District A lies at a crossroads. Recent violent crimes have been splashed across Dagger headlines, but the promise of BRAC could bring jobs and stability to the area.
Dion Guthrie and John Henkel will square off in the Democratic Primary Election with the winner advancing to face whomever emerges from the Primary Election race between Republican candidates Yvonne Baldwin and Jim Thompson.
The winner of the District A seat will face a sizeable challenge: taking advantage of the coming BRAC changes while continuing efforts to curb local crime. The candidates who have entered the race will be tasked with redefining Edgewood and Joppa’s place in Harford County.
The Dagger caught up with those candidates – Yvonne Baldwin, Dion Guthrie, John Henkel, and Jim Thompson – and posed to them the same set of questions.
Those questions, and the varying answers of the candidates, are listed below:
In one paragraph, please give a brief biographical sketch of yourself:
Baldwin
I am a lifelong resident of Joppatowne and my entire immediate family continues to live in District A. In fact, my daughter and I live in the house where I was raised. After graduating from Towson State, I immediately opened the Silver Spur, which I still own and operate on Route 40 in Joppa. I am also a real estate agent and concentrate my real estate business in this area. I have been fortunate enough to have success in my professional and personal life and I want to be a part of helping others enjoy those same successes. I am proud to say that I’ve lived in Joppatowne for more than 40 years and in 40 years, I want my daughter to be able to say the same.
Guthrie
Dion F. Guthrie – Council member for District A Edgewood, Joppa/Joppatown for the last 8 years, hold B.A. degrees from Antioch University 1998 and McKendree School of Religion, also graduated from the Harford Leadership Academy in 2000, and was honored as one of the top 20 graduates at their recent 20 year anniversary galla. Graduated from the Harford County Sheriff’s Police Academy in 2007, graduated from the academy for Excellence in Local Governance from the University of Maryland 2009, elected as a delegate to the Democratic Convention 2008. I have been a resident of Joppatown for over 44 years and a lifetime member of the ESGR (the National Committee for the Employer support of the Guard and Reserve.)
Henkel
I’m originally from New York City and relocated to Maryland in 1986. Aside from a brief stint in Fell’s Point (where we met), my wife Lisa is a lifelong Harford County resident (born and raised on Harford Square Drive) and moved here in late 1998. We resided in Edgewood from 1998-2005 and then moved to Joppa. We have two children. Jack is 10 and Abigail is six. We also have three (four-legged) children in Lucky, Piper and Chucho. I have spent the last 15 years working in the music/entertainment industry with a concentration on intellectual property issues and have worked on different pieces of Federal legislation in support of the industry. I was recently elected to my third term as President of the Joppatowne Rec Baseball and Softball program and have volunteered my time as a coach and Board member every year since 2004. Additionally, we’re active as members of the Magnolia Elementary School PTA and my wife devotes a great deal of volunteer time to Trinity Lutheran Church.
Thompson
For a bio please refer to: http://www.thesagacitypapers.com/take_a_ticket_015.htm
What is at stake for District A (Edgewood/Joppa) in this race?
Baldwin
I honestly believe this election represents an opportunity for our residents to become involved in the decision making processes of the County Council by electing a representative who is ready and willing to have a regular presence and give unrelenting support in all areas of District A.
Guthrie
The Master Plan for Harford County will be on the Councils plate shortly after we take office. Not a place for inexperienced people who two or three months before an election decide they are qualified to hold office. District A is different than any other districts. There are 40,000 people that live in our district and we have no buffer like a Mayor, City Council and a police force like other districts. You need a fully qualified person to hold this office, no room for “on-the-job-training” or a part time Council person. Also we need to stay on top of the waste-to-energy plant. We need to protect this area.
Henkel
Quite frankly, what is at stake is everyone’s quality of life. We have all been affected in some way by the poor economy which only seems to magnify the problems we’re currently facing. It’s time for a change in direction, a new vision and a fresh perspective on what the people of District A are asking for. We all want the same things. Less crime and safer neighborhoods, a better education for our children and to know that our tax money is being spent as wisely as possible. I take the task of improving our quality of life very seriously.
Thompson
Please refer to: http://www.ejthompson.com/
What is the biggest NON-CRIME problem in the district, and what would you do to improve the situation?
Baldwin
As a small business owner, I am disappointed in the lack of work to attract more business to our area. We need to project an image of being friendly and welcoming to businesses to attract positive possibilities for the District. BRAC is a big opportunity for Harford County and we must be a part of this growth. Potential new businesses and home buyers want to see a thriving community, not a community that appears to be dwindling. We must project an image that we want and will support small business and growing families.
Guthrie
Transportation, dredging, adequate roads, overcrowding schools and after school activities. We need to improve the bus situation in the Edgewood area and reduce the overcrowding of schools like I have done for the past eight years. My bill that deals with APFO (Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance) has gone a long way to help that situation. We continued to create after school activities for our youth and will create even more. The dredging in Joppatown is very important. If it is not addressed the basin will fill in causing navigation nightmares. We will be dredging the Joppatown basin this fall and also the creek behind Foster Knoll.
Henkel
I would be doing this district a disservice by picking one problem over another. Every person I have spoken to about my candidacy has had different issues they wanted to discuss with me ranging from education to taxes to guns to crime. I can say that I will view the County Council position as a partnership between myself and people who live in Edgewood, Joppa and Joppatowne. My success in office will be due to working with the people of this community and discussing how they want their problems addressed and, in some cases, making hard decisions on how to address them. I see my role is to get the broadest possible feedback and support and apply that information without a political agenda.
Thompson
Same as #2: http://www.ejthompson.com/
Edgewood has been in the news lately with a spate of shootings and the Bel Air murder of a local man, connected to a 2007 beating of the victim’s father in Edgewood. What would you do to combat this ongoing crime problem?
Baldwin
First, I express my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the young man who tragically lost his life. I think the entire County needs to understand that this terrible incident is an example of what happens when people believe crime is isolated. Crime will spread. Crime in any District should be a concern for the entire county and Harford County resources should be utilized to combat crime in our District. I plan to make strong alliances with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. I will partner with the men and woman who are protecting our District to promote communication between law enforcement and citizens. We must also implement programs that encourage our young men and women to be productive members of the community. We can find ways to keep our community on the right track. I aim to rally my constituents to give their time and skills to to make our entire District a safe and pleasant place to live. Individual pride transcends to community pride.
Guthrie
Sheriff Jesse Bane and I have done a lot in recent years and will continue to do more: Brookside Drive, a place that had a lot of crime and murders. It has had all new lighting and cameras installed and have brought crime to its knees in that area. There’s a “spike” right now but Sheriff Bane is right on top of this problem and the President of the Edgewood Community Council Jason [sic] Robinson and I are working on new incentives to keep the kids off the streets.
Henkel
I strongly believe that we can start to address the resurgence of crime Edgewood by spending more time out and about with the people who live here. They are the ones on the ‘front lines’ so to speak and they are the ones who hold the key to turning their community around. As their representative on the Council, I can help guide them and work with law enforcement and other government officials to help implement the best strategies and resources but the community should absolutely have a voice in how that moves forward and not simply have decisions dictated to them.
Thompson
Jobs, jobs and more jobs. High employment rates = low crime rates – it’s a proven fact. We need to bring more jobs to the Route 40 corridor!
Of all the answers (ignoring Mr. Thompson’s referrals to his web page) Mr. Guthrie had the weakest responses. He wants you to believe he has done great things in District A during his eight years on the Council. Those of us that pay attention to such things know otherwise. Also his poorly veiled plugs for Sheriff Bane and Mr. Robinson are nothing more than attempts to pander to the African-American community in Edgewood.
Bane and Guthrie are joined at the hip and the sheriff knows he has to carry this community to win reelection against strong competition.
Let us not forget Mr. Robinson, Mr. Guthrie’s chosen successor to Dion’s Council seat until Dion got cold feet in his aborted run for State Senate against Nancy Jacobs. Guthrie’s reconsideration left Mr. Robinson without an office to run for. A convenient but temporary substitute is the school board race. Nothing more than a holding pattern until Dion pulls the plug in four years and then to remain the power behind the thrown when Robinson runs for the Council.
The only problem with this plan is that everyone can plainly see that the King (Guthrie) has no clothes as his naked attempt at building little empires (do not forget Dion’s puppeteer control of Mr. Washington’s campaign to unseat Jacobs) is pathetically obvious.
Not a King maker is he, more like the court jester, and not very funny at that!
The more people that I speak with in the district, the more that Councilman Guthrie needs to be concerned. It seems that the African-American voting bloc was able to see right through the Rovall mess, and they blame Dion for trying to take their votes for granted… that his support of an A/A candidate would ensure his own victory. This will not be the case, as many of the people in Edgewood are furious that Dion has treated them as voters without brains.
Those that have met Mr. Henkel have told me they are voting for him. I just hope this guy has enough time left to meet as many voters as he possible can in the next three weeks.
Isn’t there a mandatory retirement age for egomaniacal blowhards?
I have no use for all of these personal attacks on any candidate. I have met both Dion Guthrie and John Henkel and found both to be personable. However, it is clear to me that Mr. Henkel is far more sincere in his dedication to helping the citizens of my community. He is down-to-earth and willing to listen to our communities concerns and needs. He has the vision and passion to fight for us on the County Council and the demeanor to be able to work with the other members on the Council to get things done. It is time for a change…
Oh, and this Thompson clown is a tool. If I wanted to go to his website, I’d go to his friggin’ website. I am reading this article to see what the candidates have to say, not to be redirected to a website written by some PR hack.
Isn’t having Dagger Dan calling someone a “clown,” a “tool” and a “PR hack” an obvious personal attack? I am requesting The Dagger abide by it’s written code; “Personal attacks will be deleted.”
Anyone who is a public figure or aspiring to be one by running for office opens themselves up for criticism. This does not fall under our guidelines as a “personal attack”. If someone responds to you directly on the site within the comments with a personal attack, then we will delete it.
I have never met this Dagger Dan fellow and he apparently has never met me, so if he is unable to document the source of his derogatory comments then what else can it be other than a personal attack? I consider being called a “clown” for no reason a personal attack. I consider being called a “tool” (???) for no reason a personal attack. I consider being called a “PR hack” for no reason a personal attack (especially since I wrote my own bio).
I have no idea what your “guidelines” are, so perhaps you might publish them so all Dagger Readers can judge for themselves.
Oh by the way, you, Dagger Dan and anybody else can find me every Tuesday morning at the Venetian Palace having breakfast (just like it says on my web site). I invite you to stop in so we can engage in an intelligent discussion.
The basis for my comments?
If you are asked a question by a reporter, and instead of answering the questions you direct the reporter, and by proxy his readers, to a self-serving website (and it is not just you who has a self-serving website, that is true of all candidates), then in my opinion the person who does such a thing is a clown/tool. Just answer the bloody questions. In this case that person was you. If you are going to run for office, you need to get a thicker skin.
And do a little better on your reading comprehension. I did not call you a PR hack. I said that you are directing people to a website written by a PR hack. If you authored all of the website then I stand corrected.
Seriously, if you are too lazy to answer a reporter’s questions, then how can you spend the time needed to be a councilman. Must be why Yvonne Baldwin is smoking you when it comes to support.
Being proud of my roots in JoppatownE; please keep the E in the word!! Just where is Joppatown?
The comments made against Councilman Dion Guthrie above, have NO merit. However that does not make any difference to those make those statements. We all know where they are coming from, so take for what it is worth, nothing. I have live in Edgewood for over 20 years and Councilman Guthrie has been the most outstanding Councilman I have ever seen. He is always there when you need him, he always get back to you with an answer, and he can always be found in Edgewood and Joppatowne severing on many committees and boards in his community. Frankley I don’t know where he gets the time. His wife Dianna is just as active and is now the Chairperson for the 2010/2011 Parade/Carnival committee. His educational background and his vast experance far exceeds all the other candidates combine. Don’t be fooled, vote for the most qualified.
Margo – you forgot to sign the comment:
Sincerely,
Dianna Guthrie
Thanks Margo for placing the “E” back in Joppatowne. I think you attached your comment to the wrong post, I did not offer an opinion on anyone running in District A. I simply want my Towne name to stay the way it always has been writen. The Schools all reflect the proper spelling of the community.
Someone showed the mailer he received from Dion today. Amazingly Joppatowne was spelled with an “E.” I like another word that ends with an “E” when referencing Dion. How about “GONE” after the primary election!
May I second that motion? Did you also notice another “E” missing in that mailer? That would be the “E” in Ripken. He spelled Cal Ripken’s name as “Ripkin.” Does no one proofread anything he does? Seriously?
Margo – your post now officially has ZERO credibility as I recently discovered that you work for IBEW Local 1501 which is the union shop that Dion Guthrie runs. That is, until his election tampering with the union comes back around on him.
That union gig must pay decent. Few months back, Mr. & Mrs. Guthrie bought a new house on Shore Drive for $750k+ and borrowed $850k ($500k on the new place, $350k against their old Neptune Drive house) to do it. That’s got to be at least a $6,500 per month mortgage. Maybe $7k? Nothing against the man, I’m just backgrounding the candidates to see who to vote for. Noticed Guthrie even honestly listed Neptune Dr. as non-owner-occupied at SDAT so he wouldn’t get an unfair tax break, something Sen. George Della couldn’t remember to do. So, kudos for honesty there. But that deal still made me wonder.
The house on Neptune has been on the market for a while. Maybe they bought on Shore thinking Neptune would have sold sooner? They definitely still live on Neptune.
Wow, Mr. Guthrie’s comments lead one to conclude there is a grave navigational problem within the waterways of Jopptowne. Thankfully he is endeavoring to correct that quandary. What an injustice it is that the regional periodicals highlight the crime problems, shootings, murders,drug dealing, car jackings, robberies and such. Thanks councilman. Heaven knows we couldn’t use a fresh voice to tackle that really complicated and perplexing Master Plan. Your masterful 8 years n office hhave served us well
Mr. Guthrie has a habit of taking credit for all number of activities within the district which he actually had little if any part in the result.
Maybe he should be taking credit for a lot of the recent mayhem.
LOL! I heart DaggerDan
Those rich folk with their water front homes and yachts have a lot of problems and it’s a good thing they have a councilman of their own.
I’ve heard through the grapevine that Dion is behind the newly designed (and larger) Jansen Robinson signs. Probably in response to the fact that Bob Frisch seems to be gaining a ton of traction as Jansen is a woefully inadequate candidate. Both Jansen and Rovall Washington (whose campaign is being managed by Robinson) have been placing signs on private property without permission. Wish I could say I was surprised. Also heard that Dion somehow managed to place signs in the front yard of his District A opponent before they were removed. Utterly classless.
I hope Henkel used Dion’s signs as toilet paper.
That is clearly all they are good for.
Upon review of the candidates resumes I find Mr. Guthrie states he “Graduated from the Harford County Sheriff’s Police Academy in 2007.” This is a most significant statement. To think the county funded this educational experience. Unless he is inaccurate in his statement, a Police Academy training is value at some $20,000-$25,000. Again if his statment is accurate, the position he held in the Harford County Sheriff’s Police Academy could have been filled with an actual deputy. One protecting us everyday.
A local candidate forum was held at Joppatowne HS tonight. One candidate disgraced himself by flagrantly violating the campaign rules on school property. Mr. Guthrie had placed a large three panel display in the school lobby. When a complaint was made Mr. Guthrie was forced to remove his display but this did not his keep supporters from passing out campaign literature to citizens as they approached the building. Other Guthrie supports in the audience also made a poor showing of themselves by making snide comments when other candidates were trying to answer questions from the moderator. Mr. Guthrie’s willful disregard for the rules is just another demonstration of his arrogance and belief that he is above the rules. His actions have already been reported to the school board. I would hope that the board and their attorney publicly admonish Mr. Guthrie for his crass behavior. Obviously Mr. Guthrie and several of his supporters lack any class. If this is the kind of people that he surrounds himself with that raises serious questions about his ability to judge character, or maybe this actually demonstrates Mr. Guthrie’s lack of character. After all we know what they say about birds of a feather.
Clearly Guthrie doesn’t believe that rules apply to him. I have heard rumblings about inappropriate campaign contributions as well. As for ‘birds of a feather,’ Jansen Robinson also plastered all the cars in the parking lot with campaign literature. Is this the person you want representing us on the School Board? I think they all (Guthrie, Robinson and Rovall Washington) need to retire to a little house on Rumsey Island.
GUTHERIE VIOLATES BOE CAMPAIGN RULES ON SCHOOL PROPERTY!
This can’t be said enough and speaks volumes about the man! He also has many campaign signs out that are clearly in violation of State campaign laws.
A local candidate forum was held at Joppatowne HS tonight. One candidate disgraced himself by flagrantly violating the campaign rules on school property. Mr. Guthrie had placed a large three panel display in the school lobby. When a complaint was made Mr. Guthrie was forced to remove his display but this did not his keep supporters from passing out campaign literature to citizens as they approached the building. Other Guthrie supports in the audience also made a poor showing of themselves by making snide comments when other candidates were trying to answer questions from the moderator. Mr. Guthrie’s willful disregard for the rules is just another demonstration of his arrogance and belief that he is above the rules. His actions have already been reported to the school board. I would hope that the board and their attorney publicly admonish Mr. Guthrie for his crass behavior. Obviously Mr. Guthrie and several of his supporters lack any class. If this is the kind of people that he surrounds himself with that raises serious questions about his ability to judge character, or maybe this actually demonstrates Mr. Guthrie’s lack of character. After all we know what they say about birds of a feather.
Didn’t he get caught last time stealing his opponents campaign signs… nothing happened then, nothing will happen now.
Nope, nothing will probably happen. Until he’s voted out on September 14th. Mr. Henkel did a nice job at the forum last night and his closing statement skewered Guthrie.
Make sure you tell at least ten people, and ask each of them to tell at least ten people.
And so on and so on.
That’s the way to get rid of Dion once and for all.
Dion is fooling no one except himself. His answer to every question was to tell people how “involved” he is with all of it. How come nothing has happened? If he is so involved where is the beef? He is a union blowhard and always has been. As for the signs, Rovall’s signs and Robinson’s signs are a match set! C’mon Dion, go home.
I was absolutely amazed to see Dion Guthrie publicly berate one of his constituents at the Edgewood Community Council meeting last night. The constituent wanted to discuss an issue of service (that is what I understand his job is supposed to be about) with the councilman when he exploded by saying since the constituent did not support him he wasn’t going to support them. I was shocked at the self serving attitude of the councilman and the outright refusal to even listen to the constituents’ concern. An appalling display of arrogance as I have never seen from an elected official. Regardless of whether the constituent is a Guthrie supporter or not the councilman has a duty to at least listen to the concern and address the matter in which a citizen and voter of his district deserves. Mr. Guthrie should be ashamed of himself and needs to apologize to the constituent. He has also just lost my vote and anyone else that I can convince. He is an example of what is wrong with politics in our country. They are only interested in you at election time and only if they can get your vote.
I was there as well and saw the same thing. Clearly, his cage has been rattled by his primary opponent. If even he pulls out a win, which I’m not sure is a guarantee any more, he’s at least had to work for it.
Thanks for sharing. Mr. Guthrie may be on his way o-u-t.
I do not believe these people get it.
Ol’ Dan Riley responded to a email I sent him expressing my opinion. The last line of my letter stated “how you vote on this issue will dictate how I vote on election day.” His relpy was “lets not make idle threats”………..HE’S DONE
absolutely amazed, your last line tells it ALL.
Thanks for sharing this unacceptable action by the esteemed Mr. Gutherie. I don’t think I want him picking up after my dog.
Thank You for sharing this information as we are trying to decide who to vote for and this certainly will influence our votes
Why would Dion Guthrie support a union busting candidate? It is well known that Guthrie is the man behind the campaigns of Jansen Robinson (school board) and Rovall Washington (State Senate). An internet search of Robinson reveal articles that as the chief of the Balt. City School Police he tried to bust the union. That resulted in a no-confidence and his forced resignation. Robinson also made comments on a Republican blog that were against police and teachers.
Guthrie is the president of an electrical union local. Do these members know he is supporting an anti-union candidate? It would seem that Guthrie’s loyalties are governed only by his self interest and that of building political power at the expense of his union supporters.
Why would true Democrats vote for a man like this?
Well, hopefully they won’t. I have spoken to his opponent and find him to be very solid. Even if he wasn’t running against Guthrie, he would have my vote.
Well it is a relief that Rovall Washington is finally out of the State Senate race. One of Dion’s puppets bites the dust. The people of Harford County could see right through Dion’s little plan to be the power behind the throne and it blew up in his face. Next up is Jansen Robinson. His dismal showing in the primary should send a signal to him as well to just fold up his tent before Frisch embarrassingly cleans his clock again. Obviously the people in Edgewood and Joppa know how to evaluate candidate talent. It amazes me that these guys can’t see they are being used by Dion. Another person who should know better is Bane. He doesn’t need Dion to keep his support in the Edgewood area. Dion can only hurt him there with the moderate conservatives Bane will need if he wants to hold his office. The latest Dion episode where he went completely off the rack at Edgewood MS against his primary opponent Henkel (in front of Henkel’s wife and kids) clearly demonstrates he is no longer fit for office. Baldwin will be competitive if for no other reason than that she has financial resources. Even if Dion wins he will be a marginalized figure on the council. The people of district A would do better to turn Guthrie out to pasture.
It was a disappointment that not enough voters showed up for the primary to kick Dion out. What a horrible shame! The very public in-your-face tactics he has been using is distasteful and only shows that he should, if anything, bow out of the race for District A and let Mr. Henkel compete with Ms. baldwin. He is a disgrace both to the Democratic party and the citizens of Joppa and Edgewood. If he would remove himself from candicacy that would be the all-time best thing he will have done for the citizens of District A during the 8 wasted long years that he has not been serving the public’s best interests.
He could not even remain loyal to his dupe Robinson as a school board member as he later stated Macdonald was the best candidate. What’s Dion’s game anyway? He switches stories and faces depending on who he is trying to use to his advantage. I don’t think Sheriff Bane is tied to Dion. At least, if he is smart he will get as far away from him as possible. Bane has been busy with the new precinct headquarters going in District A and Dion really, really likes taking credit for everyone else’s successes.
I would disagree. Bane is tied at the hip to Guthrie, (they are close friends) hence Bane’s name being placed on the campaign flier that Guthrie, Washington, Robinson, and their supporters were passing out at the precincts on primary day. I agree that Bane need not do this as he has solid support in district A, but he chose to do so anyway. Makes me think he is nervous about his own election and trying to cater to the minority vote in Edgewood. Laying down with dogs gets you fleas. Are you feeling the urge to scratch yet Jesse?
Will someone PLEASE tell Mr. Guthrie how to spell Joppatowne?! I get so annoyed when I come to the Dagger only to see a Dion Guthrie advertisement where he can’t even correctly spell the name of the community in which he lives.