Christmas Aftershock: Post-Holiday Earthquake Shakes Up/Wakes Up North Harford

The day after Christmas is traditionally a day of relaxation. It’s a time to unwind, decompress and pick up the pieces after surviving another hectic holiday season.

That was generally the case this Friday, which was no different than any other ‘day-after-Christmas’ in the past - that is, until an earthquake of moderate magnitude moderately shook up and woke up residents of Harford County living along the Pennsylvania state line. Continue reading Christmas Aftershock: Post-Holiday Earthquake Shakes Up/Wakes Up North Harford

Harford Dems Kindly Remind GOP That McCain/Palin and Harris Signs Should Be Removed

I’ve been noticing many of those big, 4-ft by 8-ft McCain/Palin and Harris political signs are still standing two months after the elections - in which each of those candidates lost.

I was told by the Democratic Central Committee that these “blights on the Harford County landscape” should have been taken down over weeks ago.

The following letter was drafted by the Democratic Central Committee and sent to the Republican Central Committee a few weeks ago. Have you noticed any reduction in remaining campaign signs since then?

Mr. Michael Geppi, Chair
Harford Co. Republican Central Committee
P. O. Box 289
Bel Air, MD 21014

Dear Mike:

Even as we enter the December holiday season, large Republican signs for McCain and Harris continue to dot the Harford County landscape.

I noticed your letter in The Aegis a few issues ago, thanking the people who helped you put up Republican campaign signs. Apparently they only did half the job, since the signs have not been taken down as required by law. And they were so quick to get some signs up, even overnight when it suited them.

Surely you remember the Harford County Sign Code requirement that political signs be removed within 15 days after the November 4th election. Are you planning to remove the signs, or are you leaving them in hopes that beavers will come along and chew them down?

The Democratic campaigns for Barack Obama and Frank Kratovil removed their signs promptly after the election. Now Thanksgiving has passed and the holiday season is upon us, and your Republican signs continue to interfere with enjoyment of Harford County’s view.

I’m trying to think of some way to decorate your signs to make them more appropriate for the season, but I would rather you just obey the law and take them down.

Very truly yours,

Wendy Sawyer, Chair
Harford County Democratic Central Committee

WTF?: Jim Harkins

Where To Find? (WTF)

Name:  Jim Harkins

Notoriety:  Two-term Harford County Executive

Career Highlights:

- Calling the Emergency Operations Center and trying to explain why a 911 hangup call had just been placed from his house and why police didn’t have to, and indeed shouldn’t, respond. Continue reading WTF?: Jim Harkins

Aberdeen Agenda 11/17: Water Project, Hotel Tax, Revenue Protection

During its Monday night work session, the Aberdeen City Council discussed what its legislative priorities would be for the Harford County delegation to seek in Annapolis this upcoming General Assembly session.

Those legislative priorities (the proverbial ‘bacon’ the Aberdeen mayor and city council would like to see the delegation bring home) included: “Municipal Revenue Source Protection,” “Support for Water Project” and “Hotel Tax/Tourism.”

There’s no denying Aberdeen has some water problems and could use a room fee to help offset the continually Ripken Stadium losses, but are there other issues the city should have prioritized?

We all remember the curious fate of the Hotel Tax last year, so out of Aberdeen’s three priorities this year, which do you think has the greatest chance of success in Annapolis?

Aberdeen Mayor and Council Work Session
November 17, 2008
4:30 PM

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Matters of Urgent Business

3. Work Session

a. Annexation Plans

b. Delegation Meeting Discussion Topics

1. Municipal Revenue Source Protection

2. Support for Water Project

3. Hotel Tax/Tourism

4. Other

c. WRE and Water Investigation Bids

4. Liaison Reports

5. Other

6. Adjourn

Dems Stay On A Roll: Hiob Selected City Council President In Aberdeen

First they took back the White House. Then they surged to an overwhelming majority of the U.S. Senate. Just yesterday, they claimed Maryland’s 1st District Congressional seat.

Now it appears the Democrats have retained the Office of the President of the Aberdeen City Council. On Monday night, the Aberdeen City Council selected councilman Mike Hiob, Democrat, to serve as its president for the next year.

Sure, only 5 people could vote in this election (Aberdeen’s mayor and 4 city council members). Yes, the odds might have been stacked in their favor (no fewer than 3 of the 5 members are Democrats). Of course, Aberdeen municipal elections are (ostensibly) nonpartisan. True, Hiob won the presidency from another Democrat (councilwoman Ruth Elliott). Nevertheless, this is another win in a recent string of impressive victories for the Democratic Party.

The victory didn’t come without its perils, however. Hiob faced opposition from Elliott, who had unseated him as president just a year ealier. In the end, Hiob was once again crowned president by a vote of 4-1. Elliott cast the lone vote of dissent.