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 have been 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 create legislation to waive impact fees for 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.


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!