By Sarah Malik
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The major-party candidates for Baltimore County executive each outlined their vision for the future during a forum in Dundalk Wednesday evening.
Republican Alfred “Al” Redmer Jr. said he plans to take “a business-like” approach to county government, emphasizing that he wants to develop a long-range budget plan so the county knows how much money it has to spend on various programs.
Meanwhile, Democrat John “Jonny O” Olszewski Jr. said he would work to improve schools, create more jobs, and make government more transparent.
Both candidates spoke to the Watersedge Community Association, a Dundalk neighborhood organization located in southeast Baltimore County. The event was for residents or by invite only. There was a crowd of about 45 people.
Redmer, who is currently the state insurance commissioner, said Baltimore County has been kicking its problems down the road for years.
He said employee morale is at an all time low because the previous administration had no long-term spending goals.
“We’re going to go in a business-like, methodical way, district by district around the county…and we’re going to work with all of the interested parties,” Redmer said in his speech. “We need to prioritize all of the unmet needs, create a long-term budget, 10-year plan, and a multi-year budget.”
Olszewski , Baltimore County’s former House delegation leader who now works at the SAS Institute, said during his speech later in the evening that he wants to improve living conditions in the county.
Olszewski said he’s lived his entire life in eastern Baltimore County and knows firsthand that Dundalk has been neglected.
“One of the things that really prompted me to run for county executive, to be quite honest with all of you, is the chance to change that,” Olszewski said. “Whether that’s improving our schools, or helping to create more jobs, or making government more transparent and responsive, we can do that.”
Redmer said the county has “significant budget problems” that he hopes to fix. He said Olszewski’s plan calls for $2 billion in new spending, adding that the Democrat supported “each and every” tax increase proposed by former Gov. Martin O’Malley when Olszewski was in the General Assembly.
“I understand a bold vision and doing new things, but I believe first before we do new things, we need to figure out what we should be doing,” Redmer said. “Law enforcement, rec councils, schools… We should be focusing on what we need to be focusing on before we go spending $2 billion of new money we don’t have.”
Olszewski called for more code enforcement officers. And he said the county should not send kids to schools that do not have air conditioners. Some county schools could not open on the first day of school this year because temperatures were in the 90s.
“I’m excited about what we can do,” Olszewski said. “I’m optimistic about where we can go. We’ve got to make some changes.”
In response to questions from the audience, both candidates agreed that the county needs to do more to maintain its parks.
Todd Smith, the president of the Watersedge Recreational Council, said in an interview that he liked both candidates’ answers to his question about parks.
“I liked both their answers on the issue,” Smith said. “Both Johnny’s and Al’s responses. They each said they will bring it back to parks and rec control.”
Jeanine Carland, a resident of the Watersedge community and a director of the Watersedge Community Association, said she personally liked Redmer’s approach.
“Well, I am a Republican and I respect that he is going back to basics,” Carland said. “We need to fix what’s wrong, and that’s what he’s going to do.”
Shannon Rozi, a Watersedge resident, said she liked both of the candidates.
“I like Redmer’s business approach,” Rozi said. “I like him, and I like Johnny O too. See, I’m an independent voter, so I vote for who I like. I like both of them actually. I really like how compassionate Johnny O and that he is from Dundalk, because that matters. That’s a big deal for me, but I like Redmer too. So, I’m going to sleep on that and see what happens.”
Olszewski said in an interview that he plans to take a community-oriented approach if elected.
“We’ll be doing more for schools and pre-k,” Olszewski said. “There will be more focus on a community center approach. Also, more code enforcement, permitting, establishing heads of communities, and plans for every neighborhood.”
Redmer said he expects the executive job to be challenging.
“It’s going to be tough and challenging,” Redmer said in an interview after his speech. “There are all kinds of unmet needs and financial challenges. It’ll be a difficult, tedious process, but that’s what I do. I have years of experience creating and managing budgets.”
The election is Nov. 6.