Brown Hasn't Had Answers to Growth
W. Benjamin Brown for commissioner? He says, "What does it mean for Carroll when our commissioner avoids making the critical decisions?"
The current commissioners and previous commissioners have not avoided making all critical decisions. Some decisions are very difficult to make considering the problems they generate, even though they may be good for some items. Certainly, decisions must be made after good realistic analysis by all elected officials -- not by one individual who is an egotist and thinks he knows everything and can make the absolutely best LTC decisions.
He says, "His record as Westminster's mayor for the past five years proves he can give voters definite answers to the growth issue." All my past years in the area, including positions with the city and the county Industrial Development Authority, assure me that he has not had all answers to and accomplishment of the "growth issue."
My letter to the editor of almost two years ago presented his erroneous position. It included this during the time I served as chairman of the county Industrial Development Authority. We, along with the economic development department, generated the development of the large section of the Westminster Air Business Center, including the excellent Marada firm and several other good businesses. While generating some good local employment, it also generated tax funds for the city of Westminster since the area was annexed by the city.
The 1992-93 assessable base was $5,283,000. That generated about $44,000 for Westminster. An additional 44 acres on the airport side of Route 97 and approximately 200 acres on the opposite side of Route 97 were for additional economic industrial development.
Our IDA group was contacted by the responsible county officer, Ned Cueman, who said the county needed to acquire a professional analysis of accurate requirements (traffic, streets, etc.) for long-term business/industrial development of the area, which included some of the city-annexed area.
We were told that the cost would be a minimum of $25,000 and possibly as high as $40,000 and that the city of Westminster should participate in a portion of the cost. The IDA agreed and decided to contact the City Council with the information and suggest that it should participate with possibly $5,000 or $10,000 if the total cost was $25,000. Mr. Cueman and Bill Jenne accompanied me to a meeting with the mayor and council where we presented the information. Immediately, it was obvious that Mayor Brown wanted no part of cooperating with a growth/development situation which could generate more tax income for the city. . . .
My previous association and experience with both city and county tells me otherwise, and all of this generated my recommendation that voters do not vote for W. Benjamin Brown for county commissioner.
In my previous positions as City Council president, IDA chairman and bank president, I was always dedicated to working with and for others, not one who knew everything and individually made all decisions, so I'm not trying to be nasty, but I think my analysis of Ben Brown is very realistic.
Russell Sellman
Westminster
Yates' 'Cuts'
As to the article written by Kerry O'Rourke entitled, "Tough Commission Contest Expected" (Sept. 18), it was stated that Gregory Pecoraro, Democrat state central committee, claims that the voters were duped by candidate Richard T. Yates because they, the voters, think that the county government neglects them. Then Mr. Pecoraro continues, "South Carroll voters voted for him [Mr. Yates] because they misunderstood who he is." Mr. Pecoraro said, "He'll just cut everything."
If Mr. Pecoraro means that Mr. Yates will attempt to cut silly expenses in government operation, he is correct. Arrogance toward the public by some bureaucrats, he is correct.
Government action/inaction which allows uncontrolled growth without infrastructure such as schools being in place, he is correct. The growth of county government without proper justification, he is correct. . . . I've never hidden the fact that I believe that less government is the best government and the least expense is the best expense when it comes to spending public money.
Richard T. Yates
Sykesville
Elliott is Pro-Life
Del. Don Elliott (R) . . . is predictably . . . sticking to the "high road." . . . He is not slinging mud back the other way as he moves closer to his third election to the Maryland General Assembly.
In the race for the District 4B delegate seat, Don Elliott's opponent, Roy Pfeiffer, has been promulgating through his literature the inaccurate statement that Delegate Elliott "is also pro-choice."
A simple review of Don's voting record . . . would have revealed Delegate Elliott's solid pro-life posture.
Additionally, Pro-Life Maryland, Maryland Right To Life and/or Pro Life Carroll County, three organizations supporting Don Elliott's candidacy, could have easily been consulted via a phone call to avoid such inaccuracy.
Mr. Pfeiffer's recent and late admission of incorrectness before a limited audience is hardly commensurate with the extent of his already published and distributed false information.
Secondly, Delegate Elliott's opponent has completely misinterpreted Don's position on health care by saying in bold letters that Don Elliott supports federal universal health care for all -- code words for the Clinton health plan.
While Delegate Elliott acknowledges that there will eventually be a health plan at the federal level, he has not embraced a particular plan. He favors an incremental approach to any changes in health care with elimination of pre-existing condition clauses; provisions for portability and renewability of policies (as first priorities), and absolutely no employer/employee mandates.
Carrying out the electorate's collective will, proposing legislation and voting intelligently on complex, far-reaching issues requires an elected officeholder's attentiveness to detail . . . qualities hardly evidenced by Delegate Elliott's opponent in his literature.
Vincent J. Perticone
Taneytown