20060908 KDDC Doug Howard candidate for the Carroll County Commissioners

Doug Howard, candidate for the Carroll County Board of Commissioners

Doug Howard, a candidate for the Carroll County Board of Commissioners, owns a business consulting and small business services called BDG Entrepreneurial Services, Inc. He has a B. S. Economics, Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania. Born March 4, 1965, he is the married father of six children; he lives in Eldersburg and is involved in many community activities.

He has a web site which can be accessed by clicking here.

ABOUT DOUG HOWARD

The Candidate

Doug and his wife Bette are the proud parents of six children (four girls and two boys). They live in Quail Meadow in Eldersburg and are active members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Randallstown. Doug owns BDG Entrepreneurial Services; a company based in Sykesville that provides professional and support services to small business owners in three states.

He is also the founder of Start-Up Carroll, a program that provides free services to people that want to start their own business. Doug and Bette are members of the Republican Party and support and participate in many community activities.

Carroll County Commissioner candidate Doug Howard on the ISSUES

I am committed to…

Driving Economic Development by

• Attracting the right kinds of business to locate in the County by creating a business-friendly environment for business to operate• Studying our workforce to identify economic development opportunities• Continuing to help new businesses start and grow in the county • Creating an economic development fund for new business and business growth

Improving Education by

• Working to attract and retain the best teachers• Shifting more resources into the classroom• Supporting accountability and performance standards in our schools• Seeking more cooperation and coordination between the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education

Reducing Taxes by

• Supporting strong economic development• Changing the way we budget to produce more efficiency in government• Reducing the cap on property tax assessments 1% per year• Reviewing other taxes and fees for possible reductions

Creating a Vision for the Future by

• Developing and implementing his “Carroll is the Place” Plan• Managing growth and maintaining community services through careful planning• Working with citizens, organizations, the business community and other local and state officials to set priorities, develop strategies and get results.


Read more about this candidate here and here.

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20060908 KDDC A Carroll County Times article on Bailey Laird

A Carroll County Times article on Bailey Laird
September 8th, 2006

We were very happy to open-up the Carroll County Times this morning and see an excellent article on our friend Bailey Laird by Times writer Penny Riordan. When you get to “From China to Carroll,” you will also see a great picture of Ms. Laird at work in the classroom by Ken Koons.

The article begins:

For Linton Springs Elementary School teacher Bailey Laird, time spent teaching in China prepared her well for her first full year teaching all-day kindergarten.

"It was very challenging for me," she said. "I think it made me much stronger." Laird was a senior at Salisbury State University when she signed up to teach at an international school in Beijing. Students led the program, which meant Laird and her fellow student teachers did most of their lesson planning without a curriculum to follow.

Please read the rest of the article by clicking here.

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20060907 KDDC Westminster Utility workers repair water leak in Main Street

Westminster Utility workers repair water leak in Main Street

Westminster, Maryland, USA Sept. 7, 2006 - Members of the City of Westminster Utilities Maintenance Department pause for a quick photograph after they have finished repairs to a leaking water main Thursday, September 7th, 2006 in Westminster at Main Street and the Railroad Tracks: LtoR Troy Rhodes, Cory Stouffer, Ted Conlon, Zac Amoss, Shawn Mann and Steve Miller. © Kevin Dayhoff