I would like to thank the voters of Baltimore County’s Fifth Councilmanic District for their support in the November general election. I am honored to have received more than 98 percent of the votes cast for this office.
I would also like to congratulate all those who won election. Both Democrats and Republicans will represent neighborhoods in central and northeastern Baltimore County, and our office will continue to work in a bipartisan manner.
Looking forward, we will continue to work to improve schools throughout the Fifth District. Over the next four years, Dumbarton Middle School will benefit from a major modernization project, but our major focus must be to reduce overcrowding that remains a chronic problem from Towson to Perry Hall. I am pleased that new elementary schools will be built in the Towson and Perry Hall areas. Since magnet schools help equalize our student populations, I hope that Superintendent Dance will allow Cromwell Valley Elementary to remain a regional magnet until these campuses are finished.
We will continue to work on revitalization projects in our older communities. That includes the ongoing revitalization of Downtown Towson and the redevelopment of the Raytheon site near Loch Raven Village.
Transportation and infrastructure will also be a priority. Baltimore County will begin work on the long-awaited Fullerton Reservoir. The congested intersection at Harford and Joppa Roads will be improved, and road resurfacing is scheduled for the spring in Rodgers Forge, West Towson, and Towson Manor Village. My hope is that Governor-Elect Larry Hogan restores local road subsidies that were virtually eliminated by the O’Malley administration, and that the new Governor provides support for the Towson circulator.
The election showed that voters want an efficient government that focuses first on core priorities, such as public safety, education, infrastructure, and support for the needy. I look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats for a better Baltimore County.