Anne Arundel Pols Most in Need of a Primary Challenge

1. Don Dwyer, Delegate (D31, R - Glen Burnie) - It's difficult to put into words all the reasons Dwyer should never see a second term. Suffice it to say, while the Pat Robertson wing of the Republican Party may deserve some representation in the State House, does it have to be from Anne Arundel County?

2. Janet Greenip, Senator (D33, R - Crofton) - She was in over her head as a Delegate and she's been in even deeper as a Senator. Let's get a Senator for District 33 who can keep her campaign promises and earn the respect of the rest of the County Delegation.

3. John Astle, Senator (D30, D - Annapolis) - Whether it's his "great, white hunter" routine, where he sends photos to the Capital, foot astride some prostrate gazelle or musk ox, or his tendency to vote with the Republicans when it matters most, here's one seat the Democrats may want to try to take back.

4. Ed Middlebrooks, County Council (D2, R - Glen Burnie) - If this guy put as much time into working in the best interests of his constituents as he does cracking one-liners at the County Council meetings, District 2 residents might get a Bill Burlison level of public service out of him, which, frighteningly, would be a considerable improvement.

Suffocating Our Shellfish

Today's Post tells the story of how Rhode Islanders have followed in the foolish steps of Chesapeake dwellers by killing off huge numbers of filter feeders as a result of dumping huge amounts of nutrients into Narragansett Bay.

Owens Cuts Property Tax Rate, Warns of Income Tax Increase

Yes, you heard that right. The County Executive proposes cutting the property tax rate, and then warns that a future County Executive may have to increase the County income tax rate (the lowest in the Baltimore region) to offset proposed budget increases, like teacher raises. Sounds like just the sort of person you would want as State Comptroller, no?

Critical Area Failures

The University of Maryland recently released its report on the enforcement of critical areas law in Maryland. It found, unsurprisingly, that "in many cases, the various parties responsible for enforcing the Critical Area Act use their discretion to interpret the Act in ways that minimize impacts to private property owners, at the expense of stricter environmental standards." Capital coverage of the report can be found here.