Issues

These three tie closely together and are dependent on each other’s success – this is what I worked on while in Command and as an economic developer. Partnerships are key to the desired end state. Keep in mind that business growth does not mean population growth! For us, moving here over ten years ago was easy – great neighborhoods and schools! Good business growth is focusing on strong infrastructure and partnerships as we are working on within the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. Also, we need to continue and focus on our minority demographics like our Veterans. The Carroll County Veteran’s Advisory Council is doing that and we are getting some great traction within the community as well.

Regarding safety / security, it is unacceptable to have such an opioid and drug problem in our community – while serving on Fort Meade we had a serious situation and I worked hard to partner with local businesses, neighborhoods and the first responders – it is a tough issue to tackle; however, the one thing we cannot do is put our head in the sand and just say that more $$’s will fix things. It’s all of us looking out for each other and speaking out louder and clearer.

I am a product of public education and so are the kids – I believe success comes from strong community and family involvement – it has been a recipe for success in our family, and the more I see it on the sports fields and in the classroom the more I like it – life is good when we work / partner with the teachers and administrations. Also, strong education equates to more experiential learning. In other words, community businesses and leaders working within the classrooms to share their stories of success, failures and resiliency. Prepare our kids getting into the workforce whether it is right out of high school and/or follow on schooling.

I look forward to tackling the issues and concerns that face us in our community head on. A very clear lesson I learned in the military was that it was imperative to understand the problem before focusing on coming up with a solution. In other words, I want to listen to what you have to say about the issues and concerns that you have, then learn from your ideas along with those that have tackled the issues in the past and understand the positive AND negative impacts from those experiences, then I can prepare myself to lead the effort to effective and efficient solutions. Any shortcut in that approach will limit the productiveness for our community.

Issues such as Economic & Workforce Development, Education, Social Services, and Safety & Security in our community are paramount in my book. As you know, each one of these broad issues have many details that lie within. It is my intent to use my experiences coupled with current involvement in our community boards / commissions, AND most of all, listening to you in order to develop the best courses of action. This approach will ensure a community that promotes growth while maintaining our great cultural integrity. We ARE NOT and WILL NOT be an extension or outgrowth of neighboring jurisdictions. District 5 and Carroll County has so much to offer and I want to ensure that we get to tell that story through our actions.

Economic & Workforce Development

Small Business Growth
Broadband
Workforce Training
Minority / Disadvantaged Community
Transportation