Why Ecker merits a second term
Shortly we'll be marching into our polling places to choose officials we feel will best govern us over the next four years. We, who followed our daily papers (for me, The Sun), had a steady stream of positive press these past four years on Dr. Charles I. Ecker as our county executive. There simply was to be no contest -- we all must have felt Howard County had a gold mine in Chuck Ecker.
What troubles me is at the last minute an opponent appears on the scene with a "single" issue of "stop growth." First, no one can stop growth. Growth has been continuous since the Pilgrims landed on their rock. What we can do is control it and plan for the growth that is going to occur -- that's what Chuck Ecker is about.
As a "nonbusiness" person, I still understand how much we need business to survive to be a healthy county. . . . Businesses bring jobs. And, they bring tax revenues into our county so desperately needed to keep our own taxes down. . . .
What really scares me is Susan Gray's liberal use of the legal system to satisfy her whims and causes at a stiff penalty to county and state tax dollars. For me, it brings to question her reasons for wanting to be our county executive. Her actions cost Howard County countless legal hours responding to her many filed Freedom of Information requests, challenges and protests involving public works, and planning and zoning. . . .
She refights previously lost battles, and the holes in our pockets get bigger. Having a case thrown out because of a missed deadline casts a shadow of doubt on her own capability as a lawyer. Her vendetta against the state's road system is another story. There are other avenues, less costly to the taxed public, she could follow as a means to an end. . . .
What endeared me to Dr. Ecker is his commitment to all the people in Howard County. At first, I feared he'd be a "one segment of the population" promoter because of the strength he drew from his field of education (I, too, was a sympathetic former teacher and understood their plight). But, with the economy "in the pits," deficits to deal with and many things needing attention, Dr. Ecker needed to (and did) take a step back and began by responding to the county's most pressing fiscal matters. . . . As a Commission on Aging and Florence Bain Senior Council member, I've seen him dig deep in a near-empty pot for the welfare of the elderly. His door opened more quickly to historic preservationists and other smaller groups than I expected, and the needy didn't suffer by his hand, either. . . .
Jesselyn V. Johl
Columbia
Gray Not Elitist
Week after week, Kevin Thomas keeps harping on how Susan Gray is an "elitist." . . .
What Kevin Thomas and Chuck Ecker don't get is that Susan Gray has support from every segment of Howard County. Her supporters live in townhouses, mobile home parks, single-family homes, condominiums and apartments.
Almost every neighborhood has people who are volunteering their time to help Susan with her campaign. Why? Because the Ecker administration finally has reached the saturation point in ignoring the wishes of Howard County taxpayers and homeowners.
Over the last four years, the Ecker administration has managed to lie to or completely ignore the wishes of almost every neighborhood. And in the majority of these instances, land developers and their associates have been the ones to benefit. The people of Howard County are not stupid. We've figured it out. Mr. Ecker is not working for us.
Neighborhood volunteers for Susan Gray hand-delivered 60,000 fliers to the doors of Howard County voters for the primary election. These neighbors are going to deliver 60,000 more before Nov. 8. Mr. Ecker has to mail his information because he doesn't have the support of the people.
Mr. Ecker raised over $200,000 since the last election. The "elitist" candidate is Chuck Ecker. He had a $200-a-plate dinner at Tersiguel's French country restaurant (owned by a land developer) and a $250-per-person golf outing. In contrast, Susan Gray's major fund-raisers were two square dances in her barn at $25 per person with children under 12 free.
Kevin Thomas can harp all he wants about Susan Gray being an elitist. The people of Howard County know the truth: Susan Gray is the people's candidate.
Alan Lefcourt
Elkridge
Gray's Own Enemy
Democratic nominee Susan Gray has had quite a week. Faced with the formation of the Democrats for Ecker Committee, she has stated that people have been badgered to join. To the contrary, the committee represents a cross-section of Howard County Democrats, many of whom have asked to be included, and the list is burgeoning.
She also has attempted to make long-time county employees, who have served through Democratic as well as Republican administrations, the focus of her ire by promising to fire them.
Let's see, she's unhappy with the Office of Law because it keeps defeating her in court as it upholds the county laws and zoning decisions against her unbridled and spurious attacks. Maybe she'll install an Office of Law that is less concerned about defending the county.
The Office of Planning and Zoning is equally maligned for not responding adequately to her demands for information. Howard County does not have enough copy machines to respond to her demands for documents; usually the ones she wants never existed anyway. And that terrible Department of Public Works, to have the audacity to actually implement County Council decisions to upgrade our transportation system by constructing road improvements that enhance roadway safety.
To be kind to Ms. Gray, she's never had much experience in managing anything; she may not realize that county employees are required to implement the law even if Ms. Gray does not agree with it.
Nevertheless, it's a low blow to attack long-time civil servants such as Barbara Cook, Jim Irvin and Joe Rutter, who have been model citizens dedicated to their county's health and welfare.
It is for reasons such as these that Ms. Gray hasn't shown the maturity, experience and intellectual integrity to be elected county executive. It's important that people vote against her kind of politics. Ironically, the most effective weapon in rejecting Susan Gray and the things she stands for is . . . Susan Gray.
Buddy Roogow
Ellicott City
Concrete Flowers
I have closely followed Howard County politics and issues for many years. The press has consistently characterized Susan Gray and John Taylor as anti-growth or no-growth advocates. The truth is they are not.
It is the amount or density at which growth is set that they question. The smear campaign their opponents, the developers and the press have mounted is disgusting. Don't let these underhanded tactics and character assassinations camouflage the issues. . . .
Fellow Howard countians, if you are tired of overcrowded schools, "mixed-use centers," the mega-infrastructure to support these centers and the rest of the fast-growth, higher taxes, year-round schools mentality, you have your chance to change Howard County for the better. Vote for Susan Gray and John Taylor.
William Hilton
Highland
Weak Reasoning
I realize that The Sun probably has a much closer working relationship with Vernon Gray than I do, and thus, is better qualified to judge his accomplishments (Oct. 18).
But The Sun's editorial seems less than objective in endorsing Mr. Gray for County Council. The paper spends time on such flowery talk as "loving politics" and being the "dean" and "titular head" of the county's Democratic Party. These trite observations take up considerable space in the editorial.
Then the nice little Glendening support note is entered, along with "His [Mr. Gray's] quiet rejection of Ms. Gray," The Sun manages to touch all bases that would help in conning voters.
Finally, we get down to the meat of the matter. We find that Mr. Gray has been a "leader" in banning smoking and calling for more public housing. Then we learn that his "skill as a negotiator" led to the latest fad in education (computer technology) being carried out. Wow, all this and he supports economic development. No wonder the county is in such good shape.
And, of course, The Sun can't end without knocking his opposition. Instead of presenting a true picture of Mr. Gray and mentioning some of his drawbacks (financial dealings, blind party loyalty), The Sun condemns his opponent, not on her platform but for a slight she received from a group supporting Mr. Gray.
If The Sun can't put out a more honest endorsement of a candidate, it should refrain from issuing any formal support. . . .
R. D. Bush
Columbia
Price of Sauerbrey
I am a lifelong resident of Maryland. I do not consider myself a political activist. I am a registered Republican, but I will not vote for Ellen Sauerbrey as governor. I feel so strongly that she would have a negative impact on Maryland that I am writing this letter, something I have done only once before in my life.
I enjoy the qualify of life that Maryland offers. We have some of the best roads in the country. Don't take my word for it. Just go for a Sunday drive on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, or follow Interstate 68 west toward West Virginia on a rainy night and notice how dark the roadway looks due to the lack of reflectors and safety markers. Remember all of the news reports last winter documenting how much better a job Maryland highway crews did in keeping our side of the Capital Beltway clear of snow than Virginia did? We enjoy some of the best schools in the country here and we are starting to make strides toward bringing the Chesapeake Bay back from decades of neglect and exploitation. All of this costs money.
zTC Ellen Sauerbrey has promised a 24 percent tax cut if she is elected governor, but she evidently does not feel that the citizens of Maryland are worthy of knowing what programs and services would be affected.
What concerns me the most is that I feel that this tax cut will threaten the safety of every Marylander more than they, or possibly even Mrs. Sauerbrey herself, would ever suspect. I have been actively involved in the Fire and Rescue Services in this state since 1970, both as a volunteer firefighter and for the last 20 years as a paid firefighter in a county in the center of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
All fire departments, both paid and volunteer, in Maryland rely on tax money received from state tax revenues as well as other sources in order to provide their vital services. Maryland has one of the best, most efficient statewide emergency medical services systems in the entire nation, linking together hospitals, specialty referral centers, ambulances and the safest and best fleet of MedEvac helicopters in any statewide system -- all reliant on state tax revenues.
Sauerbrey's proposed cut could have a crippling effect on all of these lifesaving programs. A little over two years ago, my department was hit with furloughs and cutbacks due to a decrease in revenues because of the recession. Even today, fire and rescue units in my department are staffed each day with only two people. This is a level that barely allows us to ensure our own safety, let alone the safety of the people we serve.
Several weeks ago, I responded to an incident where a person's hand had been amputated by a piece of machinery. We sent this patient by helicopter to the Union Memorial Hand Trauma Center in Baltimore. I felt secure knowing that the patient would receive the best care available anywhere. Ironically, this very MedEvac helicopter had been temporarily grounded two years ago because of a state revenue crisis. It is comforting for me to know that now whenever my family travels in our state that it is provided for by this excellent emergency medical services system. Our system has been a model one and the envy of people in the business of saving lives nationwide.
I do not wish to compromise the quality of life or the safety that my family currently enjoys in Maryland. Does a tax cut sound promising on the surface? Yes. Has Ellen Sauerbrey outlined an intelligent, comprehensive and detailed plan allowing the citizens of Maryland to see how their lives will be impacted by her cuts? No. . . .
Finally, will her tax cut allow emergency services agencies throughout the state to continue to save the lives and protect the property of the citizens we serve in the face of increasing demand for our service? There is no doubt in my mind that it will not. This is a bad idea that has been made to sound like a good one. Please don't give her a chance to implement it.
Mark Richards
Mount Airy