At their first public appearance together Wednesday night, Republican Baltimore County executive candidate Clarence Bell wasted no time attacking Democratic incumbent Jim Smith. Smith repeatedly ignored Bell?s requests for debates and attended few prior candidates? forums, he said. “I?ve made it to all the ones I?ve been invited to,” Bell said. “He disrespected the process.”
Aside from a few other zingers ? including a comment about Smith?s $2 million payment to a country club to restrict development ? relatively generic questions produced a cordial forum organized by the county?s League of Women Voters.
Smith, a one-term incumbent heavily favored in a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1, focused on revitalization of blighted communities such as Middle River?s Kingsley Park and Dundalk?s Yorkway neighborhood. He trumpeted a watershed protection agreement he penned with Carroll County and Baltimore lawmakers, and efforts to improve the county?s tree-cover deficit. With new processes like the charette and Urban Development Assistance Teams, development review has never been so inclusive, he said.
But Bell, commander of the Maryland State Police?s Waterloo Barracks, said a development-friendly county executive has negative side-effects ? overcrowded schools and not enough open space. Bell said he wants to create a community council that would meet regularly with the county executive. He also criticized what he called Smith?s over-use of eminent domain. Smith said eminent domain is appropriate only for schools, parks, roads and to clear blighted neighborhoods like Yorkway. “Eminent domain will never be used in Baltimore County as long as I?m county executive for economic development,” Smith said.
Key differences included the candidate?s priorities for senior citizens ? Smith identified information, Bell, transportation ? and slots. Bell said he supported slots but Smith said that he would not want them at Timonium Fairgrounds and that proceeds should benefit education.
Part of the Baltimore Examiner’s 2006 Election Coverage
