Issues
JOBS AND THE ECONOMY
St. Mary’s County is blessed by the presence of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and the tremendous opportunities it provides for our citizens in the areas of business, engineering, research, test and evaluation. At the same time, we need to be more forward thinking to those needs outside of the base gates and the creation of new businesses and industries. This includes looking at new opportunities in possibly such areas as light manufacturing and the expansion of our trade industries. We need to carefully examine and weigh the balances of our small businesses and the growth of high demand, big box stores. We need to ensure that the rich tradition of our farmers and watermen are not displaced.
SPENDING AND TAXES.
I have long been an advocate of fiscal responsibility and conservatism. The basic premise is simple. You work, you save and you invest. Every successful modern day economy has succeeded when Government allows the private sector, especially small businesses, to operate without significant restrictions, high taxes and other burdens. The same can be said of the individual. I believe tax dollars are your money, it’s yours, and there is an implied responsibility to act responsibly and resourcefully in its use. We can’t be constantly increasing taxes to justify an expanded Government. Rather a pragmatic approach, that also addresses the needs of those less fortunate and the working poor, needs to be struck between the supply and demand sides of St. Mary’s County’s citizens.
EDUCATION
Our children are our future. We need to remain focused on this. We need to push for higher levels of academic achievement, increased accountability, and affordability at both the classroom and administrative level. We need to support and embrace our Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum’s allowing those children related opportunities. At the same time we need to ensure that our artisan and trade oriented students and our alternative education options are balanced and supported so all students are provided equal access.
LAND USE AND GROWTH.
We need to be ever mindful that we live on a peninsula and have an implied stewardship with the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Growth for growths sake is not productive if it cannot be sustained by our economy. We need to carefully examine growth, traffic patterns, and related effects to ensure that we are acting responsibly. Our development districts have been identified, sprawl needs to be contained, and property rights supported while recognizing the effect on the watersheds cannot be ignored.
