Primary Winners Keep Pitching

With voters' eyes and ears turning to November's general election, roughly 30 people gathered Wednesday evening inside the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company to hear from candidates, who weighed in on topics ranging from BRAC to crime.

The event, organized by the Greater Odenton Improvement Association, featured a wide array of candidates, led by incumbent County Executive John Leopold, who trumpeted the county's relative fiscal health. 

Leopold, a Republican, began the forum by updating the crowd on several commitments he made when elected four years ago. He boasted of his unwillingness to raise property taxes, even amid the economic tailspin and cited the county's Triple A bond rating as a sign that Anne Arundel County has handled the recession better than other localities.

Looking toward next legislative session, Leopold cited the importance of carefully examining the large re-zoning bill that will come up. The legislation will drastically impact where developers will be able to expand in the county.

The County Executive also reiterated his desire to see an increase in development impact fees used to help pay for local infrastructure needed for new construction.

"It's very important for developers to pay their fair share," Leopold said.

Leopold's Democratic opponent, Joanna Conti, steered clear of attacking the incumbent, instead choosing to highlight her experience and past accomplishments.

"I have real world experience dealing with real world problems," Conti told the crowd, referring to her experience founding Alliance for Youth Achievement, a nonprofit organization that helps impoverished orphans in Asia and Africa.

Conti also weighed in on zoning, explaining that the process of getting developments built must be "fairer, faster, and more predictable."

The Base Realignment and Closure process, known by most as BRAC, was a hot topic for both of the candidates running for the District 4 Anne Arundel County Council seat.

Incumbent Jamie Benoit claimed that $30 million in county infrastructure funds would go to Odenton to make way for BRAC's impact.

And at a time when voters are scrutinizing every cent of public funds spent, the councilman unflinchingly stated that the county council has been a great steward of taxpayer dollars.

"We reduced our pay, took away our car allowances, and took away county council health care benefits," Benoit said.

His oppinent, attorney Charlotte Weinstein spoke in less specific terms, but said she wanted to be a voice for county residents.

"I will rely a lot on my constituents to educate me on what's important," she said.

Weinstein also commented on the "explosion" that will hit West County once BRAC is implemented, although she didn't cite a specific plan on how to handle the influx of people and jobs.

With Odenton being part of three different statehouse districts (21, 32 and 33A), there were a number of candidates present that are vying for seats in the state Senate and House of Delegates.

Madonna Brennan, the Democratic candidate for House of Delegates District 33A, spoke about environmental issues, including fly ash, a carcinogen that she believes should be better controlled by county and federal regulators.  

One of her opponents, current District 5 County Councilwoman Cathy Vitale, spoke about the need for infrastructure improvement, including upgrades on Route 175 in Odenton.

"I am proud to focus on how to revitalize the great community of Odenton," Vitale said.

Perhaps the most intense moments of the evening came from states attorney Frank Weathersbee and his Republican challenger, Eric Grannon. 

Weathersbee, who is seeking is sixth term, questioned Grannon's claims of having experience as a federal prosecutor. Grannon, who works in Washington as an antritrust attorney, shot back that Weathersbee was too lenient in offering probation to repeat offenders and was too reluctant to take many cases to trial. He also said it was time for a new person to take office, as Weathersbee was first elected in 1988.

"It's too long for any person to be in office in the same position," Grannon said.