In the vast and largely rural Third Councilmanic District of north Baltimore County, some familiar names will contest the seat being left open by county executive candidate C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger. The four Democratic hopefuls include Elwood H. Banister of Phoenix, until recently the county fire chief, and I. William Chase of Owings Mills, the district's representative on the county Planning Board. Mr. Banister was a career fire fighter but lacks broad government experience. Moreover, his candidacy appears based on little more than the hope of getting back at County Executive Roger Hayden, who pressed Mr. Banister to retire in April. It also speaks volumes that the county fire fighters' union has endorsed Mr. Chase.
We heartily second that endorsement. Mr. Chase's seven years on the planning board are as good a training ground as a council candidate could have. His experience with land-use issues will be especially helpful as he serves the district that is home to the environmentally sensitive valleys of the north county.
On the Republican side, the candidates include former county teachers union president Edward W. Veit of Parkton, who would likely spend much of his time and energy haranguing the school administration; Patrick D. Meadowcroft, also of Parkton, a retired owner of three local service stations; and Henry C. Merchant of White Hall, who ran unsuccessfully against Mr. Ruppersberger in 1990 as an anti-tax candidate.
Our endorsement, however, goes to T. Bryan McIntire of Glyndon, a Carroll County-based attorney whom we view as the most capable and reasonable of the Republican office-seekers.
In the Fifth District, which extends from White Marsh over to Carroll Island and from Kingsville down to Essex, incumbent Vincent Gardina of Perry Hall deserves another term. While he has displayed some shortcomings -- being more follower than leader, not always doing the necessary political spade work for his own measures -- his actions have generally reflected good sense. He deserves special credit for his efforts in making the Honeygo development project a reality.
Thomas Rzepnicki is running unopposed in the Republican primary.
-! Tomorrow: Council District 4.