Crofton High School Supporters to Visit County Council

Proponents of a new high school in the Crofton area will make their presence known at Monday's school budget hearing.

Council Rejects Plan to Move Crofton into District 4

Uncertainty remains as separate plans for new districts from council members Jerry Walker and Chris Trumbauer fall short of the five votes necessary for approval.

The Anne Arundel County Council on Monday rejected a bill that would have moved Crofton into a District with Odenton and Gambrills, but uncertainty over redistricting remains.  The council was unable to muster the five votes needed to pass separate bills designed to address a population imbalance between District 1 and District 4. The failure to pass any bill came after county attorney David A. Plymyer warned that the county would be in violation of the state constitution if it did not redistrict.  Under a bill proposed by council chairman Jerry Walker (R-District 7), the district lines would have been redrawn to turn District 7 into a so-called "rural district." Crofton would have moved to District 4, to be combined with portions of …

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Crofton, Odenton Could Be Placed in Same District

A redistricting plan groups most of Odenton with Crofton, and most of south county would get its own district.

Crofton could find itself in the same district as much of Odenton under a new redistricting plan to be considered by the Anne Arundel County Council.  Council Chairman Jerry Walker (R-7th District) is sponsoring a plan to shift District 1 to the west, while combining portions of Odenton, Crofton and Gambrills into District 4. The portion of Odenton to the north and west of Route 32 would be placed in District 1, along with Severn, Fort Meade, Laurel and Jessup.  The plan would also ensure that District 7 would be comprised almost entirely of south county, and District 2 would be comprised of the northern tip of the county.  Another proposal from Council member Chris Trumbauer (D-4th District) would keep districts relatively the same, …

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State, Federal Grants Boost School Funds

The county council approved a funds transfer of $6.7 million.

County Executive Neuman Takes Oath of Office

Laura Neuman said she will make Anne Arundel County a leader in Maryland.

Anne Arundel's new county executive, Laura Neuman, was sworn into office on Friday morning at the county courthouse in the company of her family. Neuman recited the words that formalized her office, while standing next to her daughter, Avery, and son, Alex—who both beamed and waved for the cameras. After the ceremony, Neuman laid out a portion of her plans as executive. "We will be a leader in the state, and I look forward to meeting that effort. We will restore confidence in the executive branch of government in Anne Arundel County," she said. "I am truly honored to have this opportunity. Thank you." Neuman assumed the office of county executive almost exactly 12 hours after Thursday night's County Council meeting, where she received the …

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16 Hopefuls Apply for County Executive Seat

The Anne Arundel County Council will interview applicants and make a selection on Feb. 21.

There were zero on Wednesday and five on Thursday, but by the noon deadline on Friday, 16 candidates had filled out applications to be the next Anne Arundel county executive. The following list of applicants was provided by Anne Arundel County Council's administrative officer Elizabeth Jones: Five of the candidates were at a forum in Odenton on Thursday night, and Patch has video footage of each making their pitch for the position. The council is scheduled to interview applicants and select a new county executive at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21. The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live. For information on your local government channel, check the Anne Arundel County website. 

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Amy Leahy

7:46 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Shannon….and I suppose you have personal knowledge of Ms Ehrlich's frugality and knowledge of the issues at hand? She strikes me as someone who really is out of touch with the 'common man'. Personally I have nothing against her….I just do not think she is the best pick for this job. She is the only candidate for the position who showed up with a 'handler' while saying she would not use the police…   more ›

Legal Opinion: Council Members Not Eligible for Executive Appointment

The Anne Arundel County Attorney received an opinion that the county's charter disqualifies council members from being appointed county executive.

In the wake of former County Executive John Leopold's resignation, two Anne Arundel County Council members expressed interest in a bid for the seat, but attorneys familiar with charter legislation say the county's charter makes the council members ineligible. After council members John Grasso (R–District 2) and Jerry Walker (R–District 7) expressed interest in putting their name in the running, County Attorney John Hodgson requested an opinion on behalf of the county from Rosenberg, Martin Greenberg LLP, as to whether they are eligible to be appointed to the office. Andrew H. Baida, an attorney for the law firm, cited several county and state rulings that suggest this section of the county charter makes current council members ineligible: …

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Attorney Urges County Council to Postpone Removal of Executive

The county attorney calls the bill to permanently remove the Anne Arundel county executive "premature, because sentencing has not occurred.”

The Anne Arundel County Council introduced legislation that would remove County Executive John R. Leopold from his office, but the county’s attorney said such a decision is may be too hasty. The council cast no vote at its emergency session on Wednesday afternoon, but introduced Bill 7-13, which would declare a vacancy in the executive’s position. The bill draws on a provision recently added to the county's charter after its passage in the November general election. Leopold was found guilty on two counts of misconduct in office on Tuesday. Chief Administrative Officer John Hammond is now serving as acting Anne Arundel county executive as a result of the suspension of Leopold from his duties.  County Attorney Jonathan Hodgson argued that …

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Executive's Job on the Line in Emergency Vote by Council

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold could be permanently removed from office by a county council vote Wednesday.

The Anne Arundel County Council will meet in an emergency session Wednesday afternoon to introduce legislation that would declare a vacancy in the county executive's office. The emergency session notice came Tuesday, shortly after the verdict was read in the trial for County Executive John R. Leopold. Based on recent charter amendments, the county council can declare a vacancy if an executive is found guilty and convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, misfeasance or malfeasance in office. Chief Administrative Officer John Hammond is now serving as acting Anne Arundel county executive as a result of the suspension of Leopold from his duties. The Maryland Constitution provides for suspension of an elected official upon a …

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