Fiscal Responsibility
“A Business Approach to Government” is more than a campaign slogan to me, it’s how I truly feel. I have owned and operated a business in Cecil County for 45+ years and I have learned so much along the way. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that there is always a solution, even for the most difficult problems. As your Councilman I have worked tirelessly to get Cecil County on the radar of Annapolis. Talking with other elected officials to see how they are dealing with the same problems that face our county, I have gotten many ideas and solutions to make Cecil County the crown jewel of Maryland.
Problems can’t be solved just by throwing money at them and hoping it goes away. We must carefully examine the problems that face our county and find solutions for them, without increasing taxes or frivolous spending. In my time on the Council, we have done incredible things for this County: Turf Fields, 2 State of the Art Elementary Schools, Internet Service to the southern rural areas just to name a few. This was done through conservative budgeting and fiscal responsibility, not through high interest loans. I will continue to practice financial conservatism while ensuring the money we are spending goes to the right places: schools, first responders, hospitals, infrastructure.
Education
I strongly believe to have a bright future, we must invest in our children’s education as they are our future workers, employers, and leaders. We must work together to ensure that we are providing the best environment for students and teachers. Just like a house needs a strong foundation, our children need a strong foundation in education. I will work with the CCPS as well as the County Executive to find common ground and ways for us to provide the best possible public education in the state.
A lot of the problems that plague communities can be traced back to weak education systems. Drug use and crime go hand in hand, data shows that the areas that are overrun with crime have some of the worst schools. We cannot afford to short change our schools as it will lead to even bigger problems in our future. My father was a high school principal and instilled in me at an early age how important it was to be educated on issues. As a Council Member I have been endorsed by the teachers union every year and will continue to be a supporter.
I also serve as a Board Member of the Cecil County Trade Foundation for the School of Technology. The work that the School of Technology is doing is so extremely important for the future of our county and our country. Tradespeople are the backbone of America and studies have found less and less people are entering the trades and a record shortage will be coming if we don’t act now. Underfunding the School of Technology will cripple our future. As the older generations retire from these skilled positions, we have to have people ready to replace them so we do not miss a beat as the best county in Maryland and Best Country in the World.
OPIOID ABUSE AND CRIME
During my tenure as Cecil County Councilman, I have had the privilege to be on the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council. I have learned so much about the difficulties that face our First Responders and this epidemic that not only affects our county, but our Country.
I believe that the key to battling this plague is education. We need drug awareness taught in our schools and I am big advocate for the DARE program to be mandatory for all children. It is not enough to say, “Don’t do Drugs”. We, as a community, must educate our children on the real dangers of Drugs and Alcohol and let them form their opinions through the knowledge we provide. Telling someone not to do something, especially children, they will most likely try it, but showing them the perils of addiction and letting them come to their own conclusion that drugs and alcohol are a dead end makes for a more powerful deterrent.
I have fought for first responders pay raises and new equipment throughout my time as a Councilman. Our first responders are true heroes in every sense of the word and we need to do everything we can as a community to lift them up and hold them in the highest respect. I have worked with Scott Adams and received his endorsement, along with the FOP endorsement as an official they can rely on to support their efforts.
NON-PROFIT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
One of my passions since I have been on the Council is the Paris Foundation. I am in awe of the work they do and how they support our community. Working with other elected officials, I was able to help secure $733,000 from the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund to aid in the construction of a new facility with a commercial kitchen for training people in Elkton. Local restaurants are backing this project as well, as they will be able to employ the graduates of the program. It was so important to me to get this project funded as the Paris Foundation helps people get back into the workforce and able to stand on their own two feet. The work the foundation does is the definition of community and I am honored to work with them.
I was also able to procure $150,000 in grants for the Cecil County Farm Museum. This money is going to help them build a standalone building with bathrooms and a small kitchen so Cecil County Students are able to come to the museum and learn about agriculture. The kitchen will serve locally grown products and teach students in the culinary program how to prepare and serve meals.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is watching our county thrive and prosper, even during uncertain economic times and record inflation. I have served on the Economic Development Commission and Maryland Rural Development Cooperative during my time on the council. Most of the county now has access to high-speed Internet, this is so important for the jobs of the future. More and more people are able to work from home, cutting emissions on vehicles for everyday travel. Amazon is now part of our community, offering solid jobs and attracting more people to our area, which in turn helps balance the budget without raising taxes on our existing citizens.
The unemployment rate in Cecil County has dropped from 5.7% in 2020 to 3.3% last year. This is a direct result of the policies and legislation that I have helped pass and institute. We have become a premier place for companies to setup operations, without taking away from the panoramic beauty of our county. Through carefully planned out expansion we can have the best of both worlds. I am very proud that hardworking individuals can come to Cecil County and get a good job and raise their families in a safe community.
