Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Some charter amendments sailed through the polls with a 90 percent approval vote, with the lowest being 61 percent.
Anne Arundel County voters are set to ratify 15 county charter amendments by a landslide, according to early results. All of the county's charter amendments were set to pass as of 10 p.m. Tuesday night—some with as much as 91 percent approval, and as low as 61 percent approval. But the results so far have left no room for middle ground on the issues. Among the charter changes are removing authority from the county executive's veto rights, giving the council the authority to remove a councilman or executive convicted of a felony, and setting the month of August as a legislative recess for the seven-member council. A few of the tighter races are yet to be determined, but Anne Arundel County residents can rest tonight on pretty solid ground …
Friday, November 2, 2012
Some of these items resolve long-standing disputes on the County Council, while others fix newer problems.
When Anne Arundel County voters arrive at the polls, they'll not only be voting on the DREAM Act and same-sex marriage, but also deciding the fate of 15 Anne Arundel County charter amendments—ranging from how convicted county councilmen should be treated to enacting an August recess for the Council. In an attempt to make these 15 items more digestible once you arrive at the polls, I will disassemble the legalese into a more understandable language, and explain context when necessary. Some of these items resolve long-standing disputes on the County Council, while others fix newer problems. Question A—Gives county departments more time to file their budgets. It also moves the start of the 60-day window for budget deliberation by the County …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Council members say the school system went back on their deal in May to resolve the missing $5 million to meet the maintenance of effort requirement.
Tempers flared in the Anne Arundel County Council’s chambers on Monday when council members sparred with a school official over a $5 million bill they thought was already paid. The state Board of Education sent county officials a letter in August saying they still owed the school system $5 million to meet the minimum state-required payment to schools, also known as the maintenance of effort. The news came as a shock to council members, who said they thought the issue of maintenance of effort had been squared away during budget discussions in May. The solution to the missing $5 million at the time was to pull the needed money from the school system’s projects fund. It was one of several compromises made to balance the budget. Anne Arundel …
Friday, March 16, 2012
Some Anne Arundel County councilmen lay the blame for a split vote on party politics.
Many Anne Arundel County councilmen claim a political game is being played over the vacant District 1 seat at the expense of the district's constituents. Patch editors interviewed each of the six councilmen to gauge their position in the division over who should fill the District 1 seat. The final candidates are Peter Smith and Mike Wagner. The councilmen who have supported Wagner include Derek Fink (R-3rd District) of Pasadena, John Grasso (R-2nd District) of Glen Burnie and Dick Ladd (R-5th District) of Broadneck. Smith's supporters include Chris Trumbauer (D-6th District) of Annapolis, Jamie Benoit (D-4th District) of Crownsville and Jerry Walker (R-7th District) of Gambrills. Wagner's backers have primarily touted his experience and …
Patch editors asked the six current members of the Anne Arundel County Council about their division over filling the District 1 vacancy.
Each Anne Arundel County councilman was asked the same five questions regarding the District 1 vacancy and the state of the council. The final candidates are Peter Smith and Mike Wagner. Some were reached by phone, and some by email. Their answers are provided here. Contacted by phone What makes Wagner the better choice for you over Smith? There are two simple reasons. Wagner's lived here way longer than Smith. Smith has been here, what? Five years? Wagner's been here for infinity. I've been here for 50 years and there are still parts of the area I don't know. So imagine how much of the area he doesn't know after five years. The other thing is Wagner is a guaranteed conservative vote and we won't have a budget being passed like the last …
Monday, February 27, 2012
The debate involving the deadlock over the vacant 1st District Anne Arundel seat heats up as the desire to diversify is discussed.
The situation surrounding the stalemate on the Anne Arundel County Council's open seat continues to broil as council members fail to act on a replacement. A columnist at The Baltimore Sun recently discussed the need for diversity on the council and what he deemed an embarrassing failure to make an appointment. The seat was last held by Daryl Jones of Severn, the only African-American member. The question of diversity is now revolving around a comment from Derek Fink. "I can't believe that today I'm being asked to vote for someone … solely on diversity," he was quoted as saying by The Sun. "It just blows my mind." Jones, a Democrat and former representative from the council's 1st District, was convicted in November after he pleaded guilty …
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
An audience member was cut off after asking about Councilman Daryl Jones's tax charges.
Shortly after being appointed as the Anne Arundel County Council’s newest chairman Monday night, Derek Fink (R-3rd District) used his gavel to halt public testimony that centered on Councilman Daryl Jones (D-1st District). Last week, Jones was sentenced to five months in federal prison after pleading guilty to failing to file his taxes over a six-year period. Despite the conviction, the county charter allows Jones to keep his council seat. He has not given any indication that he will step down. Pasadena resident Karen Delimater took to the microphone early during Monday’s meeting to ask why Jones’ conviction didn’t translate into an agenda item for the council. “It’s the elephant in the room. Or perhaps we should call it the Democrat in …
Ken
9:47 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
@Tom: I've no plans on leaving and am fortunate to be in a state where logical thinkers outnumber delusional thinkers. It's entertaining to watch message boards and forums with people boasting of "successful" petition drives for a referendum and I'm sure you'll disagree, but the results reflect progess in a civil society. more ›