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Health & Fitness

BLOG: Who's Going to be a Real Man and Break the Tie?

Our county council is deadlocked on the replacement for Daryl Jones after 103 votes. It's time to get off the proverbial pot and move forward by someone being man enough to change their vote.

Tomorrow night the county council will once again take up the vote for the county council seat vacated by the imprisoned Daryl Jones.  After 103 votes, the 6 men are deadlocked.  I have followed this situation with interest and have even spoken to a couple of our Republican council members trying to convince them to change their vote.  

I spoke with John Grasso and told him I felt the council needed 'new blood' by allowing Peter Smith a chance at filling Jone's seat.  He's young, seems truly interested in serving his community, and has no baggage that will follow him to the position.  Grasso told me he felt Wagner, since he's a businessman and a conservative was the better man for the job.  

What he didn't mention of course is the thousands of dollars over the years that Wagner has contributed to Republican candidates.   Like politics everywhere, Anne Arundel County has seen it's share of 'cross-pollinating' between the two parties and Mike Wagner, being both a politician and a businessman, has done his fair share.  

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Which brings me to the other piece to this puzzle...Mike Wagner, the former state senator.  Retired.  Why would his man want to throw his name in the hat for a job where he's going to have to serve constituents, attend budget hearings throughout the month of May, and work hours that he's probably not too keen on working in the twilight of his life?  (Sorry Senator...don't mean to make it sound like you're old or anything.)

Well the answer is that he was approached by County Executive Leopold to apply for the job, knowing that the Republicans would all vote for him because that's what was supposed to happen.  Except that Jerry Walker apparently didn't get the memo. Or he chose to ignore it because Mr. Walker doesn't seem to be touting the party line in his votes while on the council.  Or maybe he has very good reason.

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In 1992 Ed Middlebrooks challenged Mike Wagner for the Senator's seat and accused him of voting for the largest tax increases in the history of Maryland.  He voted for the gasloine tax increase and an income tax increase on people making over $150,000 a year, which he raised to 6%.  Since Wagner has a history of voting party line, how can our Rebublicans on the County Council believe he will vote conservatively, even as a puppet of the county executive?  

I also had a conversation with Dick Ladd who believes that Wagner will be an assurred vote for the Republicans on the county council.  That's his reason to vote for Wagner instead of Smith.   Once again I ask the question:  Can one really think Wagner is to be trusted on his votes?

I am a conservative Republican but I do not believe that the Republicans controlling this appointment is the right thing to do.  They need to back off and let the Democrats on the council have the deciding vote in this matter.  If you agree with me you should call the three Republicans - Grasso, Ladd and Fink - and let them know they should vote for Peter Smith.  410-222-1401

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