Political snow storm

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: February 9, 2010

Let’s face it, nothing is as political in any county as snow removal.

County executives have been nearly run out of town on a rail because of it. That’s why executives hold annual press conferences to tell county residents how they are preparing to keep the streets clear when the snow arrives.

Add to the political fodder a Monday night press release from county Republican Central Committee Chairman Chris Cavey, who criticized County Executive Jim Smith and the County Council for what he desribed as a failure to properly plan for last weekend’s blizzard.

“Everyone knew it was coming,” Cavey said. “They were calling it Snowmageddon and stuff like that.”

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Time change for work session

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: February 8, 2010

The County Council’s regularly scheduled work session Tueday will be held at 12 p.m.

This is two-hours earlier than usual and a result of the impending snow storm that is expected to bring more snow to the area.

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So you think you can snow-dance?

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: February 8, 2010

The last thing a county with a $144 million revenue shortfall needs is a blizzard.

Don Mohler, a county spokesman, said he and County Executive Jim Smith tried to ward off the impending storm with a little anti-snow dance.

“Last week I used all my bad dance moves,” said Mohler. “I even had the county executive doing a little butter-churn move.”

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Beyond Powerball

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: February 4, 2010

Maryland joined the Powerball drawings last night but that might not help Baltimore County, which just saw its projected budget deficit for the current year grow $6 million to $144 million.

Maryland Morning News Anchor Bill Vanko and I talk about it in this week’s chat about Baltimore County politics.

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Kratovil, Harris report fundraising totals

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: February 3, 2010

Harris

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil maintains a nearly 2-1 advantage in cash on hand over his challenger, Republican State Sen. Andy Harris, according to campaign fund raising filings filed Sunday with the Federal Elections Commission.

Harris reported a slight advantage in fund raising over the period of Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 raising about $267,000 — or about $30,000 more than Kratovil.

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