Strange Bedfellows

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…)

Councilman Vince Gardina’s resignation from his job as a substitute teacher has ended a review by the county attorney but hasn’t stopped some from raising questions about whether it is appropriate for a council member to work as a teacher in the county.

Republican former Councilman Wayne Skinner said he believes that an agency that receives “50 cents of every dollar in the county budget” is clearly a county agency. Working for the system is clearly a problem, he said.

Skinner has some experience with such issues. He was an administrator for the state Department of Assessments and Taxation at the same time he served as a councilman — a position we now know is in conflict with holding office as a councilman in the county, according to the County Charter. (more…)

“I don’t think the only reason we’re there is to pass bills. Part of the reason we’re there is to keep bills from passing.” ~ Del. Todd Schuler, on why he and other legislators are only sponsoring a handful of bills this session.

County Council Chairman John Olszewski Sr. is holding a news conference outside Dundalk High School at 11 a.m. today (yes, regardless of weather) to “make an important announcement regarding his intentions in the 2010 County Executive race for Baltimore County,” according to a cryptic one-sentence e-mail sent out on the councilman’s behalf Thursday night.

The announcement of a county executive run is not out of the question but certainly a long shot. There are other possibilities for today’s event each with their own upsides and downsides. (more…)

Democratic state Sen. Jim Brochin, who represents the 42nd District, is known for his stamina when it comes door-to-door campaigning.

But I’m pretty sure even he has never tried what Jordan Hadfield and Todd Crandell did last weekend during the Blizzard of 2010.

Hadfield and Crandell, two Dundalk Democrats running for Senate and House of Delegates respectively, took door-to-door to the next level. The two candidates put out the word on Facebook and Twitter and their Web sites that they would be going out in the district shoveling out anyone who wanted it. (more…)

Let’s face it, nothing is as political in any county as snow removal.

County executives have been nearly run out of town on a rail because of it. That’s why executives hold annual press conferences to tell county residents how they are preparing to keep the streets clear when the snow arrives.

Add to the political fodder a Monday night press release from county Republican Central Committee Chairman Chris Cavey, who criticized County Executive Jim Smith and the County Council for what he desribed as a failure to properly plan for last weekend’s blizzard.

“Everyone knew it was coming,” Cavey said. “They were calling it Snowmageddon and stuff like that.” (more…)

Check out this story on WBAL.com for my discussion with Robert Lang about the $1.1 million in cash on hand raised by Councilman Kevin Kamenetz.

Money is the fuel of most campaigns — all those TV commercials, T-shirts, bumper stickers and other tchotchkes can be expensive.

But by the sound of it, a lot of candidates will be running this year on less than a full tank.

The real numbers won’t be known for about two weeks, as candidates are required to close their books on Jan. 14 and file by Jan. 21. Anecdotally, though, candidates are saying they are seeing an effect. (more…)

The folks over at Maryland Politics Watch had an interesting post Monday about Rep. Frank Kratovil and his vote Saturday against the House version of health care reform.

One Montgomery County union official sent out an e-mail blasting Kratovil’s vote.

“The way I see it, if not for President Obama and Labor’s help, Congressman Kratovil would not have won,” wrote Bob Stewart, Executive Director of the county chapter of Municipal and County Government Employees Organization. “Remember also that this is the Congressman who was ‘hung in effigy’ in August by the Tea-baggers, birthers and assorted other right-wingers. Running scared and showing fear by voting how they want him to will probably not get them to vote for him next year.”

You can read the rest of Stewart’s e-mail at Maryland Politics Watch.

Del. Todd Schuler returned five days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. Schuler, a first-term Democrat who represents the 8th District, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.

The 8th District includes Perry Hall, Parkville and Overlea. (more…)