Let me understand
>>"Some might say the folks in District 1 ... are having taxation without representation. That's the biggest crock of crap. It's six people all working for them. They're getting six bangs for their buck. They're getting away with the devil in this deal," he said.

Isn't this the same person that said Jones couldn't represent us because he no longer lives in our district. By the same thought process I'd like to remind Grasso that neither him nor the other 5 councilmen live in our district. Therefore we don't have "six bangs" for our buck. It sounds like Grasso and the other councilmen would rather work on a budget without the input of District 1. and Grasso, you say that we elected a criminal. Do you really think people thought Jones was a criminal? Are you that ignorant? You make me ashamed to be a fellow Republican.

Well said Phillip!

The problem is "Recto Cranial Inversion". A disease that many politicians succumb to and should be cured at the next election.

As long as Schuh controls Fink, this will not get resolved. Phillip, as a Republican, I am disgusted by this. I hope all Republicans in Anne Arundel County make their voices heard. This is the reason our party is not in the majority in this state. For every step forward we make, issues like this take us back 20 steps.

Which fingers are they pointing at each other with? This county is one big dysfunctional inbred family. I am ashamed to live here and be a county employee.....

So glad to see other Republicans speaking up about this disgraceful act of control by the three Amigos. And just to be clear, Mr. Grasso, I think your comment about choosing Mr. Smith is an insult to Marines everywhere.
"If I was picking someone to run the quarter-mile, or do pushups, I would choose Smith all day," Grasso said.
As if a Marine is all brawn and no brain. Shame shame.

Did you correct your previous post that said "Pam Beidle is a Republican"? I am a Republican and she is a Democrat. I always voted for her because she represented all her constituents and didn't come up with silly excuses for any inactions like our present Council does. The present Council is a disgrace and should all be voted out the next election.

Grasso has said that he likes Smith, but not as the District 1 candidate.

"If I was picking someone to run the quarter-mile, or do pushups, I would choose Smith all day," Grasso said.

What an insult to all the current, veteran, and retired Marines and other military living in Anne Arundel County! Councilman Grasso, if we want a councilman who thinks in nothing but broad stereotypes and makes ridiculous statements like this insulting large numbers of the people who elected him, we'll vote for Don Rickles - at least he's funny on purpose. You're just a joke!

Your foul-mouth comment about how District 1 is being represented by six council members now instead of one is the real horse hockey. None of you are representing our interests, you're representing your own interests. I'm a Republican and didn't vote for Jones anyway, but don't pretend like you're doing my district any favors by not being able to just get together with your fellow councilmen and select one of the two qualified candidates so I can be represented by someone.

Right now, the County Council looks like a joke - the Keystone Council - led by a County Executive under indictment for all kinds of charges for ridiculous behavior. What's in the air around the County Government Building? What are you all drinking, eating, smoking, doing in there? It's about time you started getting busy doing what you're supposed to be doing, or quit and let someone else do it.

Mr. Grasso,

You have no shame.  As a veteran of the US Navy I’m insulted and I wasn’t even in the Marines.  People like you don’t know what it means to sacrifice.  You take for granted the privileges you have because people like Mr. Smith fought for them.  I’m a Republican and have never been fond of Democrats but he’s one I may just have to support.  However, your comment goes to show just how small you are.  Just so you are aware, veterans stick together when things get tough.  I’m proud of my service and I hope all women veterans, republicans and Marines denounce your arrogant remarks.  Mr. Ladd you are an embarrassment for allowing this to take place.  By your comments you three are only in this process for yourselves.  Selfish pricks!

The meeting of the good old boy network has come to order. How is this anything different than the same debauchery that continues to happen in Congress. Fink uses the budget as his reasoning for siding with Wagner. Just because someone dealt with the state budget almost two decades ago, doesn’t mean they understand it perfectly now. Smith is a finance and manpower resource manager for the United States Government. He was also responsible for allocating a $25 million budget which involved budgeting both financial assets as well as human manpower. That means he has experience in finance, budget allocation, and with a government budget. Fink, your argument is invalid and maybe you should listen to your fellow councilmember Trumbauer, who has realized that.

There are people who are mentally challenged, and there are people that are retarded… Grasso is retarded. The fact that he would openly state that Smith only has physical attributes and would serve no other purpose than to crank out some push-ups makes him borderline retarded. A look at Smith’s resume would indicate the qualities that are necessary for him to serve as a councilmember. Additionally, there were many candidates who were considered and Smith is currently in a tie with Wagner who has a strong political and business background. If Smith was only good for physical activities, he wouldn’t be a final candidate in the first place. Smith was stationed at Ft. George G. Meade as part of a command that works with the National Security Agency which has some of the brightest minds on the planet. You have to be in the top 5th percentile of your field, to even earn the right to be at that duty station. Furthermore, Smith was selected to undergo the extremely difficult process of Officer Candidate Selection in the Marine Corps and succeeded to become a highly respected Marine Corps Officer. This takes a lot more brain than brawn, but I doubt you would know anything about that Mr. Grasso.

This brings me to councilman Ladd who apparently feels it is politically acceptable to refer to the Asian community as “gooks” because we all know there are no Asians in Anne Arundel County. He is a representative of the people, yet this is the garbage that excretes from his mouth? I’m surprised he doesn’t have racial moniker for Smith as well.

Wagner hasn’t been in this side of politics for almost two decades. This is not like riding a bicycle, but more like riding a motorcycle after knowing how to ride a bicycle. The political landscape has changed and there needs to be someone who is up to speed with current problems and has a fresh idea how to solve them, not apply old methods that apparently don’t seem to be working. Wagner has no intentions of pursuing another opportunity in 2014. This is a patch in the flat government tire. You need consistency and someone who is willing to see this through. Someone that can guarantee you mileage on that long trip you’re about to take. You need sustainment and staying power. This isn’t the quarter-mile (which apparently Smith is good at running) but more like a half-marathon. Wagner lists his top three priorities as education, community safety, and the budget. Smith has a Bachelor’s degree to Wagner’s Associate’s and is working on a Master’s. He has a daughter attending Jessup Elementary School which means that her future is paramount as well as those around her. By Smith earning higher education degrees and being currently in the higher educational system, he has the ability to have first-hand knowledge of what skills are necessary to make it to college as well is stay there until completion.

As far as community safety goes, I think the Marine Corps background as well as Smith’s upbringing brings a high-caliber insight and a fresh perspective as to how to make the communities safe. Raising kids in the same communities allow for a deeper level of desire to ensure that safety is paramount. As far as the budget goes, we have already discussed Smith’s current role. Additionally, successfully raising more than $50,000 for the Toys for Tots program is no small feat as I can attest due to my involvement with the program in many capacities since 1991. This would help approximately 26,000 kids in the region which is more than you can fathom. The political experience that Wagner touts is not mandatory as exemplified by current Pasadena Republican Councilman Fink, who is now the council chairman, is a year younger than Smith, and had never held an elected office before 2010. Wagner states that you need to “get along with the people” yet a life in the Marine Corps is nothing but diplomacy at every level. Lastly, I can’t ignore Wagner’s admittance to trying to give Ladd money at the Republican’s fundraiser a day before the council vote. Ladd still voted for Wagner as the intention was still there regardless of the fact that Ladd refused the money.

Stop blaming lack of political experience when everyone knows that little to none of the current population has even an iota of trust and faith in their government as is. This simply boils down to one huge factor. Smith has something politicians don’t have, and some councilmembers fear… integrity. Smith has too much integrity for the position. He will not side with what is right and what the people want, and not what type of political leverage it will provide other councilmembers who put their own future ambitions ahead of what serves the people. Anne Arundel has large diverse communities and a large military population both of which stand to benefit from a candidate like Smith. They need someone that can speak their language and understand their needs. Smith is the right choice and everyone knows it.