Ehrlich Donkey Kicks Proposed Horse Park

Who would have thought I'd have the opportunity to thank the Governor and the County Executive simultaneously? Governor Ehrlich has said he's going to withhold the state money to finance a horse park at the organic farm in Gambrills because the park lacks the support of the County Executive. This, in light of the fact that both the Governor and the Speaker of the House, Mike Busch, apparently like the poorly conceived idea.

The County's share of the potential boondoogle could be $30 million, and Executive Owens has declared, "I'm utterly not ready to make such a commitment." Annapolis Mayor, Ellen Moyer, who has been a key supporter of the project, offered inadvertantly encouraging news upon hearing the Governor's decision, "I think it basically means it's dead."

The horse industry, however, is holding out hope that financing could be secured in the 2007 legislative session. Translation, those truly concerned about the proposed horse stadium should make it a "litmus" test for candidates running for County Executive, and perhaps even Gubernatorial candidates.

Economic and traffic impact studies on the project are due out in the next month or so.