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The views and comments expressed in this blog are that of Mr. Burns and the
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Miller: Taxes For Slots
  Well, the harmony lasted almost three months...then House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Dist. 30) surprised Senate President Thomas Mike Miller (D-Dist. 27) by proposing a hike in the tobacco tax. Miller is shooting back calling for a gas tax hike and for just over 15,000 slot machines at seven locations, including four race tracks.
Miller tells The Baltimore Sun that he does not expect a gambling bill to pass but says that it need to be part of the answer to the $1.3 billion question. The $1.3 billion is the expect budget shortfall for the 2008 fiscal year.
Governor Martin O'Malley (D) says that he wanted to put the slots debate off for a year, as well as dealing with the predicted shortfall, wanting to educate the public and look at all possible solutions. Also, it's noted that there has been squabbling between Miller and Busch in the past over the slots issue.Labels: General Assembly, Slots, Tax, Thomas Mike MIller
Anne Arundel County: Executive Growth
 Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold (R) signed an order to create the Fort George G. Meade Regional Growth Management Committee.
The committee has the duties of developing a regional growth management strategy to address the relocation schedule, Identify and address regional issues such as housing, utilities, services and public education. They are also charged with managing and monitoring regional growth.
A county spokesman says that the regional approach of the committee will ensure a more defined focus on the opportunities and challenges with BRAC issues.
The free state is expected to benefit from the Base Realignment And Closures with more military jobs coming to the Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Montgomery, the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Harford County and Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County.
Leopold says that "The Fort Meade Region's challenge is to not only accommodate this
growth in a manner that is both efficient and effective over the long term, but to let it serve as a positive transforming catalyst for our communities."
Baltimore, Carroll and Howard Counties as well as Baltimore City and the City of Laurel are apart of this regional initiative.Labels: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, BRAC, Carroll County, Howard County, Laurel
$$$$$$$$$
 Here's is your money leader in the race for Salisbury City Council, Terry Cohen.
The Daily Times says Cohen received nearly $2,800 in campaign contributions. There's no specific goal in mind for the amount of greens she wants to grow, but she tells the paper that $3,000-5,000 is expected to be spent. She adds that most of what was received is expected to carry over for the general election campaign.
Tim Spies is behind Cohen with $1,900, Lousie Smith comes in third with $1,600 and incumbent Gary Comegys is fourth with under $1,400. Comegys, who is the current Council Vice President tells the paper that postage is a big expense.
Don Ewalt and John Atkins are not actively asking for contributions, but they each collected about $600. Ewalt wants to collect contributions, but he doesn't know how much he needs.Labels: candidate, City Council, contributions, Free Vote 2007, Salisbury
Washington County: Murray Officially In
 Above, you see Washington County Commissioner President John Barr congratulating Greg Murray, the new County Administrator. The Board of Commissioners made it official this past Tuesday. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this form of government, the county administrator basically runs the county and serves at the pleasure of the commissioners.
Murray, 46, is a 24 year veteran of public service, the last ten as leader of the Department of Water Quality. He is currently pursuing his master's at the University of Baltimore.
Labels: County Administrator, Greg Murray, Washington County
Dixon Wants To Hear From You!
 Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon wants to hear you thoughts on how to improve the city. That is why through her website, www.sheiladixon.com, she is inviting residents to rate city services. She also wants to know what you think the top three pressing issues facing Baltimore (I can guarantee that crime will come out on top.) She'll even take your policy ideas on how to improve the city.
Mayor Dixon is finishing out the term of Martin O'Malley, who is now governor of Maryland. She is running for her own term as Mayor.Labels: Baltimore City, Free Vote 2007, Mayor, Sheila Dixon
Final Primary Numbers Are In
At least check with the Wicomico County Board of Elections. The election turnout was still low, but the surprise is that incumbent Gary Comegys slipped into the Top 3, past Tim Spies by two votes.
Note that the percentages were rounded to the nearest whole, but placed in order of vote tally. And now five weeks of rock'em sock'em campaigning.Labels: City Council, Free Vote 2007, Primary, Results, Salisbury
Anne Arundel County: BINGO....H-I-K-E-10!
 Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold sent a proposal to raise the gross receipt tax on commercial bingo from 7.5 percent to the general rate of 10 percent.
Leopold says that the increase would generate about $300,000 annually for the County. "This bill is simply charging the same tax on commercial bingo that is being charged to all other admissions and amusements, with the exception of movie theaters."
Legislation is expected to be introduced to the county council on Monday.Labels: Anne Arundel County, Tax
The Quiet Hero
 By the time U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-5th) reached his sophomore year at the University of Maryland, he was close to broke and drifting in his grades. Then a chance sighting in 1959 changed the course of his life.
In yesterday's Washington Post, Rep. Hoyer was profiled from a rough growing up to achieving victories that were not so loud, including when he became Majority Leader where it was a quiet affair compared to the person who didn't want him to have the job, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA.)Labels: Steny Hoyer, U.S. House of Reporesentatives
Prince George's County: Mayor Indicted
 Forest Heights Mayor Myles Spires Jr. is facing a seven count federal indictment.
The Washington Examiner says that Spires is being charged with theft, embezzlement, misconduct in office among other charges.
The arraignment is tentatively scheduled for next Friday. Town Council President Larry Stoner has been serving as acting Mayor since November when Spires was stripped of his authority.
This is not the first time that this tiny Prince George's town has been the subject of controversy when it comes to town leaders. Mayor Joyce Beck was forced out of office early last year after it was alleged that she slammed the door on an arm of a police officer. She was later cleared of assault charges.Labels: Forest Heights, Indictment, Mayor, Prince George's County
Wish Short Lived: Here Comes Slots Again
  Last Week, I told you that slots was put to bed quietly in a House Committee, thus giving Governor Martin O'Malley (D) his wish of not dealing with slots. Well, that was last week. This week, Senate President Thomas "Mike" Miller wants to wake it up. So says The Baltimore Sun.
Sources tell the paper that two bills was introduced by Miller. One for taxes, one for slots. Miller although he will not discuss specifics, said that the Senate is not moving forward without O'Malley.
O'Malley wanted to wait until next year to address the predicted billion dollar shortfall ($1.3 billion to be exact.) He has also said he would support limited slots to help the horse racing industry. But, he said that he wanted to wait until next year to address how to solve the budget shortfall.
Slots is a divisive issue in naptown, but also a known fact, squabbling between Miller and Shouse Speaker Michael Busch (D). Miller was reportedly caught off guard and annoyed when Busch endorsed hiking the tobacco tax by a buck.
Miller will meet with O'Malley and key legislators today to discuss fiscal issues.Labels: General Assembly, Slots
Comegys Survives
We have our field of six, with the top vote catcher being...Louise Smith. Rounding out the field in order of the number of votes, Terry Cohen, Time Spies, Gary Comegys, Don Ewalt, John Atkins. The people going home are Patrick Hannon, John Harris, Neil Bayne and Keith Wright.
Comegys is the only incumbent to run this go round. If you look at it with a discriminating eye, He would have "missed it by that much" if the election were held today. And now the race to the general election in April begins.
The feeling for the most part is that it's time for a change, even for former council members. Former Councilman Jim Ireton tells The Daily Times that he might be branded one of "The Dirty Dozen" but no one can take away his vote.
For those wanting to challenge the six, or if Council President Mike Dunn and Councilwoman Lynn Cathcart has a change of heart, you can have a write-in campaign. You have to have your paperwork in the Government Office Building by close of business on March 28.Labels: City Council, Free Vote 2007, Primary, Results, Salisbury
Coming This Sunday
In order to make sure I get a break from blogging at least once a week, the Sunday edition will serve as the weekend edition, assuming that there is no breaking news. Maryland Politics Sunday will cover the local stuff that was missed and feature more commentary (or at least that is the goal.) If you would like to write an op-ed to be included email me pkbnews@gmail.com.Labels: Maryland Politics Sunday
Listen, Criticize and Thank Presidenrt Bush
 Governor Martin O'Malley (D) spent the weekend in Capital City this weekend (Washington, DC.) He attended the National Governors Association meeting, a situation in which he was now the little fish in a big pond as opposed to when he was Mayor of Baltimore.
The Baltimore Sun says that O'Malley spent two hours with White House Cabinet officials and then had thirty minutes with President George W. Bush. O'Malley said that he spent little time addressing the concerns of governor's and most of the time defending his policies in Iraq.
It wasn't all criticism however, O'Malley thanked the White House for letting his daughter Grace step in for Judge Katie (her mom and the governor's wife) for a state dinner Sunday Night.Labels: Governor, Grace O'Malley, Martin O'Malley, Meeting, National Governor's Association
PRIMARY DAY TO DECIDE SIX CANDIDATES
Today is Primary Day in the crossroads of Delmarva, as a field of ten candidates are reduced to six.
The ten candidates running are Tim Spies, Terry Cohen, Louise Smith, Don Ewalt, John Harris, John Atkins, Keith Wright, Neil Bayne, Patrick Hannon and incumbent Gary Comegys. Critics say that Comegys has been defending the indefensible when it comes to moves made by the current council that includes a $20 million TIF for the Old Salisbury Mall.
The weekend ended full of criticism, but only one known endorsement, but not from The Daily Times. Joe Albero, writer of the blog site Salisbury News, wrote in a posting last week that if he were allowed to vote in the primary he would choose Spies, Cohen and Smith. Albero is a resident of Delmar, Delaware who is a property owner in the city. Albero is also encouraging people to only pick three candidates, and not the full six. "It is VERY important that you only vote for 3 people in order to lower the odds of someone you didn’t want getting in there to get in," Albero wrote on Sunday.
The Daily Times Editorial Board on Sunday, not making any endorsements, wrote that many candidates will go into the home stretch spreading disinformation who contenders who offer hope are derided as delusional and out of touch. The editorial stated "a ticket to elective office seems to lie more in one's ability to attack and point out problems rather than to offer either solutions or leadership."
That editorial drew a response from G.A.Harrison, known for the blog Delmarva Dealings. Harrison says that the paper does not want to acknowledge or discuss problems in the city, so therefore, no solutions have been offered. "Despite what the 'Tilghman Times' claims, we do have candidates running for council who offer sound, fiscally prudent solutions to solve an array of problems.," wrote Harrison.
Three people were up for re-election. Councilwoman Lynn Cathcart said she would not seek re-election quietly. City Council President Mike Dunn, not so much. While announcing he would not seek re-election, he also took a shot at bloggers in the area and singled out Albero.
Things came to ahead between the two recently when Dunn, using a legally allowed move, bounced Albero out of the city council meeting after Albero refused to sit in a chair and for taking pictures stating that he is not professional media. Albero contends that he has been taking his own council session pictures for a while and that there were no seats available. Although Dunn was within his right to remove people he deemed a distraction, sources tell Maryland PT that the council chamber was standing room only.
Comegys is the only incumbent running for re-election and based on nine fresh contenders, there is a possibility that he could be voted out today.
Polls opened this morning at 7:00a.m. and will close this evening at 7:00p.m.
Labels: City Council, Free Vote 2007, Primary, Salisbury
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