Voters rejected a referendum Tuesday to change Carroll County?s government format ? the fifth time in the county?s history.
More than 25,000 voters said “no” and nearly 20,000 said “yes” to changing their government from commissioner to code home rule, a measure that would allow the commissioners to pass legislation without the General Assembly?s approval.
Proponents said the switch would give power to local leaders instead of letting state lawmakers decide on issues that only affect Carroll.
But opponents said it would remove the checks and balances of Carroll?s state delegation and allow the commissioners to enact a transfer tax on real estate transactions.
Some residents said voters didn?t have enough time to decide on the issue, first proposed this spring by Del. Susan Krebs, R-District 9B, after state lawmakers failed to pass a map delineating election districts for five commissioners.
“I had 75 people come up to me [on Election Day] and ask, ?What is code home rule?? ” said Larry Helminiak, chairman-elect of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee.
Voters defeated code home rule in 1984 and 1968 by larger margins than this year, said Victor Tervala, a University of Maryland government expert.
Residents also rejected two initiatives for another form of home rule called charter ? which calls for an executive and county council ? in 1992 and 1998.
“When it?s defeated, it?s usually about money,” Tervala said.
“With any change, people are worried about higher costs, he said.”
Judy Smith, a campaign volunteer for the incumbent commissioners, instructed residents to vote for home rule Tuesday as they walked into Carrolltowne Elementary School in Eldersburg to cast their ballots, but later admitted that she doubted it would pass.
“People got swept up in this [commissioner] campaign,” she said. “But home rule is more responsive government.”
A few yards away, Koreen Hughes, a campaign volunteer for Republican Michael Zimmer, who won a commissioner seat, criticized home rule.
“It?s just a tax increase,” she said.
Part of the Baltimore Examiner’s 2006 election coverage
