Wednesday, May 8, 2013
A few potential candidates have expressed interest in the 2014 race for Anne Arundel county executive, according to reports.
It has only been a couple months since Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman was appointed by the county council, but candidates are already starting to gear up for the 2014 race, reports The Baltimore Sun. Which of the candidates thus far would get your vote? Share in our poll below. Neuman said she formed a committee and filed election paperwork, according to the report. This would be Neuman's first election campaign. County Councilman John Grasso (R-2nd District), of Glen Burnie told The Sun he is the best person for the job, and intends to run. Delegate Steve Schuh (R-District 31) of Gibson Island has already raised $1 million for the 2014 race. Joanna Conti, the democrat who lost the 2010 executive race to John Leopold, also …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Anne Arundel County Police Chief Larry Tolliver announced his resignation Tuesday afternoon, in a letter that says the decision was not "stimulated" by negative claims about the department.
After a stretch of less than nine months heading police in Anne Arundel County, Chief Larry Tolliver announced his resignation Tuesday afternoon, as the county awaits the outcome of an investigation into claims of unfair treatment within the department. "I am resigning today because the department needs a chief who can focus solely on the department’s mission, something that is challenging to do in the current environment," Tolliver said in the letter. Tolliver's resignation is effective May 21. Patch contacted the office of County Executive Laura Neuman for information about possible replacements, but she has yet to respond. In late April, County Councilman Jamie Benoit wrote Neuman, requesting an investigation into whether Tolliver used …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The budget includes a 3 percent raise for county employees—the first since 2010.
County Executive Laura Neuman’s budget for the coming year lays out a series of employee raises that she said were overdue. Neuman presented her budget Wednesday morning at the Arundel Center to a packed house in the County Council’s chambers. She said this budget would usher in “a fresh start” for Anne Arundel County, one in which people and infrastructure would be given the attention they deserved. “For too long our county has not made investing in people and infrastructure a priority, and that has resulted in a deteriorating organization,” Neuman said. The executive began her speech by describing the conditions of the office she inherited from former Executive John R. Leopold. Neuman said the office was “sullen and silent” when she …
Friday, April 26, 2013
The two-term Republican state delegate plans to announce his 2014 campaign on May 2.
UPDATED (5:26 p.m.)—Steve Schuh, a two-term Republican state delegate, is expected next week to announce intentions to run for Anne Arundel County Executive. Schuh is expected to make the announcement during a May 2 event with Rep. Andy Harris at the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company in Severna Park. In an interview Friday afternoon, Schuh said the announcement will be the culmination of nearly 18 months of work by an exploratory committee. "We've met with a very high level of success," Schuh said of the exploratory committee but added that the final recommendation won't be announced until May 2. "I'm on pins and needles," he said. Schuh made known his interest in the position earlier this year. He was one of a number of interested …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
County Executive Laura Neuman recently set up an official Twitter account, as one of the latest moves to modernize the office in Anne Arundel County.
It is well-documented how shocked Laura Neuman was when she walked into her office as newly appointed executive for Anne Arundel County, only to find the room was without a computer—or even access to the Internet, for that matter. Within a day, she had a computer and was online. She recently jumped into another realm that is foreign to county executives in Anne Arundel County, but almost standard for politicians across the country and state; Neuman is now on the microblogging platform Twitter. Neuman's office confirmed to Patch an account established for the executive, where she and her staff will share information and interact with residents through the social media site. She had eight tweets as of Thursday afternoon, including the …
The recently passed legislation could be vetoed in favor of creating a new bill with a lower fee for Anne Arundel County residents.
County Executive Laura Neuman said she will veto the stormwater bill that passed narrowly by the Anne Arundel County Council in a column issued to the media Thursday. Neuman outlined her reasons for the veto in the column: She wrote that there has been public outcry to the legislation, referencing "hundreds of emails" sent to her asking her to veto the bill. The bill sets into motion a fee that would be assessed through property tax bills. The rate varies per household type—$34 for owners of townhomes and condominiums, $85 for single-family homeowners, and $170 for rural area homes. Neuman wrote in the column that more work needs to be done, and she is going to ask the council to revisit a new bill and reduce the fee's impact to taxpayers…
In her column, the county executive stated she will veto a massive bill that would establish a fee to pay for a state-mandated stormwater runoff management plan.
Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman issued the following statement regarding her intent to veto the County Council's stormwater bill, which was approved April 15. When I moved to Anne Arundel County over two decades ago it was because of, among other things, the beauty of our County and the Chesapeake Bay. This natural beauty is why many of us are here and why we attract tourists from around the globe. Protecting this precious resource is not an option, it is an obligation. We all must do our part to do the things necessary to keep our waterways healthy and thriving, which brings me to Anne Arundel County Bill No. 2-13: Stormwater Management – Watershed Protection and Restoration Special Revenue Fund and Program. The impetus for …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Reports say Anne Arundel County Councilman Jamie Benoit accused the police chief of retaliating and using homophobic slurs toward officers who testified against the former county executive.
County Councilman Jamie Benoit (D-Crownsville) requested an investigation of Police Chief Larry Tolliver by County Executive Laura Neuman, in response to complaints that Tolliver retaliated against police officers who testified against former executive John Leopold, according to The Baltimore Sun. Benoit accused Tolliver of using homophobic slurs and reassigning officers in retribution for their roles in Leopold's criminal trial, which led to the executive's resignation and 30-day jail sentence, according to the report. Tolliver told The Sun that no reassignments were made as demotions, and denied any wrongdoing. Neuman told The Capital Gazette that an investigation into the allegations is underway, which is standard protocol for such …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The county executive said the gallery is part of a "fresh start" for the county.
Folk artwork from elementary students across Anne Arundel County is on display at the county government's office in downtown Annapolis. The gallery shows off the talents of students, who employ a variety of styles. One of the art pieces features birds depicted through yarn, a style inspired by Mexican Huichol yarn paintings. There is also art inspired by cave paintings and Japanese calligraphy. Some artwork goes beyond the canvas, including tiny hand-crafted figures, and traditional Mexican weavings. Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman and Schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell worked together in getting the gallery in front of the public's eyes. “This artwork will delight and also inspire us to look to the future,” Neuman said. “As …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman continued to change the leadership in Anne Arundel this week.
Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman's transformation of departments within the county government continued this week, as two more people were replaced. A press release from Neuman's office announced the appointment of two new members to the Constituent Services team. The release did not mention any dismissals, but The Maryland-Gazette reported the appointments came with the removal of two constituent services specialists. Mark Chang and Kelsey McConkey, both of whom represented north county, are no longer county employees, according to The Gazette. Neuman announced Eastport resident Hope Stewart will represent south county and Annapolis, while Amy Leahy will represent her hometown of Severna Park and west county. North county will …
linda Platt-Fitzhenry
10:48 am on Saturday, May 11, 2013
Schuh is the best man for the job. He knows what needs to be done & is willing to do it with the Democrats pushing him around. I'm surprised Neuman is running, I heard she was'mt going to. Grasso is very arrogant & has made comments about low income housing that has really grinded my gears. Good Luck Schuh, he's a good man. more ›