Anne Arundel County legislators plan to take another swing at the delegation?s perennial issue, changing the county School Board from an appointed panel to an elected body.
Freshman Sen.-elect Bryan Simonaire, R-District 31, will lead the charge on one proposal.
“I campaigned on trying to get the voice of the people back in our communities and back in Annapolis,” Simonaire said. An elected School Board would make the members more accountable for their actions.
His bill calls for a purely elected School Board unlike an idea floated during the last General Assembly session that substituted a countywide commission for the existing countywide nominating convention for School Board candidates. Candidates were still subject to appointment by the governor.
Sen. John Astle, D-District 30, said the almost 50 percent turnover in the delegation could improve the bill?s chances. “I personally would like to see the bill get passed,” he said.
Critics have argued that an elected School Board would not accurately represent the county?s minority population. County Executive John Leopold is scheduled to meet with the county legislative delegation next week to discuss his priorities for the session, which begins Jan. 10. Lawmakers said they were willing to help Leopold work with the state to transfer ownership of the old Crownsville Hospital property to the county.
“It is important that the county takes the initiative to control the destiny of this 648-acre piece of property,” Leopold said in a statement.
Some lawmakers also expressed a willingness to consider legislation requiring panhandlers to have a county permit before soliciting money along county roads, another Leopold issue.
“The only problem is it doesn?t stop the panhandlers,” said Delegate Mary Ann Love, D-District 32. “Either you take it away entirely, or the charities will have to find another means.”
Some charitable organizations balked during the last session at attempts to outlaw panhandling altogether, saying a ban would prevent them from raising funds.
