Why, am I running? Frederick is my sanctuary from the outside world... When I was looking for a place to live and raise my family, buying a house in Virginia near Reston was the obvious choice in 1990s. Most of the companies I have worked for were based out of that area, friends and colleagues lived near there, but there was one thing wrong with Virginia. It was Virginia, I being born and raised in Maryland couldnt make that leap, it violated my sensibilities, plus I was on the road much of the year during the early years. Montgomery County was too overpopulated and only gave me access to the DC region. Frederick County gave me backdoor access to Reston from Leesburg, equal access to three airports, access to both the Baltimore and DC job markets and it was like Baltimore County of old. Frederick County also gave me something else a community, a home, a sanctuary away from the craziness of the week no matter where the job took me. It offered me and my family - cows, deer, corner old time grocery, manure smells, tractors, fresh fruit and vegetables, a waive... Like many of you, I commute every day along I-270. My drive to Reston is 50-60 minutes on an ideal day, and 1 ½ to 2 hours on a normal one. The cost of that commute has gone up from $1.20/gallon in 1998 to $3.50/gallon today. Similarly, tolls have gone from $1.50/day to $7/day. Every day many of us creep up and out earlier and earlier to beat the next guy down the road. We spend this time and money, knowing the impact on our lives and families, because we value living here in Frederick County. We value the peaceful, country settings, as well as the eclectic dining and entertainment in Frederick. Yet we have a current Board of County Commissioners that doesnt understand that the cost of commuting - both dollars and time – does play into the decision to live in Frederick County versus closer, especially when the quality of life they advertise is being eroded for more players in the commuter game. They believe people will be moving to Pennsylvania instead for the DC commute, and use this as an excuse for their actions. We need representation that looks to value what we have as a County that sets us apart, enhancing the local businesses and farms, while understanding the commuter needs and looking for ways to minimize the commute. In the Spring of 2013, I heard about the Monrovia Town Center (MTC) rezoning initiative and the proposed 25-year Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA) through RALE (Residents Against Landsdale Expansion). Watching this process unfold over the last year, many of us saw a side of local politics we could not fathom existed in Frederick County. A process that ignored inadequate infrastructure; ignored concerns for quality of life; ignored concerns over the health, safety, and welfare of the local Citizens; ignored concerns about insufficient funding for schools and roads; and repeatedly ignored the voices of the local Constituents. Our politicians openly stated that the public hearings were held only because the law required it, a checkbox – not because it was the right thing to do. I enjoy fixing broken processes and this one is definitely broken. As a County, we can no longer prioritize new schools for future residents, over better schools for our current residents. As your Councilman, I will fight for your needs & interests rather than those for your future neighbors. I need your help now; your time, money, voice and/or shared posts to bring the fight to those who believe you to be a checkbox or legislative . This attitude did not begin with any one Commission; it ends with fixing key processes to make each Constituent an important and respected component in any decision, no matter your Party vote4truth.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:58:56 +0000