County Councilman Kevin Kamenetz hasn’t formally declared his intent to run for county executive in 2010, but some of his constituents declared their wishes in cake Monday night.
Kamenetz showed off the cake and offered pieces to some council staff (and then to me) after last night’s council meeting.
The box was placed up on a refrigerator. (Perhaps out of sight of other potential “next Baltimore County Executives?”) (more…)
Today’s political chat with Maryland Morning News anchor Bill Vanko.
We discussed a county resolution that would impose sanctions on companies that do business with the county if they also hire illegal immigrants, and Councilman Ken Oliver’s fundraising efforts and a Democratic challenger to his seat.
Leronia Josey, a Baltimore attorney, said Wednesday night that she has formally filed as a challenger to two-term Councilman Ken Oliver in the September Democratic primary.
This is the second political campaign for Josey, who ran for the Orphan’s Court in 2006.
“I thought I could do it, but I just didn’t understand that there was an art to running for office county-wide,” Josey said. “Good lord, the county is huge. I got clobbered.” (more…)
Fundraising has been tough for many candidates this year, but one county councilman has had a particularly difficult go of it the last 12 months.
In the most recent campaign finance reports filed last week, Councilman Ken Oliver reported raising no money and had $8,433.76 in cash on hand. That’s down from the $8,530.18 he reported a year ago. (more…)
When the County Council meets tonight, the first order of business will be to select a new chairman.
Democratic Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder served his fourth, and by his account final, year as chairman in December. Three Democrats, including Vince Gardina, Ken Oliver and John Olszewski Sr., have expressed an interest in the job that pays $60,000 annually — about $6,000 more than the salary for a councilman who is not chairman.
Odds are that the councilman who is sometimes known as Johnny O will be elected to serve for the third time in as many terms, according to council observers.
Four councilmen have controlled the position since 1996 — Bartenfelder, Olszewski, Kevin Kamenetz and Sam Moxley.
“It’s worked out ahead of time,” said Republican former Councilman Wayne Skinner, who served on the council from 1998 to 2002. “Those four decided.”
Those who have served previously as chairman have denied there is a deal in place or that Olszewski is a lock for the position.
There’s been no shortage of interesting political stories this year, from state delegates and their marriage proposals to anger over speed cameras and a rising tide of voter discontent, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in these parts for nearly 20 years.
But not every story is created equal. Let’s face it, some are more important than others.
As I thought about a top five local political stories in Baltimore County, I made my selections based on both power of the story for the year and the effect these stories might have over the next 12 months. A lot of these stories have legs like Tina Turner. (more…)
Remember the dust up back in the mid-1990s about an allegedly math challenged Barbie? That’s the doll some claimed said, “Math is hard.”
Meet her counterpart, the Campaign Finance Ken doll.
OK, he doesn’t really exist. After all, what kind of kid would want to play with him? (Other than maybe political reporters, that is.) (more…)
Del. Emmett Burns has long been a proponent of speed cameras because of issues of speeding and pedestrian injuries in his district along Liberty Road.
Each year from 2003 to 2006, Burns sponsored legislation to place the cameras in the county on Liberty Road. The legislator, who represents the 10th District including Randallstown, Woodlawn and part of Catonsville, said he’s satisfied with a law that will go into effect Oct. 1 allowing Baltimore County to place the devices in school and work zones only. (You can read more about that here.) (more…)
Frustration boiled over during Thursday’s council budget hearing on the school system budget, as councilmen attempted to find out if air conditioning was ever planned for the recently renovated Ridgely Middle School. (more…)
Councilman Ken Oliver’s trial Tuesday marks the first time a Baltimore County Councilman has been charged with a crime while still in office. If convicted of any of the charges, which include two felonies and six misdemeanors, Oliver could be forced to resign or be removed from the position he has held since December 2002 — which would also be another first in Batimore County. (more…)