Republican Donald I. Dell is a new County Commissioner, as is Manchester Mayor and Democrat Elmer C. Lippy Jr. Incumbent Republican Julia W. Gouge holds off Richard T. Yates to earn her second term.
Senate race
Republican Larry E. Haines beats Jeff Griffith in the predominantly Democratic Baltimore County portion of District 5, assuring him of victory in his first attempt at public office.
State's attorney
After all the mud settled, incumbent Republican Thomas E. Hickman holds onto his job as Carroll state's attorney by garnering 16,191 votes, just 604 more than his Democratic challenger Jerry F. Barnes. Barnes, who resigned his position as assistant state's attorney under Hickman to run against him, says he is considering private practice.
Sheriff is ousted
The upset of incumbent Democratic Sheriff Grover N. "Sam" Sensabaugh by newcomer John H. Brown is the biggest surprise in Carroll. Brown, a Republican, wins by only 227 votes. The incumbent favored transforming the Sheriff's Department into a countywide police force; Brown favored relying on the state police Resident Trooper Program.
Talk about a tax boost
The County Commissioners pass a law designed to hit drug dealers where it hurts -- in their wallets. The ordinance levies a 50 percent sales tax on illegal drug transactions and requires that all transactions be reported to the tax collector within 10 days of the sale. While lawmakers are aware that dealers won't report their drug sales, they hope it will give them a tool to use in prosecuting dealers. "It will be used if a person is convicted of distribution of drugs based upon a sale," says County Attorney Chuck W. Thompson. "If they have not reported the transaction, they can be charged with a violation of tax law and subjected to additional criminal penalties."
Trees cause dispute
In the fight to maintain Westminster's charm, disputes persist over how many trees can be saved during reconstruction of East Main Street. Current plans call for destroying 43 existing trees and replacing them with 90 new ones, each 12 to 15 feet high. Citizens want to protect nine specific trees, such as the two oaks in front of Cockey's Tavern and the basswood in front of the Shellman House. But Rebecca Orenstein, head of the community group Tree Action, said she was told by a State Highway Administration official that the city could save many more.
Position to be offered
The County Commissioners agree to offer a five-year term on the Carroll Planning and Zoning Commission to Union Bridge dairy farmer Dennis P.
Bowman. Commissioner President John L. Armacost recommended the appointment because Bowman lives in the same area of the county as Stuart E. Six, whose term expired Nov. 1.
Builder unveils plan
The Stanford Management Group unveils plans for a development that could double the population of Union Bridge within 10 years. The Howard County company's proposal calls for construction of 348 single-family homes and 239 town houses with the most concentrated building near Route 75. The development would occur on the 171-acre Phillips property, north of the town.
Carroll places second
Carroll educators are pleased that the county school system had the second-highest overall academic scores in the Maryland School Performance Program. Rated "satisfactory" in reading, writing and citizenship, Carroll only failed to reach the state-set goal in math. Carroll fell just 0.7 percent short of the 80 percent standard.
Redistricting woes
Manchester parents, who are lukewarm on all of the redistricting proposals for North Carroll, particularly oppose a plan that would remove 182 students from Manchester Elementary to attend Hampstead and the new Spring Garden elementaries. Latest enrollment figures show 934 students attending Hampstead, which has a capacity of 550 students, and 942 students attending Manchester, designed for 700. Parents oppose the plan because they want to maintain the sense of community in Manchester; some say they moved to Manchester because of the proximity to the elementary school.
Shortfall greets county
The newly elected Board of County Commissioners -- Democrat Elmer C. Lippy Jr., Republican Donald I. Dell and returning Republican Julia W. Gouge -- assumes office less than a week after the departing board imposed a hiring freeze and asked agencies to cut spending voluntarily to compensate for a projected deficit. The looming $2.5 million budget deficit will guarantee that the new commissioners will not have the luxury of easing into the job.
Crime rate is dropping
Carroll's crime rate for the first nine months of 1990 dropped 13 percent, state police report. The decrease in violent and non-violent crimes locally was in sharp contrast to statewide statistics, which show a 6 percent increase in all crimes and an 11 percent increase in violent crimes.
Day care crackdown set
