Bel Air Town Commissioners David Carey and Robert Preston both may have their eyes on bigger political prizes, but before they get a chance to move up the elected office food chain in November 2010, they’ll have to defend their town commissioner seats this November.
Bel Air will hold its municipal election on Tuesday, November 3 this year and, while the town’s elections are fairly mundane (especially in comparison to the City of Aberdeen elections, which are traditionally held the same day), they have produced an impressive crop of town commissioners who have quickly worked their way up Harford County’s political ladder.
Del. Susan McComas, County Councilman Jim McMahan, and former County Councilman Robert Cassilly all got their start as town commissioners in Bel Air.
Carey, a 12-year town commissioner, and Preston, in his seventh year, have both been speculated as candidates for various elected offices in Harford County’s 2010 gubernatorial elections, but for the time-being both men have to concentrate on retaining their current political gigs.
Four candidates have already filed to compete for the two town commissioner seats: the incumbents – Carey, who has been a town commissioner since 1997; Preston, who has been one since 2002; and the challengers – David E. Mitchell and Steven E. Testerman.
In each of the last two election cycles, Carey has made a bid for the District 35B seat in the Maryland House of Delegates – losing both times to McComas. It remains unknown if Carey, a Democrat, will take a third shot at McComas, but then again, McComas is expected to face serious competition in her Republican primary race – former County Councilman Mike Geppi has declared his intention to run and yet another Bel Air Town Commissioner, Terence Hanley, is mulling entering the race.
Here is Carey’s biography from the town website:
David E. Carey was born and raised in Baltimore County and is a graduate of The College of Wooster (Ohio) and the University of Baltimore School of Law. He is a partner in the Bel Air law firm of Brown, Brown and Young, P.A., where he has worked since 1990. His practice is concentrated in the areas of civil and criminal litigation.
Commissioner Carey was first elected to the Town of Bel Air Board of Commissioners in 1997 and was reelected in 2001 and 2005. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners three different times. Prior to his election, he served on the Town’s Economic and Community Development Commission as well as the Greater Bel Air-Forest Hill Community Planning Council, the Harford County Futures Commission, the Harford County Housing Commission and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
In 2006-07, Commissioner Carey was President of the Maryland Municipal League (MML), the association of Maryland’s 157 cities and towns, and he has served on MML’s Legislative Committee for ten years. He has testified numerous times before both the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates on issues of interest to Maryland’s cities and towns. He also served twice as President of the Cecil-Harford Chapter of MML.
Currently, Commissioner Carey is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Local Government Insurance Trust, a non-profit insurance pool created by the Maryland General Assembly, which provides insurance to local governments. He is also a member of the State’s Task Force on the Future of Growth and Development in Maryland and served on the Planning and Smart Growth Workgroup of Governor O’Malley’s Transition Team.
Commissioner Carey lives in a historic home in Bel Air with his wife, Rachael Rice, and their two Labradors, Max and Augie.
Preston has been rumored to have interest in the Register of Wills position, but another Republican, Derek Hopkins, is already actively campaigning for the position. This leaves Preston in the disadvantaged position of having to campaign for the Bel Air commissioner seat, while watching a possible future opponent charge ahead in the contest for the Register of Wills position.
Here is Preston’s biography from the town website:
Robert M. Preston has a long history of dedication and outstanding service to the Bel Air Community; one that encompasses a strong commitment to the well being of the Town of Bel Air, as well as Bel Air High School. A life long resident of the Town of Bel Air, he is the grandson of C. Milton Wright, a former superintendent of Harford County public schools. After graduating from Bel Air High School in 1967, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He returned from service to his Country to join a family office supply business, Bel Air Preston’s Stationery, which has operated in the Bel Air community since 1926.
Mr. Preston has been a member of the Bel Air Rotary Club for 30 years and served as past President; he served 10 years as a member of the Bel Air Planning Commission; and is a Board member of the Historical Society of Harford County. He was elected to the Bel Air Board of Commissioners in November 2002 and 2005 and has served 2 years as Chairman of the Town Board.
Candidates for the Bel Air municipal election have until Oct. 2 to officially register to enter the race and it’s speculated that several more candidates could enter the contest to challenge Carey and Preston for their seats.
What remains to be seen is if Bel Air voters will support their veteran town commissioners’ bid to return to office or if the alleged interest Carey and Preston have in seeking higher political office might sour voters on re-electing them – knowing they might be jumping ship for higher ground just a year from now.
Here is the Town of Bel Air’s official election notice:
NOTICE
ELECTION FOR TOWN OF BEL AIR
CANDIDATE FILING – VOTER REGISTRATIONAn election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. The Town is using the Maryland State Board of Elections approved Diebold Premium TS Election voting units.
VOTER REGISTRATION
All eligible residents of the Town of Bel Air who desire to vote in the Town Election on November 3, 2009 must register (if not previously registered) with the County Board of Elections on or before October 13, 2009. Applications for registration are located at the Harford County Elections Office at 133 Industry Lane, Forest Hill, or the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles at 501 W. MacPhail Road, Bel Air, or at www.harfordcountymd.gov/elections .
Every person who meets all of the following qualifications may vote: 1) is a citizen of the United States; 2) is eighteen (18) years of age or older by the date of the election; 3) has resided within and been a registered voter of the Town of Bel Air for at least twenty-one days preceding any Town election; and 4) is not constitutionally regulated or prohibited by the Annotated Code of Maryland, Title 3 of the Election Law.
CANDIDATE FILING
Any registered voter of the Town of Bel Air who desires to file as a candidate for Commissioner of Bel Air must have resided in the Town for at least six months immediately preceding the election, in accordance with Article III, Section 302 of the Town Charter.
Should you have any questions relative to the status of your voter registration, call the Harford County Board of Elections, 410-638-3565.
BEL AIR ELECTION DATES
October 2, 2009 – Deadline for filing as candidate for Commissioner of Bel Air. Must file at Town Hall, 39 N. Hickory Avenue, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The filing fee is $25.00.
October 13, 2009- Books close for voter registration at 9 p.m. at the Harford County Board of Elections, 133 Industry Lane, Forest Hill, MD 21050, 410-638-3565.
October 27, 2009- Deadline for receipt of Absentee Voting Applications, if the application is to be mailed. After the deadline, applications must be picked up in person. Ballots must be received and stamped at the Town Hall, 39 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, before the close of the polls on Election Day. Applications are available at the Harford County Board of Elections, 133 Industry Lane, Forest Hill, MD 21050 or by calling 410-638-3565.
November 3, 2009- BEL AIR TOWN ELECTION – Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Bel Air Town Hall, 39 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, Maryland.
Board of Election Judges, Town of Bel Air, Maryland
“Hot Dog” Dave Mitchell? Is this the best and brightest we can muster(d)(pun intended) in the whole of the Town of Bel Air? What’s his platform? A foot-long in every pot?
I am depressed…
I covered Bel Air while working a journalist. Both Carey and Preston are good people who care about their town. Bel Air elections have been, as you said, “fairly mundane” and if you ever sat in on the town meetings during the three years that I did, you saw how empty the town hall was those nights. I can’t vouch for how empty or crowded the meetings are these days, but if it’s still the same, I think this is because residents of Bel Air are fairly satisfied with their commissioners and that should stand for something.
The scoop on David E. “Hot Dog Man” Mitchell . . .
A search of the Maryland Judiciary Case files reveals that David E. Mitchell has an interesting record. Here are the highlights (separate offenses):
Assault
Assault in the Second Degree
Telephone Misuse
Telephone Misuse (As recently of March 2009!)
Disturbing the Peace
I wonder how his campaign telephone calls will go over. He better be careful. Seriously, is this the kind of guy we want running Bel Air? Anyone who has ever dealt with him on any kind of level beyond buying a hot dog will know how beligerant he can be. We already have Rick Impallaria and Pat McDonough. Isn’t that enough? On the other hand, Impallaria’s criminal record kind of makes Mitchell’s look like that of a Girl Scout. At least Mitchell has never tried to kill his parents.
Impallaria has 2 pages worth:
http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/inquiry-results.jsp?action=Search&filingDate=&filingStart=&courtSystem=B&filingEnd=&firstName=RICHARD&company=N&lastName=IMPALLARIA&site=00&d-16544-p=1&partyType=&countyName=&middleName=
Girl Scout? Ricks got a long list too, buddy!
All Are Separate Cases:
Assault/Battery
Assault with Intent
Assault with intent of Robbery
Trespassing
Trespassing/ Refusal to leave school grounds
Malicious Destruction of Property
Trespassing on Posted Property
Sounds like real scouting material to me..
Happy to have him represent in Annapolis.
Word has it that there are two more candidates filing a mother of six grown children and a successful local business owner with a huge Harford name.
A young professional and his family also are long time Harford County residents that are very involved.
Perhaps Mitchell & Impallaria should contact Careys wife she is the Mayor of Baltimore’s (Gift card Dixon) campaign manager seems that neither one of them have no problem representing criminals.
As a resident of Bel Air who is hoping for “new blood” at all levels of government, all I can say is, good grief! As usual, the new blood is as bad or worse than the old. The problem with unseating incumbents at any level seems to be the choice of replacement. I’m depressed.
I would vote my dog into office before I would vote for Dave Mitchell. I hope this is some kind of a joke. He is very outspoken, opinionated, thinks he is always right, and presents himself as very aggressive and hostile. I doubt he’s ever attended a meeting in his life, much less been a part of one. If this is change, it is surely change in the wrong direction. I hope people educate themselves as to caliber ofcandidates in the Bel Air election.
I second the vote for Blue’s Dog.
At least the Hot Dog man works for a living unlike Preston who has ran the family business into the ground rented there building to Harford County Government and still lives in his Mommy & Daddies house.
After Preston lost two runs for commissioner, he switched political parties and was quoted as saying, “I hope this works” RINO.
This upcoming election is important for many reasons Preston wants the cushy Register of Wills job and who knows what Mr. Ultra Liberal liberal Carey is up to.
Bel air residents vote Carey & Preston out of office the Town deserves better.
I really think we need new people as town commissioners who just don’t want to spend money. But someone who has a clue as to whats going on and a mayor who gets out in the public like the great mayor Terry Hanley did. Does Preston even come to public events I have never seen him. Lets put new blood in office for a change of pace.
Thanks for the info, Mr. Hanley.
Rumor has it that Carey was told to re-run for his seat from his buddy Freshman Congressman Kratovil and is trying to work his way back into the Chairmanship(Mayor) and has made a deal with Preston Reier & Hopkins.
Guarantee Hanley will not support that and isn’t that a bit arrogant, Carey had better worry about being re-elected first.
My prediction is that Carey and Preston get defeated this November
Why would he be worried about the Chairmanship? Public Urination is much more important and he should be focused on making it a felony.
Why would you vote for someone who thinks the biggest issue in Bel Air is the yellow river on Main Street? Can anyone explain that?
The chairmanship is simply a turn at leading the Town of Bel Air Board of Commissioners meetings, which carries the honorary title of Mayor.
However, as I stated before, it seemed to go to the head of a certain recent holder of the position, who threw the title “Mayor of Bel Air” around more than Giuliani does “9/11?, when actually it is just a rotating position among equals. But it sure looks pretty on a resume when you’re setting your sights on higher office, and it’s all about appearances.
You must be referring to Preston as seen at the last First Friday sporting a Mayor of Bel Air hat and please let him know that the name tag with Mayor Preston has to go also .
Sad that you would have to wear a nametag with a title but in his case, no one knows who the hell he is.
The buzz in Bel Air is that former Councilman and Mayor of Bel Air wife Debbie Cassilly is entering the race,
Now that would be GREAT for Bel Air Debbie Cassilly would defiantly be the top vote getter.
The Cassilly families are true public servants without egos self-promotion or hidden agendas.
It’s good to see people using the Maryland Judiciary online. Knowledge is power.
You are correct Knowledge is powerful lets just hope that the voters of Bel Air are paying attention I rather have the Hot Dog man representing the people then Preston and Carey at least he would be fiscally responsible.
You obviously do not know Dave Mitchell. He could not hold a conversation without yelling if his life depended on it.
I have lived and raised children in Bel Air and am troubled by the lack of fiscal restraint shown by both incumbent Town Commissioners- David Carey and Rob Preston. They have forgotten who they were elected to represent. Bel Air has not significantly changed in either physical size or population since they were last elected yet the Town budget has almost doubled. The budget they approved spends about $1,500.00 for every resident of the Town, man, woman and child. They forget that all the spending comes from the people they were elected to represent. It is time for a change
Right on, Bel Air Resident. The town still has a 10% Homestead Cap on property tax which means unless your property assessment decreases (yeah, right)they will collect 10% more per year and will spend that plus some if they can. Salaries over $100K for quite a few employees and new town hall for a town of just over 10,000 residents. Never any mention of decreasing the town tax rate or the cap limit. Time for new blood.
It doesn’t work that way. The cap is a protection, not the rate. It rarely comes into play, and won’t in this market.
But you can bet Carey and Preston will adjust the rate. They have already calculated the revenues produced from a 10% increase in the rate.(from .50 to .55) You’d think if they cared about who they represent they’d focus on cutting costs.
I don’t quite get what you’re saying, Frank. I will not be re-assessed until 2010. My taxes have gone up 10% for the last 2 years and will again next year. I will be re-assessed in 2010 and will be shocked if the assessment goes down. I have lived in the county for over 25 years and have never had an assessment go down. Without raising the tax rate, I have had a 10% increase each year since I was assessed in 2007.
The rate hasn’t been raised in years. Katelyn- what neighborhood of the Town do you live in that you honestly believe your assessment is going up? Like I said a couple of days ago, it ain’t gonna happen in this climate.
Real estate values are down, people are losing their jobs and yet Town Commissioners Carey and Preston want to spend more than $5 million dollars of your money on a new Town Hall, and they’re going to borrow it. Are you serious? It is time for a change.. The Town of Bel Air is about 2.9 square miles in size and has about 10,500 residents. It has 6 employees making almost $100,000 per year. The average salary of all Town employees is more than $52,000 per year. The benefit package is unbelievably generous. Can you afford the next round of pay raises? Town Commissioners Carey and Preston think you can
I don’t understand how a Town of this size can have 6 people making as much or more than the Harford County Executive? These guys must have been asleep at the wheel. As politicians they’ll say they didn’t forsee the problems facing our economy, but they knew they had revenues increasing substantially and grew the size of government instead of spending the excess on one-time expenses. I’d give the newcomers a chance before I’d vote for the incumbents.
At some point you run out of the easy budget cuts and have to cut personnel. They will either commit to doing a personnel reduction/salary cuts or they will raise your taxes. There aren’t a whole lot of other options. Assuming “Bel Air Resident” is right and the budget has doubled since they were last elected, these 2 are going to raise our taxes. Can anyone confirm these numbers?
The governance of the town seems to run under the radar. Town meetings are sparsely (if at all) attended and the Aegis does not cover them very well. Without a watchdog of any kind, they can and do pretty much what they want. I attended a budget meeting this past year. There were maybe 5 residents in attendance for that portion of the meeting. Public comment was allowed, but by then the budget was a done deal. Total waste of time. I’ve written to the commissioners on issues in the past. The only response I’ve ever received was from Hanley.
http://cms.belairmd.org/media/budget10.pdf
FY 09 expenditures 14.8 million dollars.
Does anyone believe the budget doubled from 7.4 million dollars in four years?
Anyone who thinks the Town Hall project isn’t DOA? i understand there has been substantial expense in the planning and design already, but, this thing is a dead issue for now. Book it.
Three-year assessments are due before the next budget year. Anyone think their property values are going up?
The Town budget for next year will stay flat. Book that, too.
If one thing can be said for the town government, it’s that they are “in the black” every year. They are making cuts as they go, just like everybody else.
If they are making cuts as they go, why is the 2010 budget going up to $15.4 million? Revenues have to going down, my assessment has been cut and I’m sure most will appeal, income tax and sales tax will be down. Where is the extra $600k coming from in 2010?
Look at the revenues. A significant portion are grants, etc. which you can’t count on in this environment. They take money from the sewer fund and parking fund instead of applying it to capital projects as it should be.
How many furlough days have Town employees been given? NONE. But they all got a nice raise. Anybody else get one?
If you read the heading, this is the FY2010 (which began July 1 of this year) estimate, which was prepared in May of this year. All of the numbers vis a vis revenues are PROJECTED. The revenues are not matching the projections, so, cuts are being made.
The Governor is about to slash some more money from state aid to local government. This will result in more cuts at every level. The bottom line is the extra $600K you mention isn’t coming, and cuts are being made.
Go down to the Town Hall and ask Chris Schlehr to open the books. It is public record.
I guess I’m having a hard time justifying the growth in the budget/spending, at whatever dollar amount you think is appropriate, when the Town hasn’t changed all that much in the last few years. I question the value I’m getting for my tax money and free trash pickup isn’t a good enough explanation for me.
A 4% projected increase in the budget seems prudent given the last annual data available showed the rate of inflation for the CALENDAR YEAR that ended 31 Dec 08 was 3.8%.
Traditionally, inflation means it will cost more to keep providing those services that you don’t want, like trash pick up, water and sewer, infrastructure, parks and recreation, police…
Twenty dollars of fuel in 2006 would cost you $21.41 today. But it will still take you the same distance.
True, but I’m not interested in going in the same direction to the same place with the same people driving for my $21.41.
Hey! We reached common ground after just 7 posts! I think Preston and Carey have to go as well. Debbie Cassilly would make a great addition to the Board. While I don’t know enough about Mr Testerman to give an informed opinion, I can note from personal experience that Hot Dog Dave is not somebody you want representing you up on the dais.
I’m all for new blood.
I owe you a beer. I think the hot dog guy is just a distraction, I love the fact he is so passionate about what he believes and I respect that but I fear it could become something like the “Naked Cowboy” in NYC only with hot dogs.
To find new revenue sources so they could keep spending wildly, Town Commissioners Carey and Preston vote to keep raising fees. Sewer charges are more than 158% greater than those paid by County residents Town residents pay 29% more in property taxes than County residents. Town residents should get 29% more benefit. So where is that benefit? Town Commissioners Carey and Preston have spent it!
Hope They enjoy there new town hall!
I have worked with Steve Testerman on many jobs in the DC and Northern VA area he is a smart, no BS type of person who can run a well orginized jobsite. I will support him in any way due to the disaray that Dave Carey and Rob Preston have left the town in. The spending and back door deals with devolpers and bussiness within town have to STOP… We as town residents are paying the taxes and dealing with the agrivations that the bars and influx of people brought here by them.
Why don’t we start asking questions about paying for the Bar Patrol on Friday and Saturday nights. This is a Bel Air Police Department Officer on overtime who works 8 hours taking all complaints and calls from the bars in town and yes We as Tax Payers pick up the bill not the bars in town…
Perhaps the residents could ask Mr. Read my hat and nametag MAYOR PRESTON to reimburse the police department for bar patrol due to the fact that he receives rent money from Looney’s as well as the Harford County Government.
Another politician looking for a free ride on our hard working backs.
What does he get paid by Looney’s for? The use of his parking lot?
When Main Street was a ghost town, Looneys took a huge gamble that they could be successful at that location. When they were, others followed and soon the Town Staff decided there were enough bars/restaurants on Main St. They gave Looneys hell trying to expand their business to keep up w/ the demand so Looneys leased as much parking from whoever they could. Problem is that Preston is playing both sides against the middle. He was opposed to the expansion but once he started getting a check, he stopped being opposed. But now he thinks that there is an epidemic of public urination on Main street, enough so that it warrants 60 days in jail? Get real.
When will people wake up and vote this guy out? He is an opportunist of the worst kind!!
I’ve met Steve Testerman as well and like him. He’ll be a great Town Commissioner. Low key with plenty of common sense. He’ll be able to make the hard decisions without just passing the cost to the taxpayers, which is what Carey and Preston have done.
The Homestead tax credit is a benefit for every owner occupied properties. The way the cap works is this: When your property is reassessed the amount of increase in the assessment is capped to rise no more then 10%.
The County just lowered it to 5% and Havre de Grace is in the process of lowering to 5% also.
This is a huge benefit to the folks that have owned their homes a long time and see their assessment continue to rise. It does not apply to non owner occupied properties or comercial properties.
Has been confirmed that Gregory Adolph is filing for this up coming election I have met him on many different occasions he is very bright and well spoken as well as the driving force to the reduction in the calls of service to the Moore’s Mill condominium complex just ask any Bel Air Police Officer and they will tell you that this young man has his stuff together.
Glad to see some young blood entering the race.
All I want is someone with the guts to make the tough decisions and look at controlling expenses not just raising revenues. I’ll support almost anyone that isn’t related to or associated with Carey and Preston. Vote them out this year.
I too know Greg Adolph. I think he would be a great addition. He is level headed and asks all the right questions. He is concerned about what happens in Bel Air.
Its official Debbie Cassilly has filed today for up coming election for Commissioner for the Town of Bel air I encourage anyone who lives or knows anyone who resides in the Town of Bel Air to support Debbie Cassilly.
Unlike the two sitting Commissioner up for re election the Cassilly family have a long history of public service to this community and county and public education system she is truly in this race for the right reasons
Lets see Dave (O’Malley wanabee) Carey and Robert( DO- NOTHING )Preston who both have higher political aspirations and clearly do not understand what the average citizen or voter is thinking or feeling in Bel Air will be relived of there duties .
I feel hopeful, as all politics are local, Yes We Can. In addition, elect the not only a female to an all male board but someone who will be honest hardworking and defiantly conservative financially in which this bunch has failed miserably.
Elect Debbie Cassily a voice that is desperately needed for Bel Air
I have confirmation that Ricky Davis who ran last year is running again. I have had the pleasure of working with him on many projects and feel that he would make a fine addation to town council because he too is fed up with the “Good Ole Boy” way that the town is being run and oposses all tax increases and unnecessary spending…
As a town resident who doesn’t know these newcomers to the race, where do I go to get information about them?
First Fridays on Office Street on 10/2/09. I’m sure they’ll all be campaigning. Stay away from the incumbents- PLEASE!!
Make sure to wear PINK tonight if you go! Pink Fridays for the month of October to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I think Buontempo Bros will be running a Pink Special!
ps I might be campaigning, but not for myself. I’ll be campaigning for women to get their mammograms!!!!! And men, remind the women in your life to get tested. BTW REAL MEN WEAR PINK!
I appreciate all of the support and interest in young candidates for the upcoming election. I have created an email account, listed below, which I check regularly. Please feel free to drop any questions (i.e. about me) and I will gladly respond.
Further, citizens of the Town of Bel Air are organizing various events throughout the month of October to meet and greet the candidates. Details are being ironed out as yet, but I’ll be sure to inform as we know better. Thank you.
voteforadolph@gmail.com
This is perfect. At Mondays Town meeting, Carey and Preston decide that the Town can’t afford a new Town Hall right now, in light of the cuts in State funding due to the economy. They just see this now? And only a month before the election? Unless you’ve been in a coma for the last couple of years, any idiot should have been able to figure out that there wasn’t going to be enough revenue to support this project, but they still spent $400,000 of Town money on a feasibility study.
Revenue is going down, expenses are going up and you JUST realized the Town couldn’t afford this? But you gave pay raises anyway.
Decisions need to be on what is best for the taxpayer and not for your own re-election. SHAME ON YOU BOTH!!
State didn’t have any money to give anyone
Frustrated thank you for the good observation if you have ever met Preston you would understand he has been in a coma his entire life and Carey cannot help himself because he and his politically connected wife are all about tax and spend liberal policies.
Keep in mind the only reason they are running is for political advancement STOP THEM NOW!
Preston and Carey just change their positions to suit their circumstances. They know that there are 3 really good opposition candidates who are running on fiscal responsibility and limiting the growth of government. So instead of standing up for what they have promoted in the past (TAX AND SPEND), they decide to change colors. JUST IN TIME FOR AN ELECTION!! How sincere can you be? Thanks to you both for representing my tax dollars with so little regard for ALL our needs.
I wouldn’t vote for either of you for any reason but especially since you flip-flopped for votes on Town Hall. That was dead 18 months ago and you failed to see it or stop it. How can you sleep at night?
I think Carey and Preston should stay as Town Commissioner. They support the same policies I support that have worked so well in Baltimore City. We tax those who don’t care enough to vote, then spend it all and if we don’t have enough we borrow more. Above all, don’t waste money on necessary capital projects because you’ll be in higher office or jail by the time the system breaks down.
PS- I’ll send them some gift cards to help finance their campaigns.
EPIC SARCASM FAIL
At least you acknowledged it was epic. For that I thank you!
I want to make sure I’ve got this right. Carey and Preston blame the Town Hall debacle on the unforseen cuts in the highway fund from the State. Did they happen to say what the highway fund has to do with any building construction? Otherwise they just changed course to get votes. And when did this revelation strike them?
When the woke up and realized it was an election year!
VIiBA- If past elections are a harbinger of future ones, I suggest you advocate for a single candidate and try to push for the most support you can muster if you want to unseat Preston or Carey.
The Town elections suffer notoriously low turnouts. And, with so many candidates splitting the few votes that are cast, a few dozen votes may swing the results.
Both incumbents will get “old Bel Air” support. A successful challenger will have to find new ground to mine for votes.
You are absolutlely correct in your assessment. I’ll vote for any 2 of the challengers(not Mitchell) before the incumbents.
I can only hope this discussion makes the “old Bel Air” look at the fiscal realities that neither of the incumbents has bothered to address. It will truly be a shame if either gets re-elected. Bel Air can do so much better and from what I’ve heard/know, Testerman, Adolph and Davis will be a welcome and refreshing change.
Please do not vote for Dave Carey. I’m going to make him a judge when I’m certain that I have nothing else to lose.
I’d like to set the record straight, I was on planning commission for 11 years never missed a meeting or work session. I’ve served as commissioner for 7 years, never missed a meeting or work session (late once). I have presented proclamations at various locations many times, eagle scout presentations on Sundays many times, various ribbon cuttings, ground breaking, first fridays, employee picnics, Christmas parties, volunteer dinners (over 7 years),MMl quarterly meetings, Harford County Elected officials meetings, flag day ceremonies every year, 4th of July parade every year,Christmas parade every year, as well as planning commission monthly and appeals board monthly. I’m proud of my record, if you think it’s so easy we can compare records when you finish your term.
We had a meeting last Monday night and I didn’t see one of the hopefull challengers at the meeting. I would think before one runs for public office it would be best to volunteer some time, give something back to the community, before you try to run the whole show.
On a different note I have had some of my signs taken down, A caller complained to the Historical Society today, asked to have my sign removed, wouldn’t leave his name but left his phone number.
Why don’t you call to see for yourself, 443-286-7042
This is a great Town, we have many loyal employees and volunteers and the department heads are very conservative, our tax rate is 29% lower than the other municipalites in Harford Co.
Most of the budget is for public safety and public works.
We do support the Fire Dept. and Parks & rec.
We go over this budget publicly twice a year and welcome any comments.
Please don’t tell me you don’t get anything for your taxes if you don’t look at the numbers and then make resonable sugestions.
Rob Preston
I appreciate the fact that you have chosen to set the record straight. From my perspective, after 18 years involved w/ various offices and ceremonial duties, isn’t it time to think about passing the baton? These positions were never meant as careers, and frankly a fresh set of eyes is better for the Town. Let someone else do the parties and ribbon cuttings, we need someone who is going to actually cut the budget, which by the way has gone from $9.5m in 2001, to $10.5m in 2005, to $15.5m in 2010, during your time in office.(#’s not exact but close) Not much has changed in Bel Air in the last 10 years except that you have continued to approve more and more spending. It is unsustainable and you should have known that.
I did call that phone number and was told that the Historical Society gets public monies which should preclude them from endorsing anyone or the appearance of an endorsement. As I understand it, the sign was removed by the Historical Society so they must have agreed w/ the complainer. I personally don’t agree w/ Mr. Complainer on everything but I will on this one.
You have received many reasonable suggestions, from many people regarding the renovation of the Town Hall and you ignored them. You supported that publicly until last Monday and then blamed the State funding cuts for stopping it. There is no connection between those cuts and this project, you are posturing for votes and will probably resurrect Town Hall if you get re-elected. You should have known for at least 18 months that significant State cuts were coming. You’ve seen the decline first hand, but you approved an across the board pay raise when everyone else is laying off or furloughing employees. Even if the Town could afford it (it can’t), it looks bad to those outside the Town who are suffering. Town Hall should have been stopped long before you agreed to spend $350,000 of taxpayer money on feasability studies/architectural plans, which will probably never get used. The current location doesn’t even give the Town the best space for the money. For a project at $5m plus, you should have been looking at alternative, less costly sites, maybe something that you could consolidate Town Admin functions, say BB&T on Main?
You’ve been in Town running a small business and grew up here. Do you really need a consultant to tell you what to do w/ the garages behind the armory? Or to tell you that form based zoning is a good idea? Or to study a pedestrian walkway between the Mall and Main St. Even if that study said it was a good idea, obtaining the necessary land makes it infeasible. Just those 3 alone cost the taxpayers $100,000+ and with your history, you should have known those answers beforehand. The fact that you didn’t object, regardless of where the Town got the money, shows that you don’t really see it as costing the taxpayer. IT DOES!!! ALL the money you spend comes from a taxpayer. You should have been treating that money as if it were your own.
Bottom line is that you’ve done your time but Bel Air can’t afford another 4 years of these kinds of decisions and rampant, seemingly uncontrolled spending. Do you think it can? My Town properties are worth about what they were in 2005, will you restore the Town budget to 2005 levels?
Showing up to every meeting, parade and event isn’t what you should be listing as accomplishments. Hard decisions need to be made, especially now, and you haven’t shown anything except a “rubber stamp” mentality. Have you ever voted against anything, or taken a controversial stand?
I’m not sure showing up at a Town Commissioner meeting is really a requirement for a challenger. What is it that you or Carey would do or allow at this point to give the competition any ammo? You changed the status of the Town Hall project to help you and Carey get re-elected.
We do have a great Town. However the only way you’re going to reduce the budget is to make sure that each department is operating at peak efficiency at appropriate manpower levels and that may mean hiring freeze, wage freeze or layoffs, but definately not pay raises. You’d have to see that for yourself and not assume that someone is being conservative in their duties. Maybe they are but they all work for you. A department head should ask for all they might need to operate, you need to be able to say no to some or all of those requests. Did we really need a new trash truck or could we have gotten another couple of years out of the old one?
As for 29% lower tax rate, of course we have a lower tax rate. You need to look at this more honestly and not spin it for votes. Aberdeen and Havre de Grace both operate much larger public works facilities for water and sewer so their expenses are much higher and they are working on a lower assessable tax base, while Bel Air has NO expense for water. Their tax rate HAS to be higher, it is simple math 101. The comparison you should be making is how do the 3 compare based on # of employees, salaries of employees, land area, population and rates for water and sewer. You stuck the Bel Air taxpayer with a huge sewer fee increase so you wouldn’t have to increase the tax rate. The Town pays the County $2.77/1000 gal for sewer treatment but charges the taxpayer $4.62/1000 gal. Multiply the difference by 1.25 million gallons per day of sewage generated by the Town and you have almost $1 million in revenue that you don’t have to call a tax, but it acts like a tax.
As far as welcoming any comments from the public, I didn’t hear anyone from the public complain about epidemic public urination but you supported the ordinance. I did hear comments from the public telling you to stop Town Hall, but you supported that. So what difference do the comments make if you’ve proven by your action that you’ll ignore them anyway?
Political activity
Section 501(c)(3) organizations are subject to limits or absolute prohibitions on engaging in political activities.
Elections
Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are prohibited from conducting political campaign activities to intervene in elections to public office.[19] The Internal Revenue Service website elaborates upon this prohibition as follows:
“Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
“Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
“On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
“The Internal Revenue Service provides resources to exempt organizations and the public to help them understand the prohibition. As part of its examination program, the IRS also monitors whether organizations are complying with the prohibition.”
These are the facts:
On October 9th, I received two phone calls from Town residents asking whether or not the Historical Society of Harford County could endorse or support a candidate for Town Commissioner. I called to ask the Historical Society what their position was on this issue. The woman who answered my call abruptly accused me of being one of those G– D –tea baggers who are turning this country upside down (her exact words). I would have been more than happy to identify myself but was hung up on before I could do so or get an answer to my question. As an Elected official who also happens to be the president of the Harford County Public Library Foundation, I would never expect the Public Libraries to post my campaign signs in front of their buildings or to publicly endorse my candidacy. The Historical Society is a 501©(3)nonprofit, therefore is strictly prohibited from conducting political campaign activities to intervene in elections to public office..
The Town of Bel Air contributes three thousand dollars ($3000.00) a year to this organization.
Maybe Preston should reach out and ask ACORN for there support, hard to believe that he does not understand that an origination that receives public money cannot post campaign signs or endorse a candidate.
My children attend Bel Air Elementary and know that the old dilapidated building behind the school is still standing due to his leadership the school desperately needs more space and there is no plan for future use for that eyesore other that a home for rats and vagrants. Another poor use of my (taxpayer) money.
Sad very sad
That building should have been torn down but for a few who think it could be renovated. They NEVER considered who would end up paying for it. I went to Bel Air High and don’t feel any particular attachment to the old building, so why do Carey and Preston feel so attached to this one?
They even had a consultant come in to evaluate moving the school building directly across Gordon Street to a property w/ another dilapidated structure the Town hasn’t seen fit to renovate.
How long are Preston and Carey going to let it stand before they realize there is NO money available to renovate? They’ll change colors if it turns out to be better for them politically.
Connect the dots the real reason that old eyesore of a building is still standing is two life long buddies Captain Jim & Mayor Preston they have been together since they were both Democrats but only switched parties when the Republican wave was the wave to ride and some how they fooled the public and got elected.
Every time I look at that good for nothing building I, am reminded of these two and how poorly our Town and County is represented by them
If put back in office I see the Town of Bel Air run into the ground such as a stionary bussiness on S Main Street what is the name of it again…
I think Mr. Preston and Mr. Carey should ask themselves a questions before they continue with some needless spending. That question would be, “WHAT IF IT WERE MY PERSONAL CHECKBOOK?” What if it were your personal checkbook; would you continue to give raises and do feasability studies and continue with some needless study? I think we do need some new blood in there that doesn’t have millions of dollars in their heads and have had to deal with their own checkbook for a while. It’s called “reality”. I’m going to vote for “reality” this year.
I started paying attention to town politics because I did not want Dave Mitchell elected. Now I’m paying attention because of what I am learning. I was at the town meeting last Monday. I will continue to go to every meeting that I can.
I called Terry Hanley to ask why your sign would be on publicly funded property. He apparently called them and the signs came down. The reason I didn’t call you was that I didn’t believe you would honor a taxpayers concern. Your “Dagger” response shows immaturity in blaming another Commissioner for doing his job. I’d only called him minutes before he had the signs down. THAT is job performance!
Frankly, I agree w/ “frustrated”, that sign should have never been there and you should have known better, but you obviously didn’t.
Please remember that your actions are supposed to be about what is good for everyone, not just your campaign. Before I will vote for you again, I want you to publicly state that you will be staying for the entire 4 year term so that I’m sure you are not just looking for higher office.
Unfortunately Rob, Terry was right on the sign issue. He did what he was asked to do and even if he wasn’t asked he did the right thing. You don’t like controversy or making people unhappy but the coming revenue issues in the Town are likely to do both. I’m not convinced that you have the guts to make those tough calls for those reasons.
On another note, you posted Terry’s cell number which was completely inappropriate. The discussions posted here have, for the most part been factual. There was no need to make it personal. Politics is about differences, you can believe what you want and if you get enough votes, you win. If not life goes on.
I think owe Terry an apology. Take the high road.
Did you ask Terry to commit to His full term? I don’t think so.
Mr Bel Air has loftier goals. He needs to get his name in the paper every week but hasn’t used it here on this forum. And why make anonymous calls thats just plain sneeky. If my signs are not where you would like to see them send me the reason and I’ll find a better location.
So you don’t want to compair with other municipalities, just cut spending everywhere and anywhere. That may work while your in office but eventually you will have old trucks, old cars, roads with holes and no infrastructure. Let the next guy worry about it.
Voting no to everything is easy, standing up for what is best for the community is hard.
Lower pay does not always save money in the long run. Experience and knowledge are worth something, I value the advise we get from our department heads and Bel Air should feel secure that dollars are spent wisely. I’m sure we could refuse all money we we get from the State and I’m sure you will see it reduce your tax next year.
(NOT)
We have many projects like the armory that have cost local residents very little with tremendous advantage for the community.
If we use people for their knowlege is a particular field to advise the best way to accomplish a particular task we can actually save money in the long run, or we could just ask Terry.
When he is up for re-election, I absolutely will ask that question but he is not running, you are. Will you commit to a complete term if I vote for you? Do you think posting the his phone number was appropriate?
Are the other Municipalities all suffering w/ old equipment and bad roads? You know they are not and they are doing it w/ less $$ per taxpayer. Why do you think Bel Air can’t? There is plenty of valuable advice around this Town for free. Listen to it, the ADmin staff doesn’t live in the Town.
I could care less what Terry wants as long as it doesn’t hurt the Town. The added publicity hasn’t been a problem has it? If he is comfortable with the media, I say good for the Town. Provide one instance where it is a problem.
You sarcastically say that if the Town refuses all the money from the State, you are sure my taxes will go down.(NOT) That means that you have to be planning a rate hike because my value at the current rate means my tax bill will go down, and down significantly. The only way you can make up that revenue is a rate hike, value isn’t changing anytime soon.
The other postings have indicated the hike may be coming but I can’t believe you expect people to vote for someone, in this economy, who is admitting to a tax increase before budget cuts. When is enough enough?
This is all very comical, it never fails at any level the only time you hear from these goofs in office is when they are up for re-election
This younger generations has had enough of with the likes of clowns like Preston please stop your embarrassing comments nobody cares that you attend meetings that you are elected to attend .
Other that running you fathers business what have you done for Bel Air.
Can someone please call Mr. Preston to determine if this was really him, or an impostor? I’ve never really met Mr. Preston, and don’t have his number, but if this is he, it is pretty embarrassing. That the town residents would continue to send someone to represent them with such little grasp of the issues, reality, or respect for the people to even bother to write a decent letter is a disgrace to the town. Mr. Preston runs a stationary and printing business. I question that this comment, which is so poorly written and clearly not proofread, could be his.
Ex: “compair” “advise” “your” The Dagger has spell check, for crying out loud!
I agree w/ your questions about the spelling but the message is in fact consistent w/ Preston’s positions. If not, I believe he is aware of the comments and questions contained on this blog. I would appeal to him to set the record straight directly to the Dagger or Aegis in an interview.
i think bewilder and frustrated are dead on about preston
Mr. Preston, Bewildered and frustrated make some excellent points concerning the running of this town. Though the tax rate hasn’t gone up, I pay more property tax each year because of the 10% Homestead cap rate. Water and sewer bills have also risen.
Pay raises, 100K salaries, town hall and garage “feasibility” studies and how many people would really walk from town to the mall anyway (and carry any purchases home)??? How about making Rt 1 more pedestrian friendly? I walk it regularly and it’s a nightmare.
You may not agree with bewildered or frustrated, but they are voicing what I, and I’m sure other residents/taxpayers think too.
I keep reading this same claim on this blog and it makes my head spin!
I wish a bona fide budget and taxation expert would buy a two hour block of TV time on all the networks simultaneously and explain unequivocally that nobody’s taxes are not going up each year because of the “10% Homestead cap rate.” Maybe then people would stop blaming the county and Town for raising your taxes. This cap is actually a credit that keeps your taxes from jumping more than 10% when and if the assessed value of your property jumps more than 10%. That is all.
The “Homestead Tax Credit” does not cause your taxes to rise. Your taxes go up based on a STATE assessment that happens every three years.
That being said, you are correct in your assertion that the Town has not raised your tax rate. At all. In YEARS.
I would make this point to my old nemesis “frustrated” as well. As the real estate boom of the early 2000’s really took hold, everybody’s assessments went bonzo.
The revenues for the Town increased without the assistance of increased taxation. Just based on property values. I’ll remind you of the point earlier about inflation. As the revenues increased, so did the cost to provide services. Again, if there is anything that can be said about the Town government, it is that they are always going to operate within their means. Regardless of who wears the “honorary mayor” hat this week.
I think Dell and I are on the same page. In this economy the 10% Homestead Tax Credit is not an issue because the assessed values are not going up anytime soon. I’ve heard from other owners who appealed their assessment, being re-assessed at 30%+ lower. The problem is that as the tax revenue went up so dramatically during the 2000’s, the fixed expenses rose as well, well in excess of inflation, and those will be difficult to unwind but necessary to unwind.
Now that the assessments have fallen we need a realistic assessment of where we are and where we are going because I think more pain is yet to come. Preston and Carey have had their chance, and put us where we are, good, bad or indifferent. Now we need someone different with a new perspective.
Rob- Mr. Becker makes an interesting point. Are you going to raise the rate or significantly cut the budget to match lower revenues?
Dell,
My town tax bill rises 10%. The state publishes a constant yield rate every year to keep revenue at the same level as the previous year. Each year the taxing body votes to decide to decrease their tax rate to meet the constant yield. The town has NEVER decreased the tax rate to comply with constant yield or even a less than 10% increase. I really resent you telling me my taxes have not risen. I write the check every year and both have gone up each year since my last assessment and will until I am reassessed next year.
And if you vote for Carey and Preston, there is no doubt they’ll be going up again!
I can not find any reason or why we want to keep preston or carey in office another round what have they really did for the good town of belair…raise taxes..raise sewer cost…wanting to spend 5 mil oh yes its election time so now they want to change I have talked to davis and testerman I think they may be what the town needs lets get preston and carey out they have been there to long or do we keep same old same old
I agree with samantha I think davis and testerman would make a great new combination to the town board.I have met and talked to them both and like and respect there ideas for change. We need to vote out both preston and carey.
I am still incredulous that 6 employees make over 6 figure incomes. Just based on Mr. Preston poor attempt to justify the Town department heads making these exorbitant salaries is enough to make me NOT vote for him. Something to the effect of: lower pay does not save money in the long run…. experience and knowledge are worth something…. A question for the forum: Exactly what are the titles of the six people gettng paid these high salaries, what are the education and experience requirements for said positions and what do their duties entail? I would also like an informal study (phone calls to 3 or 4 comparable sized towns in comparable sized counties, not a 1/4 million dollar study) to see what their department heads are earning. It is just a matter of getting the right person for the job–young or old, experienced or inexperienced–if a person is motivated, has a good work ethic and cares about his job, that is all that matters. From what I have heard, some of the people in these positions are rather complacent–they have their big salaries which can’t be taken away from them. I’d rather see a young college grad who can’t find a job or someone who has lost their job in these positions, rather than someone fat and happy. So please have a response to these questions at the forum, Mr. Preston, because they will be coming your way and the answers had better be more substantial than “experience counts for something”.
I agree w/ you. How hard is it to run a Town that is only 2.9 square miles and how many people does it take? As far as knowledge and experience, we elect Commissioners to run the Town. The Staff works for the Commissioners. I expect the Commissioners to be more than a “rubber stamps” for the staff. The staff don’t even live in Town so why would they care? I think only 3 or 4 of the 90+ town employees live in Town. Shouldn’t we be giving these jobs to someone who is invested here and not just sucking the life out of us?
Blue, do you really want a “young college grad who can’t find a job” running a police department or designing a busy intersection? Me thinks not. Now, do these department heads deserve a six figure salary? That is worthy of debate. Don’t take a valid point and shoot it in the foot with foolish rhetoric.
Frustrated, why do you care where someone lives? Like you said, the town is only 2.9 square miles and available housing is both limited and pricey. Someone quoted the average town employee’s salary to be $52,000. Browse the MRIS listings and see what is available in town to a homebuyer making that kind of money.
There is limited housing available at the average salary but I meant the people at the top of the salary structure not the bottom. The top slaries set Town policy since the Commissioners don’t seem to be capable of that. I really think someone with a vested interest in the Town is better than someone without. It makes you look at things from a different perspective when it is not “just a job”.
At this point, the top salaries spoon feed Preston and Carey and they buy into everything because they don’t ask any hard questions. They act more like lap dogs.
well look at it this way if you keep preston and carey we will get the yellow river from running through the town….and by the way why did preston and carey give pay increase to town staff after all job losses unemployment at its highest house hold incomes down I really dont need increased taxes We need to step back and really think where do we want the town to go…I fell very strong that we do need change lets really take a good look now everyone that is at daves and testerman
Everyone is talking about Davis and Testerman. Don’t forget Greg Adolph. I think he would bring some young blood and talent to the Board. I think Greg and Terry Hanley could finally get some things done.
I have never been a fan of Terry Hanley, but I must give credit where credit is due. He handled the sign incident exactly as I would want a local elected official to do. This is the sort of constituent service that will weigh heavily in my decisions in future town elections.
As far as the “lady” at the Historical Society goes, she should pray that her attitude doesn’t cause the town to reconsider their donations to the group.
Confession: I am one of the few who support an renovated town hall, but I would actually rather see a new one built along Main Street, perhaps where the buildings are for sale in front of the water tower. I could see a three story building with the police department (plenty of parking in the back), alll town offices, meeting rooms for civic associations and other local groups to use, a gift shop for town merchandise, a visitor’s center, and whatever else a town like ours needs. It should be a focal point for residents and tourists, and a central location for all things Bel Air.
As soon as I win the lottery, I’ll donate the money to build it. There’s no other way we’re ever gonna see it happen.
I was told this last night. Apparently the Town Planning Commission presented the Town Commissioners w/ the final Comprehensive plan. Carey alone objected and sent the plan back to the planning commission to downzone the M1 property in Town to residential. Carey doesn’t own any of the M1 property. Apparently the planning commission meeting was well attended and a number of the afected property owners attended. In the end, nothing was changed.
So how is it Mr. Carey, after 18 months of preparation, numerous public meetings, draft reviews, requests for comments, etc., that you were the only one to object and only after the final document was ready for signature? That was just sneaky and if true borderline unethical. My guess is that you were trying to get the rules changed so you and your buddies could develop some more property, just like you did at the Kings Crossing condos. I’ve heard you and your partners made out very well there.
This is Preston’s Quotes in the Aegis Wow what world does he live in
Preston, 60, said he wants to run
again because he has enjoyed working
for the town.
“The management of the town is just
so professional and we have got such
great people. It’s really a pleasure,” said
Preston, who runs Preston’s Stationery,
Inc., on Main Street.
I’m confused as to what part of the quote you find objectionable? That the Town is managed by professionals, has great people, it’s a pleasure, or that he runs a Stationary Store?
I don’t think it is the quote itself. I think it is the fact that the reason he is running is because he likes the Staff. I don’t want an elected official, w/ the economy as it is, having their judgement clouded by a personal relationship. Hard to avoid when you’ve been there as long as Preston and Carey have, but still a problem and that is why new blood is needed.
Preston should have outlined exactly what he wants to get accomplished if he gets elected, not just that he’ll be happy. Since he didn’t, I’m assuming that he has no agenda because he thinks everything is fine.
Looks like Davis and Adolph are the only challengers to Carey and Preston. Steve Testerman withdrew this week, making this a 2 on 2 contest, which makes it really interesting.
I wonder how low the voter turn out will be?
Doesn’t anyone understand the game Carey and Preston are playing? They already raised your property taxes by 12.5% by leaving the rate alone instead of adjusting it to the “constant yield rate”. Instead of paying $.445/$100 as the State calculated the rate should be, Carey and Preston left the rate at $.50/$100, a 12.5% increase. Thanks Dave and Rob.
More quotes from Mr. Preston in today’s Aegis in reference to the upcoming Election.
“It really seems very low-key,” Preston
said. “When I look at the race in Aberdeen
and even Havre de Grace, they seem
to pick up more issues, even financial
issues, more so than the town. I think
it’s because the town has been pretty
conservative. I just don’t think there’s a
perspective of anything improper.”
He said he plans to start going doorto-
door this weekend and hopes to get a
better sense of the interest level.
I certainly hope that the residents wake up and like myself the Business owners, who cannot vote in a Town Election send him a message that his leadership has been non existing.
Main Street has more vacancy now that before the eight million dollar make over the Mayor has never been in my business.
Other then jacking up fees, taxes and making Bel Air less Business friendly and thinking that everything is just so wonderful what has Mr. Preston accomplished?
This might seem far-fetched but does anyone know if Preston sells any office supply materials to the Town? I’ve heard rumors of a no-bid deal, which would be completely inappropriate if true. Can anyone confirm?
This must be a hoax. There is no way he’d make that mistake and not discloe it in an election cycle.
I’d like to see it confirmed first.
Commissioner comments
“I have always been a proponent of
extending MacPhail Road,” Commissioner
Robert Preston, the town’s de facto mayor,
said, adding that the extension would
benefit the school system and the town.
“From an emergency standpoint of
getting to the hospital, it just makes
sense,” he said.
Preston, a businessman who has
worked with the town for more than 17
years on this issue, said the only east-towest
roads in Bel Air are Boulton Street,
Route 1 and Wheel Road.
“It’s just a problem when you’re
funneling all of your traffic onto Route 1,”
he said. “Downtown [Bel Air] is congested
I’m sure with the election just around the corner he’ll change his mind to try and get votes. I hope the PTA there doesn’t buy into his logic. How can you have credibility if you always change your mind?
Looks like the people of Bel Air are waking up Adolph and Davis are leading in the Dagger poll.
Mr. Preston has lost all credibility with the Homestead Wakefield parents and faculty and Mr. Carey skirted the issue.
Too bad only about 1/10 of the people who responded to this poll are pulling a lever next month. I doubt too many of the octogenarians who usually make up the lion’s share of those creeping up the steps of Town Hall on Election Day are cruising the Dagger and answering poll questions on their fancy computer/teleo-phone boxes.
Hopefully they will gather there wheel chair’s. & vote Mike Hiob for Mayor of Aberdeen. I was reading some of Bennett’s propaganda. Mike Hiob does not support Veteran’s
Does’nt change the fact.Bennett has too GO!
I was at the homeowner’s association meeting that Mr.Adollf, and Mr. Davis attended and after attending numerous Town meetings this is a no brainer please notify anyone you know who lives in Bel Air to VOTE for these two impressive gentleman.
Mr.Carey and Mr. Preston’s time has past its lets elect new blood that will be available and responsible to the public and treat the average person respectfully.