You're Chuck Ecker, newly re-elected executive for Howard County.
You just became only the second county executive ever to win a second term in Howard. You dodged a bullet because the pre-election mood in your well-off suburban county seethed as angrily as anywhere. You shuddered at the fate that befell your Republican counterpart in neighboring Baltimore County, Roger Hayden; a "non-pol" like yourself, he lost amid criticism for making some of the same moves you made, laying off employees, curtailing services, raising taxes. Common wisdom said Mr. Hayden's impersonal manner didn't engender support, while your aw-shucks personality did. Lucky for you, you'll get to work with a County Council with a good mix of experience and new blood; in fact, it's the first time your party has controlled both the council and the executive seat in Howard.
So you should be feeling pretty good about now. But you're not so sure. The voters Tuesday also overwhelmingly approved Question B on the ballot, which gives you added power to block zoning changes, but also seems to undermine your philosophy about economic growth.
You're Chuck Ecker and you stood for cluster development, more mixed-use centers that would co-mingle residential and retail and offices, that might provide more affordable start-up housing for young couples and others. But through the resounding approval of Question B and the attention accorded your challenger this autumn, Howard residents also seemed to be saying, "Don't talk to us about affordable housing, don't talk to us about job growth. Long-range planning, poo. We're sick of development, we're sick of traffic jams and crowded schools."
You declared on a celebratory Election Night that voters demonstrated they are "satisfied and proud" of what you did and that you are "someone they trust to lead the county." You feel fairly certain about the "trust" part, but are they satisfied? Would two-thirds of voters, 20 percent more than usual, have turned out Election Day if they were? Would 61 percent of them have voted for the zoning referendum? In fact, supporters of your opponent contend they, in a sense, seized the day because they've forced you into a "slow-growth" mode.
You're Chuck Ecker and you should be smiling. Or should you?