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Democrat Chris Boardman Files as Candidate for Harford County Council President

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From Chris Boardman:

On February 10, Chris Boardman filed as a candidate for president of the Harford County Council. He is a Democrat.

“Nobody forced me to be a candidate; running for an office is a voluntary activity. But the fact is that I have been a volunteer in Harford County for about 35 years.

“It started with the Joppatowne Mens Softball program, which I organized and chaired for about four years, in addition to running my own softball teams. By then I was so involved in recreation that I got elected to the Joppatowne Recreation Council as secretary. There I worked with president Bob Roddy and we obtained initial funds to develop the Mariner Point Park with Bill Nicodemus of Parks and Recreation. Later I founded a community newspaper, The Towne Crier, and ran that for almost nine years. That gave me additional experience in dealing with a wide variety of community issues.

In the late 1980’s I published a number of articles in the newspaper about the disposal of chemical munitions at Edgewood Arsenal. Later I joined an organization, Concerned Citizens for the Environment, and we pushed for an alternative way of disposal rather than burning the mustard gas on base where it most likely would pollute surrounding communities. Fortunately because of our efforts and others, chemical neutralization was done and the weapons were safely disposed of. I was vice president of that organization.

In 1986 I was recruited by the Republican Party to be a candidate for Harford County Council district A. I was concerned about the impact of development in Joppatowne on the existing sewage plant. Fortunately a Maryland appeals court eventually forced County to improve its sewage treatment because of the new development that was allowed. I lost that election. But subsequently I became president of the Joppatowne Civic Association while it was still in existence.

In the early 1990s the residents of Joppatowne were upset because the Joppatowne Swim Club was shut down and the owner wanted to sell it to an apartment developer. I was not involved in this effort initially but I was recruited to join and was appointed vice president. When the president left Joppatowne to take a job in Pittsburg, I advanced to president. We bought the club and kept it open for two years. Because we did not have the money to keep it, we wanted the county to help us. But the Rehrmann Administration and other powers that be did not allow this to happen. Nevertheless, because we bought the club and kept it as a community swim pool, it remained for another 20 years to continue to serve the community. It was encouraging to see that the Harford County Council recently favored keeping the club for the community, though its fate is still in limbo at this time.

In 1998 I ran again for the county council and lost to the incumbent, Sue Heselton, a Republican. I had since changed my party registration back to Democrat.

In 2002 I supported Dion Guthrie for county council District A, and he won narrowly over Heselton for the first of his three terms. Dion has done an outstanding job as a district council person and is running for another term.

In the interim I have also run for Congress twice against the incumbent Dutch Ruppersberger. I did not win those elections, but I felt it was important to express my views primarily on issues of war and peace especially since our nation has been at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then the public has seemed to catch up on these views and is not so ready to support waging war. I am encouraged that peace negotiations in the Middle East and Asia are being pursued. We need to find ways that are more constructive than war and killing.

When I saw the current opening for the Harford County Council presidency, I began to give serious thought to running for the office. I think I can be an effective president of the council. My philosophy in this role is “Community – Integrity – Harmony.” While these terms may be self-explanatory, let me just say briefly the idea of community is a commitment to inclusiveness of all people in the business of the county. Integrity refers to action in the service of the public interest over private interest. Harmony is the idea that all parts of the community or county need to work together to satisfy the whole.

Private industry and enterprise remain very important links in this process as do public and private education.

My occupations have been professional writer and registered nurse. I published hundreds of articles in various magazines. Currently I am publishing collections of books of true crime, based on original research and interviews in a series called “The Mid-Atlantic Murder Mystery Series.” The latest edition is called “Cold Cases–Solved”. The book is dedicated to my late and good friend, Harford County Deputy Bill Van Horn. It also contains other cold cases that were solved from the Mid-Atlantic states. This book and others can be obtained via Amazon.com under my pen name “Krist Boardman.”

As a registered nurse I worked since 1997 in various Maryland hospitals. For the last four years I have been working in the Maryland prison system. I work in the prison hospital/infirmary. This has been a interesting job.

I have been married for the past 45 years to my wife Dianne. We have two adult children, Kimberly and Alexander, and two grandchildren. I am 67

I plan to run a positive campaign throughout Harford County. I am looking forward to meeting lots of people and if, by volunteering as a candidate for this office, I can work further on behalf of my fellow citizens, that will be a great satisfaction.

Comments

  1. Mr. Boardman,
    I am sure you are aware that of all professions, based on a large survey, nurses are one of the top most trusted of people and professions. I think you have a wonderful background that would serve us well. I recall the plan to burn the mustard gas and was relieved that rational and smart minds found an appropriate means for getting rid of such deadly chemicals was found. I am excited to think it may be possible for Harford Count to completely rebuild its county council. Combined with a new county executive (and a sweeping out of the cabinet members), this could be a promising time for putting our county back on course for being the kind of place in which we can all live, work and play.
    By the way, nurses who choose to practice in the prison system are incredible professionals who work in difficult circumstances.
    Would live to hear more about where you stand on development, roads infrastructure, fiscal accountability, personal and property taxation.
    From a fellow nurse.

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  2. Well, you would think that a person that was so involved in the disposal of the “chemical munitions” at Edgewood Arsenal would know these facts: 1. There were no Chemical Munitions stored at Edgewood Arsenal…only ton containers of Mustard Agent. 2. Mustard Agent is not a “Gas” but rather a liquid that actually is a solid at around 58 degrees f and most of the time is more of a jell then a liquid. Also seems that he can’t quite decide what political party he wants to belong to but, just switches back in forth to whichever one appears like he might get elected to some position and apparently any position will do.

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    • Being someone that was very involved with that project from start to finish, the original plan to incinerate the agent would have been faster, cheaper, safer, and better for the environment. But after millions was spent we needed to start over with a new system of diluting it with hot water and shipping it to Delaware past the same schools and houses people worried about. DuPont got the contract to transport and dispose of the byproduct, known as hydrolysate, created by the neutralization of the mustard agent. They used part of it to make some inks and dumped the rest in the Delaware Bay. This hydrolysate was not harmless; though no longer “weaponized”— so they won’t kill you immediately but, they remain caustic, with a pH in the range of ten to thirteen, or somewhere around bleach or oven cleaner. As such, they remain classified as a hazardous waste that was dumped in the waters of Delaware north of our OC. For more info just do a search for “Treatment of Aberdeen Mustard Gas” or “Mustard Hydrolysate”
      Not a win for the environment or for tax payers!

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  4. You had me at Dion…. Had me convinced I won’t be voting for you! The Dion Camp in Edgewood is the definition of career politicians which shed their skin every season like snakes!

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    • same here, Ed; all I have seen Guthrie accomplish is to saturate the district with welfare cheats and free-ride free-loaders, thus his burgeoning constituency and the further detriment of the district. the good Mister Boardman may have honorable intentions, but we don’t need another liberal democrat. and to be brutally honest, the rest of the republicans on the council haven’t really delivered a stellar performance either. so with the “welfare-as-a-career-path” contingent firmly entrenched and Dion as their mentor, the further decline of the Rt40 corridor and the middle class is locked in. sorry Chris, this ain’t your year.

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  6. I am open to Mr. Boardman’s candidacy, as I won’t be voting for Slutsky under any circumstances. It is time for him to go and collect his various government pensions and leave the governing to those interested in actually doing it.

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    • Sheriff Bane works exceptionally well with both Mr. Guthrie and Slutzky. They are also very good friends, and all three of them deserve to be re-elected. Keep the team that has been working very well together and moving Harford County forward. Both Guthrie and Slutzky have supported Sheriff Bane’s acquisition of the new helicopter. This aviation unit which will become operational later this year will be a good asset for our citizens.

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      • I can see the value of an aviation unit. I can see why many appreciate Slutzky’s ability to vote “yea” on its procurement, but, unfortunately for Slutzky, the Council President has to represent the County as a whole. He now has to leave his comfort zone and prove to the majority of voters that his record for his little slice of the County has been good for most of the people, regardless of where they reside. I’m not sure he’s up to the task.

        What we are awaiting is for him to start doing that. So far, I’ve heard nothing other than he was once in the Marine Corps, he enjoys teaching boys how to wrestle, and he voted to procure an aviation unit. I need something a little more substantial than just the aviation unit.

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        • Slutzky didn’t vote yea on the helicopter just to benefit his small slice of the county. He is able to see the future and understands that even if the helicopter is expensive it will prove to be a good thing for us regardless of the cost which many will use as a reason not to have the aviation unit. So which is it for you….. is there a chance you will vote for Slutzky or do you stand by your previous statement that you will not vote for Slutzky under any circumstances?

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          • I agree with you regarding the helicopter.

            It is the rest of his voting record that I question. As it stands right now, despite the helicopter, I find Slutzky’s record to be not worthy of a county-wide office. However, I leave open the possibility, however remote, that Slutzky will attempt to demonstrate how, on the whole, his voting record demonstrates his ability to represent the whole County rather than his slice of it.

            I accept that the aviation unit demonstrates such foresight, so I’ll say that as far as public safety is concerned, I am okay with him. What he needs to discuss is how his votes on education, traffic, development, taxes, and County spending have benefited the majority of the population.

            In the absence of his desire to attain office by discussing his achievements, I would not vote for him under any circumstances. I would sooner vote for a random Democrat or Tea Party activist.

            The ball is in Slutzky’s court to prove he is worthy of the office he seeks.

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        • When did the Council vote for the helicopter? Look it up, that vote never happened and it never will. Neither the County Council nor the County Executive control what the Sheriff does with his money or his Office. The Sheriff is his own little slice of Government heaven. The Sheriff could have used that money he found for the aviation unit and hired some new Deputies or started working on a new pay plan. He could have even opened the new side of the jail that he built 7 years ago and does not use still today. Think about that he could finally have some room to house all of his Majors Street Boyz that he will be getting all this money from. But no he went for the headlines and got himself an old helicopter that most likely will never go in service.

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          • @Stupid – Thanks for the clarification. Since I was told that Slutzky was instrumental in the acquisition of an aviation unit and his role in county government is limited to budgetary and legislative matters, that he voted in some form on the matter. I now know that he had little to do with it.

            Okay, you don’t like Boardman. Is there a random Tea Party activist running? I need to vote for someone.

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          • The council didn’t formally vote on the acquisition of a helicopter, but several members of the council (Slutzky and Guthrie for sure) told the Sheriff that they supported his acquiring the helicopter to start his aviation unit. Watch the video where Sheriff Bane formally announces the new aviation unit, Slutzky speaks at the press conference in support of this action. Slutzky, Guthrie and Bane, all really great people who deserve to be re-elected. They are three peas in a pod.

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          • Bane admits in the press conference that he worked on this for years. The fact that no one else knew until just before the announcement is because he thought it was his place to surprise us all with an unneeded and unfunded project. Crime is crazy, drugs are everywhere, gangs are all over Edgewood and Bane is wasting time and money on this reelection effort dressed up as a helicopter. Banes better days are 35 years behind him and that is also the last time he had a productive thought. Time for him and a bunch more of Harford County’s Good OLD Boys to get their hands out of our pockets and head off in to the sunset!

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    • Because people like Mr. Boardman feel that most voters are stupid and would never look into his BS. He along with most democrats feels that he can BS his way around anything and make deals on the side to pay off his personal debts on the tax payer’s dime.

      Also, look up his campaign finance reports from his past elections. It is clear that he used campaign funds for personal use. Which in itself is not uncommon or always illegal but I see it as very unethical and as foreshadowing as to what to expect from Mr. Boardman.

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      • I respect people from both parties, and I resent PCE’s implication that Democrats think they can BS their way around and make deals on the side. I have seen many Republicans do the same. This may be true of Mr. Boardman, but do not paint all members of any party with the same brush. I proudly support Jim Thornton for County Council President. I am glad to see people stepping in and running for office in Harford County from both parties.

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    • It is a moot point, Jim Thornton will pulverize Boardman into a pulp during the primary election, and most likely will take the general election as well…

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  8. Typical BS. What of a shipment of that mustard byproduct wrecked, and spilled out? Hey, as long as it isn’t your neighrborhood, right? But the shit had to go through your “hood” to leave, didn’t it?

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  9. Mr. Boardman,
    I have selected 10 questions from a search of three Harford County news sources, each thread had high hits. A Yes or No answer for each will do however please feel free to explain your answers. I will also post the same questions on any other County Council candidate’s thread.
    Thank You.

    1. Recently the County Council voted to nullify and reject Maryland SB281 “Firearm Safety Act of 2013”. Would you have voted Yes or No to reject SB281?

    2. Harford County Code 260-3 makes it unlawful to buy, sell, use, or own any type of Stun Gun in Harford County. Would you vote to remove the Harford County Law 260-3 Stun Guns?

    3. Bill 12-35: James Run TIF – A bill that Grants $23 Million in Tax Increment Financing to the Developers of James Run. Would you have voted Yes or No on Bill 12-35?

    4. Would you vote to limit zoning for standalone Abortion Clinics to B3 only?

    5. Would you support a Harford County Resolution making English the Official Language?

    6. ICLEI is a NGO (nongovernmental organization) committed to the implementation of a UN document known as Agenda 21. Agenda 21 is an action plan for global environmentalism that was drafted and signed by 179 nations at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Juneirpo. Would you vote to join ICLEI?

    7. Would you vote to approve county capital budget funding for a Center for the Arts building to be located on a 41 acre parcel of land at the corner of Rt. 24 and Wheel Road which is part of a 110 acre bequest from the Estate of Emily Bayless Graham?

    8. Would you vote to repeal the Rain Tax in Harford County?

    9. Would you vote to increases taxes for Teacher pay increases?

    10. Would you vote to have a full Paid Fire Service in Harford County?

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  10. “Just dropped in” and “That’s right” are so great at the anonymous pot shot that they must be answered. So you think incineration of the mustard agent would have been such a good thing. Tell that to a mother of a young child that the Particles of Incomplete Combustion (PICs) won’t hurt her young children. How irresponsible to even contemplate exposing the populations of the Edgewood peninsula and surrounding communities to these low level exposures. But there is no need to argue that point now because a much safer method of disposal was selected and the job was done already. Where do you think I got the information to publish in The Towne Crier anyway? It came from scientists working on the base who were worried about incineration of the mustard agent. This was a public safety issue clear and simple but politicians such as Helen Bentley were playing both sides of it because they wanted the contractor dollars for their friends but wanted to be on the same side as the residents who were concerned. There were a lot of other people besides me who worked to get this disposed of properly and they all deserve your thanks and not your derision.
    Next, “That’s right”, the anonymous Wizard of Oz at the controls, criticizes me for taking a position on an old argument the teachers union was having with the county. Now perhaps I was not being politic when I wrote it then, but I get it that teachers aren’t paid enough. At the time I think I made the comment when it seemed that teachers earned a lot of money compared to freelance writers, which is what I was at the time. At the same time the Harford County budget is dedicated heavily to education, so their grievances are tempered with the issue of affordability. I was raised in a family where my father was a professor and we struggled on a limited income as a family in the 1950s. Later I was an adjunct instructor in area colleges here myself and experienced the poverty of teaching these classes and earning a lot less than public school teachers. I have also worked as a substitute teacher in the Harford County school system and taught middle school grades in a Baltimore Catholic school at wages that were a lot lower than public school teachers. I have a lot of teachers in my immediate and extended family. So please, teachers, don’t feel alienated. I do understand what you go through. Teaching is a very difficult and challenging job. And teachers need to be paid decently.
    Somebody made a point about rescuing a fox and did I make derogatory comments about county firefighters? I don’t think so. I owe my life to a firefighter in Michigan who rescued me from an icy river in the middle of winter six years ago. My son is a firefighter and paramedic in a Florida fire department. I spent 15 to 20 years writing about the police and documenting true crime cases from all over the Mid-Atlantic states. I am familiar with public safety professionals and the challenges they face.
    “Mr. Potato Chip Eater” (is that your real name?): get your facts straight before you malign your fellow human beings. Running a political campaign usually costs money. Your statement that I made
    money from peoples’ contributions is nonsense. The last time I ran in the 2010 Congressional race I returned all the contributions to the donors.
    One of the things I failed to mention in my original announcement were the academic degrees I have earned. I won a scholarship to the University of Chicago and studied there for two years. Later I finished my bachelor’s degree at Temple University in Philadelphia, where I majored in non-western history. Ten years later I completed a Master of Liberal Arts at Johns Hopkins University. That degree involved lots more history and literature, in addition to a few other things. Then I went back to school again in the 1990s. I earned a diploma in registered nursing from The Union Memorial Hospital School of Nursing; this was a full three year or longer program and it also involved numerous preparatory courses in Anatomy & Physiology,
    Chemistry, Human Development and Microbiology. Not an easy regimen to get that diploma.
    “Stupid People”: Thanks for the compliment “Dirt Bag.” It does take some courage to step forward, state your views and try to campaign on them in full public view, bearing in mind that no single human on earth is perfect and expecting that one’s flaws will be exposed in the most humiliating way. But I respect you because you are hiding under a pseudonym. Let me say this: any candidate deserves your respect and courtesy for taking the time and effort to advocate on public policy, regardless of whether you agree with his or her views. I hope your behavior will be better in the future.
    George Willbury and Rob Stanfield: I thank you both for using your real names. George, I don’t agree with you but I appreciate your honesty. Rob, those are some very good questions and I am going to take some time answering them. I will get back to you via this forum to answer them and also address some other issues.
    One other point. I have been involved in many community issues for many years. This is why there has been an outpouring of responses to my candidacy. I will address some of the other concerns also raised in the emails. I also want to talk about party politics in Harford County and Maryland, as there are some important points that need to be discussed.

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  11. To “Because”: Why are you so angry? What did anybody do to you?
    If you don’t like me or anyone else, you can file your own candidacy for an office and run too. Why don’t you do that? You have until Feb 25, a full nine days. It will only cost $25, if you don’t have it maybe someone will give it to you. Of course you would have to reveal your true name and have a lot of brickbats thrown at you.

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  12. There’s an article that likens internet trolls to sadists and psychopaths. We’ve had this dialogue before. Yes Mr Boardman, I was talking to the other poster that couldn’t verbalize or conceive of the topic you were expounding on. And to B and Trillian (Name of a girl in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?) and LOL. I lead a rich and enlightening life beyond The Dagger Forum that usually involves doing good for others instead of coming here and fencing with other people that have too much time on their hands and have never created anything in their lives.

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