In his 20 years of service to the citizens of Harford County, life-long resident Barry Glassman spent two terms on the Harford County Council and became a member of the Maryland House of Delegates in 2000, serving as Chairman of the County Delegation for seven years before being chosen by the late Senator Bob Hooper to take his seat in the Maryland Senate, where he has served as a member of the State Finance Committee. Despite his years in Annapolis, Glassman’s heart is in Harford County, where he resides in Darlington with wife Debi and son Jordan, raising a small flock of registered Suffolk and Southdown Sheep in addition to serving as a Claims Investigative Specialist in the property and casualty insurance field.
Following the legislative session, Harford’s Heart Magazine asked Senator Glassman to reflect on his view of Harford County. An excerpt from that exclusive interview appears in the June/July 2013 issue of Harford’s Heart. This complete text can also be seen at harfordsheart.com.
Q. What do you think are the 3 greatest assets of Harford County? What perception do “outsiders” have of Harford County and what is the single biggest (pleasant) surprise that newcomers discover about our community?
Our biggest assets are our relationship with Aberdeen Proving Ground, our location relative to I-95 and the northeast rail corridor, and finally of course, the natural and historic places Harford has – from our shorelines to land conservancies to the north with rural villages in between which are surrounded by our agricultural community.
I find new residents to Harford County are amazed by the selfless service of our volunteer citizens; the fact that most citizens are willing to volunteer and give to nonprofits and to their local community organizations.
Q. What are your greatest concerns for Harford County over the next 10 or 20 years?
My greatest concerns for Harford County over the next ten or twenty years really revolve around how the State government has handicapped local counties. Recent changes to pension obligations, state planning, environmental regulations and a change in taxation policy will have a long-term impact on Maryland Counties and their ability to prosper and compete in the future. It impacts our ability to create jobs and communities for our next generation. So, in essence, maintaining the health of our local economy, protecting our agricultural community and maintaining APG will be paramount among my concerns.
Q. Coming from a farming background, what challenges do you see in striking the balance between economic growth and preserving our agricultural heritage? What about the balance between environmental stewardship and private property rights?
My concentration over the past few years has been to promote the Farm-to-Table concept here in Harford County and the State of Maryland. I think for agriculture to be successful in a growing suburban county, we must find a way to have local products marketed directly to local citizens and continue to promote agri-tourism. I would also have the County law department take a more active role in challenging the legal basis for many of the new State mandates and regulations that burden our farmers, local businesses and average homeowners.
Q. What about the challenges between Harford County interests and those of the State government? For instance, what do you think has been the impact of SMART Growth initiatives for Harford County?
As I mentioned earlier, the recent new regulatory obligations of the State regarding storm water management, septic systems, and the reduction of development rights in rural and suburban counties will have a long-term impact on Harford County. The State’s effort to transfer teacher pension costs and a reduction in local education funding will also have a long-term impact on Harford County. The test for local counties will be finding innovative and fiscally prudent ways to compete and grow their local economies.
I was on the County Council as we became one of the first suburban counties to adopt a Development envelope and a local land preservation program in the early 1990’s. We have to continue to combine citizen and business input to find the right balance.
Q. You’ve been a County councilman, a State delegate and now a State senator, serving in a number of different administrations with people of varying different viewpoints and agendas. What have you found is the key to effective consensus and progressive direction?
First and foremost, I believe the Golden Rule goes a long way in working out public policy with views of varying interests; that treating others the way that you would like to be treated while taking a professional businesslike approach to public policy can effect workable solutions. In addition to my private industry experience, I have had the opportunity to develop many friendships throughout Maryland State government, local governments and municipalities.
Q. What can state and county government do differently to support excellence in public education and to foster quality of life through recreation, the arts, etc.?
As a product of the Harford County School System, I can attest to its excellence. We have always had a system which continually achieves high marks while spending well below our surrounding neighbors. Going forward, I think to offset declining revenues the County and Board will need to partner in those areas where we can use shared responsibilities to save funds and continue to reward our teachers and staff appropriately.
Q. Is there a more active role that citizens can play in shaping the future of Harford County, for example through some of the recently revived community councils? The fastest growing segment of our population is citizens 45 and older, representing a considerable resource of experience, expertise and community involvement. What opportunities exist (or should exist) for that resource to be fostered and channeled?
I was born into Harford County’s long tradition of volunteer and community service. I joined the local volunteer fire department in my home village of Level as soon as I turned sixteen and was active in the local 4H club. Carrying on that tradition, I still serve as co-chair of the Fire/EMS Caucus in Annapolis and help out at the Mason Dixon and Harford Farm fair. We have so many great religious organizations, non-profits and youth organizations that citizens of different ages and talents can give back to the community. By working together, the County has always been strong because of this spirit of service.
Q. As Harford County continues to evolve, what can we learn from other jurisdictions? And what might other jurisdictions learn from us?
As Harford County evolves, I like to compare our challenges to those of the smart phone manufacturers. We must become smaller and more efficient while at the same time using technology to provide better service.
Q. Circling back to an earlier question, what are you most optimistic about for the future of Harford County?
Despite our challenges, I am optimistic that through community input and service, support of local agriculture and business along with an efficient local government, we can move Harford County into a leader of counties in Maryland. We also will focus on taking the knowledge base and technology from APG to foster new business and commercial applications to grow jobs in the private sector for our next generation.
Sounds like a run for County Executive is just about to be announced.
Mike Welsh is most likely correct. David Craig is running for Governor, according to his Facebook page, so this leaves a vacancy.
well he has to become governor first.
Craig can’t run for CE again…and he doesn’t have much chance of getting elected governor, but regardless this is his last term as CE.
My question of him if he wants to be County Exec what are his thoughts on education funding in Harford County?
That’s right, Sweetie…it’s all about you.
Not about me! I work for a non public school! I am worried about my kids. Are we going to get second rate teachers, with huge class sizes as we lose the better younger ones we recruited to neighboring counties because they can get an 9 k raise by switching!
Don’t worry I’m sure your children will get their fair dose of indoctrination regardless of class size.
No it is called Public Education and it is garunteed in the State Constitution! You also might care as it affects your property value!
Barry Glassman would make a wonderful County Executive. I’ve found him to be very responsive and proactive as an elected official. I just hope that uninformed voters don’t confuse him with that dolt Glen Glass.
I’m open to Glassman. That said, it wouldn’t take much for anyone to be an improvement from Craig.
Do you remember how Mr. Craig secured his position? Watch the bouncing ball this time and see if it looks familiar. Not so sure you will see improvements, since all the same allegiances are very prevalent, same supporters, same agendas, same money trails, undoubtedly same results for us who pay the tab. How many homes outside Harford County do you think the next Executive can achieve? Some key supporters sincerely appreciate “having their concerns heard” NOT feeling optimistic!
You realize that Craig, Bonniface, Glassman, etc. are all in the same camp right? Glassman taking Craig’s seat has been in the works for years. If you put your time in with the good ol’ boy network in the republican party you are rewarded with a certain office. This happens on the national scale too.
Why was McLame the candidate for pres. in 08? Why Romney in 12? Bush will be next, do we really need another one?
That is a real concern because alot of people who voted for Glass did so believing they voted for Glassman.
On Election Night 2010, Glassman told me he had bumped into a group of older women earlier in the day who introduced themselves and said they were happy to have voted for him that morning. When he thanked them and asked where they lived, it was down in District 34 – outside of Barry’s District 35.
It was pretty clear to both of us what had happened.
I’ve always maintained that the main reasons Glen Glass was elected are because a.) people confused him with Glassman, and b.) his signs were black and purple.
His signs also had no authority line on them and occupied multiple parking spaces at the park and rides! Saw him at early voting and his truck was parked illegally across three parking spots while voters had to park and walk from across at the overflow lot.
Glassman would be a welcome change and at the same time an homage to our past and our heritage as a rural county. I think he has an opportunity to blend respect to the past with moving us forward in sensible and responsible developement. Never met anyone with anything negative to say about Glassman.
If there was any doubt left, check out Glassman’s new t-shirt design:
http://www.facebook.com/Daggerpress/posts/10151636395366591?notif_t=notify_me
glass or glassman…hope one of them is full.
One question I would like to have asked. How many pensions will Mr. Glassman receive upon his completion of “public service”. Wasn’t his full time employer B G &E.
A photo of some guy holding a dog and a goat, standing next to Boniface just isn’t enough to sway me. Where’s the beef. Heir apparent I guess. Line up sheep.
Who cares. At least he worked a regular job and got a private pension. And it’s not a goat just a lamb.
Bill,
You poor sheep. Those twenty years of service to the citizens of Harford County offer him pensions. The council and state office. BGE is a private pension, government provides him pensions also. I care Bill and maybe you should too.
I think Barry would make a good CE; However I say that with the exceptions of :1, he is interested in spending taxpayer $$ to have lawyers take on the state on mandates that are for the benefit of the long term health and environment of the state and the bay. 2, he doesn’t turn into one of his own sheep for the developers who believe that every green space should be a house or a yard around it, except for those little tiny parts that are the “open space”. we’ll see. Craig will probably have him some to a meeting to bow down and get appointed as the next great savior of the corporate weenies.
How is he going to be a great CE? He has no business experience. He has never formulated a budget. Voting for a budget in Annapolis does not count. He is just another professional politician!! But no real business person wants the job so the professional politicians just keep getting in. He will bow to the real power in HC. The developers!!!!
Now that Craig is running for Governor and Glassman CE I guess Clark Turner will be getting both State & Local development contracts…
Both of them are big government RINO’s who will further decay the state of MD and Harford.
I hope Mr Glassman doesnt forget the failer of Virginia style “smart” growth as embraced by Paris Glendenning a number of years ago. Smart growth is admittedly a failer. Over saturation of mall after mall just doesnt work. I would rather pay just a few dollars more in taxes than tolorate a GREEN INNER CITY as much of northern Virginia now suffers with.
That said…GOOD LUCK BARRY !!!!
GO DAGGER !
Good to hear from you again, Richie.
It’s good to be back.
Go Dagger !