Harford County Council President Richard Slutzky talked about historical parallels in global and local events and the goodness of Harford residents and their desire to help others during his first legislative address as the council's leader Tuesday night.
In a meandering speech that followed County Executive Barry Glassman's first State of the County address, Slutzky, who was first elected to the council in 2002, gave his first presentation as council president.
He compared current economic problems to historical "boom and bust" cycles, noting that although global problems like the Ebola virus and the Islamic State terrorists tend to grab media attention, most Harford County citizens, as well as those around the country, are still more interested in the economy.
Glassman's address was focused on describing the county government's financial challenges, especially growing debt and a decline in financial support from the state; part of Slutzky's speech follow those themes.
"Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it," Slutzky warned, paraphrasing a popular quote.
Slutzky cautioned that Harford's economy is "not out of the woods yet" and residents should be "aware of potential backsliding," despite news that the recession of recent years appeared to be easing.
Slutzky compared the U.S. economic situation to the panic of 1873 and subsequent depression, when a brief lift was followed by another economic plunge and a slower recovery, he said. He found other parallels, such as the rise of new technologies that took place in the post-Civil War era and in the 2000s.
Economic concerns aside, the council president said that ultimately it's the people who make Harford County what it is, including the countless volunteers and the aura of "people willing to help people."
Slutzky said he has seen even more volunteerism since he came on board with the council 12 years ago, witnessing groups like the Boys & Girls Clubs, recreation council programs and community organizations step up to make life in the county better. He was elected the council's president in November.
"The quality of life in Harford County does not revolve around wealth or fame. It is centered in the hearts of people who care about other people," he said.
Slutzky also said that with the introduction of three new members this year, he sees energy, commitment, camaraderie and hope in the county's legislative body.
"We all must continue to get better at governing for the benefit of the citizens of Harford County," he told the audience, but added he sees "much that is promising."
"We need to be better as we mature, like a fine bottle of wine," he said.
Slutzky also reminded everyone that "emotion is the enemy of rational argument" and, from literally out of the blue, he then concluded by taking a swipe at newspapers.
"The man who is not educated at all is better than the man who reads nothing but newspapers," Slutzky said, drawing a smattering of laughter from the gallery in the council chamber.
Slutzky has had his problems with the local press during his council service. The most recent dust-up occurred two weeks after he took office as council president in December, when he unilaterally announced that, for security reasons, members of the general public and the media would not be allowed to approach and talk with council members at the dais where they sit during meetings.
The resultant storm of public and media criticism led to him to rescind the order, although he expressed no contrition about the order in public.
The man he quoted, Thomas Jefferson, encouraged a free press as one of the country's founding fathers and later its president, but Jefferson also had a contentious relationship with the press and once called it a "polluted vehicle."
Jefferson is also credited with the following: "were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."