Leopold Doubles Up on Callahan

Executive-elect Leopold has decided to use Dennis Callahan to plug another hole in his administration, appointing him to the position of Chief Administrative Officer. The CAO is second in command to the Executive and oversees the Department of Public Works, the Department of Inspections and Permits, the police and fire departments, the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Department of Aging and Disabilities.

Allowing Callahan to insinuate himself so deeply into his administration is certainly a questionable manuever. Appointing the belligerent Erik Robey, Ron Dillon's legislative aide, as Mr. Callahan's assistant, bodes even worse. Robey has surely been a loyal Republican foot soldier, serving as first vice chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, but his overly aggressive, and deeply conservative demeanor have always seemed at odds with Dillon's more moderate style. It appears to be a bone throne to local Republicans to ensure that the Democrat, Callahan, will be kept it check. If that's the case, there's little to worry about. Callahan stacks up considerably to the Right of Mr. Leopold as it is.

Leopold also promoted Lois Villemaire to acting director of planning and zoning. To me, Ms. Villemaire is an unknown quantity. Any feedback on her planning outlook would be encouraged.

Leopold Announces Appointments

Yesterday, Executive-Elect John Leopold began announcing the appointees to his cabinet. There are several new appointees, as well as a number who will be carried over from the Owens' administration.

Among the new appointees is Deputy Police Chief James Teare Sr., who will take over for the retiring police chief, Thomas Shanahan. In a move that surprised even the appointee, Leopold chose Annapolis Alderman Wayne Taylor to direct the Department of Aging.

The returning appointees from the Owens' administration run the gamut from the good, to the bad, to the ugly. Leopold wisely chose to re-appoint Ron Bowen, head of the Department of Public Works, and an innovator who was consistently stifled under Owens, and frequently had conflicts with the pro-developer head of Planning and Zoning, Joe Rutter. Unfortunately, Leopold has forged a "pleasant rapport" with former Director of Parks and Recreation, Dennis Callahan, and decided to appoint him his Chief of Staff. Another unfortunate reappointment is John Hammond, Owens' Budget Officer, and willing flak for several of the administration's questionable financial manuevers.

Leopold did wisely decide to pass on Carl Snowden, an aide to Janet Owens who will likely find a place in the O'Malley administration, and whose work on civil rights has often seemed to be dwarfed by his work in self-promotion.

Leopold does still have two important appointments in the Directors for both Planning and Zoning and Inspections and Permitting.

Executive-Elect Leopold's First Moves

Today's Capital has a piece on County Executive-Elect John Leopold, and the style that helped him win office. Many Republicans were astonished that Leopold won the primary, though his name recognition, from years of sign waving and door knocking, was as universal as any local pols could be. Now, with 20/20 hindsight, pundits are offering to tell us what it was that pushed him over the top.

From AACC's Dan Nataf: "George Johnson did not give a compelling reason to vote for him. If there was a theme in this campaign of change, Johnson did not stand for change." Remember, after the primary it was Dr. Nataf who said of Leopold: "The retail approach is difficult in the general election," and that to win, he'd have to shed his policy wonk image.

Leopold continued his retail approach, and never shed his policy wonk image (trust me, I must have watched at least 5-6 Executive forums), and won. Though I would be content to very nearly declare the election a toss up, there is no question in my mind that Leopold's laying the groundwork for this campaign for years, his moderate record, and, to an extent, his focus on policy, aided mightily in his success.

Both Leopold and Johnson seem to be good men, and I would be pleased to have either serve as Executive, particularly after 4 years of the Queen, but there are some early worrying signs for a Leopold administration. Foremost among them is that he's considering Dennis Callahan as his chief of staff. Yes, that Dennis Callahan. The one who was stomped in the primary election, endorsed the Republican nominee, and represents some of the worst excesses of the Owens' administration.

Several papers, endorsed Leopold based on the fact that he represented change, and that Johnson had ties to the "good ole' boys." Reaching back into the prior administration for an advisor known more for his arrogance, and disconnectedness to public concern, would be a ill-conceived first step for Delegate Leopold. And, certainly not a signal of change. I sincerely hope he will re-consider and allow Mr. Callahan and other members of Owens' inner circle to wander that portion of the wilderness that remains after 8 years of their clearcutting.

Callahan Gets Desperate

Two and a half weeks before the primary election, Dennis Callahan (D) has decided to fire the opening salvo against his Democratic opponent for the County Executive spot, George Johnson. Callahan, who has been difficult to find on the campaign trail seems to have finally gotten a clue that he's not polling particularly well among the electorate. And, he's decided to start throwing mud at the Sheriff in the hope that some will stick.

Callahan's claim: There are between 11,000 and 11,500 unserved warrants.

Johnson's response: The backlog of unserved warrants was 14,000 when I took over the task of serving them from county police in 1998. I've cut that number while dealing with between 600 and 1,200 new warrants a month, all with limited staff.

Callahan's claim: The Baltimore County Sheriff's Office has only 2,600 unserved warrants.

Johnson's response: In Baltimore County, the Police Department serves criminal warrants. The Police Department has 8,580 unserved warrants. [Total warrants: 11,180]

Callahan's claim: 94 people have left the Sherrif's Department since 2001.

Johnson's response: The high turnover is a result of pay and benefits that lag behind the county Police Department.

Callahan's claim: There was a recent murder sentencing in which the shooter had an unserved arrest warrant at the time of the killing.

Johnson's response: That warrant was from the city of Annapolis and is held by city police, not the Sheriff's Department.

These are the charges of a desperate politician, and his lax research skills don't speak particularly well to his ability to handle the mental rigors of the County's highest office.

My sense is, that on September 13th, Mr. Callahan may finally begin to get a clue that his arrogance, his short-sightedness, and the long list of people he has put off, first as Mayor, and then as Head of the Department of Parks and Recreation has caught up with him. Such an election-day epiphany might well be worth the effort it took to run a half-gassed campaign.

Callahan Prepares to Announce

Like so many other political announcements, Dennis Callahan's intention to run for County Executive has been one of the worst kept secrets around. Apparently, the current Director of Recreation and Parks is planning to make it official at the Crofton Country Club, Saturday at noon. The Democrat's main competition in the primary is currently George Johnson. No word yet on Barbara Samorajczyk's final plans.

Executives-in-Train-ing

In an effort to get a little more high profile, unsuccessful Republican challenger to the Janet Owens' throne, Phil Bissett got himself an appointment to head up the State’s commuter and train system, MARC. Bissett, who lost to Owens by several thousand votes in 2002, is gearing up for 2006, bringing Diane Rey, of We Hold Officials Accountable (WHOA), on board as a campaign manager, and raising serious funds.

He’s got considerable work ahead of him, even with the Gov on his side. Republican opponent John Leopold is arguably the best campaigner in Anne Arundel County, and has begun to accrue a substantial war chest.

Thus far, the Democratic offerings for the position appear uninspired. Sheriff George Johnson, who was re-paid handsomely for his loyalty to Owens after agreeing not to run against her in 2002 (Owens appears to have thrown in with County Parks & Rec hatchet-man, Dennis “Ballfields” Callahan), will likely be opposed by Republicrat Callahan. [Callahan being one of several confused Anne Arundel politicians (see Middlebrooks, Ed; Evans, Diane; and Neal, Bobby) who don’t know whether they are a Democrat or a Republican].

Let’s hope, for the sake of the County, a dark-horse steps forward to offer us something different that than the standard sprawl and stale “solutions” that we’ve endured for the past several decades in Anne Arundel.