Also on her agenda is increasing the retention rate for teachers and improving vocational opportunities for county high school students who choose not to attend institutions of higher education after graduation.
County Executive John R. Leopold calls the two ballot questions that county residents will settle on Nov. 4 "solutions looking for problems."
Indeed, in a political season filled with intrigue, the questions have failed to arouse much - or any - interest.
But for voters who would like to know what is at stake, these are the issues: The first amendment to the county charter seeks to clarify that any ordinance passed by the County Council and returned unsigned by the County Executive after a 10-day period will become law on the 10th day. "It's purely a technical amendment," said county Councilman Joshua Cohen, a Democrat from Annapolis.
The second proposed amendment would change how the members of the Ethics Commission - the body responsible for conducting investigations into whether county employees are complying with the ethics law - are appointed. Currently, the county executive chooses all the members and the council approves them. The new provision would require the council to nominate three members whom the executive could reject only for cause.
"It might bring a little more fairness to the ethics commission process," said Brian Griffiths, the president of Anne Arundel Young Republicans and a conservative blogger.
The questions originated from the County Council, and Leopold, a Pasadena Republican, supports both of them.
The revised system for Ethics Commission appointments follows the model set up by the state, which is healthy, he said. And though the first question addresses an issue that had yet to crop up as a problem, it's clarifying. "The law office says no harm in supporting it," he said. "I'm pleased to be accommodating."
ballot questions
The complete text of the Anne Arundel County ballot questions:
Question A
Charter Amendment
Failure of Bills
To amend the Charter of Anne Arundel County to clarify that any ordinance passed by the County Council and returned unsigned by the County Executive after the ten day presentation period will become law on the tenth day.
Question B
Charter Amendment
County Ethics Commission
To amend the Charter of Anne Arundel County to provide that the County Council shall nominate for appointment by the County Executive three of the seven members of the Ethics Commission.
