County Executive

AT THE SECOND Dutch Ruppersberger-Jim Ports debate last week in Baltimore County, an interesting character emerged from the audience: Bill Bralove, 49, part-time appliance salesman, president of a Randallstown community group, Renew, and a provocateur with poster board. Bralove opposes Senate Bill 509, Dutch's ambitious neighborhood renewal law that critics have blasted as a "land grab." County residents get to vote on the issue Nov. 7. Dutch and Ports, another opponent of the law, have been debating it at public forums.

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman wants to give county parks director Rick Anthony a 37.3 percent pay raise. Andrea Fulton, the county's personnel director, told the County Council on Tuesday that boosting Anthony's salary from $88,121 to $121,000 would bring his pay in line with that of other department directors in the county. Other department directors make between $110,000 and $160,000. "It's a one-time adjustment to adjust a salary to a department head that is way below what other department heads are making," Fulton said.

Term limits and a long-shot run for governor may have ended the political career of former Howard County Executive Charles I. Ecker, but his 1972 pea-green Chevelle convertible isn't so easily retired. Sporting whitewall tires, an eight-track tape player and about 250,000 Maryland miles, the well-maintained car is parked these days on the county government lot in Ellicott City by SherryRexrode. A staffer in County Executive James N. Robey's office, Rexrode previously worked for Ecker.

Listening to the speech that Ken Ulman made on Monday, June 3 I was struck by his passion for Columbia. It is the same passion I have felt living in Columbia for 40 years. I too have loved this planned city that treats people equally. As proud as I am seeing one of our own named to the top of the ticket I am imbued with a sense of unease. One of the reasons many people came to Columbia was to live in a well thought out and carefully planned community. Columbia was the antidote to the hodgepodge exemplified by routes 1 and 40 and to escape the insidious and unethical practice of redlining!

Those thinking "done deal" after the state adopted a stormwater runoff fee may have another thing coming. Even though counties, including Baltimore and Howard, have adopted measures to comply with the fee, resistance is building to what some are now scornfully calling a "rain tax. " Not only was the fee structure bill in Anne Arundel County recently vetoed by the county executive, but now there are predictions the state legislature will reconsider how...

Time has come to replace Columbia's CPRA When I worked for James Rouse planning Columbia in the early 1960s, we practiced what is now called "out of the box" thinking. So let's explore this "out of the box" idea: Eliminate the Columbia Park and Recreation Association (CPRA) and the Columbia Council and board. Designate Columbia a special tax district in Howard County so CPRA assessments are paid to the county and therefore are tax deductible. The county would then take responsibility for all CPRA functions, folding those into an expanded county parks and recreation department with a mandated budget line item for Columbia.

With a little more than two months before the November election, Leopold has $568,000 cash on hand. Conti, an Annapolis business executive, has $81,000, and Green Party candidate Mike Shay has $3,100, according to campaign documents filed with the state elections board last week. "The county executive is encouraged by the numbers, because they reflect support for him in the community," said his spokesman, Dave Abrams. "But the strength of Mr. Leopold's campaign has always been personal contact with county voters.

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold's secretary Patty Medlin was questioned Friday, a county official confirmed, as the state prosecutor's office investigates whether Leopold improperly used his county-funded security detail to work on his recent campaign. Leopold's spokesman Dave Abrams said Medlin appeared at the circuit courthouse Friday. The (Annapolis) Capital newspaper first reported Saturday on her appearance. She could not be reached for comment. Three of the five officers assigned to Leopold's detail were subpoenaed and testified before an Anne Arundel grand jury last month, the officers' lawyers have confirmed.

With John R. Leopold suspended from office due to Tuesday's criminal convictions, some Anne Arundel County Republicans are jockeying to be the next county executive. "My name is going in," said John Grasso, who represents the Glen Burnie area on the County Council. He announced last year that he planned to run for the office in 2014. "I might as well get a head start. " For months - even as Leopold battled the charges - names have been floated as potential replacements. After Leopold was suspended, some County Council members said that a measure to declare his position vacant would be scheduled for introduction Wednesday and a vote Monday.

A new player entered the fight in favor of expanded gambling as Wayne K. Curry, a former  Prince George's County executive, registered a pro-Question 7 ballot committee Thursday. Curry's committee, Maryland First NOW - Vote Yes On 7, Inc. , is separate from the ballot committee financed largely by MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment.  MGM is the prospective operator of a casino that could be built at National Harbor in Prince George's if Question 7 is approved by voters.

Whether they're warning constituents of impending storms or posting pictures of their kids eating ice cream, social media is a growing part of the political world, four politicians said Thursday night. "Politics is being turned on its head," said Dan Bongino, a former Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate who is now a "semi-official" candidate for Congress. Bongino - a heavy user of Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Vine and other social media - told a small "Tweetmasters" gathering in Annapolis that social media is a crucial way for politicians to make their voices heard to voters and constituents.

An appeals court has chosen January to hear the challenge by former Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold to his convictions for criminal misconduct in office. The 70-year-old Pasadena Republican was found guilty in January of having public employees do his political and personal tasks, including draining a urinary catheter bag he used after back surgery in 2010, and he resigned from office. His sentence included a month in jail, a month of home detention and 400 hours of community service.

The weather cleared for State Sen. Barry Glassman Saturday, and as expected the Harford village of Level saw its native son announce his candidacy for Harford County Executive before an estimated 1,000 supporters. Many attendees said it was the largest and most unique political kickoff they had ever attended, with demand so high that the campaign had to stop selling tickets the week before. The Level Volunteer Fire Company was transformed into a festival venue decked out in the campaign's colors of blue and green, with Glassman's bio video shown on a huge LED screen alongside a stage with 30-foot banners.

Q: In your opinion what distinguishes Harford County? A: I believe the best distinction for Harford County in recent years is how we have successfully survived the recession. Our economy has been strong, we have worked to make our local government more efficient and we have maintained the vital services for our citizens. Q: Any important countywide changes or new programs Harford County residents should know about? A: Harford County has developed new programs and resources to assist citizens in starting their own businesses.

Omitted from the May 28 Sun article regarding the Anne Arundel County Food and Resource Bank was my relationship with the bank prior to my court-ordered 400 hours of community service ("Arundel food bank chief helps those needing a second chance"). The article mentioned that a citizen in need years ago received a donated automobile from the Food and Resource Bank but did not mention that I donated two of my own vehicles to the bank, when I served in the General Assembly, in order to help two individuals needing transportation to hold on to their jobs.

Howard County Democrats played it coy Thursday night at their bash honoring Howard County Executive Ken Ulman but were openly proud that their favorite son is poised to join Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown as No. 2 on the 2014 gubernatorial ticket. There were many oblique references, including from Ulman, to the announcement scheduled for Monday at the lakefront in Columbia. But at least from the podium, there were only veiled references to the worst-kept secret in Maryland politics. The four Democratic members of the Howard County Council all delivered teasing but affectionate recollections of their dealings with Ulman, their county executive since 2006, over the years.

Harford County Executive David R. Craig will host a public hearing on the FY13 budget on Wednesday, Jan. 18. The 6 p.m. budget hearing in the school auditorium is open to the public and will be held at Havre de Grace High School. "The purpose of the budget hearing is to allow the citizens of Harford County to make known the priorities that they would like to see funded in the budget for fiscal year 2013," Craig said in a press release. Craig will be joined at the hearing by members of his cabinet and county budget officials.

There should be no question that the Baltimore County School Board should be more accountable to the citizens and elected officials of Baltimore County. This is not the case with a board appointed by the governor. Recent revelations of management issues which raise considerable questions about the judgment and accountability of the superintendent and the school board further underscore the need for reform now ("Hairston aide got no-bid contract," Feb. 9). The Baltimore County School Board should consist of four members appointed at large, seven members appointed representing each legislative district in the county and one student member appointed at large.

Gov. Martin O'Malley will turn to a longtime political ally, former Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, to lead the Maryland Department of Transportation as it begins a new era of stepped-up construction, administration officials confirmed Tuesday. O'Malley is expected to announce the appointment of Smith, 71, on Wednesday. His selection ends a search that has continued for more than a year - since former Transportation Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley announced her departure last spring.

The 2014 governor's race came into clearer focus Wednesday as Harford County Executive David R. Craig set a date to announce his Republican candidacy and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown's campaign confirmed that Howard County Executive Ken Ulman will be his running mate in his bid for the Democratic nomination. Craig, 63, will become the first major GOP contender to enter the race when he holds a campaign event Monday. Brown, who got a jump on other Democrats when he announced his candidacy this month, plans to announce Ulman's agreement to join his ticket the same day. With the twin announcements, the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Martin O'Malley will shift into a higher gear.