http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/ Recent blog posts from Strange Bedfellows on ExploreBaltimoreCounty.com en-us 2010 The Baltimore Sun Media Group, All Rights Reserved. technical@baltimoresun.com (Technical Help) http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/487/pensions-could-be-election-issue/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/487/pensions-could-be-election-issue/ The council passed a bill earlier this year that reforms pensions for councilman but it might still be a campaign issue this September and November. Maryland Morning News anchor Bill Vanko and I talk about it in today's installment of our weekly talk about county politics.... Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:46:42 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/486/hodges-to-challenge-klausmeier/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/486/hodges-to-challenge-klausmeier/ Dee Hodges had hoped to make a more formal announcement about her candidacy,  but you know you can't say anything in a meeting in front of a reporter. Hodges, the chairwoman of the Parkville-based Maryland Taxpayers Association, told about 100 or so attendees of a meeting of the Baltimore County... Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:53:19 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/483/free-to-taxpayers/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/483/free-to-taxpayers/ Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? Up to 400 county employees will be treated to lunch at an event Tuesday as "thanks for a job well done during the Blizzard of 2010," according to a county press release e-mailed Monday afternoon. And the event won't cost... Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:28:18 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/482/fanning-the-flames/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/482/fanning-the-flames/ Is the topic of pension reform so hot that it can't be discussed in public? Depending on who you talk to, it's an issue that's already been addressed -- or one that should continue to be talked about as a campaign issue leading up to the elections in November. Steve... Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:54:25 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/479/teachers-union-defends-olszewski/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/479/teachers-union-defends-olszewski/ Criticism by the Baltimore County firefighters union of an endorsement by Councilman John Olszewski Sr. has another county labor union president crying foul. Cheryl Bost, president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, said Friday in Annapolis that she was disappointed to see Olszewski  criticized as no longer being friendly... Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:06:16 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/477/an-un-campaign/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/477/an-un-campaign/ If Mike Gimbel decides to seek the council seat held by Democratic Councilman (and soon-to-be county executive candidate) Kevin Kamenetz, he says it will not be a typical campaign. "Everything that is traditionally done, I'm going to do the opposite," said Gimbel, who served as the county's drug treatment czar... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:21:09 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/474/kamenetz-picks-up-second-eastside-nod/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/474/kamenetz-picks-up-second-eastside-nod/ Councilman Kevin Kamenetz' s nascent county executive campaign picked up another eastside endorsement Thursday morning. In a video posted on Youtube, Democratic former state Sen. Michael Collins praises Kamenetz for his management of the county budget and said the councilman who represents Owings Mills, Pikesville and Ruxton, has demonstrated a... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:10:52 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/476/water-mains-and-school-board-bills/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/476/water-mains-and-school-board-bills/ Here's this morning's chat with Maryland Morning News Anchor Bill Vanko where we cover water main repairs and dueling bills that would change the county school board from fully appointed by the governor to either a fully elected or a hybrid of the two.... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:25:56 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/473/mensh-talks-about-her-future/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/473/mensh-talks-about-her-future/ Suzanne Mensh ended months of public speculation about her political future and the 2010 elections on Tuesday. Mensh, 80, has served the county in elected office for 12 consecutive terms since 1962 — first as an Orphans Court judge and later chief judge of that court from 1962-1986 and then... Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:35:40 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/472/court-house-ticket/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/472/court-house-ticket/ Members of a newly-minted "Court House Ticket" for Baltimore County are slated to meet outside the Old Courthouse in Towson around 11 a.m. Tuesday to pose for campaign photos before going together to Catonsville to register as candidates for their respective offices. R. Jay Fisher, a Democrat running for his... Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:25:48 EST