Candidates Predict Budget Cuts, Call For Economic Growth in Voter Forum

Economic development, taxes and how to balance future state and county budgets are issues dominating the agendas of state and county political candidates.

The Catonsville Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, held at the Knights of Columbus Patapsco Council No. 1960 on Frederick Road in Catonsville, brought candidates for the Maryland State Senate, House of Delegates and the Baltimore County Council to the same table Monday night.

Moderators from the chamber asked submitted questions and gave candidates two or three minutes to respond, depending on the question.

While the audience was asked to refrain from cheering and clapping, there were several times when applause broke out after candidates finished their answers.

Here is a synopsis of the candidates' answers to some of the key questions (listed in the order that they answered):

How they would handle future shortfalls in revenue in any future state or county budgets?:

Sen. Edward Kasemeyer (Democrat, District 12):
All states have made dramatic cuts in the last year, he said, and Maryland is no different. While he doesn't expect an increase in state taxes this year, he expects more cuts to occur in some programs.
"It's going to be a difficult year and there is going to be cuts," he said.
Rick Martel (Republican candidate, District 12):
Business have been hit hard by tax increases in Maryland in prior years, he said.
"As a result of those taxes, we find ourselves in dire straits."
Martel called for an audit of all state agencies across the board to cut government waste.
Del. Steven J. DeBoy, Sr. (Democrat, District 12A):
State agencies are already audited every three years, he said. So far, many programs have already been hit hard and he expects further cuts will need to be made.
"Sometimes we have to do these things," he said. "They are hard decisions."
Joe Hooe (Republican candidate, District 12A):
Programs can always be run better, he said.
"We have to focus on generating revenue," he said. "We do have audits, but we don't have tough audits."
Del. James E. Malone, Jr. (Democrat, District 12A):
Nearly every state in the nation has a budget deficit, he said, so Maryland is not alone. The state still has money in the rainy day fund and has also created new jobs related to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).
"All things being equal, I think Maryland is doing a good job," he said.
Albert Nalley (Republican candidate, District 12A):
The solution to the budget deficit is jobs, he said. The state needs to create jobs and grow its tax base.
Jeanne Turnock (Republican candidate, District 10):
After sitting in real estate meetings where they talked about people moving to Maryland because of BRAC, Turnock said she has not seen those people buying houses in her real estate business.
"It's not happening like they told us," she said, adding that the state shouldn't sit there and wait for BRAC to come.
Tom Quirk (Democratic candidate, Baltimore County Council, District 1):
Baltimore County has been the model of fiscal responsibility, he said. The county already tackled pension reform in 2007, which was not easy, but not popular.
County government has fewer employees this year compared to last year, as well as a smaller budget, he said.
Steve Whisler (Republican candidate, Baltimore County Council, District 1):
Baltimore County has spent more, however, and it hasn't gone to things like air conditioning in schools, he said. The county has seen very little return on what it has spent.
"The mentality of tax and spend and borrow must stop," he said.

What should be done to keep Maryland and Baltimore business strong?:

Whisler: We should jump start growth through people spending money and not the government, he said.
"You make this economy move, not the government."
Quirk: We need to think about what drives capital, he said. Other areas, such as Columbia and Ellicott City, are taking notice of some of the recent shops and businesses that have opened in Catonsville.
Turnock: We need to work with businesses to encourage more special loans and grants, she said.
Unemployment insurance is what is hurting businesses the most.
Nally: Unemployment needs to get corrected, he said.
Malone: There are already a lot of positive things going on in the Catonsville area, he said.
Hooe: We need to do a lot to help businesses through more fair taxes and lower fees, he said.
DeBoy: We already have great schools in Catonsville and have had some great businesses open in Catonsville, he said.
Martel: Maryland has lost some business, like the Northrup Grumman headquarters to Virginia and Black & Decker being sold to Stanley Works.
"We need lower taxes and less regulation," he said.
Kasemeyer: Creating jobs is very difficult, he said, adding that Northrup Grumman wanted an empty building to move into and Maryland didn't have that.
We need to get more involved in guaranteeing loans to small business.

What should be done with the future land available on the property of Spring Grove Hospital Center?:

Kasemeyer: A study is being done by the state to determine if there will be surplus land on the property, he said.
The land could include an extension of the the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Research Park. There could also be a recreational component to the land, he said.
Martel: The land could be used for a new courthouse or a police station, but open space is also needed, he said. His wife would like a Target, but officials need to be mindful of the traffic when putting any development there, he said.
DeBoy: If the land is ever declared surplus, the county will ultimately make the decision what to do with the land, he said. Multi-purpose athletic fields are greatly needed, he said.
Hooe: We should not do anything to create traffic, he said. A new state-of-the-art school on the property would be good, he said.
Malone: The state has already purchased land for the new courthouse, he said. In addition to UMBC using the land, the Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville has also looked at the land, he said.
Nally: The property cannot be narrowly focused on just business development, he said.
Turnock: A hotel or convention center could go well there, she said.
Quirk: There are three priorities for the property: open space and athletic fields, land for UMBC, some mixed use development that includes shops like a Trader Joe's, he said.
Whisler: The first priority for the land should be open space.