10 • CALVERT RECORDER Guide for Voters • June 2014
Commissioner Dist. 1 Q. What is your vision for the county in terms of development and growth? Joe Chenelly: More than $460 mil-
lion leaves our county each year, spent by Calvert County residents on retail purchases and services in our neighboring counties. A comprehensive study in 2011 paid for by Calvert shows a substantial loss in tax revenue and employment opportunities. The county’s economy is growing stagnant because of the current first district commissioner’s strong aversion to considering altering “the way we’ve always done it.” The county needs strategic, responsible development in our town centers, specifically in Prince Frederick. The development must be mixed use, with retail, housing and recreation. I am not advocating for big box stores, and I do not want our county to ever look like neighboring cities, but we cannot allow more than half of our residents’ money to be spent elsewhere. Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark: For many years, Calvert County has remained a rural setting by design. We should continue to strive for a rural life style in Calvert County along with slow and methodical commercial development in our major town centers and minor town centers that contain water and sewer. Until we are able to beef up the road infrastructure in our county, i.e. Route 4, Route 231, Route 2 and the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge, we need to move in a very cautious manner when it comes to growth in both residential and commercial development. Calvert County must grow somewhat to remain vibrant, but we also need to keep Calvert County country. Mike Hart: Calvert County has been blessed with a rural charm and character. Previous leadership has managed growth and development in a manner consistent with the demands of our county. As we move forward, a fresh look at the functionality of our town centers is mandated. Smart growth goals need to be established to take advantage of economic development opportunities in our Town Centers that generate sustainable commercial taxes, employment opportunities and quality of life amenities for our citizens. Q. Prior to budget adoption this month, the county was faced with a deficit in the coming year. How would you balance the budget? Chenelly: There were some ques-
tionable, expensive deals over the past several years, but our county government already cut services quite a bit. But more can be done to improve
Q. What are your concerns/hopes for the possible expansion of Dominion Cove Point? Chenelly: My wife and I are raising
Joe Chenelly (R), 37 Lusby
Emad Emile Dides (D), 54 Lusby *Did not return voters guide questionnaire Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark (R), 61, incumbent Lusby
efficiency, especially in relation to how the various parts of county government work together. A more transparent, common-sense approach can go a long way. That said, expenditures are not the problem right now. We as a county must be more friendly to businesses, particularly the small business owners living and investing in Calvert County. It is business owners who create revenue, not the county. Helping businesses operate more easily and less expensively will allow them to sustain and grow their incomes and provide the county with more revenue without having to raise taxes. In fact, a solid plan and execution will reduce taxes and increase services. Clark: Clearly Calvert County will have some difficult financial times in the near future. Thanks to the administration’s conservative budget policy over the last decade, the future BOCC’s will have adequate resources and reserve funds to be used for onetime, essential expenses (such as replacement of a fire truck or ambulance) and make it possible to balance future annual budgets until the economy fully recovers. If I am re-elected, I will ensure that all modifications of budget involving these reserves will be highly scrutinized and weighed against reductions in other areas that would have to be made to cover these expenses. Hart: Deficits mean we have not attained revenue goals or we have expended more than we can afford. Calvert has managed through these cycles in the past and with forward thinking NEW leadership on the Board of County Commissioners, deficits like the one we are facing can be avoided or mitigated. Projected budget cycles need to be forecast on a three- to fiveyear timetable. Estimates in property tax and commercial tax growth need to be better calculated. Planning ahead, viewing our local economy and
Mike Hart (R), 45 Lusby
citizens needs cannot be done in a vacuum and require looking at Calvert as well as the regional economy to better forecast budget needs. Q. What would you have done differently as a commissioner in the most recent term? Chenelly: I learned in the Marine
Corps to always be professional and respectful to others. I would have been more open, listening, considering citizens’ opinions and more proactive in keeping residents informed, especially about the Dominion proposal in Lusby and development plans in Prince Frederick. I can offer our citizens a great deal through open communications. Our citizens should not be surprised when something new begins in this county. Clark: As a member of the current board, I feel that this group has worked very well together in maintaining the quality of life that the citizens of Calvert County expect. Despite declining revenues and unfunded state level mandates, this board has been able to fund our fine school system over and above the “Maintenance of Effort” state requirement three out of four years. We have also increased revenues to the public safety sector of the community and improved recreational facilities for our youth while achieving our highest credit rating in the history of Calvert County. Hart: Communication with all of our citizens and stakeholders needed to be more focused and widespread on a variety of issues. Some of those include the expansion at Cove Point, the third reactor at Calvert Cliffs, traffic and transit concerns and public safety issues. All of our citizens expect and are owed thorough, thoughtful and timely information on county issues that affect them and the lives of their children.
our five children less than two miles from Dominion’s site, so this issue is much more than just about money to me. Nothing is more important to me than the safety of the people of Calvert County. That’s what you deserve from your elected officials. I am concerned about infrastructure improvements, ensuring our first responders are provided adequate resources and training, and that our citizens, especially in the surrounding area, have the full truth. Addressing the citizens’ questions and concerns must be a priority for the commissioner representing the first district. Clark: I support the project 100 percent and am very pleased to see that the permitting process is progressing to allow for the construction of this export facility. I believe that it will be an asset to our community on many levels for years to come. Hart: The expansion of the LNG plant in Lusby is another opportunity to grow and expand our commercial tax base, which is sorely needed. Aside from the obvious economic benefits that the expansion will bring, growing small businesses to offer support services to the plant must be a priority. As a member of the Board of County Commissioners, I will work to help fill the vacant Patuxent Business Park with those new small businesses that will be that right arm to the Dominion complex. New businesses will hire, expend capital dollars in our economy and further expand our, at present, relatively flat commercial tax base. Q. In your future role, how do you wish to preserve or improve upon the level of transparency upheld by past commissioners? Chenelly: I pledge to improve trans-
parency, just as I have fought to do over the past two years on the Board of Education, bringing to light deceitful practices in our school system. Talk of the Dominion proposal began in the county government more than three years ago, but it was only recently that the public was informed and allowed a voice. We all are in this together, and I will be sure the citizens have all the information I have. No secrets or hiding. Clark: The ability to use modern websites and social media sites has increased the BOCC’s ability to keep the citizens more informed on the issues of the day. I believe that with more information communicated to See DIST. 1, Page 11