With security gear and room for staff and visitors, Dixon needs the space and size, Clifford said.
Leopold said health concerns helped drive his vehicle choice. "I have a back problem, and the seat [in a fleet sedan] did not provide the support," he said, though he added that he plans to soon switch to a Chevrolet Impala.
"I'm very much concerned about the gas-guzzling nature of all SUVs because it makes our country stronger not to be dependent on foreign supplies," Leopold said.
Johnson's Escalade is smaller than his previous ride, and is one of two vehicles he uses, said spokesman Jim Keary. The Escalade replaced a Ford Excursion - an even larger SUV no longer manufactured.
"The [Excursion] was six years old and wasn't very fuel-efficient. This is a smaller vehicle," Keary said of the Escalade. Johnson also has a Lincoln Town Car at his disposal, and has cut county take-home vehicle use 28 percent, Keary said.
Ulman said he got the Ford Escape hybrid, one of the four top-rated "green" vehicles on the Environmental Defense Fund's list, because he knew he was going to make the environment a major priority for Howard.
Under Ulman, the county has bought more than 50 hybrids for county inspectors and other employees, part of his plan to have the vehicles serve as rolling advertisements for environmental priorities.
He said he finds the midsize Escape "more than acceptable, room-wise. I've also been very pleased with the performance."
"I wanted," he said, "to practice what I preach."
larry.carson@baltsun.com
