Council Chairman Not Running for Executive
Jerry Walker will not seek the executive's seat because of questions about the appointment process.
Jerry Walker
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Friday, February 15, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Legal Opinion: Council Members Not Eligible for Executive Appointment
The Anne Arundel County Attorney received an opinion that the county's charter disqualifies council members from being appointed county executive.
In the wake of former County Executive John Leopold's resignation, two Anne Arundel County Council members expressed interest in a bid for the seat, but attorneys familiar with charter legislation say the county's charter makes the council members ineligible. After council members John Grasso (R–District 2) and Jerry Walker (R–District 7) expressed interest in putting their name in the running, County Attorney John Hodgson requested an opinion on behalf of the county from Rosenberg, Martin Greenberg LLP, as to whether they are eligible to be appointed to the office. Andrew H. Baida, an attorney for the law firm, cited several county and state rulings that suggest this section of the county charter makes current council members ineligible: …
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Wednesday, February 13, 2013
As Deadline Looms, No Candidates Have Filed for Executive Race
Anne Arundel County Council is set to appoint the next executive on Feb. 21.
As of Wednesday, there have been no applications submitted for the open Anne Arundel County Executive position, and the deadline for application is Friday. But a handful of local politicians have their eyes on the seat. The county council is set to select a successor for former county executive John R. Leopold later this month. Leopold resigned on Feb. 1, shortly after he was found guilty of two counts of misconduct in office. Since then, Leopold's Chief Administrative Officer John Hammond has been serving as executive. Leopold's term was set to expire in 2014. The person appointed by the council later this month would only serve out the remainder of Leopold’s term, and an election in 2014 would choose the next executive. Candidates must …
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Tuesday, December 4, 2012
25% of County Employees Receive Pay Raises
Three of Anne Arundel County's 13 unions will receive their first pay increases in more than four years.
About 25 percent of Anne Arundel County's employees will receive pay raises for the first time in four years thanks to a unanimous vote by the County Council on Monday. The 3 percent pay increase—which will cost the county $650,000—goes to approximately 1,200 employees who are members of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 70, AFSCME Local 582 and AFSCME Local 2563. "The last four years, to say the least, have been extremely difficult," said Mike Akers, president of AFSCME Local 582. Akers testified before Council that his members have accepted years without cost of living increases and a growing number of furlough days. The vote itself was a formality because Maryland's Court of Appeals restored binding arbitration to the county in …
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Maryellen Brady
11:28 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
I love unions. They help , the govt WE THE PEOPLE do the moral and right thing in respecting workers for their productivity. They speak for those who would otherwise be silent or afraid. They have lead the way to the 40 hour work week, paid vacation days, fair living wages.. It is disgusting that the private sector has sunk so low and disrespected the backbones of most companies (workers) a big … more ›
Friday, August 17, 2012
Councilmen Want Final Say in Legal Settlements
Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold is mentioned in two recent lawsuits against the county, which seek more than $1.3 million in combined compensation.
Anne Arundel County councilmen are introducing a pair of bills that would give them the final say when large legal settlements are reached. And if the individual is a county official in a case of misconduct, the official would have to foot the bill. The pieces of legislation come at a time when the county is facing two potentially costly litigations. Former employees Karla Robinson Hamner and Joan Harris are each pursuing cases against the county in U.S. District Court on grounds of wrongful termination. Hamner is seeking $300,000, and Harris is seeking nearly $1 million. Both women worked for County Executive John R. Leopold and mention him as being instrumental in the filing of their legal complaints after accusing him of official …
Buzz Beeler
4:05 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Nelson, it depends on whether it is introduced as as bill or resolution. BC county does not reveal - clean - copies of the final bill. A clean copy is the final version without numerous lines crossed out with a line drawn through them. more ›
Friday, March 16, 2012
Councilmen Point Fingers in Quest To Fill Vacancy
Some Anne Arundel County councilmen lay the blame for a split vote on party politics.
Many Anne Arundel County councilmen claim a political game is being played over the vacant District 1 seat at the expense of the district's constituents. Patch editors interviewed each of the six councilmen to gauge their position in the division over who should fill the District 1 seat. The final candidates are Peter Smith and Mike Wagner. The councilmen who have supported Wagner include Derek Fink (R-3rd District) of Pasadena, John Grasso (R-2nd District) of Glen Burnie and Dick Ladd (R-5th District) of Broadneck. Smith's supporters include Chris Trumbauer (D-6th District) of Annapolis, Jamie Benoit (D-4th District) of Crownsville and Jerry Walker (R-7th District) of Gambrills. Wagner's backers have primarily touted his experience and …
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JPineiro
8:26 am on Monday, March 19, 2012
Stop blaming lack of political experience when everyone knows that little to none of the current population has even an iota of trust and faith in their government as is. This simply boils down to one huge factor. Smith has something politicians don’t have, and some councilmembers fear… integrity. Smith has too much integrity for the position. He will not side with what is right and what the … more ›
5 Questions With Councilmen on District 1 Vacancy
Patch editors asked the six current members of the Anne Arundel County Council about their division over filling the District 1 vacancy.
Each Anne Arundel County councilman was asked the same five questions regarding the District 1 vacancy and the state of the council. The final candidates are Peter Smith and Mike Wagner. Some were reached by phone, and some by email. Their answers are provided here. Contacted by phone What makes Wagner the better choice for you over Smith? There are two simple reasons. Wagner's lived here way longer than Smith. Smith has been here, what? Five years? Wagner's been here for infinity. I've been here for 50 years and there are still parts of the area I don't know. So imagine how much of the area he doesn't know after five years. The other thing is Wagner is a guaranteed conservative vote and we won't have a budget being passed like the last …
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Marie Bailey
5:15 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Mr. Wagner has served AACo. for many years and done a fine job - he is now retired and should remain so. Let the younger man have a chance to make his mark. I've been reading about the council deciding on the replacement District One for months now and it seems very unfair to the residents of that area not to be represented. If the other council members cannot make an informed choice then they … more ›
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Bill Proposes English as Official Language in County
Councilman Jerry Walker presented the bill, which is already being backed by a majority of the Anne Arundel County Council.
A councilman wants to make English the official language of Anne Arundel County, saying voters asked him for this. While campaigning for his council seat, Councilman Jerry Walker (R-7th District) said illegal immigration was a hot topic among his constituents. The bill he presented to the council on Monday was in part the realization of a campaign promise, he said. “There was overwhelmingly positive response [to that], so I turned it into a campaign commitment,” Walker said. Bill 13-12 would make English the official language of Anne Arundel County for all official documents, communications and agreements on behalf of the county. Walker said he has another resolution planned to address illegal immigration by penalizing business owners who …
Ronald Grossman
8:13 am on Thursday, March 15, 2012
The boarder issue is one of pure politics at it's worse. Mr. Obama specifically stated that is goal was to bring as many ptoential Democratic Voters into this country so as to make it virtually impossible for Republicans to win elections. Opening our boards has little to do with doing what's right as it is to doing what it takes to corrupt the system. Arizonia has a right to run Arizonia. Let the… more ›
Friday, March 11, 2011
Leopold Uses Line Item Veto on Binding Arbitration Compromise
County Executive Leopold strikes three amendments to Bill 4-11 that were passed at Monday night's County Council meeting.
In an attempt to return Bill 4-11 to its original form, County Executive John R. Leopold has issued a veto memorandum striking two amendments that were critical to securing bi-partisan support for the legislation. In a veto memorandum sent out to the County Council late Wednesday afternoon, Leopold informed council members of his intention to veto the two important amendments passed at Monday's council meeting, as well as a third housekeeping amendment. In an effort to find compromise on Monday night, Councilman Jerry Walker (R-7th District) of Gambrills introduced two key amendments, which he said put questions of the bill's legality to rest. "We are obligated to follow the charter, and this amendment will put this bill in harmony with …
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Council Unanimously Approves Binding Arbitration Bill
After approving two critical amendments, the council unanimously approved a bill that will alter the process of binding arbitration between public sector employees and the county.
ANNAPOLIS—On a night when droves of police officers and firefighters once again voiced their opposition to Bill 4-11, the County Council decided to pass it. The bill, which significantly alters the arbitration process between public sector employees and the county, passed unanimously after being altered in an effort to carve out a compromise among council members. Currently public sector employees, such as police officers and firefighters, have the right to enter binding arbitration with the county when labor disputes reach an impasse. The independent arbitrator's decision is then legally binding on both parties. Ultimately, the bill passed after Councilman Jerry Walker (R-7th District) of Gambrills introduced two amendments that were …
paul kriewald
7:10 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
They live across from Annapolis Mall. more ›