Issues facing Maryland's 11th District

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Education
Safety
Taxes
Energy

In the past 15 years Jeff has witnessed firsthand the rapid growth of the Owings Mills area, while corresponding infrastructure has remained stagnant or grown at a snail’s pace. Of particular concern to Jeff is that our public school systems have not been able to develop as fast as our population.
A father of two, Jeff wholeheartedly supports Governor Ehrlich’s charter school program that offers parents an opportunity to send their children to schools where they will receive more one-on-one attention.
Even with the addition of charter school options, Jeff firmly believes District 11 is in dire need of addition educational institutions. Much-needed revenue for these construction efforts could be allocated through passing slots in Maryland. Jeff supports the governor’s initiative to designate slot revenues towards building new schools, thus reducing overcrowding and allowing children a chance at the personalized attention that they deserve.

Violence prevents any community realizing its full potential, and as a small business owner, Jeff has personally felt its impact on business growth.
The lack of a visible police presence in our community has resulted in an increase in violence and abandonment of once popular neighborhood arenas, such as Owings Mills Mall.
An increased police presence is necessary to ensure the public’s safety and the return of the consumer. The utilization of our police force is not as efficient as it could be and private security is not the answer.
The problems of the “city” are here. Jeff knows we cannot overlook issues affecting our public safety any longer bur rather need to meet them head-on with a zero tolerance attitude.

As a small business owner, Jeff acutely feels the sting of taxes and is grateful that, thanks to Governor Ehrlich’s kept promises, additional taxes have been avoided. Along with the rest of Maryland, Jeff has given back to the state’s economy through spending and seen a multi-billion dollar deficit turn into a record surplus.
As a result, Jeff also vows not to raise taxes but instead to promote the continued efficient spending of the taxpayers’ valuable contributions.
To achieve our goals and allow Maryland to compete with its neighboring states, Jeff advocates the legalization of slot machines. As a state we remain hypocritical to allow gambling, but ban slots. Everyday we see thousands of Marylanders contribute to outside state’s economies when we could see that revenue attributed to imperative social programs and growth.
Jeff believes revenue produced from slots should be earmarked for the public good, including road construction, schools and programs that support our elderly population.
In anticipation of a passed slot initiative Jeff believes that instead of a “general fund,” specific amounts designated to specialized committees would allow for the most efficient use of funds and spending accountability.

As a small business owner, Jeff sees how not just he, but also his employees, are affected by the energy crunch we’re experiencing in our home, transportation and business costs.
Maryland remains an underdeveloped state in term of our mass transit system, limiting the consumer’s options of transportation.
Jeff supports incentives for ride-share and revenue designated to improving our mass transit system. These efforts would increase road safety, relieve road congestion, better community enhancement and improve our environment.
As a state with a proud history of being one of the most advanced in biotechnology, Jeff feels strongly that we should build upon this knowledge to develop advances in energy and expand on our role as a leader of supporting alternate energy.

To find out Jeff’s position on other issues, click on the keywords below:

Death Penalty
Slots
Environment
State Takeover of Baltimore City Schools
Wal-Mart Bill
MD Agriculture and Farming
Wildlife Preservation

Jeff believes the death penalty is an efficient deterrent of brutal crime.
The state should not reinstate the moratorium on the death penalty. The judicial appeal system and review period are sufficient enough. Anything more would be a misappropriation of the taxpayer’s money.
An extension of the review period would exacerbate the back up within the already strained prison system. Furthermore, there is an adequate appellate review before capital punishment is implemented and all appeals should be exhausted, but expedited.

We need to allow Maryland to compete with its neighbors by passing slots. It is hypocritical to allow gambling within the state and not slots.
Revenue produced from slots could be earmarked for public good including road construction that is matched by the federal government’s support, construction of new schools, programs supporting our elderly population and aid to our stressed heath care system.
There should not be a “general fund” but rather specific amounts designated to specialized committees. This allows for the efficient use of funds and accountability.
In conjunction with slots, there should be an office independent of the state government, set up by the governor that will monitor the appropriation of funds.

Maryland, being a small state, needs to account for and respond to the environmental problems felt by all districts. Pollution is not limited to district lines.
For instance, the 11th district is comprised of a substantial amount of farmland and the compromise of the Chesapeake Bay could result in strong consequences for our crops.
Jeff supports the Governor’s Chesapeake Bay Fund, an already successful program.
Jeff also supports Program Open Space, which designates certain areas of land to be protected from the urban sprawl harming our environment.
Leadership within our state should always work cooperatively for the enhancement of the Chesapeake Bay. Pollution knows no boundaries and neither should communication efforts between the government, the environmental communities and farming communities.

Jeff is in favor of the state takeover of specific Baltimore City schools that fail to meet standards and continually achieve poor graduation rates. The state cannot ignore poor performance records and needs to act to restore educational integrity when necessary on a targeted basis.

Jeff is committed to preserving the integrity of the environment and to protecting farmland from urban sprawl.
Jeff also favors utilizing biotechnology within the agricultural community for alternative energy opportunities.
Jeff personally supports local farms by opting for local produce whenever possible.

Protecting both the integrity of the environment and wildlife population is imperative. Finding a balance between the two can be achieved through active dialogue and compromise between the agricultural and wildlife organizational communities.