locations.

Three Major Issues

1. Continuity and institutionalization of the planned growth policies developed over the past three years. Consistency, balance, maintenance of adequate facilities requires it. On-again, off-again growth policies are bad business and bad public policy – and ultimately more expensive to the taxpayer. I would continue the growth policies of the current board of commissioners as determined through the Pathways initiatives and the input of the communities. I would also continue to work with the towns and the council of governments to develop surface water reservoirs and address the need for smart growth around towns and the preservation of farmlands.

2. Sound fiscal policies. Continuity of quality of life requires balance and consistency in maintenance of effort to provide good schools, public safety, recreational facilities and economic development while controlling the costs of government. It requires finding the common ground where needs and wants are met while holding the line on the tax rate. Four years ago, we proposed that “growth should pay for growth,” with fees and taxes on new home construction. Polls showed public support for that concept. We need to find a way to work with delegates to Annapolis to make that happen, and take the pressure off property assessments as the way to pay for needs.

3. Form of local government. The delegation should represent the county’s interests in the state general assembly, but the county government should run the county’s day to day operations and be directly accountable to the public. I will support hearings and public discussion of Code Home Rule government.

If that passes, I will revisit the issue of five commissioners elected by district along the lines recommended by the duly-appointed, bi-partisan redistricting committee (also known as Option 2), which was voted in by a majority in the last election, but thrown out by the courts because of the ineptitude of some members of our delegation in Annapolis.

Before we change the county government, we would hold additional educational sessions and a public hearing. The delegation has already indicated that if Home Rule does not pass, and the responsibility for decisions on local form of government stays with the delegation, they will try to put through Option One again, despite the fact that it was opposed by most residents, two business associations, and all eight incorporated towns' mayors and councils (unanimously).

Straight Talk Leadership

By Authority: Friends of Dean Minnich, Joyce Buckman, treasurer