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 Thank you Judge Carr and
esteemed members of the Harford County bench for allowing us to conduct
this ceremony here. As an historian I can fully appreciate the historic
nature of this event. It is appropriate that we hold it in this historic
chamber with the eyes of our predecessors looking at us for this is the
first time in the history of our County that power has been transferred
in this manner.
I am humbled and deeply honored by the trust which the County Council
has placed in me and I am fully cognizant of the fact that I was not
elected by the people but that I was selected by the people’s
representatives. I will work diligently to maintain and build on that
trust and I firmly believe that the true test of whether you the Council
made the correct decision will come in November 2006 when I stand before
the people of Harford County on my own.
I have prepared for a long time to prepare for this speech and this day
and one passage in the Bible has sustained me. Roman 5:3-5 “suffering
produces endurance and endurance produces character and character
produces hope and hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has
been poured into our hearts.”
This has been a week of challenge and change for me. I have watched a
divided Council appoint me. I have retired from a career I loved for 34
years. I have resigned a position which I held longer than all but two
people in the history of Havre de Grace – I watched my daughter bring
life into this world.
Everyone however, is not watching what has occurred they are looking for
what will occur in this place we all call home – Harford County.
Tomorrow I will have my first meeting with department heads. What will
they hear?
1) Immediate freeze on hiring (not to affect public safety or school
system) so we can get a handle on the highest cost of government –
people.
2) They will be directed to operate their budget at 90 percent. There is
a Biblical verse that says “work during the day for the night cometh.”
Though the County is in a great financial situation due to the actions
of Jim Harkins we need to prepare now for when the future is less
bright.
During my first week I will work to replace those department heads who
have announced that they are leaving. During my first two months I will
determined which members of the team need to be changed.
I pledge to work to have steady, open, and regular communication with
the County Council with the understanding that communication is a tow
way effort. God gave me two ears and one mouth because I am expected to
do twice as much listening as talking.
The issues that confront us are manifold they are not Democratic or
Republican. It will take all of us to resolve them.
First up must be Comprehensive Rezoning. My self imposed deadline will
be to have a bill to the Council no later than November 2005. I plan to
review each zoning request and pledge to the Council members to meet
with you individually on each request in your district. We do not need
to open up the development envelope nor do we need to destroy our
village centers.
Second will be school overcrowding. I began my career at Edgewood Junior
High School teaching in a portable classroom. I ended it as an Assistant
Principal at Southampton Middle School with four portables. It will be
my intention to end the need for portables. There is no justification to
require our children to be in portables. I will pledge to work with the
Superintendent and her staff and the School Board to come up with a
comprehension plan to end this practice. It will include a plan for each
school as well as the system at large.
Third will be preparing the County for BRAC. What happens with APG may
determine the economic future of Harford County well into the 21st
Century.
I pledge to work with the Sheriff to fight gangs and drugs, provide a
better southern precinct and have a more functional headquarter
building.
I pledge to work with Aberdeen and APG to resolve the need for water
without tapping into Deer Creek. This will either involve a partnership
with Havre de Grace or Baltimore.
This is just the first 16 months.
I do not view these challenge as obstacles but as opportunities. JFK
once said “we resolve to do these things not because they are easy – but
because they are hard”. Thomas Stonewall Jackson said “you can be
whatever you resolve to be”. I say you can do anything you resolve to
do.
Let us resolve to do these things together. |
