County Exec. Cassilly Tries To Oust Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Penman From County Council Seat

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly wants Councilman Aaron Penman removed from his position with the County Council, citing that Penman's work as a Harford County sheriff's deputy is in conflict with his Council duties.

However, Section 207 allows an employee of the sheriff's office to fulfill both duties, Penman noted.

In a letter sent to Harford County Council President Patrick Vincenti, Cassilly addressed the issue.

"His dual employment as a Harford County councilmember and a deputy sheriff violates Section 207 of the Harford County Charter, which prohibits council members from also serving as employees of the state or county governments. The office of the Harford County sheriff is a state office," Cassilly wrote in his letter. "I therefore call upon the County Council to take immediate action to remove Councilman Penman from his membership on the Harford County Council, as he no longer meets the requirements for that public office."

This is the second time Cassilly has tried to boot a member off the council based on their primary job, according to WBAL. Cassilly claimed Councilman Jacob Bennett was ineligible to serve on the council because he is a teacher for Harford County Public Schools. Bennett's case went all the way to the Maryland Supreme Court, which ruled he could serve on the council.

"(Section 207) does not preclude a teacher employed by the Harford County Board of Education from simultaneously serving as a member of the Harford County Council," the ruling said.

Penman confirmed to WBAL that he is employed with the sheriff's office and has no plans to resign. His decision to return to the sheriff's office was based on the Maryland Supreme Court ruling and subsequent opinion handed down in Bennett's case.

"I was elected by voters in District B. I plan to continue to serve Harford County," he told WBAL. "Before I made the decision to return to the sheriff's office, we waited for the opinion from the judge to make sure it was OK. I sought legal counsel, the sheriff sought legal counsel, all of them gave the greenlight that we were in full compliance with the ruling."

The court's opinion in Bennett's case included the sheriff's office as an exception to the rule.

"Among the non-county agencies that receive funding from the county, as approved by the council, are the sheriff and sheriff's office, the Harford County Health Department, Circuit Court personnel, State's Attorney's Office personnel and the Harford Soil Conservation District," the court's opinion stated.

The Harford County Sheriff's office announced that following a review of the court's full written opinion released Aug. 30, Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler determined that Penman's separation from the agency was unnecessary.

"The taxpayers of Harford County have invested greatly in Sgt. Penman over the course of his career and returning his experience and skills to the sheriff's office's ranks is a benefit to public safety in our county," Gahler said.