Strange Bedfellows

Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?

Up to 400 county employees will be treated to lunch at an event Tuesday as “thanks for a job well done during the Blizzard of 2010,” according to a county press release e-mailed Monday afternoon.

And the event won’t cost taxpayers a dime, courtesy of donations made by at least eight companies.

Marjorie Hampson, a county spokeswoman, said at least 250 people are expected to attend the two-hour event at Oregon Ridge Park. (more…)

Is the topic of pension reform so hot that it can’t be discussed in public?

Depending on who you talk to, it’s an issue that’s already been addressed — or one that should continue to be talked about as a campaign issue leading up to the elections in November.

Steve Bailey, chairman of the Baltimore County Chapter of Americans for Prosperity, is in the latter camp, but says it’s an issue at least one councilman doesn’t want people talking about. (more…)

Criticism by the Baltimore County firefighters union of an endorsement by Councilman John Olszewski Sr. has another county labor union president crying foul.

Cheryl Bost, president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, said Friday in Annapolis that she was disappointed to see Olszewski  criticized as no longer being friendly to organized labor in the county. (more…)

Councilman Kevin Kamenetz’ s nascent county executive campaign picked up another eastside endorsement Thursday morning.

In a video posted on Youtube, Democratic former state Sen. Michael Collins praises Kamenetz for his management of the county budget and said the councilman who represents Owings Mills, Pikesville and Ruxton, has demonstrated a “dedication, an understanding, and concern for our natural resources, particularly our waterways.” (more…)

Last week I wrote that the Baltimore County Professional Firefighters Association wasn’t tickled about Councilman John Olszewski Sr.’s “endorsement” of Kevin Kamenetz for county executive, and that the union was officially backing fellow Democratic Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder.

It’s easy to see how one might make that leap since the union was clearly irked by Olszewski’s move and they’ve only donated money to one county executive candidate — Bartenfelder.

But Mike Day, president of the union, told me Monday that the support is somewhat less than official — at least for the moment. (more…)

Sorry for the delay in posting but here’s my weekly conversation with Maryland Morning News Anchor Bill Vanko about county politics including last week’s endorsement of Kevin Kamenetz for county executive by fellow Democratic Councilman John Olszewski Sr. We also talk about how other eastside elected officials are lining up and what that might mean.

This three minutes literally left me struggling to catch my breath.

The head of one county union said he and his members are not pleased with last week’s pseudo-endorsement of Kevin Kamenetz by fellow Democratic Councilman John Olszewski Sr.

Mike Day, president of the Baltimore County Professional Firefighters Association, said union leaders were so displeased with Olszewski’s plans that not only did they not attend an Olszewski fundraiser two days before the endorsement, they voted not to make a donation to his campaign.

And Day didn’t have much nice to say about Friday’s announcement, either. (more…)

Republican former Del. Ken Holt said Tuesday afternoon he is not ready to announce a decision about his intentions for the 2010 election.

Holt said in January that he was considering a run for county executive and hoped to make a decision by early February.

“It’s a big decision — kind of a life decision,” said Holt, adding that he has been attending various community meetings and functions around the county, including a recent meeting in Hereford as well as two on Tuesday in Arbutus and Middle River.

“We’re definitely moving closer,” Holt said. He would not provide a timeline for an announcement.

County Administrative Officer Fred Homan, not County Executive Jim Smith, will meet with members of the county’s House delegation Friday to answer questions about the county’s projected $144 million budget deficit.

The delegation asked Smith to meet with them last month regarding the budget at the request of Republican Del. Pat McDonough, who represents the 7th District including Cockeysville, Middle River and part of Perry Hall.

The political ramifications of such a request must also be noted since McDonough is mulling a run for county executive in 2010, and Smith is  considering a run for state senate in McDonough’s district. (more…)

Council Chairman John Olszewski Sr. didn’t use the word endorsement at a Friday morning announcement, but the message was clear: When Kevin Kamenetz announces his run for county executive, Olszewski will support him.

Olszewski stood in front of Dundalk High School, his alma mater, with a handful of supporters behind him holding signs. Some were hand made, proclaiming an “East - West” partnership. Others were more professionally made and were clearly from Kamenetz’s as yet undeclared campaign, proclaiming Kamenetz as “The next era of excellence.” (more…)