St. Mary's County Regime Change

[nhboy]

"St. Mary's County Considers Local Regime Change

WASHINGTON - St. Mary's County may be looking for a charm this third time around.

Come Tuesday, the county five commissioners are expected to vote on whether to change the county's form of government to a charter, the third time the issue's come up in 35 years, or another form.

"Why mess up things that are working well?" said Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe, implying his vote.

Fifteen volunteers have been studying the issue as a task force since March, after commissioners determined growth in the county might require a change."

St. Mary's County Considers Local Regime Change - Southern Maryland Headline News

 

[vraiblonde]

I'd be curious how many people are for this and against it. Some of the rationales against are just silly, like equating charter home rule with high crime - obviously Charles and PG have higher crime because they have a higher population, not because they are chartered.

As for Mattingly and Raley saying people aren't ready for a change, that's just dumb. The vast majority of St. Mary's countians won't even realize anything is different.

I am probably for the charter. I think St. Mary's should be able to make its own decisions without having to kiss the ring of the state legislature. I like the idea of an elected executive and a county council - I think we're too big to continue with the commissioner form of government.

 

[awpitt]

I'd be curious how many people are for this and against it. Some of the rationales against are just silly, like equating charter home rule with high crime - obviously Charles and PG have higher crime because they have a higher population, not because they are chartered.

As for Mattingly and Raley saying people aren't ready for a change, that's just dumb. The vast majority of St. Mary's countians won't even realize anything is different.

I am probably for the charter. I think St. Mary's should be able to make its own decisions without having to kiss the ring of the state legislature. I like the idea of an elected executive and a county council - I think we're too big to continue with the commissioner form of government.

Good points, V. The current commisioner form of govt raps legislative and executive powers into one entity, the County Commisioners. With charter govt, there's a seperation of powers. Legislative being with the county council and executive being with the elected County Executive.

 

[MMDad]

I'd be curious how many people are for this and against it.....

I think St. Mary's should be able to make its own decisions without having to kiss the ring of the state legislature. I like the idea of an elected executive and a county council - I think we're too big to continue with the commissioner form of government.

GOB rule may be better now, but it is too fresh in my memory to have any faith that it is actually gone. I just don't trust the people who are elected to do the right thing without oversight.

However, I also see that the county will not "grow up" and become what it needs to become unless the change is made.

I guess my opinion would be that the change needs to happen, I'm just not sure it's time to do it yet.

 

[vraiblonde]

Pitt, can you think of any downside? Of course the Commissioners are going to be against it - charter home rule would impact their control and power. So why they get to make this decison is beyond me. It's like 6 wolves and 1 sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

 

[vraiblonde]

GOB rule may be better now, but it is too fresh in my memory to have any faith that it is actually gone.

GOB rule is alive and well, and you only have to take a look at the Commissioner lineup to realize it.

 

[MMDad]

GOB rule is alive and well, and you only have to take a look at the Commissioner lineup to realize it.

I know it is, but I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

And GOB is what worries me, because there is a 99.9% chance that the County Exec. would be a commisioner or another crony. It'll be GOB with less oversight.

 

[Pete]

I know it is, but I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

And GOB is what worries me, because there is a 99.9% chance that the County Exec. would be a commisioner or another crony. It'll be GOB with less oversight.

Voter oversight every 4 years. :shrug:

 

[MMDad]

Voter oversight every 4 years. :shrug:

Half of all voters have an IQ below 100. The voters elected a convicted rapist as their State's Attorney.

Sorry if I don't have faith in the voters.

 

[This_person]

Half of all voters have an IQ below 100. The voters elected a convicted rapist as their State's Attorney.

Sorry if I don't have faith in the voters.

So sad.....



True, but still so sad.......

 

[awpitt]

Pitt, can you think of any downside? Of course the Commissioners are going to be against it - charter home rule would impact their control and power. So why they get to make this decison is beyond me. It's like 6 wolves and 1 sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

I guess the downside might be the fact that with the current system, there is oversight via the state legislature. The commissioners can set the local tax rates, develop & approve the budget, and they have the final say on P&Z issues. Beyond that, they has to go to the state legislature to get new laws approved. Some feel that this keeps some of the GOBs in check. They feel that with charter home rule, the GOBs would have free run without state oversight. Some of the existing charters have provisions for recall elections which is something I think should be included if St. Mary's goes this route. Charles County has code home rule which is sort of the middle ground.

 

[Pete]

Half of all voters have an IQ below 100. The voters elected a convicted rapist as their State's Attorney.

Sorry if I don't have faith in the voters.

I agree

 

[Bavarian]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
The current form of Government with County Commisioners has worked well. The only people calling for a change are those that want St. Mary's County to become part of Baltiwash. It would hasten the destrustion of the rural nature of the county.

 

[awpitt]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
The current form of Government with County Commisioners has worked well. The only people calling for a change are those that want St. Mary's County to become part of Baltiwash. It would hasten the destrustion of the rural nature of the county.

How would a change in the structure of govt hasten the destruction of the rural nature of the county? I ask because the population has grown by almost 30% since 1990 and there was no change in the structure of govt.

 

[Bavarian]

The County Executive form would be more contusive to making the county a suburb. It would very well push for Metrorail or lightrail, opening up the county to more dense development. 235 already looks like Waldorf. When I came here, 235 had no commercial development other than the Happy Hamburger and Lenny's. The commisioners at the time wanted to prevent St. Mary's County from becoming a bedroom community.

 

[awpitt]

The County Executive form would be more contusive to making the county a suburb. It would very well push for Metrorail or lightrail, opening up the county to more dense development. 235 already looks like Waldorf. When I came here, 235 had no commercial development other than the Happy Hamburger and Lenny's. The commisioners at the time wanted to prevent St. Mary's County from becoming a bedroom community.

You still haven't said how the structure of govt determines growth. In fact, you mentioned all the growth that has occured in St. Mary's since you arrived. All the growth you mentioned occured under commissioner form of govt. It's not the structure of govt that causes growth, it's the people who are elected or appointed the determines growth.

 

[vraiblonde]

The County Executive form would be more contusive to making the county a suburb. It would very well push for Metrorail or lightrail, opening up the county to more dense development. 235 already looks like Waldorf. When I came here, 235 had no commercial development other than the Happy Hamburger and Lenny's. The commisioners at the time wanted to prevent St. Mary's County from becoming a bedroom community.

Well, like it or not, the county is growing and with it comes shopping and restaurants. I would LOVE to have a lightrail service in this area and so would many others who commute to DC.

I'm always surprised at the people who are against growth. Do you all really want to go back to crabbing for a living?

 

[Vince]

Well, like it or not, the county is growing and with it comes shopping and restaurants. I would LOVE to have a lightrail service in this area and so would many others who commute to DC.

I'm always surprised at the people who are against growth. Do you all really want to go back to crabbing for a living?

When are you going to run for County Commisioner?

 

[Bavarian]

Well, like it or not, the county is growing and with it comes shopping and restaurants. I would LOVE to have a lightrail service in this area and so would many others who commute to DC.

I'm always surprised at the people who are against growth. Do you all really want to go back to crabbing for a living?

What is wrong with crabbing for a living? Keep Baltiwash up North.
For those who don't like it here, remember the same road that brought you here will take you back out.

 

[nhboy]

Well, like it or not, the county is growing and with it comes shopping and restaurants. I would LOVE to have a lightrail service in this area and so would many others who commute to DC.

I'm always surprised at the people who are against growth. Do you all really want to go back to crabbing for a living?

I would like to see light rail service too.