Who Was The Best County Commissioner Of All Time?

[Dynamo]

I think we can safely say that voting former educators or BOE members into the Commissioners Office was an epic failure that we dare not repeat.

I don't see why being a "former educator or BOE member" should, by definition, disqualify a candidate.

Serving in such a capacity would give the public an opportunity to evaluate a candidate's leadership style, ability to establish priorities through a budget process, public interaction, communications ability, ability to select quality staff, etc. If the candidate did those things well, then there would be reason to think they might bring the same talents to the Board of County Commissioners. There would be plenty to discuss and debate.

[Mac]

You know, Nathan, maybe no one thinks we've had an outstanding county commissioner. I don't quite get why that offends you so. But good for you for answering the question asked. Maybe you'll be named Cumberland Chatter of the Year.

I think everyone gets the idea of the rust belt, dying industries, etc., etc. Great excuse for a crappy local economy. Not sure why Marc wants to compare us to Harford County - they haven't had the same economic experience we've had. But I'm sure we could come up with some communities that are similar and are busy remaking themselves to compete in the current economy, as opposed to doing, well, does anyone know what the county is doing? I do think Marc raises a good point, though. What are other communities doing? Could we follow a similar path? Could we forge our own path by looking at what other places have done?

Those are good questions. However, when you have the county's director of economic development announce to the world that the county is sticking with the "tried and true" in response to a question about what the county is doing to move the local economy forward, it's a little depressing.

And yes, now I'm totally off course. But guess what? I don't care.

[MarcNelsonJr]

I think everyone gets the idea of the rust belt, dying industries, etc., etc. Great excuse for a crappy local economy. Not sure why Marc wants to compare us to Harford County - they haven't had the same economic experience we've had.

Just looking at the county population numbers. I could have also picked, say, St. Mary's County for a shorter-term comparison. They had just about the same population as Allegany County in 1990, but grew to 115K by 2010.

So, which is it? is Allegany County's "different economic experience" the reason for our dissimilar rates of growth? Or is that just an "excuse"?

But I'm sure we could come up with some communities that are similar and are busy remaking themselves to compete in the current economy, as opposed to doing, well, does anyone know what the county is doing? I do think Marc raises a good point, though. What are other communities doing? Could we follow a similar path? Could we forge our own path by looking at what other places have done?

OK, let's hear it. Your critique of (some) local elected officials would be more meaningful if you could point to similar communities that have grown faster than Allegany County.

If Allegany County's economic condition is the fault of bad politicians rather than national and global economic forces, it should be easy to find at least one counterexample.

[illuminati]

I think we can safely say that voting former educators or BOE members into the Commissioners Office was an epic failure that we dare not repeat.

I don't see why being a "former educator or BOE member" should, by definition, disqualify a candidate.

Serving in such a capacity would give the public an opportunity to evaluate a candidate's leadership style, ability to establish priorities through a budget process, public interaction, communications ability, ability to select quality staff, etc. If the candidate did those things well, then there would be reason to think they might bring the same talents to the Board of County Commissioners. There would be plenty to discuss and debate.

Of course you feel that way DynaWoog!   You are in like Flinn with the brain trust at the BOE!

I'm basing my opinion on the past bungling fools ..  Jimmy, Bob, Dale !

[Dynamo]

I think we can safely say that voting former educators or BOE members into the Commissioners Office was an epic failure that we dare not repeat.

I don't see why being a "former educator or BOE member" should, by definition, disqualify a candidate.

Serving in such a capacity would give the public an opportunity to evaluate a candidate's leadership style, ability to establish priorities through a budget process, public interaction, communications ability, ability to select quality staff, etc. If the candidate did those things well, then there would be reason to think they might bring the same talents to the Board of County Commissioners. There would be plenty to discuss and debate.

Of course you feel that way DynaWoog!   You are in like Flinn with the brain trust at the BOE!

I'm basing my opinion on the past bungling fools ..  Jimmy, Bob, Dale !

Fortunately, there are people who would prefer to look at things in a larger context and prefer to think about the future.

[Nathan Williams]

You know, Nathan, maybe no one thinks we've had an outstanding county commissioner. I don't quite get why that offends you so. But good for you for answering the question asked. Maybe you'll be named Cumberland Chatter of the Year.

I think everyone gets the idea of the rust belt, dying industries, etc., etc. Great excuse for a crappy local economy. Not sure why Marc wants to compare us to Harford County - they haven't had the same economic experience we've had. But I'm sure we could come up with some communities that are similar and are busy remaking themselves to compete in the current economy, as opposed to doing, well, does anyone know what the county is doing? I do think Marc raises a good point, though. What are other communities doing? Could we follow a similar path? Could we forge our own path by looking at what other places have done?

Those are good questions. However, when you have the county's director of economic development announce to the world that the county is sticking with the "tried and true" in response to a question about what the county is doing to move the local economy forward, it's a little depressing.

And yes, now I'm totally off course. But guess what? I don't care.

Good questions.  Doesn't sound like you have an answer either.  If so, please share and help save our community!

If those "maybe" people's answer to the question is "there haven't been any good Commissioners," then "maybe" they could say it rather than have you put words in their mouth as a last ditch effort to save your buddies from appearing intellectually dishonest in their statements.

You seem to think I am offended, on a high horse, went to BW (oh wait that was your attempted slam against me in past threads) but this is how I debate. 

I lurked around the site for awhile, and remember a time when Cumberlandchat was a largely private sandbox for nay-sayers, malcontents, complainers, and the like.  It isn't anymore, and not just because of me.  Bad ideas that are poorly defended are going to be torn apart.  Intellectual dishonesty is going to be exposed, and conversations on ideas may be become heated when people disagree.  Cumberlandchat is a better place for it, I think.

[woogus]

 



It is clear as day that Government can't drag the wagon of community and economic development over the mountain once the wheels have fallen off.  The wheels of our community were the big industrial employers that left because of globalization, right-to-work states, and the overall transition of America from an economy based on manufacturing to one based more on service and technology.  I have said that good Commissioners can lead better than bad ones, but elected officials aren't silver bullets that will change the basic realities that exist in the world.

Whew.  I guess we can't all be as upbeat and positive as you, Nathan.  Apparently you do think it's hopeless.

[Mac]

Nathan, no offense, but you can complain with the best of them - as evidenced by this thread.

[Nathan Williams]

   Life isn't all sunshine and roses, but I try to balance the criticisms with realistic ideas for growing our community. I also answer questions when they are asked of me about my ideas and admit when I am in error on the facts or stuck in philosophical quandary about the consistency of my positions, even if it means eating some crow (I am looking at you Woogus. )  It happens to all of us. 

I offered my best argument for why I nominated Mr. Bond.  It is disappointing that no one is interesting in discussing Allegany County's political history.  It would be a more useful (not to mention original) conversation than what this one has reverted to.  But hey, I tried.

I will add the following thread for your review. There are plenty of ideas, suggestions, research, hard facts, and vision for the future of the County here.  I am sure you will recognize the usual naysayers

http://www.cumberlandchat.com/smf/index.php/topic,14397.0.html

But really guys, it comes down to this:  If you want to throw stones, you better make sure you are aiming at the right target, and have some idea what comes next if you hit it.  I would think by now you would realize the massive turnover in elected officials in the last 10 years hasn't done much to improve the community.  You guys argue this is because the community just voted in another batch of bums.  I would suggest you improperly identified the problem then, and continue to now. 

The fact that our community has been in decline for the last 60 years, regardless of who has occupied the throne, is pretty strong evidence against your argument.

[Albert Keener]

I moved to the area in 1990 and guess what? I have yet to see a County Commissioner that impressed me much.

I tend to agree with this sentiment.  All in all, I will say that the this county commission is an improvement over the last, which to me was reminiscent of "Boss Hogg" style government, but I'd like to see more innovation with better policy, treating Cumberland more fairly when it comes to taxation and ems, better economic development, and more innovative ways to save taxpayer dollars.  I'd like to see more done at home at the county level within county government.  And this may not be the commissioner's fault, but I think representation downstate should be delegated more to the state delegates and senator, and if they are not doing as good a job representing us in Annapolis, maybe we need better ones.

[avatar]

Nathan, Nathan , Nathan, ------Chill Brother. The only county commissioner I have mentioned in this thread was your nominee - Mr. Bond - for whom I related that he was the longest serving commissioner in county history. Why the hypersensitivity that posters might criticize the current commissioners or the last set of commissioners or whomever? Please notice that the title I gave this was the best commissioner of all time - not the worst commissioner of all time. Right or wrong we often judge public servants - police, firemen, teachers even the military in collective judgments. County Commission candidates - like candidates for other elected offices run on political platforms based on visions and on promises of future conditions if they are elected. Can we not examine commissioner records and accomplishments and make positive comparisons as to their rank order? This is no criticism of anyone but isn't it interesting that there has been only one nominee thus far?
As to the future - how can we know where we are going if we don't look at where we have been?

[MarcNelsonJr]

Can we not examine commissioner records and accomplishments and make positive comparisons as to their rank order?

Let's!

I'll start with the only two sets of commissioners I know anything about.

• #2 Stakem-Lewis-Hutcheson
  
  Needlessly expanded county government, repeatedly raised taxes, meddled in Sheriff's Office.
  
  
• #1 McKay-Valentine-Brodie
  
  Made some progress towards correcting expansion and overspending by previous commissioners, lowered taxes, restored road patrol to Sheriff.

Your turn, avatar.

[Nathan Williams]

Nathan, Nathan , Nathan, ------Chill Brother. The only county commissioner I have mentioned in this thread was your nominee - Mr. Bond - for whom I related that he was the longest serving commissioner in county history. Why the hypersensitivity that posters might criticize the current commissioners or the last set of commissioners or whomever? Please notice that the title I gave this was the best commissioner of all time - not the worst commissioner of all time. Right or wrong we often judge public servants - police, firemen, teachers even the military in collective judgments. County Commission candidates - like candidates for other elected offices run on political platforms based on visions and on promises of future conditions if they are elected. Can we not examine commissioner records and accomplishments and make positive comparisons as to their rank order? This is no criticism of anyone but isn't it interesting that there has been only one nominee thus far?
As to the future - how can we know where we are going if we don't look at where we have been?

It is interesting we have had only one nominee, but not surprising.  False flagging thread from the start, in the middle, and still currently.  Sorry for spoiling your poison pen party.  I assumed the title of the thread was what the purpose of the discussion was.  That mistake was mine, I should have known better.   

I even took the time to speak with older people and collected a list of some of things Mr. Bond accomplished in office for discussion, but nobody seems interesting in talking about Mr. Bond, or any other specific Commissioner.  Everyone is focusing on criticising "bad commissioners," like usual.   

If you guys ever loop back around to discussing people who served in the office that can serve as models for improvement, I will be happy to join back in the discussion.

 

[Nathan Williams]

Can we not examine commissioner records and accomplishments and make positive comparisons as to their rank order?

Let's!

I'll start with the only two sets of commissioners I know anything about.

• #2 Stakem-Lewis-Hutcheson
  
  Needlessly expanded county government, repeatedly raised taxes, meddled in Sheriff's Office.
  
  
• #1 McKay-Valentine-Brodie
  
  Made some progress towards correcting expansion and overspending by previous commissioners, lowered taxes, restored road patrol to Sheriff.

Your turn, avatar.

Good call, who needs avatar?  The rest of us can have a constructive conversation.

Arthur Bond -

- career is as a professional small businessman

- Sound fiscal manager who managed bond money and grant money with a hands-on approach

- George's Creek Sewer Project was assembled largely under his watch.

- partnered with non-profits like Fire Companies effectively

- worked hard to expand HRDC in the community

Certainly some of the credit belongs to Commissioners he served with too.

[avatar]

Mr. Nelson - are you officially nominating the present set of commissioners as the three best county commissioners of all time? You can only compare the present set of commissioners with their immediate predecessors? Both of those groups of commissioners attempted to expand commission authority into areas beyond their jurisdiction. Both created severe divisions among the county electorate that were unnecessary and counterproductive.
I would have to agree with Nathan that Arthur Bond was our most successful. He didn't get the county involved in needless controversies.  Even he couldn't stem our post World War II decline. I think we need future commissioners who are focused on our greatest challenge - economic development. Other distracting issues and controversies pointlessly expend political capital. I agree we shouldn't  be utopian. Of course events and trend beyond our county can limit accomplishments. This doesn't mean there should be no accountability for our local officials.

[MarcNelsonJr]

Mr. Nelson - are you officially nominating the present set of commissioners as the three best county commissioners of all time? You can only compare the present set of commissioners with their immediate predecessors?

As I said, those are the only two I have any knowledge of. At the beginning of this thread, I said:

Nevertheless, I'm interested to hear the answers from folks with longer political memories!

You and Nathan have good things to say about Art Bond, but as you stated:

Even he couldn't stem our post World War II decline.

I think you're setting up a false dichotomy between "economic development" and "distracting issues." If the economic condition of Allegany County is in large part beyond local political control, then all that's left for any set of commissioners to do is "distracting issues."

I prefer to judge commissioners on the things they actually control, chiefly the county budget and local infrastructure.

[woogus]

Well, if the question were, "Who Was the Best County Commissioner you know about personally" - instead of "Of All Time" it could certainly be Arthur Bond.  Or Dale Lewis, who served with Arthur Bond.  Or Bernie Loar.  Or anyone else you know and happen to like.

I'm looking for something a little more significant in the progress of the county.  So, I'd nominate the Commissioners in office in 1974 when the county became a Code Home Rule county.  That enabled to county to have power over its own destiny, rather than having to run to the delegation for every little detail.

Or how about the County Commissioners who were in office when Kelly-springfield came to town?  http://www.mountaindiscoveries.com/images/ss2012/allmuseum.pdf 
The story is silent about the role of the County Commissioners but I think it's fair to assume that they didn't put a fatal block on an economic development move that employed thousands over 70 years and multiple generations.

If our greatest hope for a County Commissioner is that they're going to put back something we didn't like (sheriff's road patrol) or micromanage the staff, we're probably going to continue to elect the sort of folks we've been electing.  And getting what we've been getting.

[Nathan Williams]

Yeah, it is hard to separate out one Commissioner from the rest of the commission to give credit for, but Mr. Bond's name has come up more than once in people I spoke with, and he served with many different people over many years.  Enough I think to describe a signature style of his own.

Interestingly Bernie Loar's name came up in my conversations too.  The only specifics mentioned about him was that he basically a one issue candidate, the construction of the landfill in Loartown, an issue on which he had some street cred. Was he a one termer?  He is also recently deceased, so may he rest in peace.

[avatar]

Mr. Nelson - Do you think the present set of commissioners believe that county economic development is beyond their control? I seem to remember that during elections - candidates for the commission indicated that they have plans to attract businesses and to create a business friendly environment. Did I imagine that? Do you think that the county commission has no responsibility for economic development? Do any local elected officials have any responsibilities for economically promoting Allegany County? Would complete laissez faire policies work here? Do they work for the more economically successful counties around the country who compete with us for businesses and for jobs? Do elected officials become involved in issues of personal values when they learn that they are helpless in promoting economic growth?

[MarcNelsonJr]

I'm looking for something a little more significant in the progress of the county.  So, I'd nominate the Commissioners in office in 1974 when the county became a Code Home Rule county.  That enabled to county to have power over its own destiny, rather than having to run to the delegation for every little detail.

I agree that code home rule is preferable to the commissioner form of county government, but it didn't seem to have any impact on the county's long-term economic decline.

Or how about the County Commissioners who were in office when Kelly-springfield came to town?  http://www.mountaindiscoveries.com/images/ss2012/allmuseum.pdf 
The story is silent about the role of the County Commissioners but I think it's fair to assume that they didn't put a fatal block on an economic development move that employed thousands over 70 years and multiple generations.

I was sort of thinking along the same lines. I'm not sure how much local politicians had to do with it, but the two biggest impacts on the local economy had to be the discovery of the "Big Vein" and the B&O Railroad.

Luckily, we still have the railroad and an interstate to boot. The current and former commissioners have been supportive of another interstate. State environmental and labor laws probably preclude a large factory locating here, but if it did, I doubt that any set of commissioners would put a "fatal block" on it.

There is an opportunity to exploit our natural resources - one that the current commissioners are in support of. But it's you and the others complaining on this thread about the state of our economy who want to block it.