Mark D. Fennel
How would you characterize the quality of civic engagement in Montgomery County, and what do you think should be done to improve it?
The quality of civic engagement in Montgomery County is superb. Council members are often in the community at meetings. Council meetings are open to the public and televised. In addition, transcripts are available via Montgomery’s Pictron system. By law, after bills are introduced public hearings are required. For example, hearings are held on both the capital and operating budgets. Citizens are allowed the opportunity to testify on bills. To improve civic engagement, it’s critical Council members are respectful to “We the People,” when we do testify. Recently, when Montgomery County’s Chapter of Americans for Prosperity, along with members of Help Save Maryland, stood up to testify against the proposed Carbon Tax, Councilman George Leventhal first debated with them, and then referred to these residents of Montgomery County as “Astroturf,” and “Whackos,” simply because he did not agree with their point of view. I am a member of both groups. The video of his actions, unfitting of the office, can be found on YouTube. Turning to needy residents, the path to civic engagement is not certain, because they are often preoccupied with putting food on the table. This is where we need to rely on non-profit organizations to be our eyes and ears on the ground.
What role do you think the Council and County Executive should play in setting education policy and providing oversight of the Montgomery County Public Schools?
In terms of education policy, under the 10th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, education is the responsibility of state and local governments, as well as “We the People.” Whenever possible, government intrusion should be limited and focused on empowering parents and students. The school system is governed by its own elected Board of Education, which appoints a Superintendent and establishes school system policies. The Council approves the capital and operating budgets. The council is not the Board of Education; however, as responsible stewards of the local treasury, the Montgomery County Council has a high moral duty to meticulously scrutinize Montgomery County Public School’s (MCPS) budget. This would entail increasing funding of the Office of Legislative Oversight. In addition, we should increase funding of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to ferret out instances of government waste at MCPS. The law is vague; however I disagreed with the letter from the Attorney General limiting the OIG’s ability to investigate the school system. Fairfax County’s per pupil spending is $2,000 less than Montgomery County, but the results are comparable; consequently, there are efficiencies to be achieved.
What steps should the county take to maintain or improve public safety at a time when budget pressures are forcing cuts to spending on police and social services?
Curtail violent crime NOW! We’ve had 13 murders so far this year – as many as all of last year. In addition, one is three times more likely to be the victim of a violent crime in Montgomery County, than across the bridge in Fairfax County. It’s a multifaceted problem; however, I firmly support the federal Secured Communities program, under which the fingerprints of everyone arrested are processed through FBI criminal records and biometric immigration records maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, I firmly support 287(g) training for Montgomery County Police, so with probable cause, Illegal Aliens can be identified as such, and deported. Because a crime committed by an Illegal Alien is 100% preventable. In addition, we have no way of determining whether or not an Illegal Alien has a criminal past in their country of origin, which would be used by Judges during sentencing. I would also remove traffic cameras to encourage interaction between the Police and residents. This would enable to the Police to pick-up those who have outstanding warrants, who are much more likely to be involved in minor traffic infractions.
What, if any, changes to the structure of the county's tax system should we be considering?
The art of taxation is the ability to pluck the maximum amount of feathers from the goose, with the least amount of hissing. This is my third run for Montgomery County Council. In my 2006 bid against the late-Marilyn Praisner, I signed the Maryland Taxpayer’s Association “No New Taxes Pledge.” In my 2008 bid against the late-Don Praisner, my campaign theme was passage of the successful Ficker Amendment, requiring nine votes to surpass the Charter limit on property tax collection. The next logical step when examining taxes is to end “Shift and Shaft.” Allow me to explain, in 2003 they jacked up energy and phone taxes. They were supposed to sunset in 2006, but did not, because it was an election year and they couldn’t increase property taxes. Hence a shifting of the tax burden. This election year, they again avoided the hot button issue of property taxes, jacking up energy and phone taxes instead. This time, they are supposed to sunset in two years, but likely will not. I will fight tooth-and-nail to ensure they sunset.
What should we expect Montgomery County's transportation network to look like in 30 years, and how will that affect where and how we live and work?
In 30 years, I would like to see more folks telecommuting. We can accomplish this through additional tax incentives. I would also like to explore automobile inspections, to limit traffic jams due to cars breaking down. Today, and in the future, we need to concentrate on road maintenance, and our first priority should always be smaller transportation projects, like intersection upgrades. We need to be good custodians of the Metro Access program for the elderly and disabled, and expand Ride On Bus Service. The Corridor Cities Transitway and the Purple Line will have been built, and the ICC will be shuttling researchers and businessmen from BWI airport to facilities along the technology corridor, an international hub for research and technology. Theoretically, the availability of high density residential units around transportation hubs, will compel folks will use mass transportation and enable them to live closer to their jobs. However, according to the 2000 census, those who live around transit centers, don’t necessarily have a higher proclivity to use mass transportation. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, because the reality is we’re still an automobile centered society, and the driving force behind transportation choices has been economics. In addition, some residents will always prefer privacy and homes with large yards, to living in urbanized areas.
How will Montgomery County be different four years from now if you are elected?
VOTE Tea Party Fennel! I am the ONLY candidate who will eliminate structural deficits largely brought on by over-the-top Union Contracts. I kicked off my 2006 campaign against the late-Marilyn Praisner with the following quote in the newspaper, “For the future prosperity of Montgomery County and its residents, it’s critical that an austerity program be put in place to curtail this vicious pattern of unrestrained and unsustainable spending (The Gazette, Dec. 2005).” Back in 2005 I recognized a Ponzi scheme when I saw it, and with disgust watched the County Council ignore a July 2006 Office of Legislative Oversight report predicting a $1.5 billion deficit in five years, unless there were massive tax increases. When I ran against the late-Don Praisner in 2008, I was quoted in the newspaper saying, “Freeze this, and that will balance the budget (The Gazette, April 2008),” in relation to wages and compensation for teachers and county employees. At that time, not other candidate had the political courage to speak out against the powerful Unions. VOTE Tea Party Fennel, and Stop the Ponzi scheme NOW!
Mark D. Fennel
At-Large
Republican