'This County is Better Positioned for the Future': Craig

Harford County Executive David R. Craig presented the County Council and the citizens with an overview of his administration's accomplishments in his ninth "State of the County" address this week.

Craig highlighted capital projects including schools, libraries, and recreation centers that have been constructed throughout the county during his tenure, which began in 2005.

"In Havre de Grace we built the Havre de Grace Activity Center, and are moving forward on the high school and new library," Craig said.

He acknowledged challenges such as state education funding and wins like the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) resulting in 6,000 new private sector jobs, a quadrupling of defense contractors based in Harford County and an increase of 1.5 million square feet in office space.

"While we may not have always agreed and although there have been instances where consensus in the community was not attainable," Craig said before the County Council, "let no one claim that we did not or do not put first and foremost our love of this county and our common desire to pass it on in a better state to our children and grandchildren."

This was Craig's final address as county executive, an office which is limited to two consecutive terms.

• Craig's State of the County Address for 2014
• Craig to Deliver Final State of the County Address