I have to say it’s very disheartening to think that you have a message that’s relevant to people in the county, that you have something significant to offer, that you’ve gathered the support of so many good people, only to take a drubbing at the polls. All the cliches about being a Democrat in Carroll County remain true, I’m afraid. I had high hopes for something different this time around. So did many other good candidates who join me in the pool of former candidates. I’m in very good company with some of them who will remain lifelong friends.

Regardless of the outcome, this experience has been one of the most unique and fulfilling of my life. I have met what I consider to be the finest people I have ever had the pleasure and privilege of knowing. From a personal perspective my life has been enhanced beyond measure and once the sting of my butt-kicking subsides I look forward to many years of friendship with the amazing people I’ve come to know. And continuing to serve the community in which I live, only in different ways than from elected office. At least for now.

To everyone who posted a sign, contributed money, spent time, provided encouragement, wrote letters, gave advice, served as a sounding board, realigned my thinking, worked the polls, or cheered on, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can never repay what you’ve done for me, but please know that it means a great deal to me and I treasure what you’ve done. I have personally thanked that great group of confidants, supporters and advisors who poured so much of themselves into this campaign. Incredible people that I am honored to call friends.

I’ll think about what comes next after cleaning the house and otherwise restoring order to a life turned upside down. It was quite a ride and I have absolutely no regrets, other than perhaps not working twice as hard for twice as long.

Thanks again to all who were involved and the voters who chose to cast their ballots in hopes that I would win. I cherish every one of those votes and wish I could personally thank each person who cast one. Please stay tuned – I need some rest but I’m not going away. There’s a new Board of Commissioners to be held accountable…

Hugh

What’s important to me about these letters is that they are eyewitness accounts of the very leadership skills and breadth of experience I am offering to voters in this campaign. I think that’s important for people to hear. So with great pleasure and gratitude I offer to you those two letters from two wonderful people I had the pleasure of working with for years: Linda Edwards from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Sabrina Saunders-Hodge from the Federal Aviation Administration. I thank them both from the bottom of my heart.

________________________________________________________________

October 10, 2010

Editor:

I was ecstatic to learn that Hugh McLaurin is running for the office of Commissioner in Carroll County.  While not a resident of Carroll County, I am excited for those fortunate Carroll County residents who now have an opportunity to vote for a truly outstanding leader to represent their community.

I have known Hugh for 10 years and I had the privilege of working for him while he was serving as Director of Engineering at my agency.  As an electrical engineer in government service for close to 30 years, I have worked with many senior level managers, and Hugh remains a standout as one of those exceptional leaders possessing a unique balance of technical expertise, people skills and the utmost integrity for doing what is right.  Hugh leads by example and is the kind of person who listens to all points of view and makes decisions in a fair-minded and collaborative manner.  He has always been highly supportive of his co-workers and was the kind of boss that truly valued and appreciated his employees.  He always had an open door policy, and employees and co-workers knew that he could be relied upon to help them succeed in their organizational and career endeavors.

Hugh is an electrical engineer by degree, and in stereotypical engineering fashion, he is smart, objective and interested in finding the best solution to a problem, rather than merely “settling” for the fast or easy solution.  He is a compassionate man who cares about the human element, even when it comes to technical and policy matters and can be counted on to do his homework on complex issues in order to make informed decisions.

I have seen and experienced firsthand how Hugh leads people in government, and I believe his truly unique leadership attributes will make an excellent County Commissioner.  Hugh has always spoken fondly of Carroll County and its residents.  I’m certain he will bring those same qualities that he brought to our agency to his next venture.  That’s his nature.  He is a leader, he stays informed, and most importantly he does the right thing.

Best regards,

Linda Edwards

Germantown, MD

________________________________________________________________

October 11, 2010

Letter to the Editor:

I am a resident of Western Howard County and patronize businesses in Carroll County on a regular basis.  I am overjoyed that my long-time federal government colleague and friend – Hugh McLaurin has decided to continue his civil service by running for Commissioner in Carroll County.  What could be better than to have strong leadership in this neighboring county?

I met Hugh McLaurin 13 years ago at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Washington, DC and I have personally worked with Hugh on several aviation research projects involving partnerships with domestic and international government agencies, industry and academia such as NASA, DoD, EUROCONTROL and MIT just to name a few. Hugh will bring a sound understanding of partnering for solutions and true dedication to civil service to Carroll County.

Hugh has always exemplified strong leadership and high moral standards in every career position he held and community service project he embraced.  I witnessed him move up the government executive service ranks in record time by working hard, making wise business and technical decisions, staying true to his morals and always respecting other people.  Many of his colleagues (including myself) watched Hugh along the way and felt reassured that “nice guys” can finish first.  He stood out in a great way!  I was not at all surprised when he was among the many citizens who traveled to New Orleans to help rebuild homes after hurricane Katrina.  He has a strong sense of community service and his heart is always in the right place.

Hugh’s years in the federal government provide him the experience and diverse background required to perform as a highly effective commissioner. He will bring immense value to Carroll County government by doing what is right for the citizens in work performance as well as in quality of life improvements.  I hope the citizens of Carroll County will capitalize on the emergence of this local leader who has lived and served in their community for quite some time.

Sincerely,

Sabrina Saunders-Hodge

Research & Technology Development Manager

Federal Aviation Administration

Vision clear for county’s future

Here are the polling locations in District 5:

Sykesville Middle School

Liberty High School

Oklahoma Road Middle School

Carrolltowne Elementary School

Piney Ridge Elementary School

Linton Springs Elementary School

Fairhaven (no staffing needed)

Please let me know if you can help, for how long, and if you have a preference for where you’d like to work. Thanks in advance to our willing volunteers!

The forum ran the gamut from routine to unusual and parts of it were enlightening. I have a lot to say, so settle in and bear with me.

Beware of Group-Think

It’s been obvious since the primary election, but a few of the Republican candidates made it quite clear last night that they are already presuming they have won the general election as a bloc. Haven Shoemaker, for instance, spoke of how all five new Republican commissioners are going to sweep into office and move so fast in unison to make changes that those poor people in the county office building will never know what hit them.

Well, good for them. Sing Hallelujah. However, I’m not aware that any of the Democratic candidates have conceded the election yet. They’re just not as presumptuous nor as arrogant a bunch as the Republican candidates seem to be.

The five Republican candidates met after the primary and colluded on how they would take Westminster by storm, as evidenced in this photo and article in a local online rag, Eldersburg.net:

Republican Primary Commissioner Winners Meet in Westminster

Here’s what I see wrong with this picture (not the photo – there’s too much wrong about that to talk about).

The voters of Carroll County are supposed to be electing five individuals, each of whom they feel will best represent the district in which they live. If they elect this bloc, they in fact have elected one person with five bodies. They have pledged to work together, support each other, and largely push the same agenda. Where are the checks and balances? Where are the protections against collusion? Where is there room for dissent? The voters are supposed  to be electing distinct representatives, not a single dictator in the form of five individuals.

Each district is different from the others. I know District 5, which I intend to represent, bears little resemblance to the far reaches of the county in other districts. District 5 needs a voice that represents the many people and the many values and the many points of view of the district residents. It doesn’t need a voice that says “yes sir” to the ideologues in the group who purport to hold the values of the entire county solely in their hands.

Group-think is a dangerous thing to those of us who value dissent and differing points of view; who welcome ideas and viewpoints that are greatly different than our own; who view open dialogue and dissent as fundamental to our freedoms and a valuable contribution to the common good. I am seriously worried about a group that thinks it has all the answers to everything for everyone, when in fact their answers are narrow and exclusionary of many residents and ideas and aspirations in this county.

What does this have to do with Doug Howard?

Go back and look at the picture. Howard has associated himself with this group and seems darn proud of it. He has always been a staunch partisan and he thinks that electing these individuals simply because they are all Republicans is the best thing that could happen to Carroll County. No matter what bad ideas or twisted beliefs individual members of this group may bring to the table. No matter what ideology or religious beliefs or plans or schemes each may be planning to impose on the county. No, Howard has bought the package and thus is part and parcel to the deal.

These five have chosen to be a gang, blood brothers and sisters, acting in unity. So if you hear something from one of them you should assume you are hearing it from all of them. The most extreme views of any one of them are tied directly to my opponent in this race as well.

The Constitutional Convention

A couple of commissioner candidates have recently discovered the US Constitution and decided that we as a county have strayed far from the framework of government it allows. Richard Rothschild, for instance, waved a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution at the audience last night and promised that his actions would adhere to it.

I have no problem with adhering to the Constitution. What I do have a problem with is the implication that those who do not agree with the viewpoints of the people waving pocket-sized copies of the Constitution are somehow un-American, Constitution haters or even Communists. Don’t think I’m kidding, I’ve heard that term used more than a few times during this campaign.

Look, there isn’t a single candidate in this election who doesn’t hold this nation dear, who doesn’t have ancestors who shed blood for this country or immigrated here at risk of everything including their lives. There is not one candidate who wants to do anything other than uphold the laws of the nation. There isn’t a Communist in the bunch. You’d be hard pressed to find a decent liberal.

The real issue behind this mask is the different points of view on the reach and roles of government, and government spending. The Constitution-waving Republicans are trying to scare people about the liberal Communist horde of Democratic candidates, when in fact this is about as conservative a bunch of Democrats as you’ll ever find. Myself included.

There is room for debate and disagreement about the reach of government while remaining within the bounds of the Constitution. The founders of this nation in no way tried to tie the broad populace to a single point of view. Still, none of us in this entire group is arguing that the scope of government needs to be broadened. I feel very strongly that we have exceeded reasonable bounds and let things get out of hand, which is why we’re in the fiscal mess we are as a nation. We all want to work for the betterment of the county without spending foolishly or lengthening the reach of county government.

But my viewpoints on what county government should or shouldn’t do aren’t the only ones, and I look forward to debates with the other commissioners about policies and programs and initiatives in county government. Perhaps some of them do need to be reined in. Hopefully, if my views differ from those of the holders of pocket-sized copies of the Constitution, I won’t be hung for treason on the steps of the county office building by the other commissioners.

The Ambush

Richard Rothschild is going to think I’m picking on him, but I have to call it as I see it. I think he went way out of bounds in his closing comments where he eviscerated his District 4 opponent, Michele Johnson.

Rothschild is a smart guy and I respect his points of view, even those I strongly disagree with. He has put thought into his positions and I respect people who do that. And in fact we agree on a few things, like quality motorcycles.

Rothschild was civil throughout the forum until his closing remarks, when he chose to humiliate Johnson about her claims of being a fiscal conservative. He declared that in fact he was a real fiscal conservative whereas Johnson didn’t even know what the term meant.

Rothschild used as his proof a mockup of one of his campaign signs and a mockup of four of Johnson’s campaign signs connected together in a rectangular fashion. He said that his plain, simple sign was indicative of the fact that he is intrinsically a cheapskate and will treat the taxpayer’s money as a cheapskate would treat his own. Johnson’s four signs, by contrast, were indicative of her intentions to spend county tax revenues foolishly and ostentatiously.

Well, I’ve driven around District 4 quite a bit and I would venture to say that Rothschild’s signs outnumber Johnson’s by at least four to one, so there goes that savings. And many of his signs that I’ve seen have been far more wordy than the simple, humble mockup he displayed last night. So really, this was a disingenuous and overall silly comparison. I would never in my life even buy a sign for myself if not running for office, but every candidate knows that name recognition is important. Campaign signs indicate nothing.

Rothschild’s attack lacked substance and in my view he cheapened himself with this trick. He could have easily made the point that he is a cheap bastard without dragging Johnson through the mud in the process. We get the point, and in fact I believe that he would work hard if elected to control and rein in spending. I may not agree with where Rothschild would propose making cuts, but I highly value the taxpayer’s dollar and I know he does too. So does Johnson.  He could have made his point without appearing to be petty and nasty in the process.

Richard, stick to your viewpoints and take a higher road next time. That was distasteful.

My Closing Statement

I’m including my closing statement from last night’s forum below because I received some comments about it. These are my notes for the closing statement, which I did not follow verbatim although I did make these points. My opening statement was directed at my opponent and I will address that in a different post. Thanks for hanging in there if you’ve read this far.

Thank you once again for attending and watching this evening.

1. Experience matters

• It will allow me to get a running start and shorten the learning curve
• It will allow me to have realistic expectations on what I can and cannot do
• It keeps me from making empty promises.

2. Beware empty promises

• I have heard a lot about lower taxes, slashing and burning the county office building on the way to a better government. Haven’t we heard it all before?

What I promise is what I can deliver – responsible stewardship of every dollar or resource over which I have any oversight or control. I’m a fiscal conservative who will examine every nook and cranny of county government to make it more efficient and responsive to citizens.

3. This election is not all about small businesses

• It’s about vision and values and leadership
• It’s about having a heart for the community
• It’s about quality of life for our residents
• It’s about communities we can be proud of and where we choose to spend our time and money
• It’s about ensuring our children get the best education possible, even in dismal economic times
• It’s about choices and priorities and opportunities
• It’s about stepping beyond partisan politics and ideology to work hard for every resident of Carroll County, not just the ones who share our personal beliefs.

Now that the county is structured into five districts, we have the opportunity to account for the very real differences between each of the districts. No one person can honestly tout that they are the keepers of the values and vision of the county. If they believe this, they fail to recognize the diversity we have within the county.

As commissioner I will represent the values and desires and needs of District 5 residents and work collaboratively for all of Carroll County with the other commissioners, no matter who they are or what their party affiliation is. I hope they will offer the same in return.

I know how to lead people and get things done in government. This is what I offer to the voters of Carroll County. Thank you

“Thank you for taking time to discuss the future of public safety with
me.  Your recommendations are a straightforward approach that will
advance police response, fiscal accountability and continuity of
services.” ~ Carroll County Sheriff, Ken Tregoning

“We have a clear choice in District 5, and it’s Hugh McLaurin, whose grasp of the issues we’ll face in the next term makes him the best Commissioner candidate I’ve seen in 20 years.” ~Douglas Metz, President, MidLantic Financial Services, Eldersburg

“Hugh McLaurin is an excellent, highly qualified candidate for commissioner, and the residents of District 5 would be well served to have him serving in that office.” ~Dr. Robert Wack, physician and member of Westminster Common Council

Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #20 … official endorsement
Sierra Club, Maryland Chapter … endorsement story in Carroll County Times
Clean Water Action … Official Endorsement

Dunking for Tay

Kudos to Elaine Gossage Realty in Sykesville for sponsoring a dunk tank at the festival, with proceeds benefitting the family of Taylor Mannas. Taylor attends Sykesville Middle School and has been undergoing treatment for leukemia. The dunk tank turned out to be a great experience for me.

I lost a dear cousin to leukemia many years ago, when it was almost always a fatal disease. Betty was about my age and lost her courageous but terrible three-year battle with leukemia at the age of 12. Her ordeal caused my mom to begin volunteering at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, working with children who had leukemia. It was gratifying and heart-wrenching at the same time for her as she made and lost so many young friends.

Treatments for leukemia have greatly advanced in the decades since that experience. It is now considered a very survivable disease. But treatment is expensive. What a great reflection on a caring community for stepping forward to help the Mannas family.

Back to the dunk tank. I went to the Fall Festival with no intentions to subject myself to the dunk tank, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to fill one of the few empty slots for volunteers. I must say I received some encouragement from friends. So I spent about 15 minutes getting dunked what seemed like dozens of times, mostly by young children like my son and a couple of his friends who were at the festival. I’m not sure what it is about me that made so many parents send their children forward to torture me, but I figure there’s a message there somewhere.

Although I didn’t have a change of clothes and never did dry out before heading home, I had a great time. I would do it again in a heartbeat, and hope to have the chance. And I got to meet a beautiful young girl named Taylor Mannas afterwards. It was the highlight of my day.

Best wishes to Taylor and the Mannas family. And thank you, Sykesville, for a wonderful day.

We are in the final weeks of a long campaign season and it’s decision time for voters. Some have already made their choices, but many have yet to study the alternatives and decide who they will vote for on November 2.

The county-wide candidate forums are helpful, but with 10 (actually 11) candidates for commissioner across five districts it is hard for voters within a district to make direct, side-by-side comparisons of their candidates. It’s critical that they have the opportunity to do so, that they see and hear and question and challenge their candidates together.

I’m aware of candidate forums in the other commissioner districts, but as it stands right now there is no forum planned in District 5. Why is that?

What’s the holdup?

I was contacted right after the primary election by the Freedom Area Citizens’ Council (FACC) about participating in a District 5 candidate forum for the general election. I signed on right away. I’m ready to put myself in front of the voters, answer their questions and hear what they have to say. That’s very important to me.

I’ve been told by FACC that my opponent Doug Howard has not returned repeated calls and messages about participating in a District 5 forum. Time is running short – if we are going to do this we need to get it scheduled right away. What’s up with that, Mr. Howard?

FACC or another sponsor?

To me, FACC is the perfect organization to host a candidate forum. They claim to be non-partisan and objective, focused only on issues that are important to the Freedom area. The election for the District 5 commissioner certainly falls into that category. They have a track record of holding forums, including commissioner and delegate forums before the primary election. They’ve done it, they know how to do it, and they are at least making efforts to do it now.

However, if Howard won’t agree to participate in a forum with me, FACC has little choice but to punt. I’d love to participate in a forum where I was the only speaker, but I don’t think FACC would view that as objective.

If not now, when? If not FACC, then whom? I’m looking for another sponsor in the event FACC decides not to host a forum. If you have any ideas on this, please contact me as soon as possible.

I contacted the League of Women Voters about sponsoring a forum in District 5 if nobody else steps forward. They are considering my request but I expect them to decline. They are not planning forums in the other districts – only the county-wide forum next week. Still, they might do it to fill a void. Let’s hope so.

A challenge for my opponent

Time’s a-wasting, Doug Howard. Please answer your phone calls and e-mails from FACC. Make a commitment right away, as I did weeks ago. If you decline, please explain why.

You repeatedly challenged your primary opponent, Mike Zimmer, to debate you anytime and anyplace. So I’m puzzled at your reluctance to sign on for a routine, must-do candidate forum against your opponent in the general election. I would think you’d be anxious to do this. What am I missing here?