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Office Sought: County Executive Name: Ann C. Helton |
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Education: Graduated North Hagerstown High School (1957) and Hood College (B.A. 1961); Horticultural Certificate Programs, Longwood Gardens Work
Experience: May
1979
- May
1983,
Maryland Department of
Human Resources,
Director Intergovernmental Relations 1962-1964, Baltimore City, Special Education Teacher Political Offices Held: Brief Biography: Born and raised in Hagerstown, MD; life-long resident of Maryland and 25-year resident of Harford County. Oldest of three children; have two children and 3 stepchildren; 5 grandchildren. Active volunteer post-career work in Harford County including immediate Past-President of Harford Land Trust and 11-year volunteer CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) for at-risk children, program sponsored by Harford County Circuit Court. Live in Darlington on small sheep farm. 1. Why are you running for this office? I am deeply distressed by the direction Harford County Government has taken in dealing with land use management. There has been very little management and a great deal of unrestricted residential growth. I have made a commitment to deal with the one big issue most affecting our count: Growth and Development. The failure to deal with this issue has resulted in the overcrowding of our schools, the clogging of our roads and the loss of our agricultural land. I would serve without the moneyed influence of builders and developers who now shape our development. The current practices cannot continue without irreparable harm to our future. 2. If you are elected, what do you intend to do to improve the quality of education in Harford County? I have advocated for an aggressive school construction program, support for maintaining a competitive salary structure for teachers in order to attract and retain skilled teachers and expansion of Magnet Schools including the Harford Tech model. 3. What do you intend to do to prepare Harford County for the influx of 30,000 new jobs created by BRAC? First of all, I don’t think we know any of the numbers for BRAC and how they directly affect Harford County. I believe a regional approach is needed in order to understand all the resources and costs associated with this process. In the meantime, we should focus on how we are going to deliver services and funding for all of our current residents re: school constructions, public safety, roads, recreation, etc. This is an even bigger challenge! 4. What in your mind is the biggest problem facing Harford County as it enters the twenty first century and how do you expect to correct this problem? As I stated above, growth and development is the most important issue facing our County. I will address this issue with policies that speak to 1) where future development should be directed, 2) effectiveness of farmland preservation programs, 3) an out-dated and conflicted zoning code, 4) how to pay for unmet needs without growing the size of government. This will be a tough job and we will need all the stakeholders, including farmers, businesspeople, and citizens, to come to the table with their government to help address these issues. |
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