Candidate Statement
Promoting Community-Centered Development: My administration has been an active listener in the Perryman community. I have met numerous times with community leaders to better understand their challenges and goals. As we enter the next round of updates to the Harford Master Plan, the Perryman community, along with other small communities throughout Harford County, will be welcomed into that process and their views will be carefully considered. Future growth in Perryman must be compatible with existing neighborhoods, public safety, infrastructure, environmental protection, and the long-term character of the community.
Bolstering Infrastructure and Public Safety: My administration has been working with the Perryman community to resolve a number of serious challenges. Through perseverance and hard work, the long-awaited Woodley Road connector is becoming a reality. The contract has been signed, and construction will move forward this summer. We will now design appropriate traffic flows to maximize the amount of commercial traffic that must use Woodley Road to serve their businesses and minimize truck traffic through Perryman’s residential areas.
We are also working to complete sidewalks along Spesutia Road and to create traffic patterns that minimize commercial traffic along that road. My administration placed a full-time county medic unit at the Perryman fire station, greatly reducing emergency response times on the Perryman Peninsula. As future land-use decisions are considered, infrastructure and public safety must remain central considerations.
Providing Green Space: My administration has worked closely with Harford Land Trust to expand the amount of dedicated open space in the Perryman Peninsula. We will continue to work with the community to identify additional opportunities to expand parks, open spaces, trails, and recreational access in ways that serve residents and protect Perryman’s natural resources.
Acknowledging Historic Contributions: My appreciation for Perryman’s history was instilled by my mother, who died this year at the age of 94. She grew up in Perryman and always enjoyed a drive through the area, where she would discuss its extensive history. Perryman has played an important role in Harford County’s agricultural, transportation, military, and community history. That history should be recognized, preserved, and considered as future planning decisions are made.
Enabling Sustainable Economic Development: Economic development should strengthen communities, not overwhelm them. Perryman has already carried a significant share of Harford County’s industrial growth. Future development must be balanced with infrastructure capacity, environmental protection, property values, public safety, and quality of life. I will continue to support policies that encourage responsible economic growth while protecting the character and long-term health of existing communities.
Codifying Public Policy: My administration took the lead in developing legislation that placed substantial limits on mega-warehouses. We also acted to restrict the proliferation of high-density housing. Going forward, I will continue to support clear, enforceable policies that protect communities from incompatible development and provide greater certainty for residents, landowners, and businesses.
Protecting the Environment: I initiated an updated wellhead study for the Perryman Peninsula to evaluate the impact of development on the critical county wells located there. Protecting the Perryman wellfield, the Bush River watershed, and surrounding natural resources must remain a priority. My administration imposed record fines and shut down a developer in Joppa that violated environmental regulations. We also shut down the development of Abingdon Woods and forced the developer to replant stripped vegetation. We will continue to be a leader in protecting the environment throughout Harford County.
Collaborative Governance: My administration will continue to work closely with the Perryman community and provide open and honest dialogue to address community concerns. Good planning requires early communication, respect for residents, coordination among agencies, and a willingness to listen before decisions are made. Perryman deserves that level of attention, and I will continue working with 3P and the community toward that goal.
