My name is Barbara Biller, Republican candidate for County Commissioner in District 4.
While some of our county commissioners suggest that running our county is a game, it is not a game to me. Feigned business experience will not lead us into the future. Proven leadership driven to achieve goals for the greater good of Carroll County, not promoting an individual commissioner's agenda, is required. We need proven leadership on our Board of County Commissioners. I ask for your vote in the Republican primary, and believe I would serve our county well as District 4 Commissioner.
With my husband of 26 years, Anthony Biller, I have raised a family, started and grown a business, and created jobs here in Carroll County for over 20 years. I have actively volunteered in Carroll County, primarily in education and economic development, for over 20 years as well.
My campaign web site and LinkedIn profile provide insight to my experience and capabilities. Ask those who have worked with me, inquire about my passion, drive, genuineness, integrity, creative problem solving skills, ability to work with others to achieve goals - all leadership qualities that will well serve our county.
I see Carroll County at a crossroads requiring concerted effort to bring the best of modern-day living while retaining our beautiful landscape. We need a fully funded, high-performing public school system that prepares students for higher education, the workforce, or the military. We need business and industry providing living wage jobs closer to home. We need public safety for a changing world. We need leaders who are focused on local issues.
I left corporate America in 2001, after a 23-year career with Westinghouse/Northrop Grumman, gleaning the best from a world-class operation. My homegrown company, Intellitech, had expanded significantly. Through focused effort, my company has not only survived the toughest economic times in recent history, but has grown by listening to our customers and responding with relevant products that outperform the competition.
While building Intellitech, I became an active volunteer in our county. In 2005, I was appointed to the Carroll Community College Board of Trustees, serving on the Finance Committee. I've learned how an effective Board operates and how to work with legislators. This experience further improved my ability to analyze information, make decisions, approve budgets and achieve results - the same skill set a County Commissioner needs.
In this role, I have submitted without hesitation, an annual notarized Financial Disclosure Statement, as per the Standards of Conduct of the Maryland Public Ethics Law. Serving the public comes with an expectation of transparency and full disclosure assuring no conflicts of interest.
I am a champion for both Carroll Community College and the Carroll County Public Schools, having actively supported STEM education. In 2003, my company endorsed and committed to support Project Lead the Way, and has since mentored, donated materials and created 13 internships. As a member of the Board, I helped influence Carroll Community College to offer the Associate of Science in Engineering degree programs, offered since 2011. County students now have an affordable, accessible engineering career path.
Since 2004, I have served on the Carroll County Economic Development Commission (EDC), a volunteer advisory board to the county commissioners, as member, Secretary, Vice Chair and Chair. The commission is charged with promoting and marketing Carroll County and increasing employment while maintaining a balance between residential, commercial and industrial growth. During my tenure, the commission submitted recommendations on airport expansion, mixed-use zoning, a small business loan fund and marketing the commercial portion of the Carroll County Fiber Network.
In 2012, while the EDC unanimously recommended the airport runway expansion, three of five county commissioners voted no claiming "unknown economic benefits" although they had a letter in hand from Surdex committing to locate their corporate headquarters in the county. The "unknown economic benefits" quickly became known when Surdex left our County, taking more than 20 well paying jobs.
In 2013, the EDC recommended making the 112-mile Carroll County fiber-optic network backbone available to business. The county commissioners have not yet moved on this recommendation.
Our county needs new leadership. Please vote Barbara Biller for Carroll County Commissioner, District 4, in the June 24th Republican primary!
