1,000 Words About a Picture: Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie and Sen. Hillary Clinton White Marsh Photo-Op
May 8, 2008
Perhaps as a last-ditch effort to help drum up support for the sinking presidential candidate, or maybe just to show it off before it became completely irrelevant, Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie unveiled a photograph last week showing him and Sen. Hillary Clinton meeting, shaking hands and evidently discussing the state of the Union while she was campaigning in Baltimore County.
Guthrie, a Democrat representing the Edgewood and Joppatowne area, passed the picture along to a small group of associates and, upon further inquiry, explained the photo opportunity came in mid-February when Sen. Clinton made a stop at the General Motors Allison Transmission Plant in White Marsh. Continue reading 1,000 Words About a Picture: Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie and Sen. Hillary Clinton White Marsh Photo-Op
District 7 Dominoes: Baltimore/Harford Delegates Line Up for a Probable Political Promotion
February 21, 2008
One is too young and inexperienced. Another is too cantankerous and controversial. And the third says he doesn’t even want the job. But odds are, when Republican Andy Harris is elected to Congress this November, one of the three District 7 delegates will move up to fill his seat representing Baltimore and Harford counties in the state senate.
Harris’ surprising upset of nine-term incumbent Wayne Gilchrest in the Republican Primary Election a few weeks ago placed the state senator as the favorite to take over the First District Congressional seat - leaving a prized piece of political real estate vacant and ready for occupancy.
Tradition and law make it exceedingly likely the next Baltimore/Harford state senator will come from the trio of offbeat politicians currently comprising the District 7 delegation. Rick Impallaria, J.B. Jennings and Pat McDonough have stuck together since they were elected to the newly configured district in 2002, but Harris’ impending departure from the senate could change all that. Continue reading District 7 Dominoes: Baltimore/Harford Delegates Line Up for a Probable Political Promotion
Of Civil Unions and Civil Rights: Gay Fathers Testify in Annapolis
February 15, 2008
A cold wind whips through Annapolis on a Monday night, but the crowd is untouched. Several hundred people gather next to the Governor’s Mansion for a demonstration. Every ten feet or so someone holds up a sign with a district number. Police orbit the crowd waiting for trouble, but mostly giving directions.
It looks like any rally you’d see during legislative session in Maryland, until you notice the two young men in business attire clutching each other close to get warm. And the signs that read, “I Love My Two Gay Dads.”
It’s the movement for same sex marriage and tonight they are going to see their representatives in Annapolis. What only a few years ago seemed a wild dream has become a movement. And it’s a movement that appears to be getting stronger by the day.
Continue reading Of Civil Unions and Civil Rights: Gay Fathers Testify in Annapolis
RIP: J. ROBERT HOOPER (1936-2008)
January 25, 2008
J. Robert Hooper, the former state senator representing the northern portions of Harford County, died last night at his home in Street after a long battle with cancer.
Hooper was owner and operator of Harford Sanitation Services and a former Harford County councilman who resigned from his state senate seat last month because of his failing health.
Around the county he was beloved for his homegrown demeanor and generosity. Hooper was known as a friend of the farmer and pushed for agricultural preservation and environmental measures, yet also understood the concerns and issues of small business owners. Continue reading RIP: J. ROBERT HOOPER (1936-2008)
License to Immigrate: Maryland tries to comply with Real ID Act
January 16, 2008
It looks like Gov. Martin O’Malley has backed off a proposal to implement a two-tier system of driver’s licenses in Maryland that would have created one license for documented, legal citizens and another identification card for undocumented, illegal immigrants.
Instead, the state will implement a system by 2010 complying with the federal Real ID standards requiring proof of citizenship prior to issuance of a driver’s license. Once in place, anyone applying for a driver’s license in Maryland will need to produce a birth certificate, Social Security card, passport or other valid forms of identification available only to citizens of America. Continue reading License to Immigrate: Maryland tries to comply with Real ID Act
The Assembly Line - Checking the Political Pulse in Annapolis
January 11, 2008
For political junkies, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
The 188 state representatives - 47 senators and 141 delegates - comprising the Maryland General Assembly convened Wednesday for the start of the state’s 425th legislative session - a 90-day affair that is set to adjourn on April 7.
To ring in the new legislative year, The Dagger brings you The Assembly Line - a unique feature that collects locally-sponsored legislation and presents it in a way that lets readers easily access and digest the information. Thanks to the work of our resident wizard Steve, The Assembly Line conveniently scrolls across the The Dagger’s front page and offers a place for supporters, critics and other interested readers to comment and discuss the bills and resolutions with one another.
The Assembly Line is updated several times a day with the newest legislation and the latest information on the status of the bills and resolutions. This is a chance to keep tabs on the local delegates and senators you sent to Annapolis and make sure they are working for you. Have fun while letting them have it!
Now back to Annapolis. Continue reading The Assembly Line - Checking the Political Pulse in Annapolis
An Early Christmas for Howard Wayne Norman, Jr. - Harford’s Newest Delegate
December 22, 2007
Howard Wayne Norman, Jr., a Bel Air attorney and longtime GOP booster, was selected unanimously Saturday afternoon by the Harford County Republican Central Committee - a group in which he is a member - to fill the soon-to-be-vacant District 35A seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.
Norman’s nomination will be forwarded to Gov. Martin O’Malley upon the swearing in of current District 35A representative Del. Barry Glassman to the state senate seat of Bob Hooper. Hooper is expected to resign from his seat on Dec. 31 because of health issues. With Hooper’s resignation, Glassman has been nominated to ascend to his senate seat and now Norman has been picked to fill Glassman’s seat in the northern Harford County District 35A.
The Republican Central Committee convened a special session at 9 a.m. Saturday morning in the Harford County Council chambers in Bel Air during which 9 candidates for the District 35A seat were interviewed. Continue reading An Early Christmas for Howard Wayne Norman, Jr. - Harford’s Newest Delegate
29 and Counting…another Member on Mayor Bennett’s Team and it’s another Former APD Cop
December 17, 2007
The mysterious and previously undisclosed 29th member of Aberdeen Mayor Mike Bennett’s grandiose transition team was revealed last week to be none other than Joseph Bray - the one-time Aberdeen police officer and Municipal Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 128 president, who was recently terminated from both positions.
Despite his recent firing from the Aberdeen Police Department and forfeiture of his FOP presidency, Bray is expected to remain a member of the now 29-person transition team, so said team coordinator Art Helton.
Although there has been great speculation regarding why he was apparently on some sort of extended leave from APD, Bray’s firing came two weeks ago without an official reason for his dismissal.
“I can only confirm that he was terminated effective 12/06/07. I can’t comment on the reason for the termination,” APD Det./Sgt. Kirk Bane said. Continue reading 29 and Counting…another Member on Mayor Bennett’s Team and it’s another Former APD Cop
Calling All Candidates: 8 Vie for Harford’s District 35A Seat in House of Delegates
December 16, 2007
So a bar owner, an attorney, a couple of real estate developers, a farmer, a firefighter and the politically-active wife of a prominent elected official all want the same job - it sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but the real joke is that one of these people will be handed an enormous amount of power and control over the northern end of Harford County.
The Harford County Republican Central Committee released Friday the list of eight candidates who are vying to fill the District 35A seat in the House of Delegates, which is set to be vacated Dec. 31 when Del. Barry Glassman moves into the seat held by the resigning state senator Bob Hooper.
Hooper, who is resigning for health reasons, handpicked Glassman to be his successor and no other candidates submitted names challenging Glassman’s appointment by Gov. Martin O’Malley to become a senator. Unlike Hooper, however, Glassman didn’t leave an heir to his delegation seat - leading eight contestants to submit letters of consideration by Friday’s deadline.
But who are these people? Continue reading Calling All Candidates: 8 Vie for Harford’s District 35A Seat in House of Delegates
Horse Racing in Maryland, a $2 Billion Industry? Wanna bet?
December 10, 2007
The MoBseen: Life’s observations as seen through the eyes of Mark.
We, the voters of the Free State, will have the chance to vote on slots coming to Maryland.
Current polling by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies and the Washington Post Polling suggest that Maryland residents are in favor of Maryland slots and those favoring slots continue to outnumber those opposing slots. The question remains of course, where to put the parlors and who will be the beneficiary of the millions generated by this new gambling.
I should point out to those opposed to Maryland slots that we already have gambling in Maryland and on a very broad scale; We have The Lottery, Lotto, The Daily Pick 3, The Daily Pick 4, (twice a day!) Bonus Match 5, Mega Millions, Multi Match, Racetrax, Maryland Hold’em, Keno, Scratch-Offs, and of course horse racing. We also have Off Track Betting (OTB) and XpressBet.
The fact is, we have no shortage of vehicles to separate money from man and woman here in the Free State! These, of course, are all state-ordained gambling games. This in addition to all of the illegal numbers that are run everyday and the illegal slot machines in bars throughout the state, bingo nights at churches, VFWs and fire halls (these licensed by the State) and of course the office pools during March Madness.
The politicians, led by the both Governors Ehrlich and O’Malley, have and are supporting slots. This in itself is not what puzzles me, it’s the justification that is used to “sell” the slots to the constituents. Continue reading Horse Racing in Maryland, a $2 Billion Industry? Wanna bet?
