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Southern MD Association of Realtors

What would you do as an elected official to encourage production of housing for all income levels, especially “workforce” housing for those employed in the Region?
Please see above. I voted against increasing the minimum lot size to 1 acre. I support housing units above commercial in town centers. I do not support a lot of restrictions on housing units above commercial. I support accessory units. I will consider low-interest loans and other incentives for the development of more modest and therefore, more moderately priced, workforce housing.

Would you support the implementation of inclusionary zoning for workforce housing in your jurisdiction?
Yes, on an incentive basis, as part of a development agreement, rather than on a required basis.

What is your position on growth?

What is your position on building or development moratoriums?
I do not support building or development moratoriums.

What is your vision for sustainable economic development?
I am uncertain of your definition of “sustainable” economic development, but I will assume that you mean the best kind of economic development. The best economic development is clean industry that pays an adequate wage to support a family and buy a home; that contributes more to the economy than it requires in services. For example, agriculture is an industry that costs less in governmental services than the contribution it makes to the economy, which is ideal.

How, in your opinion, should the costs associated with growth and development be paid?
A portion of the capital costs (construction of new school seats, roads, recreation facilities, and landfills) of new residential growth should be paid by the consumers of that new residential growth through impact fees. A significant portion of the capital costs have to be borne by all the residents (construction of new jail beds, new courtrooms, new governmental facilities, new library seats, etc.) because there is no fair way to apportion those costs. Additionally, the added costs of services (like additional law enforcement and deputy vehicles, more asphalt to pave more roads, etc.) is spread across all the residents. This is why a 2% residential growth rate is manageable and affordable.

Taxation

What is your opinion of the current tax burden in your jurisdiction and do you favor any changes?
The current tax burden in Calvert County is one of the lowest in the state. The property tax rate has not been increased since 1987. Efficiencies are an on-going focus and have been found. I will continue to look for more efficiencies. The admission and amusement tax rate was raised in FY2004 (I voted against the increase) and lowered again in FY2007 (to 1% from 10%). I am striving to spend tax dollars wisely. It is my goal to reduce tax rates further.

What taxes would you target to lower, or to raise additional revenue?
The full and total actuarial costs of Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) for both the Calvert County government and the Board of Education must be added to the balance sheet (bottom budget line) by FY2008 (next July). The additional costs for Calvert County OPEB has been factored into our budget projections to achieve a balanced budget. We are still awaiting the actuarial number from the Board of Education, but I anticipate it to add somewhere around $10 million to our annual budget, every year going forward. Were it not for the need to fund OPEB, I would vote to reduce the real property tax rate.

Transportation

What components of transportation would you include or seek to improve as part of a transportation vision plan for your jurisdiction?
In a visionary world, the State Highway Administration would fund more upgrades to Route 4. (SHA has agreed to fund construction of the intersection of Route 4 and the soon-to-be-built Southern Connector Road and is funding $25 million worth of improvements to the Route 4/Route 231 intersection in Prince Frederick.) In an ideal world, the MD Transit Administration would construct more park and ride lots and then increase commuter bus availability to the Census Bureau and the connection to the Metro system in Suitland, enabling public transportation to Baltimore via commuter bus to the Metro to Union Station to Baltimore (via train). SHA would build more service roads. Regional transportation planning is critical, especially from Waldorf to connect to the Washington Metro system, to make through traffic through Waldorf more feasible, taking the pressure off Route 4, Route 231 and Route 2.

What would you do as an elected official to promote improvements to the transportation network in your jurisdiction?
I will continue to complete the Calvert County Transportation Plan, including building the Southern Connector Road, finishing the Prince Frederick Loop Road, building the Solomons Roundabout, designing a service road from Huntingtown High School to Cox Road to eliminate the stoplight in front of HHS, implementing plans for Dunkirk’s road system, and completing a viable road network for Lusby.

What steps will you take to persuade our cable and telephone providers to implement a broadband communications network that serves both the developed and rural areas of your jurisdiction?

What would you do as an elected official to encourage improvements to your local K-12 education system?

What would you do to support and improve the region’s higher education system?
I am very supportive of the College of Southern Maryland, the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (for which I have voted to increase funding, but failed to sway my colleagues), Sojourner Truth College and private education providers such as Keep It Simple Computer Instruction Center. I volunteered as the Chief Local Elected Official (CLEO) for Workforce Development and Training until July 1st, 2006, when the federal funding was cut below the level of sustainability for the Southern Maryland WorkSource, Inc. I have worked closely with CSM to extend and improve their course offerings for emergency providers. I serve on the Healthcare Roundtable for Calvert County which works to increase nurse and allied health professional education opportunities in Calvert County, building a career ladder for healthcare professionals. I am a friend of higher education in Southern Maryland.