Campaign cash tough to come by for Oliver

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: January 27, 2010

Fundraising has been tough for many candidates this year, but one county councilman has had a particularly difficult go of it the last 12 months.

In the most recent campaign finance reports filed last week, Councilman Ken Oliver reported raising no money and had $8,433.76 in cash on hand. That’s down from the $8,530.18 he reported a year ago.

Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this entry • No responses

Pop quiz

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: January 26, 2010

Think you know a lot about county government, the council and the County Charter?

Well, strap on your thinking caps and try this pop quiz.

The 60-question quiz comes courtesy of Debbie Patchak, the council administrator.

A couple of rules, though.

First, no asking others for the answers. Second,  no looking it up on the Internet or anywhere else. Play fair.

I’ll post the answers on Friday.

County Council Pop Quiz

Comment on this entry • No responses

Pension reform: the legal sniff test

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: January 25, 2010

A bill that some say offered a more comprehensive approach to reforming pensions for County Council members would have been legal under federal retirement law, according to a five-page memo prepared by the county Office of Law.

The issue of legality came up last week after the council passed a 60 percent pension cap for any freshman councilman who takes office this December. The council voted that same night to kill a more restrictive bill sponsored by Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder.

Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this entry • View all 5 responses

Cardin reacts to Supreme Court decision

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: January 22, 2010

The effect of Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling, allowing direct campaign contributions from unions and corporations, is of concern to one Baltimore County delegate.

Del. Jon Cardin, a Democrat who represents the 11th District,  said he is not sure what effect the ruling will have, if any, on current state law but plans to ask the attorney general for an opinion.

Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this entry • View 1 response

Pensions and probable candidates

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: January 22, 2010

This week’s chat with Maryland Morning News anchor Bill Vanko. This week, we talk about recently passed legislation to reform pensions for county council members and Ken Holt and Del. Pat McDonough, two top GOP prospects for county executive

Comment on this entry • No responses