Robert Wagner, the former Harford County Council President who served 16 years on the council, has entered the increasingly-crowded race for Harford County Executive.
Wagner, a Republican from Churchville, was elected to Council President in 2002 despite having to struggle against the intentions of the local GOP – which supported the Democratic incumbent Gunther Hirsch.
Wagner joins Republican Stephen Wright, a Churchville accountant and member of the Republican Central Committee, as the only filed candidates for County Executive. Incumbent County Executive David Craig has not yet filed, but is believed to be running for reelection.
The last time I saw Wagner was the night of the Gubernatorial General Election in 2006. He had just lost his council president reelection bid to newcomer Billy Boniface, but vowed to me that he “would be back.”
The last time the public likely heard about Wagner was also about four years ago, during an embarrassing drunk driving stop. He has gone largely unseen and unheard from since that incident, but recently emerged to officially file his candidacy for office.
In an e-mail interview this week, Wagner explained how he has emerged through the hard times with a renewed focus and different outlook – one he believes has prepared him to be the best candidate for County Executive.
“Though unfortunate and humiliating, the incident slapped me hard enough that I got the help and support I needed at the time to get my life back to where it should be. I didn’t make phone calls and try to weasel out of what I had done (as some do) and the Aegis made me the poster child for DWI’s for awhile (while not printing the same news about other prominent figures). All in all, it was a reprimand that got my attention and allowed me to focus more clearly and move forward with a different outlook,” Wagner wrote.
Even after a nearly unprecedented four terms on the County Council, Wagner said he still feels like he left the job with work still left to be done. He also said he saw clues of the impending economic downturn and had to watch as the council and County Executive acted with “a lack of responsibility” in spending taxpayer money.
“Now, why would I want to stick my neck out on this chopping block? Sometimes a person gets a feeling of a job not totally completed and knows that they can do a better job of the task at hand. Our current tight economic times were no surprise. I knew the outlook when I left office that things were tightening up in the third year, which was before the financial crash. Decisions have been made by both the legislative branch (council) and Executive branch that to me reflect a lack of responsibility to the taxpayers they serve. They are all charged to be the stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars and trusted to make sound judgments more like a business. I strongly feel that in my total of 16 years on the Council has prepared me well to take on the task of Harford County Executive,” he wrote.
Wagner also criticized the lack of communication between the County Executive’s office, the County Council and the Board of Education and said egos need to be put aside for the benefit of the citizenry.
“There needs to be communication between the three branches, Executive, Council, and Board of Ed. Over the past term, this communication has been non-existent; there is no good reason for this. All of the elected officials need to put their personal feelings aside and do what is in the best interest of our citizens…..the ones they serve and the ones who pay the tab. Let’s look for Republican values. My own party (the core group) worked against me every step of the way. The reason is (stupid) simple, I wouldn’t play “the game”. Yet if you ask around, you will always hear, Wagner is fair or that you would always know where I was or if Wagner told you something it would be that way. I think I have a STRONG conservative yet fair record reflected by all my votes in those 16 years. I have taken these years out of the spotlight to reassemble my focus become more attuned with “real people’s” life experiences and feel that I am prepared to be the best candidate for the job of leading this county over the next four years, Wagner wrote.”
“When I told you that I would be back, I didn’t know what I would have to go through before making that attempt, but I’m glad we’re here!”
You have my vote.
I am glad you’re here too. Just one question for now, how many friends and relatives do you plan to hire should you win the election?
I believe in hiring good, competent people who are knowledgeable about the job. If I have any friends that qualify, certainly they would be considered. But to answer what I think you are asking, things will change!
Thank you for reading between the lines, Mr. Wagner. I certainly believe that you will change things for the better when you are voted in as our new County Executive.
Good too see you here R Wagner. I do believe your the man for the job. your family members carry & excellent reputation. I met your father years ago. when he was Farming, a very likeable man.
There’s No doubt you took after him.
Thank you for rembering my father and for your kind words. I appreciate the encouragement.
Mr. Wagner,
How delighted I was to read that you have decided to once again run for County Executive. I have always admired your ability to make decisions based on the facts, the County Code and Charter and good common sense. And once you make a decision, you stick with it, not to be swayed by outside special interest groups. You have always dispayed honesty and a good work ethic.
And to anyone who may be critical of past problems, I say to them: I have always found a person who has overcome problems to be far stronger and wiser than one who has never had problems or faced up to them. You have my support and best wishes for a successful campaign.
PWH I agree totally, I have no stake in this election. other than to say I knew Robbie when he was Knee high to a grass hopper. he has no Idea who I’am. ( TO Young to remember. ) this family is HONEST! & Hard working, a trait they took from there Dad.
Well, I think you will have a hard time beating David Craig. Primarily because Craig has never fallen out of his truck Drunk. Hey man, we all make mistakes. Many of us have gotten a DUI in the past. But here you are apologizing for a error in judgement and you said you have learned from it. That’s cool. But are you County Executive material? No. Good god man, what if you would have been in an accident the night you got arrested and injured or killed someone. Would you still be running for County Executive?
Luckily I received the proper help and support before something tragic happened. I can’t see a lot of productivity by playing the what if game. Your points are valid. I’m not coming into this race thinking it will be easy. This race will be over in the primary election. That means I need the support of those republicans who are seeing the need of a change and recognize that I have the experience to put this County back on track. They also need to accept that my past is just that. I hope some can appreciate someone who seeks help, relies on faith and family and overcomes the hurdle that’s placed on them. If I were not at that place in my life, I wouldn’t be seeking your support.
Overcoming hurdles that are placed on you? All due respect Mr. Wagner, a simple declaration of your sobriety is not an unreasonable request for someone who seeks a position in which clear judgment is needed.
I would like to hear that Mr. Wagner has made a commitment to sobriety and for how long he has been sober.
Anyone who truly knows much about recovery, understands that an individual must hit that low spot before they can move ahead in sobriety. I don’t think I need to publish certain dates I may hold personal. I will tell you that I am committed and have no intentions of going backwards. This decision to run didn’t come easily. I knew this issue would be a stumbling block for some. It is my hope that a mistake made and addressed does not become the keystone. I am committed. Thanks
I am 11 years sober. Of course confidentiality is absolutely your right and there is no need to state when you became sober. What I do believe you need to state for me to be confident about your candidacy is that you are sober. You do seem to be dancing around that simple declaration.
You’re right, after reviewing my comments to you, I Realized that I did not answer your question. I have been sober over two years and plan to remain that way. Congratulations on your 11 years.
R Wagner I would’nt worry about the rhetoric.it’s to be expected. we do not live in a perfect world, and we all have problems to deal with.
I have often said if we poisoned the dope. we would be shocked who we find dead the next day.
Thank you. I hope you make this a clear part of your platform as it shows a real commitment to positive change. Good luck with your candidacy.
Mr. Wagner, exactly what do you mean “that I have the experience to put this County back on track.
I thik the County is on track and head for a CHANGE and it’s going to happen either way. The town needs to change your stuck in the 19th century and I don’t think YOU get it, The County cannot remain the same it needs to change and trust me it’s on the way.
Oh and exactly what can you put back on track?
Mr. Wagner,
I must say I find your earlier statements to be quite interesting. If you promised not to hire relatives, or friends, then why did you use your influence to get your then girlfriend, now second wife hired by the treasury department in harford county government? Were the above comments a reformed Wagner speaking again as well? Do as I say, not as I do? Or perhaps would you wish to discuss your affairs with a county employee when you were in office. That I might add while your then wife was suffering from a debilitating disease. Shame on you Mr. Wagner for even trying to play yourself as a guy who has the fortitide to lead our county. When you were in office, you were a do nothing, so now you want us to elect you as County Exec. so you can do nothing again?
How do you feel about people who would not have a job without being invovled in public service all thier life? How do you feel about Harford County’s drunk driving enforcement?
“I didn’t make phone calls and try to weasel out of what I had done (as some do) and the Aegis made me the poster child for DWI’s for awhile (while not printing the same news about other prominent figures).”
Yeah, this sounds like one of those “I’m sorry you were offended” non-apologies. He’s not really taking responsibility. He really just making excuses.
I hope he loses because he sounds like an ass.
After giving this a little more thought, I have something to say to you Mr. Wagner. Drunk driving is a choice not an accident. A choice you made. Your half assed mea culpa is insulting. It is particularly insulting to the thousands of people who die every year because of the choices people like you make. Maybe you should ask someone who has lost a loved one to a drunk driver what they think of your excuses.
Then to add insult to injury your comments clearly show that you want us to believe, as you do, that you somehow got the short end of this stick by being persecuted in the press.
You don’t deserve the privilege of holding public office. I hope you do all of Harford County a favor and crawl back into that hole you’ve been hiding in.
Just remember…dwi is an affence that you will be arested for.. I will not vote for anyone who has ever been arrested. There are enough crooks voted in every term………
Just what we need in office a conficted drunk driver. Least we all forget he was arrested for drunk driving after losing to Mr. Boniface. What a disgrace to our county. For one He said he would put a hold on building on our farm land. Oh that’s right that didn’t go for the millions of dollars he got for his farm land.I don’t believe you should hold any pubic office when you are convicted of a crime.
my father new mr. wagoner’s father well. He was a hard worker and handy with a welder enough that he often built and sold trailers. When his father died the trailer business died with him and BOB wagoner farmed for a few more years. He ran for county council saying he was for the farmer and together we can chase the big developers out of the county. Soon after while in a later term as a councilman he developed the back of the family farm on prospect mill rd. That little development at the trafic circle was part of his farm. Now the farm is leased out. Not farmed by BOB Wagoner. He is a talking out both sides of his mouth public service abusing drunk waste of space.So please do not say you can see his father in him. That is an insult to a man that worked for a living.
If you are so worried about who is drinking what… then maybe you all shouldn’t vote. Have you ever been to an after party of the winning person?… EVERYONE is DRINKING… I bet most of you fall under the category of the pot calling the kettle black. Grow up, deal with it and realize that it is what it is. Mr. Wagner has gotten help and has followed through with it. Does he regret what he did? Yes. Can you people let it rest and accept what he has to say?. No. You are just looking to get an uprising out of him just so you can say “hey I made him lose his cool” but guess what, that isn’t going to happen. Mr. Wagner is going to run his campaign fairly and then he is going to keep on trucking after he wins the primaries. See you all at the polls… and remember vote for WAGNER.