Harford County Executive David R. Craig has scheduled visits to all eleven public libraries in the county, where he will be available to speak with citizens about all issues pertaining to county government.
Dubbed “County Executive David Craig – Unplugged,” the visits are an opportunity for citizens to speak informally and in-person with the County Executive on a wide range oftopics, including education, recreation, transportation, agriculture, jobs, and financial issues.
“I have always taken the constituent service aspect of my job very seriously,” stated County Executive Craig. “Local government is the form of government that is closest to the citizen, and these visits will allow the County to both provide information, and to receive input,” Craig remarked.
“Often times, citizens do not know whom to contact when they have a problem with government, while others don’t like to speak publically at large meetings. I hope that this casual ...Continue Reading
The winter of 2009 – 2010 was one of the worst in the history ofthe state in terms of snowfall, and one of the costliest for Harford County government as well. Total cost for snow removal, including salt purchases, overtime and contractor utilization was $2.764,000. The FY 10 budget for snow and ice removal was $1.5 million.
Harford County Department of Public Works, Division of Highways tallied 43,148.30 hours of overtime this winter for snow and ice removal. Additionally five county employees suffered various injuries while performing duties related to snow removal. None of the injuries were life threatening.
“This was one of the most difficult and challenges winters on record and our county employees stepped up and successfully met the challenges of this record-setting winter for snowfall,” stated County Executive David R. Craig. “The February snow storm which dumped nearly three feet of snow throughout Harford County ...Continue Reading
From Stephen M. Wright, Candidate Harford County Executive:
Dear Sir or Madam:
I read with great surprise County Executive David Craig’s reaction to the unanimous passage of the “English Only” bill by the Harford County Delegation in Annapolis. His reaction demonstrates once again Mr. Craig’s insensitivity to the economic problems being caused by the liberal big spending philosophy and the illegal immigration problem.
Mr. Craig attempted to imply that because the English bill was unanimously passed in the delegation that members were incapable of paying attention to other issues such as the State budget. Not only is this is an old political cheap trick, but is shows his lack of understanding of the costs associated of not passing such a bill. The cost of multi-lingual signs, multi-lingual legal documents, multi-lingual phone systems and the like could cost the county millions of dollars to implement. The FAIR report out of ...Continue Reading
Bel Air Tea Party organizer Tony Passaro has issued the following call to picket Congressman Frank Kratovil’s Bel Air office over health care reform:
Frank Kratovil, self styled “Blue Dog Democrat” (a Democrat that purportedly votes Conservative) is in reality a “Yellow Dog” (a fake Conservative that kisses Pelosi’s Butt).
Kratovil is wavering on whether or not he should vote to support Obamacare….
Let’s help him make up his mind………
Come on out with the Bel Air Tea Party Patriots as we picket Frankie’s office on Main Street in downtown Bel Air (cattycorner and south of the Green Turtle) and remind him that his re-election depends on his voting AGAINST Obama’s Health Care Bill.
See you in front of Frankie’s Office on the 16th.
Tuesday, March 16th from 4-6pm.
Just four months after he was re-elected as a Bel Air Town Commissioner, Robert Preston filed to run for the county’s Register of Wills position on Wednesday, joining a crowded GOP primary field.
Preston has served as a Bel Air Town Commissioner since 2002, and said he first mulled a candidacy for the position in 2006, when longtime Democratic incumbent Harry Hopkins initially decided not to run again. But then Hopkins changed his mind—and his political party affiliation—to win a sixth term, and Preston decided to wait.
“I decided to do this probably six years ago,” Preston told The Dagger. “I think that was when I went up and talked to Harry, that was when he had decided not to run. Then he decided to run again, and change parties.”
“I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and decided it was time to step up and run for the office,” ...Continue Reading
It is without question that I wish to serve my community. Since my initial beginnings of developing an afterschool program in Edgewood, MD at Anthony’s Barbershop, I have collaborated and donated personal time and financial resources to non-profit organizations like Harford County based Gospel of Life Ministries to help the unfortunate. Over the last year, I have served as a Board Member on the Joppa/ Joppatowne Community Council. During this timeframe I have cultivated a deeper appreciation for the needs of an established community. Concurrently, I was drawn towards the needs of the neighboring community of Edgewood; of which is fighting to change its status among the county. To ensure the success of this conversion, I avidly attend and support the Edgewood Community Council meetings and Servefest functions that better our community. I am a mentor for ...Continue Reading
Thanks to his last name, Register of Wills candidate Derek Hopkins sounds as if he has a strong connection to the office of longtime incumbent Harry L.W. Hopkins. Though the two men are not related, the younger Hopkins does have a family member in that office: his wife, Katrina.
Hopkins’ wife is a 12-year veteran of the Maryland State Court System; according to him, she spent 10 years in the civil division under the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and has worked in Harry Hopkins’ office for more than two years. Hopkins plans to retire after serving six terms as Register of Wills, and is not running for the position again.
Recent comments on The Dagger indicated that Hopkins’ wife would leave her job in the event he is elected, to avoid a conflict of interest. Hopkins confirmed those comments, saying the potential family job-switch has been the plan since last summer.
Whiteford, Maryland, February 20, 2010- A major turn will occur in the race for Harford County Register of Wills on February 23rd when current and longtime Register of Wills Harry L.W. Hopkins officially endorses Republican candidate Derek Hopkins. The announcement will take place in front of the courthouse at 4:30pm with a reception/fundraiser at the Main Street Tower Restaurant.
Mr. Hopkins has been Register of Wills for Harford County for the past 22 years and has known Derek for over 30 years. Mr. Hopkins says, “I have come to know Derek as a mature and capable person who possesses the high quality of character it takes to be Register of Wills. His knowledge and experience as an auctioneer and appraiser will assist him with the position of Register of Wills.”
As you get to know Derek Hopkins you will see a lifelong ...Continue Reading
Robert Wagner, the former Harford County Council President who served 16 years on the council, has entered the increasingly-crowded race for Harford County Executive.
Wagner, a Republican from Churchville, was elected to Council President in 2002 despite having to struggle against the intentions of the local GOP – which supported the Democratic incumbent Gunther Hirsch.
Wagner joins Republican Stephen Wright, a Churchville accountant and member of the Republican Central Committee, as the only filed candidates for County Executive. Incumbent County Executive David Craig has not yet filed, but is believed to be running for reelection.
The last time I saw Wagner was the night of the Gubernatorial General Election in 2006. He had just lost his council president reelection bid to newcomer Billy Boniface, but vowed to me that he “would be back.”
The last time the public likely heard about Wagner was also about four years ago, during an embarrassing drunk driving ...Continue Reading
Welcome to the first installment of a new Dagger feature, where we chronicle some of the happenings surrounding Harford’s upcoming November 2010 election.
We’ll be tracking news stories, campaign events, election issues, election controversies, and a dash of heard-on-the-street rumor. We’ll be working to report and confirm as much news as possible ourselves, but we won’t be afraid to pull from the occasional outside source if they’ve got a good item.
The season is just getting underway and the hopefuls are only now coming to light, so the news is pretty sparse at the moment.
–Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Rep. Frank Kratovil were in Harford today (Thursday) to announce $750,000 in federal funds for Harford’s public safety communications technology infrastructure enhancement project. The announcement was made at Harford County’s Emergency Operations Center alongside County Executive David Craig and EOC staff.
The cash will go toward upgrading the communications system used by Harford ...Continue Reading
