Insider Politics Blog

Toilet Activist Files to Run for Maryland Lt. Governor

Duane Davis, known for leaving toilets as political protest outside the Historic Courthouse in Towson, is running as a Republican in 2014.

A Milford Mill man known for political protests involving putting toilets in front of a county government building in Towson has filed as a candidate for Lt. Governor in 2014. Duane "Shorty" Davis has filed as the running mate with Brian Vaeth, a Perry Hall man. Davis was charged in February 2011 with planting a fake destructive device in the form of a toilet outside the Historic Courthouse in Towson and making false statements about a fake destructive device. He was acquitted of those charges seven months later. Davis, a caterer, said in a February 2013 article that the incident in 2011 was a protest of alleged corruption in Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration. He claims that he had made political statements using toilets previously, …

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Foresight Means Better Libraries in Baltimore County

Since 2000, the leadership of Baltimore County has rightly recognized the importance of libraries through a series of important investments.

I had the opportunity to tour the new Owings Mills Library Branch last week, in my role as a member of the Baltimore County Board of Library Trustees.  This 54,000 square foot facility—which can house upwards of nearly 150,000 items—will be the 19th branch of the Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL).  The library opened to the public last Thursday, and a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled to take place this week. The Owings Mills branch, at over 54,000 square feet, will be the largest and most most technologically advanced location in the system.  The branch is situated within the larger "County Campus at Metro Center," a shared use facility with the Community College of Baltimore County.  Even more unique is the branch's close …

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Obituary: Mary Harvey

The former county department head is remembered for her smile, tenacity and staunch advocacy for the homeless and underprivileged.

Mary Harvey, a former Baltimore County Council aide who became a department head and was known for her support of programs for the homeless and underprivileged, died of colon cancer Aug. 26. Harvey, a Perry Hall resident, died at Gilchrest Hospice in Towson. She was 54. She'll be remembered during a service at 11 a.m. Sept. 5 at Christ Our King Church, 10 Lexington Road in Bel Air. "She was one of the heroes of Baltimore County," said Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, who hired Harvey in 1994 as an eastern sector coordinator in the newly created Office of Community Conservation. Ruppersberger said it was Harvey's concern for people and her energy that won him over despite her lack of an advanced college degree. "I took a risk but it was one that …

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Baltimore County Election Guide

The candidates, incumbents and issues that will be affecting Baltimore County.

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race nationally and locally. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates. -- President Barack Obama: Maryland is a reliably Democratic state for presidential candidates. Obama held a fundraiser in Owings Mills on June 12 as well as campaigned in Baltimore with Gov. Martin O'Malley. He visited Towson University for a basketball game in November 2011. GOP Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney: The former Massachusetts governor visited Maryland in March. Remember the Etch A Sketch comment? That came on the day Romney visited Arbutus. In explaining how the …

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Zoobie

7:18 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012

Mike, I'm a Republican also, and, like you, I voted for Schaffer. The Dems are all in the same boat, and I still believe O'malley learned everything he knew from Schaffer. No matter the 'staged' arguments between them, they were "two peas in a pod". Unfortunately, O'malley lost his conscience, where Schaffer took his to his grave !   more ›

Almond Joins Ruppersberger for Police Partnership Signing

Councilwoman Vicki Almond joined Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger for the signing of training agreement between the National Association of School Resource Officers and the Ministry of Education and Science for the Republic of Georgia.

Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond Monday joined Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger on Capitol Hill for the signing of an international agreement. U.S. school resource officers (SROs) signed a training agreement between the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) and the Ministry of Education and Science for the Republic of Georgia to formalize the work begun last year when a group of American SROs, including Franklin High School’s Don Bridges, went to the Republic of Georgia. This agreement will significantly benefit the Georgian education system and its students by providing training to up to 1,000 new Georgian SROs.  NASRO will supply its Georgian counterparts with its modern, best practice curriculum.  …

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Vicki Almond Joins Dutch Ruppersberger for Police Partnership Signing

Councilwoman Vicki Almond joined Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger for the signing of training agreement between the National Association of School Resource Officers and the Ministry of Education and Science for the Republic of Georgia.

Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond today joined Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger on Capitol Hill for the signing of an international agreement. U.S. school resource officers (SROs) signed a training agreement between the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) and the Ministry of Education and Science for the Republic of Georgia to formalize the work begun last year when a group of American SROs, including Franklin High School’s Don Bridges, went to the Republic of Georgia. This agreement will significantly benefit the Georgian education system and its students by providing training to up to 1,000 new Georgian SROs.  NASRO will supply its Georgian counterparts with its modern, best practice curriculum.  …

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VIDEO: Larry Smith Announces Run for Congress

Smith, a former Capitol Hill staffer, announced his intention to run next year for U.S. Representative in the Maryland 2nd Congressional District.

Republican Larry Smith, a former Capitol Hill staffer and a Timonium resident, announced his campaign for the Maryland 2nd District House of Representatives seat at the Oregon Ridge Park Lodge on Monday evening. The seat is currently held by Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger, who is serving his fifth term. A portion of the 2nd district includes Reisterstown, Owings Mills and Randallstown, mostly west of Reisterstown Road and Main Street. Guest speakers at Smith's announcement included Rev. Jansen String, who served with Smith in the Maryland Army National Guard, Marcelo Cardarelli, who was the 2nd District Republican nominee in 2010, and Baltimore County Councilman Todd Huff. For more information, check out Smith's campaign website.

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Bryan P. Sears' Insider Politics

Ceremony Commemorates Smith's Two Terms as Executive (With Video)

Portrait hung in Old Courthouse joins those of 10 previous county executives and an uncle who was a circuit court judge.

For eight years Jim Smith served as county executive in an office on the mezzanine of the Old Courthouse in Towson. Now his portrait will hang in the hallway outside that office along with those of the 10 previous executives from the man known as "Iron Mike" Birmingham, the county's first executive, to Dutch Ruppersberger, Smith's predecessor and current congressman. Current County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and former County Executives Ted Venetoulis, Donald Hutchinson, Dennis Rasmussen, Roger Hayden and Ruppersberger lunched with Smith before a ceremonial unveiling of the photograph. The tradition of hanging the portraits was started 20 years ago by Hayden, one of two Republicans to hold the office. The photo of Smith was taken six months …

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Bryan P. Sears' Insider Politics

Kamenetz to Announce Legislative Priorities

New county executive takes announcement show on the road for the first time in at least two decades.

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz is expected to announce his legislative priorities for what will be the first General Assembly session of his new administration during a morning news conference Tuesday in Annapolis. That's right—Annapolis. This is the first time in 16 years, and possibly longer, that a Baltimore County executive has announced his agenda outside of the county. Previously, under County Executives Jim Smith and Dutch Ruppersberger, such announcements were affairs held in Towson at the Old Courthouse—a serving of legislative meat and potatoes along with sausage, eggs and coffee for the county's state lawmakers in attendance. The meetings were as much a social gathering as they were the county executive's attempt to get …

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Heather Rankin

7:37 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011

My dad was accidentally signed in as me. But the firehouse has to raise the money to build the new one on Hollins Ferry Road. Last I heard it was a couple million dollars. It would be awesome if one of the new Councilman or Executives helped us get it done. During the elections a lot of people promised things, and hopefully they actually follow through on it. :)   more ›