Let there be rubber chicken dinners and bull roasts and house parties once again.
Baltimore County Councilmembers have abstained from raising money for their campaigns for the last year. But with the end of the quadrennial rezoning process two weeks ago, the seven county legislators are now free to raise money and the first event is now on the calendar.
Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, will have an event at in Parkville in November. Guests will pay between $250 and $4,000 to attend.
The event is sponsored by Steven Sibel and Arthur Adler, two partners with Caves Valley Partners which redeveloped the Towson City Center project; David Altfeld and Ron Schaftel of Southern Land; Wayne Gioioso Jr. of Mid-Atlantic Properties; David Gildea and Scott Barhight, development lawyers with and respectively; Tim Bonner and Pat McElroy of and Russell Berk of .
The remaining six councilmembers are expected to quickly follow suit with their own events, if they haven't done so already.
For the last year, the council has . County law does not require fundraising forbearance. The voluntary practice dates back to 1994 at the request of then Councilman Kevin Kamenetz who was concerned about the appearance of impropriety that could come from raising money while making zoning decisions.
Let's reverse the process and vote for the candidate with the least funds raised this go round.....screw the big money...for it tends to screw us..
I'd suggest the following to the good people of the county. Get a coffee can and save 50 cents a week to give to a council candidate that pledges not to take developer money and commits to fundamental reforms. IF your district can get 1000 people to do the same, honest candidates can compete. Immediately put June the 24th, 2014 on your calendar and commit to working your polling place for an honest land use candidate. I repeat, if we do this, this county could be taken back!