20060912 KDDC City officials resign over spouse’s porn on the Web

Mayor, Police Chief and Councilman resign over Chief’s wife’s porn pictures on the Internet.

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff September 12^th, 2006 – with some hesitancy…

This just in, according to KTEN Channel 10, a web site by the name of “Strippers Online,” and many other news sources; the Snyder Oklahoma Police Chief, Mayor and a City Councilman have resigned in light of the resulting controversy involving the Police Chief’s wife appearing nude on an internet web site.

What little institutional reverence I still possess couldn’t stop me from posting this story. I could have done so much more with the following; however, I was held back by my shriveled, but never-the-less, functional sense of propriety, such as it is.

I am, after-all, a pasty-faced, overweight, caffeinated, vacuous, mild mannered college drop out, hilltop hillbilly farmer artist and pajama blogger - with no leadership skills and decades of unaccounted-for time, fighting off the forces of poverty, the intellectually stunted and the artistically disinclined.

And of course, the fear of a reprimand from my wife, my mother and several other dozen friends, weighed heavily as I worked this post up. Good friends - who have a knack of telling me when I’m acting like a jerk.

Meanwhile, back to the exciting story at hand. Here goes. I’m goin’ in.

Now you may wonder, couldn’t the chief ask his wife not to do such a thing?

Oh, did I mention his wife is 6-foot-three and weighs 300 pounds.

Well, I’ll tell ya what - - You tell her what she can and can’t do. I’m going bowling.

Published accounts report, “Earlier Friday, the chief said the whole issue involving his 43-year-old wife had been blown out of proportion… "People in this country do what she does on a daily basis," he said.

"It's absolutely ludicrous. Makes no sense at all.” … He said he has had lengthy discussions with his wife about the photos but does not tell her what to do. "My wife is 6-foot-3 and weighs 300 pounds," he said. "If there is somebody that thinks they can control her, have at it. I have tried for 11 years and haven't been able to.”

People in this country may or may not do what she does on a daily basis, but it is certainly not the behavior expected of a community leader.

One news source said, “Some local residents called for Chief Ozmun's resignation, but the City Council decided the pictures were protected by the First Amendment.”

"As Mayor and council of the city of Snyder ... we do not endorse pornography; however, we do endorse an individual's rights under the First Amendment of freedom and expression." But the bad feelings over the photos continued.”

Gee, one can only wonder why the bad feelings persisted?

It’s good to see the city council standing behind the mayor - - especially on such a principled issue. LOL

In one published account, mayor “Moore says he finds nothing wrong or illegal with what Ozmun's wife was doing and he doesn't want to work in what he calls ‘a community like this.’”

Okay. Hmmm. “A community like this?”

The pictures were referred to as appearing on “adult site;” but “They were vulgar," Larry Dismore, owner of Larry's Drugs in Snyder said of the photos, some showing the chief's wife with an American flag draped off her shoulder.”

Hey – at least she’s patriotic.

“Tod Ozmun, 34, chief since January 2005, said he first met his wife 11 years ago. He said she is his former police partner.”

Oh, get out of here. A former police partner. They sure don’t make police partners the way they used to.

But wait its gets better. Apparently the pictures were circulated throughout the town. Can you imagine? Wouldn’t such a thing get the tongue’s wagging in Westminster.

Then again, it would give the usual suspects, who show up at each common council meeting in Westminster, something substantive to complain about - - instead of the incredibly mindless drool for which they are so unpleasant at each and every council meeting ad nauseam.

The Police Chief’s wife, his former police partner, “Doris Ozmun, who was paroled in March 2005 after spending two years in the state prison system on drug-related charges, has an unlisted telephone number and has not been at her place of employment to comment.

She earlier told The Oklahoman she had decided to remove the photos from the Internet. "I just don't understand," she told the newspaper. "I could if I had done something illegal, or if I had murdered someone. But this is amazing. "You know what I call this? I call this a witch-hunt."

Kiowa County District Attorney John Wampler has asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to look into the matter. Wampler has said the photos would not be protected under the First Amendment if they could be shown to meet the legal threshold for impermissible obscenity.

"In my opinion, the photos that I was shown are obscene based on local community standards," he said. "Whether a court would agree may be a different matter."

Well, this sure made last night’s Westminster Common Council meeting look pretty boring.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
www.thetentacle.com
Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report
www.thewestminstereagle.com
www.kevindayhoff.com

20060912 KDDC In Baltimore Staying Home for School by Jabari Asim WaPo

"In Baltimore, Staying Home for School"

An interesting vignette about the phenomenon of African American’s home schooling their children in Baltimore City by Jabari Asim, who writes for the Washington Post. The column was posted on the Washington Post’s web site Tuesday, September 12, 2006; 12:00 AM.

My hat is off to anyone who home schools their children. The task seems so overwhelming… He begins his column with:

"Write something positive about our school," my son's pre-kindergarten teacher urged me when we met for the first time last fall.

As a veteran of the Baltimore public school system, she was accustomed to loads of negative publicity about her employer. As a concerned parent, so was I. For that reason, my wife approached our entry into that world with considerable trepidation. Our experiences soon justified our initial fears.

Read the rest of Mr. Asim’s column here.

I wrote a column that touched upon schools as a campaign issue in this year’s Maryland gubernatorial contest in The Tentacle: “An apple for the governor.” You can find it here.

####

20060911 KDDC Former mayor err Governor elect Palin by 14

Former mayor err next Alaska Governor Palin by 14

September 11, 2006

Rasmussen Reports has former Republican Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin ahead of former Democratic Alaskan governor Tony Knowles 52 to 38 for this fall’s Alaska governor’s race. (“Alaska governor: Palin by 14”)

Rasmussen writes “Coming off the heels of her pronounced victory in the Republican primary against incumbent Frank Murkowski, Sarah Palin (R) is readily handling her next round of competition—former Governor Tony Knowles (D)—in her bid to become Alaska’s next governor. The latest Rasmussen Reports election survey shows Palin leading Knowles 52% to 38%.”

Read the rest of the report here.

According to “Governor Forecast 2006” by Jonathan Singer posted September 8, 3:00 PM on the My Direct Democracy web site (MyDD,) mayor Palin is “Likely” to be the next governor of Alaska.

Some credence can be put to this prognostication because if there was anyway that MyDD could rationalize a Democrat prevailing, MyDD would do it.

According to Mr. Singer’s post, Alaska’s gubernatorial race this fall is listed as “Likely Republican:”

12. Alaska (Democrat: Tony Knowles). This race showed a lot of potential given the candidacy of former Democratic Governor Tony Knowles, the sub-20 percent approval rating of Republican Governor Frank Murkowski.

But now that Murkowski is out having lost badly in the GOP primary to former Wasilla mayor Sarah Pallin (sic), this race leans Republican.

Latest polling: Rasmussen Reports, Palin 52 - Knowles 38, September 8; Dittman Research, Palin 46 - Knowles 29, September 6.

####

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
http://www.thetentacle.com/
Westminster Eagle Opinion and
Winchester Report
http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/
http://www.kevindayhoff.com/

20060910 KDDC Path not taken

Path not taken

September 10^th, 2006

No – I have not watched the ABC docudrama “Path to 9/11.” Nor do I approve of it – no matter who it portrays in a negative light. I’m not sure where there is a place in public discourse for media phenomenon such as “Fahrenheit 9/11” or “Path to 9/11.”

I only wish the folks who have been so aggressive in denouncing “Path to 9/11,” would have been as equally damning of “Fahrenheit 9/11.”

Both “Path” and “Fahrenheit” trivializes and bastardizes a necessary discussion that needs to take place in our nation about what to do, now and in the future, about folks who want to kill us and our way of life.

If you haven’t “got it” by now - - I am not a fan of docudramas. They always remind me of the famous quote about history that I have always attributed to American Anthropologist Ernest Albert Hooten (1887 – 1954): "History is principally the inaccurate narration of events which ought not to have happened."

To repeat a wonderful observation by the Washington Post some time ago – that I sure wish I had written: “The numbing repetition of uncorrected falsehoods creates a phony atmosphere of uncertainty around key questions... Eventually voters throw up their hands and accept the fact that they’ll never know for sure what the truth is, and confusion ensues.”

While the liberal lefties and their sycophant megaphones in the liberal media harass President Bush, I say a prayer that we’ve had President Bush in the White House in the five years since 9/11. I think that when it comes to public safety and national defense, most contemporary Democrats cannot be trusted to defend our nation or my family.

I like it whenever I view a television ad in which the candidate says that he or she “will stand up to President Bush…” It makes casting my vote that much easier as that is a candidate for whom I cannot vote.

And a word to all candidates who wish to “run away from” the Bush Administration in the upcoming fall elections. I’m not voting for you. If your core constituency voted you in office, than it very well may be that same core constituency that could vote you back in office because you stood for something.

Being against the President is not the same as being for something. Come up with a plan that I can vote for or shut up. If you want to be mealy-mouthed at this important juncture in history, I can only assume that you will be mealy-mouthed when it comes to standing up to the purveyors of the politics of appeasement that threatened the safety of our nation.

As far as Path to 9/11: a post on Michelle Malkin links to an entry on Betsy’s Page entitled, “It's about time that people remember Sandy Berger,” that summed it all quite well for me. Including, but certainly not limited to the following paragraph (which I have reformatted for readability on a blog…):

“Think for a moment about the concerted action by Democrats, their lawyers, former White House operatives, Bill Clinton, sympathetic historians, and lefty bloggers to stop this show.

Remember that this was the same crowd that was full of praise of for Fahrenheit 9/11 for crystallizing their opposition to George Bush. Accuracy and versimilitude didn't bother them then. And they weren't saying a word about 60 Minutes "fake but accurate" story on Bush's National Guard service.

Now, ask yourself. If this crowd were to control the White House, how many more of these attempts to stifle any criticism of them would we be seeing?

Think of how much has been aired during Bush's tenure, even a movie depicting him being assassinated and more denials of civil liberties gets made without Bush's White House unleashing its lawyers. But, for this thing, the Democrats go to the mattresses. Are they perhaps modeling for us what their response would be to further criticism if they should gain control of the White House - or even of Congress? Don't forget those not-so-veiled threats to ABC's license. Ponder that chill wind.”

“Ponder that chill wind” indeed.

####

20060910 KDDC Minnich: A Concern About the Body Politic

A Concern About the Body Politic

September 10^th, 2006

---

From: Friends of Dean Minnich [mailto:tucker495@adelphia.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 8:54 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: A Concern About the Body Politic

Please feel free to distribute this to anyone who has a concern about ethical processes in an election; and anyone who received any of the venomous tracts mailed out this past week.

We all expect elections to be a time of debate and disagreement. In many local elections, for example, pro-growth development forces are being opposed by those advocating more cautious, slower-growth policies, resulting in intense public disagreements.

Carroll County, however, is unique among all in the level of outright vilification and downright hatred some have displayed. Their tactics mirror many used by extreme religious and political movements built more on fomenting hatred and division than on airing legitimate public policy differences.

1. Loyalty to the party is emphasized over policy or community and absolute adherence to certain slogans is required over all other considerations.

2. The focus is on division, attempting to exclude the opposition. A strong personal hatred is usually manifest, resulting in a "divide and conquer" mentality excluding those with differing beliefs or loyalties.

3. There is no real discussion, in favor of short slogans with little substance.

4. Complete intolerance is encouraged with one accepted perspective; others are to be excluded.

5. The opposition is dehumanized by "over the top" negativity about personality, personal habits, personal ethics and non-policy issues.

6. Campaign messages are all negative, vilifying the opposition as unfit to serve, with no positive policy comment.

7. Big lies are presented as fact, using deceit as a campaign tool that focuses on outright false or misleading statements that are easily disputed but then repeated anyway. The opposition is accused of standing for the very things they oppose, or failing to do the very things they have accomplished.

8. Sensationalism is reflected in substance and form, with outrageous, shocking statements that are repeated in a massive repeat advertising campaign where money is no object.

9. Cynicism is reflected in the disregard of accepted processes - elections laws, campaign regulations and normal community standards.

10. Behind it all is contempt for the voters. A belief that lies work, based on the assumption that voting public are fools. These groups despise the very public they say they want to serve.

Anyone who has faith in democracy must hope that on election day, voters will reject these efforts to destroy our sense of community and undermine our basic respect for one another. No matter who wins, let us encourage voters to support candidates who propose positive ways to solve problems by working together rather than those who just spew hatred and deceit.

####

20060910 KDDC Friends of Dean Minnich respond to negative ads and mailings

Friends of Dean Minnich respond to negative ads and mailings

September 10^th, 2006

Pasted below is a response from Commissioner Minnich’s campaign concerning the recent negative ads and mailings.

If any candidate has a response – please email KDDC at kdayhoff@carr.org and I’ll be happy to post it on this web site.

From: Friends of Dean Minnich [mailto:tucker495@adelphia.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 8:46 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: [Fwd: Feel free to forward, or print out to read at the polls IF QUESTIONED on Tuesday]

Please forward to interested friends.
Thanks,

Recent negative ads and mailings to county voters misrepresent the truth. Here are the facts:

Salaries

Department heads in Carroll County earn at least 20% less than their counterparts in neighboring counties. Only 3 county employees, each with more than 20 years of service, earn more than $100,000. One of those now does the job of two persons in the previous administration, who together had earned $155,377. In 2006, one person, the chief of staff, earns $116,439 – a savings of $38,938 per year, plus benefits.

Credit cards

Credit cards have been issued by the County since the 1980s and are not for personal use. They are for the sole purpose of paying for budgeted items. The Comptroller monitors and approves all payments.

Authorized spending

It has been alleged that $119 spent at the Treat Shop was for personal use. In fact, it was for a hospitality basket purchased by the Department of Economic Development to welcome a new business – part of the cost of doing business to grow business.

Another legitimate business expense, common practice in every county and at the state level, was a bill for guests of the county at a local restaurant. The county hosted representatives of three New York based bond-rating agencies to eat at the Antrim in Taneytown. The bill for dinner and drinks for 17 people totaled $1,579.43 – less expensive than the trip to New York for the required annual meetings with bonding agencies.

Travel

The County has not funded any oversees travel by Commissioners in the past four years. As an elected officer of the National Association of Counties, Commissioner Gouge represented Maryland at an annual conference in Hawaii in 2005. She provided her own air fare and meals. The County paid for the registration fee and hotel room for her during the conference.

Taxes

The Board of County Commissioners lowered the amount a homeowner’s property taxes can increase by 3 percentage points. They instituted a tax credit for senior citizens. They have never proposed legislation for a personal property tax.

Growth

The number of new housing units permitted has dropped from 1,294 in FY03 to 737 in FY06. Buildings approved for construction under the previous board will continue to be built into 2008.

If the commissioners’ opponents lied about these issues, what else are they lying about? And what are they hiding? Whose money is behind these smear campaigns, and who benefits if the perpetrators of these untruths are successful?

####

20060910 Dave Roush candidate for Carroll County Board of Education

Dave Roush candidate for Carroll County Board of Education

Mr. Roush does not have a web site. However, a brief synopsis of Mr. Roush’s candidacy can be found on the Carroll County Times web site here.

The Baltimore Sun did an article on the Board of Education candidates on August 27^th, 2006: “8 candidates in contest for 3 school board seats.” Gina Davis wrote the article.

Her introduction to the school board race reads:

“Carroll County's school board members juggle many demands, including keeping pace with steadily increasing student enrollment, implementing state requirements such as providing all-day kindergarten and maintaining a rigorous academic program.

With hopes of influencing the countless decisions that affect the nearly 30,000-student district, eight candidates -- including two incumbents -- are vying for three open seats on the school board.

The six top vote-getters in the Sept. 12 primary election will proceed to the Nov. 7 general election.

The nonpartisan elections for the five-member school board are staggered, with two seats open in presidential election years and three slots open in the years of gubernatorial contests. School board members are elected to four-year terms.”

A synopsis of Mr. Roush’s credentials, found in the article, are as follows:

David H. Roush

Age: 63

Residence: Westminster

Family: Married; two adult children

Occupation: Retired engineer, Lehigh Cement Co.

Education: Master's of business administration, Frostburg State College; bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, Lehigh University (Pa.)

Issues: "It is clear that facilities issues are becoming more and more important for the school system. We need to provide for and balance the needs for new schools, added classrooms, renovation/expansion of existing schools, and ongoing maintenance." Roush says his training and experiences as an engineer and plant manager for Lehigh Cement for more than 38 years gives him unique qualifications to address facilities issues. "As plant manager of Lehigh's Union Bridge plant during the recent $300 million modernization project, I was very involved in the largest construction project ever in Carroll County, from the first permitting to start-up and the first year of operations."

Read the rest of Ms. Davis’ article here.

####

20060910 KDDC C Scott Stone’s thoughts on negative campaigning

C. Scott Stone District 5A candidate for delegate responds to negative campaigning

September 10^th, 2006

See: 20060908 KDDC negative ads and fliers plague Carroll County primary election

From: Friends of C. Scott Stone [mailto:focss01@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Friends of C. Scott Stone
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 11:23 AM
To: kdayhoff@carr.org
Subject: Reject Attack Ads

Dear Kevin,

During the nearly 40 years that I have lived in Carroll County, I have never seen political campaigns as hateful, hurtful, and deceitful as some of those presently underway throughout our county. Ranging from bold-faced lies to grossly distorted facts, vicious attack ads by candidates, their campaigns, and their minions do nothing but destroy our county, state, and nation.

Attack ads have nothing positive to say about the candidate or candidates they support. On the contrary, attack ads are mean-spirited, nasty smear efforts intended to discredit opposing candidates.

Take note of the organizations and business entities that are supportive of attack ads. Their complicity is despicable and inexcusable. In addition, voters should note which candidates advertise with such organizations and business entities. The old adage about birds of a feather should not be forgotten.

Political campaigns are a reflection of the character and integrity of the candidates. The behavior demonstrated by or supported by candidates during a political campaign is exactly the same behavior the candidate can be expected to demonstrate or support after being elected.

I urge you to reject those candidates utilizing the politics of personal destruction and to support those candidates who have demonstrated the values and integrity consistent with yours. Candidates utilizing attack ads have no business serving as our elected officials.

On Tuesday, September 12, please take the time to vote. Rejecting the evil inherently contained in attack ads sends a loud and resounding message that such behavior is completely unacceptable in Carroll County.

Sincerely,
C. Scott Stone

---

www.CScottStone.com

Authority: Friends of of C. Scott Stone - Theresa A. Stone, Treasurer

20060909 KDDC Dallas official wants city ban on baggy pants

“Mel-Chun Jau, Dallas Morning News, Associated Press: Kevin Deamus, 26, and his brother, Markus Deamus, 19, of Dallas, check on the radiator of their car in the parking lot of a grocery store near Fair Park in Dallas on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006.

A Dallas man has had it with baggy pants that overexpose, so he wants the city council to look into a ban on wearing the oversized trousers that often slip so low as to show underwear. Ron Price, a Dallas school board member, has asked the city council to look at strengthening the law to give citations to those who expose their underwear.”

_________________

Dallas official wants city ban on baggy pants

September 9^th, 2006

I went out to a nice restaurant in Westminster Saturday evening with Miss Caroline, Grammy and Aunty Betty, C.E. (Chaperon Emeritus). While waiting for our dinner we could not help but notice that most of the patrons looked like they were students from McDaniel College.

To our left was a large table full of young men. They seemed well-dressed, with the exception of a few baseball caps on backwards… To our left there was a table of four young co-eds. The guys were awfully absorbed with themselves. But at one moment I noticed that the table of co-eds had spotted the table full of guys.

Then, almost as if on cue, one of the young men got up and he had on these baggy pants that were positioned in such a manner as half his behind was hanging out. Sooooouie! See my previous post on the wisdom of baggy pants… here: “20060706 Baggy pants and crime prevention.”

I noticed that the young ladies were amusedly not impressed.

Oh well.

So what’s-up with slovenly dress? It obviously did not impress the ladies.

I remembered seeing on one of the cable news programs, a piece that said a gentleman in Dallas Texas wants to ban baggy pants.

Well, lots of luck on that paradoxical pilgrimage chasing that windmill. You can’t outlaw bad taste and besides, criminalizing boneheaded attire is not quite what I would want a municipal police force spending time and limited resources.

But there you have it. The young man at the restaurant needed to get a “fashion ticket” for looking like a jerk, but I’m not sure it is a good idea for taxpayer money to go into calling to the young man’s attention that he looked stupid and that folks were making fun of how poorly he was dressed.

I can see it now. Prisoner number 1: “Whatcha in for dude? I’m doing 5 to 10 for murdering a convenience store clerk. But, like, I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it”

Prisoner number 2: “I’m doing life with no parole for having my behind hang out in public.”

Prisoner number 1: “Wow man, bad break.”

The Dallas Texas story begins:

“Dallas official wants city ban on baggy pants” By JAMIE STENGLE, Associated Press

DALLAS — A Dallas man has had it with baggy pants that overexpose, so he wants the City Council to look into a ban on wearing the oversized trousers that often slip so low as to show underwear.

Ron Price, a Dallas school board member, has asked the City Council to look at strengthening the law to give citations to those who expose their underwear.

“I think it’s disrespectful, it’s dishonorable and it’s disgusting,” said Price, who made the recommendation last week to the City Council. “I have no problem with the top of your Hanes label being shown. My problem is when grown men walk about the city with pants below their buttocks.”

Council members have asked the city attorney to look into the issue. City Attorney Tom Perkins said this week he’s investigating the legalities and will report back to the council.

But experts say that such a law might not hold up, so to speak.

Read the rest of the article here.

Government shouldn't act as parents for their citizens.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org
http://www.thetentacle.com/
Westminster Eagle Opinion and
Winchester Report
www.thewestminstereagle.com
www.kevindayhoff.com

20060909 KDDC Billy Schroeder Giulianova Groceria

Billy Schroeder out in front of his Giulianova Groceria at 11 E. Main St. in Westminster, MD 09/07/2006 © Kevin Dayhoff

Billy has a great cooking class. Give him a call at (410) 876-7425 for more information.

According to Billy’s web site, “A classically trained chef by the U.S. Army, Bill is a licensed meat cutter, sous chef, saucier, banquet chef, executive chef, and is the sole proprietor of Giulianova in downtown Westminster. On top of that, he is proficient on the 12-string guitar. While all of the aforementioned facts are true, Billy also has a B.S. in B.S.

“Bill has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1975, and is a religious education teacher at St. John's Catholic Church in Westminster. He is a follower of Saint Francis and spent a short time as a Fransican seminary student. His other religions include Baltimore Orioles Baseball, the Beatles, and an unhealthy obsession with the Three Stooges.

“Happily married for 24 years to his wife Jane, Bill is the father of a pair of daughters Clare and Beth. You can hear his voice through the laughter on his commercials on WTTR AM 1470.

He also sponsors the Giulianova Green and Gold Tailgate show, the official pre-game show of McDaniel College football and basketball on WTTR's broadcasts, and he has happily fed more than his fair share of Bair Stadium tailgaters.

“Opened in 1986 by Tony D'Eugenio, Giulianova has been a cornerstone of downtown Westminster's Main Street community for two decades, serving the town's Italian grocery needs.

“Bill Schroeder bought the store from Tony in the summer of 2003. While the line of ethnic foods has greatly expanded, Bill has never deviated from the principle of selecting the finest quality Italian goods for Giulianova's customers.

“The hoagies are the same as the day the doors opened in 1986, that is to say, they are still the best in town. The lasagnas, sauces, and other products produced in the store are derived from the tradition passed down by Mama D'Eugenio. After handing them down to her son Tony, she was more than happy to share them with Bill.

“Don't bother driving to Philadelphia, New York, or even Baltimore. Giulianova has been, and will be your source for the finest Italian goods, right in your backyard!”

Find out more at his web site here.

####

20060909 KDDC Main Street Westminster on a lazy late summer afternoon

Main Street Westminster on a lazy late summer afternoon. This photo was taken from near Giulianova Groceria at 11 East Main Street looking west to the railroad tracks (c) Kevin Dayhoff 09/07/2006

20060908 KDDC So just what are the facts

So just what are the facts?

In regard to the recent deluge of negative ads and fliers (see the previous post below) - - just in time for the Carroll County Primary election next Tuesday, September 12^th, 2006, just what are the facts? Best government is facilitated by an informed electorate. It is important that accurate information be disseminated in order for you to make the best vote possible for the future of Carroll County.

Just say NO to negative advertising.

When you receive a negative flier or read a negative ad, please compare it the flowing information obtained by KDDC – and spread the word:

Education

In the last four years, seven major educational buildings have opened or begun the construction process. Parr’s Ridge Elementary – open

Ebb Valley Elementary – under construction

New high school in North Carroll – site under negotiation

New middle school in South Carroll – site under state review

Nursing and Allied Health Building, Carroll Community College – open

Classroom #4, Carroll Community College – architect selected

Finksburg Library – under construction

*More than $20 million spent to provide full-day kindergarten countywide

Roads

In the last four years, the Commissioners have spent or committed more than $36 million to resurface or rebuild 216 miles of roadway, including new roads and bridge projects. Included are:

Rt. 32 between Rt. 26 and Malcolm Drive/Piney Ridge Parkway (County is paying $2.5 million, or half of the total cost); South Pleasant Valley ($2.3 million), Obrecht Road, from 97 to White Rock ($2.3 million); Piney Ridge Parkway ($400,000); Shepard’s Mill Road ($4.77 million); Gorsuch Road roundabout

Commissioners also facilitated construction of the Hampstead Bypass.

Parks

In the last four years, more than $11 million has been approved for new recreational facilities. Large projects include: Leister, Krimgold, West Carroll Regional parks, as well as Bark Hill ball fields and a gymnasium for the new South Carroll Senior Center.

Other projects:

Ball field improvements at 20 parks or schools

Playgrounds at 5 elementary schools

Walking trails at 3 parks

Cape Horn Park

North Carroll Senior and Community Center

Hap Baker Pistol Range

Piney Run new pavilion

Equestrian Center ring improvements and new storage unit

Hashawha renovations

Equipment for the Carroll Arts Center

Water

Once system expansion is complete, the county will have an additional 4.5 million gallons of water capacity from Liberty Reservoir and new wells. In addition, the Commissioners are seeking required state and federal support for Gillis Falls and Union Mills reservoirs.

Salaries

Department heads in Carroll County earn at least 20% less than their counterparts in neighboring counties. Only 3 county employees earn more than $100,000. All have 20+ years of service. They are the chief of staff, director of general services, and director of public works.

In 2002, two people served as chief of staff (executive assistant and special assistant). Together they earned $155,377. In 2006, the sole chief of staff earns $116,439.

Pension plan

Under the Carroll County Pension Plan, a person with 30 years of service earning $30,000 would receive an estimated $525 a month. A State of Maryland employee with the same salary and years of service would receive $1,350 a month; a Frederick County employee would receive $1,500 monthly.

Hotels

County employees who attend conferences that require overnight stays are allotted $240 per night. Any expense over that amount is reimbursed by the employee. (Copies of personal reimbursement checks are attached to credit card statements for verification purposes.)

Special assistant Tim Feeser has never stayed at the Hyatt in Cambridge.

Credit cards

Credit cards have been issued by the County since the 1980s. They are not for personal use. They are for the sole purpose of paying for budgeted items. The Comptroller monitors and approves all payments.

$119 spent at the Treat Shop was for a hospitality basket purchased by the Department of Economic Development to welcome a new business.

The County paid for representatives of Standard & Poor, Moody’s, and Fitch bond-rating agencies to eat at the Antrim in Taneytown. The bill for 17 people totaled $1,579.43. The county’s positive bond rating allowed taxpayers to save at least $1.5 million in interest that year.

Travel

The County has not funded any oversees travel by Commissioners in the past four years. As an elected officer of the National Association of Counties, Commissioner Gouge represented Maryland at an annual conference in Hawaii in 2005. She provided her own air fare and meals. The County paid for the registration fee and hotel room for her during the conference.

Access to public records

As required under Maryland’s Public Information Act, all requests for information are fulfilled within 30 days. Access to public records is not restricted. Visitors to the County Office Building are allowed to enter any department. Bailiffs were assigned at the building’s entrance following 9/11 for the protection of the public, public records, and county employees.

Taxes

The Board of County Commissioners lowered the amount a homeowner’s property taxes can increase by 3 percentage points. They instituted a tax credit for senior citizens. They have never proposed legislation for a personal property tax.

Growth

The number of new housing units permitted has dropped from 1,294 in FY03 to 737 in FY06. Buildings approved for construction under the previous board will continue to be built into 2008.

####