Candidate for County Commissioner
Honest, Common Sense Solutions.
I am not a politician, I am a business person. I
am a local kid from humble beginnings who has worked very, very
hard to become successful. I take a common sense approach to
problem solving. I represent the folks who are the backbone of
Frederick County: Farmers, Teachers, Nurses, Policemen,
Firefighters, Senior Citizens, Plumbers, Carpenters,
Electricians, and every working man and women of Frederick
County, some who spend three hours each day commuting to far
away jobs. I commuted for seven years and now am fortunate
enough to both live and work in Frederick County. I understand
your frustrations, and will work to make your life in Frederick
County easier and more prosperous.
Affordable Housing – “everybody
deserves a decent affordable place to live”.
Housing affordability has become a crisis in Frederick County.
Of all of the candidates for County Commissioner, I am the only
one who has actually provided affordable housing to the working
poor and working middle class of Frederick County. As Past
President of Habitat for Humanity I am uniquely qualified to
lead this effort.
I will continue to work with our State Delegates to pass the
legislation I presented to them in December of 2005 to waive
impact fees for affordable housing and non-profit organizations
such as Inter-Faith Housing and Habitat for Humanity.
I will introduce legislation to give preference in the MPDU
Program to Frederick County school teachers, firefighters,
police officers, and those who have established Frederick County
as their Home and workplace, and are in need of Decent
Affordable Housing. We have a unique opportunity to use our MPDU
program as a recruiting tool to keep and attract the best
Employees in Frederick County. A community is a community when
everyone has a stake in its future. If our Children’s’ teachers
can’t live here, do we have a community?
I will introduce legislation to allow land to be zoned
exclusively for homes to be built that meet the criteria of
Affordable Housing. Housing costs start with land costs. If the
land is not affordable, it is impossible for the house to be
affordable.
No Senior Left Behind
Property Tax Relief for Senior Citizens
- The message we are
sending to our seniors is that they are not wanted
here. It is a crime that folks who have lived their
whole lives here can no longer afford to stay
because of skyrocketing real estate tax increases.
Tax increases are especially hard on seniors because
most have fixed incomes. It is just not right! I
will introduce legislation to freeze property taxes
for anyone over the age of 65 who has lived in the
county at least 25 years. I will Create a “Pioneer”
tax Deferral Program.
I will make it easier for seniors to remain in their
homes as they become older. I will change the
current Zoning Ordinance to allow a “Practical
Difficulty” standard when considering Variances
because of Medical Conditions. This will make it
easier for seniors to renovate their existing home,
adding things like first floor Master suites, and
handicap accessible bathrooms. With this change
seniors can continue to live in Frederick County, in
their existing Home.
Education – The most
important obligation we have is the education of our
children.
No Teacher Left Behind – We need to invest in
people, not just buildings. We must work to retain
good teachers once they are working in our schools.
This includes money for training, raises, benefits,
and the ability to own a home in Frederick County.
We must standardize school designs. Why do we
re-invent the wheel every time we build a new
school? There are no cost savings in doing business
this way. We never “work the bugs out” because every
time we build a school, it’s a brand new design. We
keep creating a new one, making the same mistakes
over and over again. No private sector building
company would operate this way. Why are we spending
your money (tax dollars) so inefficiently?
I will work to find an alternate location for the
Administrative Offices of the Board of Education (BOE).
Carroll Creek in Downtown Frederick is the most
expensive real estate in Frederick County and I feel
that we should find a less expensive location for
BOE headquarters. The money saved will be invested
into teacher salaries and benefits.
Traffic
Frederick county citizens spend far too much time on
the road commuting and too little time with their
families. We must plan and begin to build a “loop
road” around Frederick City to avoid the backups
that occur at the intersections of all the major
Highways in the center of Frederick. This will take
cooperation from Frederick City, County, State, and
Federal elected Officials. We need a strong team to
get this done!
I will encourage cooperation between the County and
all Municipalities to support economic growth that
will provide high paying jobs in Frederick County.
“Live Here, Work Here” is the goal so that our
citizens will not be required to drive down 270 to
work.
Support for the Non-Profit Community
Frederick County is blessed
with generous businesses and individuals who give
selflessly of their time and treasure. From my
involvement with Habitat, the YMCA, Community
Commons and other local non-profits, I have seen
first hand the positive impact the non-profit
community has on Frederick County. These groups
deserve our support, sometimes financial, sometimes,
moral. We need to offer support along with
recognition, encouragement, and gratitude. They do a
great job supporting the needs of Frederick County
so your tax dollars can be spent elsewhere.
Farmers
I believe in individual
property rights as provided for by the Constitution
of the United States. I am especially concerned
about our farmers, who often depend on the value of
their land to provide for their retirement. The
agricultural community is vital to the health of
this community. Small family farmers are under
attack all across the nation. I am committed to
their cause and preservation. We cannot have farm
land without farmers. If we want the rolling hills
and open space to stay that way, we must find ways
to keep farmers in business!
Environment
Once you experience the
Beauty of our Natural Environment, you will want to
protect it forever! Paddle, Bike, or Hike? I will
create a comprehensive guide to “Outside” in
Frederick. It will be complete with access points,
trail maps, boat ramps, etc., to make getting around
in the outdoors easier. Education and access are key
to protecting and maintaining our natural
environment.