Interview with Bel Air Town Commissioner Candidate Dave Mitchell:
As part of The Dagger’s coverage of the Town of Bel Air’s municipal election on Nov. 3, the following questions were presented to each candidate for town commissioner.
The five questions (bolded and boxed) were chosen to generate discussion on specific topics. The candidates’ answers have been included as received by email or reported following an interview.
1. In short, who are you and why are you running for Bel Air Town Commissioner?
My name is Dave Mitchell, I’ve owned my own business for 23 years, and I’ll watch the taxpayers’ money like it was my own. I’m a working man. [Incumbent Town Commissioner Robert] Preston was given everything by his father, his father gave him the business, his house, he works for his father. I’m a working man.
2. The town budget has more than doubled this decade. How do you feel this has benefitted the town, and how would you handle the budget as commissioner?
The town budget has doubled because they have [Bel Air Downtown Alliance Executive Director] Elizabeth Cook, they have [town employee] Jim Welch , they have Jane [Pessagano, Rockfield Manor director] doing Rockfield, they have all these loose cannons.
I’m in this to get rid of Preston, get rid of Elizabeth Cook, get rid of Jim Welch, Jane out there in Rockfield. There’s plenty of people out there who’d do the job cheaper than they would.
3. The commissioners recently voted to table plans to renovate the town hall. Do you support renovations, and how can the town manage costs and facility shortcomings?
Number one, I’d buy BB&T and save $1 million, and use that [for town offices], and have everything on Main Street.
I’d just watch the money, you gotta tighten up. If you don’t need a new pair of shoes, you don’t buy them, you wait until they’re worn out. We need to wait until things are worn out.
4. The town recently completed a renovation of Main Street. Do you feel this has benefitted the community, and how should the town handle its logistical problems and improve the town economy in the future?
Just look at the vacancies on Main Street, there’s still vacant places, because the rents are too high. I’d rather see them rented cheap, all the people who own those buildings are millionaires.
5. Why do you think you are a better choice for town commissioner than either of the incumbents?
I’m no better choice than any of them, no one knows what they’re doing, no one can predict the future. Even Obama couldn’t predict the future. This country has gone haywire with spending money, that’s the problem.
well…at least he has something to say…and he pretty much said it all
I agree with the idea of getting rid of the incumbents, the spending is out of control. Other than that—-
Oh yea considering Carey is realy the better candidate. And the reason to run for office just to get rid of the the other guy but not on any issue is the stupidest thing ive ever seen,
What about the real issues that realy matter?
Have any real answers on that???
Why is he trying to punch the photographer?
Unbelievable. Loose cannons, milionaires, worn out shoes. He sure knows how to generalize everything. If he is no better of a choice than any of them…we’re in trouble if he gets elected. Does he really have a clue of what is going on in Bel Air. Has he even tried to find out. He isn’t even coming to the open forum to answer questions. He is running to get Carey out of there. If he was really concerned about the town of Bel Air he would not have put his name on the ballot and possibly taken votes away from those who are running for a real reason.
I meant Preston, not Carey.
I would not stop with Cook, Welch, Pessagano or Carey.
There is a few more that needs to go! Grossly over paid.
Six digit Salarys 100,000 Plus+ , $48.00 per hour…
Think about it, $48.00 dollars per hour, makes me sick.
Hope you listening Chris Schlehr, Carol Deibel, Leo Matrangola,
More of the $100,000 dollar club.
I am not sure where you are getting your figures, but maybe you should walk into Town Hall and ask for the salary figures.
I believe Schlehr is the only town employee making over 100k.
And also you are talking about employees that I think have a combined length of service to the town of close to 50 years.
Forget about the responses to the questions, I’m dying to know the “backstory” of this candid portraiture!
HOT DOG MAN ANGRY!!
Something needs to be done as far as the overall “talent” of the Commissioners. Right now there are two cliques – the “developer’s bitches” and the “over-spending queers”. Maybe they need some new blood that knows what they’re doing
Anyone who lives in Town should absolutely attend the forum at Bel Air Town Hall on Monday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m., moderated by The Dagger (not The Aegis, bet that pisses them off!) You will be able to submit your questions to The Dagger and hopefully we will get some straight answers. I understand that we cannot ask questions specifically targeting any one commissioner/commissioner-to-be which is to keep civility although it sure would be interesting to listen to Preston stutter and stammer when asked some pointed questions. He likes being a commissioner! He likes the Christmas parade by golly!
The Aegis has completely missed this election. They finally printed some articles and letters that address some of the issues. Preston and Carey supported and passed a 12.5% property tax increase thru the constant yield. Where are we spending all this money? Carey and Preston have no idea and they don’t ask any really tough questions of the staff. Look for big changes on Nov 3.
Look at the budget increases compared to inflation. Carey and Preston added over $3 million in annual spending just since 2001. No wonder there are such huge salaries and benefits. This is the year to put a stop to this. Davis and Adolph seem genuinely interested in stopping the annual tax increases or at least reducing them to the rate of inflation. I like that!!!
Hey Dave it’s Joe. I have been trying to call you, I have left a bunch of messages on you phone. I already sold the truck but Tire Village now wants me to pay your bill of $70.00 for the vehicle inspection you wanted before you were to purchase my truck. Hopefully this message will get back to soon so you can take care of your obligation to two of the citizens of Bel Air, me because Tire Village has now put the bill in my name, and Tire Village who needs to pay their people. Call me…
Hey Joe…and I’m not Jimi Hendrix…is the “Dave” you’ve mentioned, Candidate Dave Mitchell or Candidate Dave Carey…
not sure which it is…but my guess is it’s Dave Mitchell…
he can be a bit squirrly when it comes to paying his own bills…
just clarify this for me…
see you all at the Town Hall tonight…wonders never cease!!!
Yes It was Mr. Mitchell.
Stopped by Mitchells campaign Headquarters @ WAWA and he is sporting his yard signs.
Mitch for Commish
You’re on a roll with the hot dog man.
At least he is creative and not a wet noodle
Had to work Dave?
You couldn’t last five mintues at the forum, thats why you “had to work”.
I do admit it would have been a treat to see you talking about the real issues besides your personal agenda.
Research It: You wouldnt know what to do if you had to cook hotdogs for even a day. My guess is that your entire education and your life was paid for by your parents and you had nothing to worry about. So next time you want to be so critical in your thinking remember that not everyone had everything given to them and at least the “Hot Dog Man” is working for a living!
Jacko,
You are probably his campaign manager, who should have told Hot Dog Guy to attend the forum. He should have been there to address the real issues and confirm the fact he does not belong in office. And as a campaign manager, where are all his signs. At WAWA? He should be promoting his plans for Bel Air instead of having his personal agenda of getting Preston out of office. Thats all he can say. And last I checked Hot Dog Dave does not sell hot dogs on Main St. Why not? Violation of the health food laws?? Please enlighten me.
Bel air is a joke.Matrangola sits on his *** and basically runs a parking ticket agency for 149G a year.
Now that’s right on topic…………. Looks like you are the joke to me.
Hot Dog Hot Dog Man I wanna be the the “Hot Dog Man”