http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/ en Copyright 2008 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:32:31 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The Washington Post has discontinued the County Connections blog. For news and comments about Maryland counties, please see Maryland Moment. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/09/post_5.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/09/post_5.html All Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:32:31 -0500 Those interested in the future of health care in Prince George's may now be wondering: Just who is Corbett Price? His name came up on Friday, when County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and Council Chairwoman Camille Exum (D-Seat Pleasant) offered to give the non-profit company that runs Prince George's Hospital Center the $5 million it needs to stay open, but only on certain conditions. One condition was that Mr. Price, of Mantium Corporation, be given immediate access to all financial records and facilities of Dimensions Healthcare System, which runs the hospital. Dimensions' board of directors tabled a decision on the conditions at the request of state officials. But in the meantime, the union the represents nurses and other hospital employees immediately howled in protest about Price. Why? Because he has several decades of history of tangling with hospital workers around the country. In 1985, for instance, Price was an http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/01/prices.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/01/prices.html Prince George's Mon, 29 Jan 2007 13:23:03 -0500 The state's new Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has assured a soft landing for a Montgomery County pal. Former County Council member and Democratic candidate for County Executive Steven A. Silverman starts next week as assistant attorney general for consumer protection. In the high-profile role, Silverman will oversee the attorney general's largest office with a $4 million budget and 50 people. The office handles thousands of complaints each year from consumers. Silverman called the position "the face of the attorney general's office." "It's got a good reputation and Doug wants to build on that," Silverman said. For the next few months, Silverman said he expects to work on consumer protection legislation before the General Assembly. After that, he'll turn to residents throughout the state to build a portfolio of issues to tackle. The two Montgomery politicos have known each other since they were first elected locally in 1998, and they http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/01/gansler_taps_silverman.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/01/gansler_taps_silverman.html Montgomery Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:14:26 -0500 There's been a great deal of movement in the last several weeks on the future of the Prince George's Hospital Center--and the three other county-owned health campuses operated by the private Dimensions Healthcare System. That's a good thing because the company is at the moment experiencing one of its periodic financial crises. They have announced that without a $5 million cash infusion by Jan. 26, they will have to start a 60-day process of shutting down. There's some bickering going on now about whether the county will pay the $5 million--and if so, what will it ask in return. Meanwhile, everyone's also trying to figure a way to a long-term solution for the hospital's problems. Del. Doyle L. Niemann (D-Prince George's) is having one idea drafted into a bill that would create a new authority, with members appointed both by the state and the county, to negotiate with new management http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/01/hospital_ideas_in_the_hopper_1.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/01/hospital_ideas_in_the_hopper_1.html Prince George's Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:27:33 -0500 As part of his pre-Inaugural festivities, Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley (D) has embarked on a victory lap of sorts around the state to thank voters for their support and listen to their concerns for the future. One county that didn't get a stop on O'Malley's so-called "One Maryland" tour? Prince George's County, the jurisdiction that supported Democratic governor by a higher percentage than any other in Maryland. Looked at one way, O'Malley has chosen to honor the county beyond the seven counties bestowed a random tour stop: He will be holding a prayer breakfast in the county on the very morning he is sworn in as governor. But this is Prince George's, accustomed to be overlooked and used to be upset over it, so that's not the way a lot of people are looking at it. The county's Democratic Party Chairman Terry Speigner said he has received at least 30 phone http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/01/omalley_tour_slight.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2007/01/omalley_tour_slight.html Prince George's Thu, 11 Jan 2007 11:32:09 -0500 As part of his effort to ensure Montgomery County's tax dollars are well spent, Executive Isiah Leggett this morning announced a new confidential hotline for county employees and contractors to report government fraud and waste. Leggett was joined at a press conference by inspector general Thomas J. Dagley, who will oversee the hotline and is asking for reports about theft of county funds or property, kickbacks, fraudulent travel or other reimbursement claims. Tipsters can call 800-971-6059, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week or make reports via the web or by email. Residents who want to report problems can call 240-777-2500 or visit the county's web site. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/calling_all_montgomery_tipster_1.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/calling_all_montgomery_tipster_1.html Thu, 14 Dec 2006 17:33:57 -0500 It took a Washington Post story to bring to light potentially questionable charges on county issued credit cards by Prince George's Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and members of the county council. If a bill proposed by Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George's) passes the Maryland General Assembly next year, from now on such actions might be caught by an independent audit. Ramirez has filed a bill that would require the county to hire an independent certified accountant each year to conduct an audit of credit card charges by the elected officials. The audit would need to be completed within one month of the end of each fiscal year and the summaries published in two newspapers. Ramirez insisted his bill is motivated only by the desire to give local elected officials better guidance in using their county-issued credit cards. He said he does not necessarily believe the current council or http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/the_charge_bill_1.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/the_charge_bill_1.html Prince George's Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:45:29 -0500 Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley arrived nearly an hour late to the Committee for Montgomery's annual legislative breakfast this morning, after getting stuck in rush hour traffic from Baltimore. Shortly before O'Malley arrived at the North Bethesda conference center, Montgomery's new county executive Ike Leggett had suggested a remedy to the state's transportation woes: an unspecified increase in Maryland's 23.5 cent gasoline tax. O'Malley was quick to emphasize his support for building the $2.4 billion intercounty connector "on time" and for the proposed Purple Line. But he was noncommittal about Leggett's suggestion. "It's certainly an interesting proposal, and we'll be looking at every reasonable proposal in the months ahead," O'Malley said. Ann E. Marimow http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/leggett_pushes_gas_tax_hike.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/leggett_pushes_gas_tax_hike.html Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:59:25 -0500 The new Prince George's County House of Delegates' legislative delegation deadlocked this morning on who should serve as the group's chairman for the next two years. According to Del. Justin D. Ross (D-Prince George's), who attended the meeting, 11 members voted for Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr. (D-Prince George's) while 10 members backed Del. Barbara A. Frush (D-Prince George's). However, a majority of 12 is needed to snag the job. Two delegates were absent from the meeting and Ross, who voted for Frush, said he was confident both would vote for Frush. However, Holmes has said he believes one of the two, Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D), away in Turkey, will vote for him. A new vote has not been scheduled, but Frush and Holmes pledged to talk in coming days in hopes of reaching a deal. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/the_delegation_votes.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/the_delegation_votes.html Prince George's Fri, 08 Dec 2006 14:47:56 -0500 In an interview this morning, Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr. (D-Prince George's) says he has every intention of running against Del. Barbara A. Frush (D-Prince George's) for chairman of the county's House of Delegates delegation when the group gets together tomorrow. And he thinks he's going to win. "The momentum is clearly in our favor. I expect that once the vote is taken, momentum will continue to sweep in our favor," he said. "I do have 12 votes." You can read more about the leadership campaign in the entry below. Both sides seem to think the deciding vote is likely to belong to Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D), who is visiting Turkey and will miss the meeting. Both sides believe he will vote for them. And both sides have one other thing in common: They insist the two delegates are good friends and the delegation will emerge united whatever occurs. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/a_friendly_fight.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/a_friendly_fight.html Prince George's Thu, 07 Dec 2006 11:05:13 -0500 It's time for the new Prince George's legislative team to choose its leaders for the next two years, and it sounds like a real campaign is on for the jobs, particularly on the House of Delegates side. According to numerous delegates, Del. Barbara A. Frush (D) and Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr. (D) have both been enthusiastically lobbying their colleagues for the delegation chairmanship job. Frush insists she has the 12 votes necessary to win. ("I'm quite confident," she said.) But according to Frush and several others, County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and his aides have been urging delegates to vote for Holmes, arguing that Frush will not be able to work with the county executive. She has been critical of his leadership and campaigned vigorously for her former House colleague, Rushern L. Baker III, when he challenged Johnson for the Democratic nomination for executive in September. Frush maintained http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/musical_chairs.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/musical_chairs.html Prince George's Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:57:07 -0500 The proposal by newly elected Montgomery County Council President Marilyn Praisner to temporarily halt most large residential and commercial development for the next seven months sent ripples through the development community on Tuesday. Praisner also introduced a resolution that would prompt the Planning Board to immediately review the county's approach to managing growth - a process it would typically begin next fall. Today, a spokesman for the new County Executive Isiah Leggett said he fully supports Praisner's effort to revisit the so-called Annual Growth Policy to "make sure it comports more to the reality of the situation on the ground in the county." Spokesman Patrick Lacefield said Leggett is also supportive of the temporary moratorium, but he wants to make sure that "it is flexible enough" to make exceptions for projects such as affordable housing or other economic development initiatives. The seven-month suspension would not apply to projects already approved http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/leggett_likes_praisners_propos.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/12/leggett_likes_praisners_propos.html Montgomery Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:57:54 -0500 Outgoing Prince George's council member Thomas R. Hendershot (D-New Carrollton) may be under investigation by the state prosecutor for his use of the county credit card, but he pulled no punches at his last public meeting before leaving office this week. The council member was forced from office by term limits. Before stepping down, he gave a rousing address Tuesday, decrying divisions within the county. Never shy about acknowledging his own desire for publicity, he even instructed a group of students and their parents who had been attending the meeting to stay in the room to hear his words. ("The worst thing for a politician is to lose his audience," he announced after asking the teens, who were streaming from the room after the completion of their agenda item, to sit back down.) Quoting Robert F. Kennedy, Hendershot appealed for more love, less hate in society, more unity, less division. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/11/concluding_remarks.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/11/concluding_remarks.html Prince George's Thu, 30 Nov 2006 11:24:46 -0500 [The following item was written by staff writer Cameron W. Barr] Montgomery College announced three finalists Tuesday in its nation-wide search for a new president -- and a certain soon-to-be-out-of-work politician is not among them. Outgoing County Exectutive Douglas M. Duncan (D), a strong supporter of the institution, reportedly was interested in the position. He didn't make the cut. Instead the college's board of trustees named three career educators to its short list, out of a pool of more than 70 applicants. They finalists are: Dr. Ana M. Guzman, president of Palo Alto Community College in San Antonio, Texas; Dr. Brian K. Johnson, chief exectuive officer of the Allegheny Campus at the Community College of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; and Dr. Karen A. Stout, president of Montgomery County Community College, also in Pennsylvania. The finalists will be invited to Montgomery College for a series of open forums scheduled for Nov. 27 http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/11/duncan_misses_the_cut.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/11/duncan_misses_the_cut.html Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:13:32 -0500 The election may be over, but fallout continues in heavily Democratic Prince George's County for those who crossed party lines to support Republican Senate nominee Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele. The trouble apparently isn't limited just to those who outright endorsed Steele's candidacy. In the wake of Rep. Ben Cardin's overwhelming county victory, there's now a dustup over a flier distributed by the county's non-profit credit union that may--or may not--have given Steele improper help just before the election. Here's the deal. The October issue of the monthly flier of the Prince George's Community Federal Credit Union features an item about Steele, a county resident, choosing to join the union the previous month. The item notes that Steele met with the union after making his first deposit and told them he supports credit unions because they are not-for-profit and because he believes they are good for the banking marketplace. The http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/11/politics_at_the_prince_georges.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/countyconnections/2006/11/politics_at_the_prince_georges.html Prince George's Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:32:44 -0500