County Executive

A prominent Ellicott City blogger and businessman was stabbed to death by his daughter's 19-year-old boyfriend, who plotted with the 14-year-old girl to kill him so the two could run away together, Howard County police said Friday. Dennis Lane, 58, was found before dawn in his Winding Ross Way home. Police charged Jason Anthony Bulmer and Morgan Lane Arnold, both students at Mount Hebron High School, as adults in his killing; they both face conspiracy and murder counts. Both were held without bail, according to online court records.

Del. Steve Schuh was elected Friday to chair the Anne Arundel County delegation to the General Assembly. Schuh, a Republican from Gibson Island who is also a candidate for county executive, takes over from Del. Nic Kipke, a Pasadena Republican. Kipke was named House minority leader.

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.

Learn from past for answers to overcrowding We have all heard, "If you don't learn from history, you are destined to repeat it. " We must learn from events 18 years ago when citizens wanted the (County Executive Dutch) Ruppersberger Administration to commit to the voters' approval to reopen Bloomsbury as a middle school. Instead, the county executive transferred the approved monies to other school projects. Citizens of Catonsville united and appeared before the Baltimore County Board of Education, the County Council, county executive and even held hands around Bloomsbury to no avail.

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura A. Neuman has launched an investigation into allegations that county Police Chief Larry Tolliver used homophobic slurs and retaliated against officers whose testimony led to her predecessor's criminal conviction for misconduct. County Councilman Jamie Benoit called for the investigation in a letter to Neuman in which he recounted allegations from officers that Tolliver moved the detectives to less desirable positions and used the anti-gay term "fag.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Anne Arundel County Councilman John Grasso received a $70 ticket Wednesday morning while sign-waving in Edgewater as part of his bid to become county executive. But later in the day, a county police spokesman said the department will ask the state's attorney to drop the charge, because police believe the law may be unconstitutional. Grasso, a Republican from Glen Burnie, who said he wanted to get his name out to voters in the southern part of the county, was waving a large red campaign sign from the median of Route 2, just south of the South River bridge during morning rush hour.

A truly ironic position by our County Executive Kevin Kamenetz who proclaims the environmental positives of trees (Towson Times, May 1, "Kamenetz plans to increase county forest county canopy") yet makes the decision to destroy 10 acres of hardwood trees in Mays Chapel Park in order to build an elementary school there. This man is a true snake oil salesman, who is willing to destroy the infrastructure of one community to benefit his political agenda in another. Obviously common decency is lacking.

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman said she's taken steps toward running in 2014 for a full term. While the Republican hasn't declared her candidacy officially, Neuman said in an interview Thursday she's filed the paperwork to form a campaign committee. The only office she's considering is county executive. "I've had a tremendous amount of support from the community," she said. "I wanted to at least explore the idea. " The County Council selected Neuman as county executive on Feb. 21 after the resignation of John R. Leopold, who was found guilty of misconduct in office.

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...

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman is scheduled to unveil her first-ever county budget on Wednesday in Annapolis. Neuman took over as county executive in February after the resignation of former executive John R. Leopold, following his conviction on misconduct in office charges. On Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Arundel Center, Neuman is scheduled to deliver a message outlining her proposed budget plan. Then, at 1 p.m., the County Council is slated to hold the first of several budget review sessions. The public is invited to attend the budget review session, but public testimony will not be part of that meeting.  The county will host public hearings on the budget on May 8, 7 to 10 p.m., at the Chesapeake Arts.

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman embraced a message of change in proposing her first county budget Wednesday, describing the $1.3 billion operating budget as an effort to reverse a government that had fallen "way behind in culture, attitude and investment. " Neuman, who was appointed executive by the County Council in February to replace John R. Leopold after he was convicted in January of misconduct in office, told the packed council chamber, "We will not be defined by a past of scandal and mediocrity.

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.

The Acting County Executive for Anne Arundel County, John Hammond has announced that he is a candidate for the County Executive position, which has recently become vacant through the forced resignation of John Leopold. He was featured a number of times on Friday being interviewed by reporters about his announced candidacy. It was mentioned that should he become county executive, he would have to take a $30,000 a year pay reduction. He addressed that issue primarily by making fun of his wife's spending habits.

Former Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold is doing his court-ordered community service hours at Anne Arundel County Food & Resource Bank in Crownsville, following his release from jail on convictions for misconduct in office. "He works in the front office for us," food bank Executive Director Bruce Michalec confirmed. He said he did not want to discuss specifics, but that Leopold completed a week of community service and is expected to be there 40 hours a week for his 400 hours of community service.

Anne Arundel County's proposed stormwater fee provided newly appointed County Executive Laura Neuman with her first leadership test, and she failed. Her veto puts the county at risk of sanctions if it does not enact a fee structure by July 1, yet she appears to have no plan for complying with state and federal requirements for reducing the polluted stormwater that is washing into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The County Council should override her reckless decision without delay.