The Republican Nomination for President

With the Iowa caucuses on January 3rd, the process will officially begin to select the Republican nominee for President of the United States.

Polls have described a fickle Republican electorate over the past few months.  Texas Governor Rick Perry surged in the early fall, then it was former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.  But all along, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was the man to beat.  The Republican Party has a royalist tradition; in almost every election since 1960, the party has picked the heir apparent nominee as its standard-bearer.



Mitt Romney

Romney is a stronger, more disciplined candidate than he was in 2008.  The state of the economy plays to Romney's strengths; check out the glowing article on his years at Harvard Business School that ran in The New York Times, not a newspaper known for its friendliness to Republican candidates.  And while a debate between Newt Gingrich and President Obama would probably be one of the most exciting in history, Romney has shown a polished focus that could carry him to victory.

The bottom line is that Mitt Romney can beat President Obama.  The latest Rasmussen Reports poll gives Romney a six-point advantage.  A Presidential election, of course, is actually 51 different races in the various states and the District of Columbia.  Romney almost certainly restores Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina to the Republican column; likely wins Ohio and Florida; and has at least an even shot of capturing marginal states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.  Picking a running mate like New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, a former prosecutor with sky-high approval ratings, might seal the deal in the Southwest.

Of the remaining candidates, I have also been very impressed with former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who could clearly defeat President Obama by attracting many Independents and independent-minded Democrats to his campaign.  Huntsman has focused almost all his energy on New Hampshire, but I just don't see him beating Romney.  Should Romney fail, though, Huntsman emerges as one to watch in 2016.

Carney Village Shopping Center Due for Facelift in 2013

I learned today that the Carney Village Shopping Center at the corner of Joppa and Harford Roads will get a facelift in 2013.  Improvements will be made to the retail area and signage at the shopping center. 

Carney Village Shopping Center

The 52,000-square foot shopping center is a landmark in Carney.  Its largest tenant is the Mars supermarket.  The upgrades will hopefully enhance this part of northeastern Baltimore County.

I look forward to sharing the plans for the shopping center with the community.

Honoring Three Outstanding Citizens of the Year

Throughout the Fifth District, there are outstanding men and women who work tirelessly to improve their neighborhoods.   I have decided to create an annual award to honor three citizens who have worked in different ways in their communities.

In the Towson area, I am honoring Loni Ingraham, who worked for 24 years as a local journalist.   She was best known as principal reporter for the Towson Times.   Upon her retirement, The Baltimore Sun noted that "the job Loni has accomplished most completely is that of storyteller, whose tales of local residents, events and issues have chronicled the lives, times, struggles, setbacks and victories of the greater Towson community."

In the Loch Raven/Parkville area, I am honoring Bill Deysher, president of the Ridgeleigh Community Association.   Ridgeleigh includes 1,100 units (mostly brick rowhomes) between Loch Raven Boulevard, Putty Hill Avenue, Oakleigh Avenue, and Joppa Road.   This neighborhood is commonly called "the Oaks."  Over the past year, I have been greatly impressed by the energy and genuine affection residents feel for their community.  Much of their success is due to the tireless leadership of Bill Deysher.

In the Perry Hall area, I am honoring Dennis Hoover, who is leaving the Baltimore County Planning Board after a decade of service.  The Planning Board reviews zoning, development, and infrastructure throughout the county.  While on the Planning Board, Dennis was a tireless advocate for the construction of the new Perry Hall library.  He also worked for new traffic calming policies, and most recently has served on the Perry Hall Dog Park Committee.

I am very proud to honor these three outstanding citizens.

A Milestone for Towson Circle III

Towson Circle III is a development that would be built on four acres in eastern Towson, between Joppa Road and Delaware, Virginia, and Pennsylvania Avenues.   This project has gone through many changes over the past decade.  At one point, dormitories were proposed at the location, then dropped after a groundswell of community opposition.  Most recently, the project included office space.

Source: Towon Patch.

Plans now call for restaurants and a 14-screen multiplex cinema.   The latest proposal includes a 862-space parking garage, significantly larger than originally planned.

I have been briefed on the Towson Circle III project and met with the developers several times.   It is an important project as we work to revitalize Downtown Towson.  In fact, I consider it one of the four critical elements as we redevelop Towson.  The others are Towson City Center (slated to open in May or June); Towson Commons; and whatever may happen at the Towson Triangle between Burke Avenue, Towsontown Boulevard, and York Road.

On Tuesday, the Baltimore County Revenue Authority approved an amended lease agreement that will allow it to build a larger parking garage at Towson Circle III.   This was a significant milestone.  The agreement still needs to be approved by the County Council, but I will speak in favor.   With the agreement in place, a significant hurdle will be cleared.

Two ingredients are very important for revitalization of Downtown Towson.  First, we need to bring a mass of activity into the core.  Second, we need to recognize that Towson University and Goucher College can stabilize the downtown area; offices and classrooms, for example can anchor a growing collection of restaurants and businesses.  But Towson Circle III also provides the variety of entertainment options needed in a first-class community.

County to Extend Indian Rock Park Trail

One of my priorities has been to develop new trails and sidewalk connections throughout Baltimore County.  Trails and sidewalks not only offer an alternative to driving, but they encourage physical fitness.  In February, the County Council passed legislation I sponsored with Councilman Tom Quirk that created a Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee.  This panel will hopefully help us develop a more integrated transportation system.

I am very happy that the county has been awarded $30,000 to extend the trail at Indian Rock Park in Perry Hall.   The funding comes from the Maryland State Highway Administration's Recreational Trails Program.  Our office wrote the grant application with help from the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks.  The Department will supply the 25 percent ($10,000) local match.   The county has generally not taken advantage of this funding source. 

Indian Rock Park is a wooded area west of Perry Hall High School.   The county created a short trail at the park in 2009, but the pathway is barely noticed from Ebenezer Road.   Currently, it forms a little loop several hundred feet in the park.  My goal has been to connect this looped path to Ebenezer Road, then extend the entire route to Silver Spring Road, where it will eventually become part of the Northeast Trail.  Neighborhoods will be actively consulted as the specific alignment is chosen.

I look forward to developing more transportation options for all residents of the Fifth District.