Cathy Bevins: Political Walking Dead?
Photos
Cathy Bevins doesn't look like a political zombie.
But to hear her tell it, at least one zoning-enraged developer has declared her among the politically walking dead for the coming 2014 election.
Bevins, the first-term Oliver Beach Democrat, believes she has a target on her back because of the zoning decision she made in September on the Middle River Depot.
David Cordish, a well-known developer and owner of nearby Carroll Island Shopping Center, is not pleased with her rezoning and is helping back an effort to overturn the decision at the 2014 ballot box. Bevins said that the message she's been given is that Cordish may be looking for a candidate to challenge her in that same year.
"I've heard he's said that I am politically dead in 2014," said Bevins.
Cordish, along with David S. Brown Enterprises, have funneled $250,000 into an effort to defeat zoning decisions in districts represented by Bevins and Councilwoman Vicki Almond.
"Who the hell is David Cordish to come out of the blue and start a referendum against my maps?" said Bevins, adding that she would rather work with the developer than fight him.
"His shopping center is struggling," said Bevins. "I'd think he'd want to think of how to reinvest and re-invent it. I'd be willing to work with him."
But she acknowledges that she could face a Cordish-backed primary challenge in her new district that is redrawn to favor a Democratic candidate.
"If he wants to back a candidate, if he wants to spend his money and his time doing that then he can and I can't spend a lot of time worrying about it," Bevins said.
Bevins is also not wasting time raising money. The councilwoman, like her collegaues, is now raising money again after taking more than a year off because of the quadrennial rezoning process.
Last week she held a fundraiser reportedly attended by about 250 people who paid $35 per person. Another 15 businesses sponsored the event at $250 each.
Next week, Bevins will hold another higher-priced event at the Arbors at Crossroads where the ticket prices top out at $1,000 per person.
Ultimately, Bevins says it's her constituent service that will keep her in offce.
"I'm not doing a bad job," she said. "If David Cordish thinks he can make the argument and say that I'm doing a bad job and find someone to run against me then that's his god-given right."
Meg O'Hare
7:20 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Cathy Bevins has not been successful on two issues along the Harford Road corridor. She has sided with development. The Lavender Lot is being developed by the efforts of the Baltimore County Revenue Authority and the people on East Avenue in Carney have development up to their property with no buffer.
Now she is upset because a developer is trying to help remove her from office. What goes around comes around.
mike gardiner
9:31 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Republican griper-in-chief, Meg O'Hare, wouldn't know how to make a decision if her life depended on it. Bevins made many tough decisions against developers including protecting hundreds of acres along the Bay and in Middle River. She has guts and listens to the community.
Blue Alpha
8:40 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
With all due respect Councilwoman Bevins, David Cordish is a citizen of Baltimore County. With your statement asking "who the hell is" he, are you trying to assert that Mr. Cordish has some how lost the rights afforded to every citizen of our County because he dares to disagree with a decision you made. Please point out in the Constitution of this Country where a developer has forfeited his rights. Just like you disagree with him, he has the right to disagree with you. Please remember you serve all the citizens of this County and not just the ones you like.
JBC
2:15 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
He has every right to disagree, she didn't contest that. She said "who the hell is" he to have a referendum to try to overturn the zoning decisions. That's never been done before and it may not even be something that can legally be on the ballot.
Cordish and Howard Brown are crying like babies because they didn't get their way in the zoning decisions in the 6th and 2nd districts respectively, so they bring in people from out of state who blatantly lie to get the petition signed because they make a few bucks per signature. Ms Bevins does serve all the citizens well when she stands up to a bully like Cordish who has always thrown around money to get his way. It's the same way Vicki Almond has stood up to Howard Brown, I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to prop up some empty suit with mounds of money in 2014.
Mark Patro
8:52 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
The petition drive where 2 individuals can use the influence of their money to set up a petition drive is removing the voice of individual voters in Baltimore County.
A person collecting signatures for this referendum drive argued with me that this effort is actully giving the individual voters the right to disagree with the zoning process. I say we made that choice when we voted for our elected officials.
Cathy's deciion was one that upheld what the people in her district wanted. They each have a vote. The developer has one vote until he uses his money. This process would be fair if each of the voters had enough money to donate an an equal amount as the developer. This is not going to happen becausse they don't.
Where are we headed with this referendum process? Will we be asked to vote on every decision the County Council makes? I believe I have voted for the best person to make those decisions, and if that elected official turns out not to represent me I will change my vote when the next election comes along. Lets point out here that Councilwoman Bevins defeated another elected official to get herself elected. This is how our sytem has always worked.
This attempt to put zoning decision on the ballot is simply an attempt to make the ballot more confusing than it has ever been. This will eventually work to reduce voter turnout and more greatly enpowering people with money. Is this demaocracy?
mike gardiner
9:28 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Bevins made the right decision for her district. Cordish doesn't have a monopoly on business development in Baltimore County. Good job Cathy. Way to stand up against this greedy developer.
Buck Harmon
8:50 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
Completely agree with Mark Patro...well said.
fred4401
9:29 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Interesting! David Brown and Mr Cordish both do a lot of business with one of Cathy Bevins largest contributors. That would be DGS construction. They helped to build the Arundel mills casino for Mr Cordish and they helped with some of the Wal Mart Supercenters built by David Brown. Among more projects both done and in the works. Like the sweetheart cup property. Funny, how the same contributors also put a bunch of money into the current County Executive’s Campaign. Then we see on TV ex county executive Jim Smith (who is related to DGS) pushing for the expanded gambling in the election, who also endorsed Kevin K’s campaign along with Ms Bevin’s.
Does anybody else see anything? Or is it just me.
Steve
11:06 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
ROTFLMAO "Did you know in MD's vaulted school system the teachers must read the test to the students before they take it and cannot take off for grammar or spelling mistakes."
That is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. "Vaulted"??
FIFA_archived
12:18 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012
How else could it have gotten to the top? ;-)
CP
9:13 am on Monday, May 20, 2013
Get your head out of your arse Steve.
Buzz Beeler
1:24 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012
I deleted it by mistake but what I said was true. A blog is forth coming on the subject.
Yes I make typos but not the same one a thousand times. I took off five points and I'll take off 20 for yours. Vaulted is not capitalized. It is not a proper noun and you made that mistake a thousand times
Buzz Beeler
1:26 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012
FiFA who is the "it" your are referring to?
FIFA_archived
9:02 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
Buzz, you need to laugh at your typo, it is okay to laugh at yourself everyone once in awhile. " MD's vaulted school system". They typo "vaulted" instead of "vaunted" which is probably what you meant. Thus the "it" was "vaulting [jumping] to the top". That was why I had a smiley face at the end of the sentence.
rod hart
11:06 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Clean house. The whole zoning process in Baltimore County is corrupt. It resembles the old Agnew board. We can do better. Do we have to wait until the State or Federal folks get involved to c loan it up.
Buck Harmon
8:52 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
What would happen if zoning were eliminated entirely....think about it...
Meg O'Hare
11:23 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
Cathy Bevins is a machine candidate. From Jim Smith's office to the County Council courtesy of the Kingmaker Jim Smith and his leftover campaign chest money.
Cathy Bevins did well for Middle River, but she did not do well for the people of Carney. She knew she would not represent Carney after 2014 and acted accordingly. Let's see whether Fader and MileOne contribute to Bevins.
Bottom line greatrer than 40 year buffer of land between the people who have lived on East Avenue and the now large conglomerate Auto Dealer (Mile One Heritage) was removed by Cathy Bevins CZMP decision. This is after the community went to court to protect that buffer of land and after it was preserved by former Councilman Joe Bartenfelder.
Expressing opinions is not "gripping", Mike, it is the American privilege of free speech. I could say that you whine, Mike, but that would bring me down to your level. BTW Mike--I am not a Republican.
jim butterfield
3:23 am on Monday, May 20, 2013
I respect your right to your opinion especially when it is based on facts.
Bill Howard
2:07 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
I don't see why Cathy Bevins is worried about a developer being mad at her. She has plenty of developers who supported her. Former County Exec. Smith gave her lots of money and an intro to all his developer buddies.
Ms. Bevins needs to stop playing the victim and get to work helping the county become a place for the new job market. He she can't handle it she needs to move on.
Janice Likens
5:37 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
We were approached by "referendum petitioners" at Honeygo Rec. during early voting. We told them that we "did not know enough" about the referendum to sign. I understand that most of these signature gatherers are employed by an outside organization. In fact, you can go online to recruit your own "referendum petitioners". I find it ironic that David Cordish recently distanced himself from the battle between the two "casinos" spending millions over Question 7. He would be a winner no matter who won that battle!
Runymede
7:14 am on Monday, May 20, 2013
Cordish is living proof that the upper 2% of this country wishes to control the middle class of this country. The upper 2% uses their wealth to get whatever they want and uses their wealth to make more wealth.
Cordish cannot be denied his rights to create more wealth for himself to the detriment of the middle class.
CP
12:28 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013
Cordish is a deadbeat. He owes subcontractors lots of money.