Friday, April 12, 2013
John Leopold, former Anne Arundel County executive, left jail Friday after serving a 30-day sentence for misconduct.
John Leopold, the former Anne Arundel County executive found guilty on two counts of criminal misconduct in January, was released Friday after serving a 30-day jail sentence. Leopold will continue to serve 30 days on house arrest, according to his sentencing. After starting his political career 43 years ago as a state representative in Hawaii, the 70-year-old faces his first time out of elected office since 1995, according to Maryland State Archives. Patch wants to know what readers think Leopold should do next. Vote in our poll. Editor's note: The poll has been published to all eight Patch websites in Anne Arundel County.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The new county executive touched on issues ranging from ethics to the county property tax cap, attendees said.
New Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman met with members of the Crofton community on Tuesday night, taking questions for more than an hour on issues including ethics, property taxes and business policies, according to those in attendance. Members of the Greater Crofton Council told Patch that Neuman spoke for more than an hour—double her allotted time—and said the county must modernize and find ways to compete with other counties. According to a report on the Greater Crofton Council website, Neuman said the county government "was stuck in the 1980s" and would benefit from improved systems at the Office of Planning and Zoning and in areas of inspections and permitting. "Neuman said that most job growth is from small businesses and…
Friday, February 22, 2013
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 …
The chief executive officer of Howard County’s Economic Development Authority will be sworn into office at 10 a.m. Friday in Annapolis.
UPDATE (11:45 a.m.)—Laura Neuman, who was selected to be the new county executive, was greeted with a rush of applause moments after she received a majority vote Thursday from the Anne Arundel County Council. Neuman, 46, is a native of Anne Arundel County and the CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority. She gave a rousing speech during her interview with council members on Thursday night, laying her whole life bare—her trials and successes in making her own way in the world. Neuman earned a master's in business administration without a high school diploma or undergraduate degree, worked at T. Rowe Price, and Hilton Hotels before earning a name for herself in Maryland. "It is truly an honor to serve," Neuman said after she …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
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: …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
The public is invited to ask questions and speak with potential candidates on Thursday night at the library in Odenton.
The West County Republican Club will host a special meeting on Thursday to discuss the process of appointing a new county executive in Anne Arundel County. The event is open to the public and will start at 6 p.m. Thursday at the West County Library in Odenton. According to the club's Facebook page, the appointment process will be discussed and there may be an opportunity for candidates to "interact with the public and respond to Republican questions." The Capital reported attendees will include Sen. Ed Reilly (R-Crofton) as moderator; Kendel Ehrlich, wife of former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.; Del. Steve Schuh (R-Gibson Island) and 2012 U.S. Senate candidate Dan Bongino. In an email to Patch last week, Bongino said he was "strongly …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
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 …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
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 …
The Anne Arundel county executive could now face removal from office.
UPDATE (6:15 p.m.)—A Circuit Court judge in Annapolis found Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold guilty of two counts of criminal 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. Sweeney acquitted Leopold of three other charges. Leopold faced a five-count grand jury indictment that included four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. The Anne Arundel County Council is expected to vote on Leopold's removal from office as soon as Monday. Prosecutors of the case claimed that Leopold misused his security detail—which is paid for by the county—…
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The prosecution rested its case against Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold by submitting documents how much overtime pay his protective detail earned.
Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold's defense strategy in his misconduct trial has started to emerge as the prosecution concluded its case. Defense attorney Bruce Marcus spent the past four days hammering home the arguments that no guidelines exist for officers assigned to the county executive's protection unit and that Leopold's two back surgeries in 2010 severely limited his "self-reliant" nature causing him to lean on an inner circleof associates. Leopold faces a five-count indictment, which includes four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. Leopold waived his right to a jury trial, opting instead to let Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeny decide his fate. During the final day …
Melody LaPier
12:21 am on Friday, April 19, 2013
He should pay back the $60,000 plus that the County paid out for his legal fees, lose his pension and pay back the money the officers were paid in regular pay and overtime while they were taking him to and from his sexual liaisons at the Annapolis Mall parking lot and everywhere else he and the other county employee were obliging themselves on the taxpayers dime. Why haven't we heard anything … more ›