From Maryland Liberty Political Action Committee, Inc.:
Dear Friends in Harford County,
Ever feel you’re getting snowed by your local politician?
“Snow Job” was coined in the 40’s to mean “an intensive effort at persuasion or deception” according to Merriam-Webster.
Small wonder “snow job” is often used in connection with politicians. They just love to persuade or deceive!
Here in Harford County, we have a politician in District A who’s given us a twelve year snow job.
Dion Guthrie wants you to believe his campaign slogans: A Champion of the People – For the People.
He puts a lot of talk and advertising into persuading you that he’s for the little guy, the working class.
Yet Councilman Guthrie votes time and time again like a Champion of the Corporate Clan.
He supports sweetheart loans that are never meant to be repaid, votes for major zoning changes mere days before a developer’s plans go public, and puts taxpayers on the hook for millions in risky junk bonds.
In the twelve years he’s been seated in the Harford County Council, Guthrie hasn’t said NO to one big corporate handout.
He’s never voted against government financing or tax credits for a local developer.
Surely even the most Liberal spender occasionally says, “Hey, wait. This big business doesn’t really need government money. Let’s spend it somewhere else.”
Not Dion.
Former lobbyist Dion Guthrie seems sincere when he says he’s for the common people.
But it’s a snow job.
Some of Councilman Guthrie’s biggest corporate giveaway approvals include:
– BILL 12-35: A $23 million Tax Increment Financing deal to anonymous “James Run” developers, paid upfront by the county with the sale of junk bonds.
– RES 15-12: A $750,000 loan to International Conglomerate Smiths Detection from the state which doesn’t have to be repaid, and a $100,000 “grant” gift from the county for employee training.
– RES 6-12: $600,000 in state and county loans to Bizerba Label Solutions, Inc. for the purpose of moving from Forest Hill to a larger facility in Joppa, and eventually hiring on 8 new employees.
– BILL 10-10: $10 million in Tax Increment Financing to Beechtree Estates, Harford County’s poorly-performing residential development project.
Altogether, Guthrie has voted away over $36.5 million in taxpayer money just in conditional and below-market loans, training grants and TIFs.
And where does this Champion of the People get most of his campaign funds?
He’s funded by Businesses and Developers.
From Jan 2013 to Aug 2014 Councilman Guthrie received twice as much money from PARTIES OUTSIDE HARFORD COUNTY as he did from his own constituents, the Harford County residents.
He raked in thousands from unions as far south as Florida, including those of Local IBEW No 1501, of which he’s the full-time manager with total salary of $105,377.
He’s collected several donations from lawyers-turned-Developers Snee and Gessner.
He secured two $1,000 checks from Beechtree Estates Developer Clark Turner.
Remember Beechtree Estates, mentioned above? It got that sweet $10 million in TIF money and then failed to meet its repayment schedule.
Guthrie’s also taken a whopping $5,000 from business owner Ioannis Korologos of Baltimore County.
Wait… Who?!?
Guthrie decided the zoning fate of Korologos’ properties at 900 and 906 Philadelphia Road in 2010 under the comprehensive zoning Review.
Surprise – Korologos is now preparing to move his Baltimore business to the rezoned Philadelphia Road property in Joppa.
Was this a crony deal? Insider knowledge? Pure coincidence?
Guthrie netted another $500 from Marquis Associate, LLC in 2009, RIGHT BEFORE the zoning for their properties at 901 and 907 Philadelphia Road were decided.
Do you still feel like your best interests are a priority, Southern Harford County?
Councilman Guthrie knows how to jump on a hot button topic when it gets him media press –
He’s quick to complain about tough decisions the Board of Education or County Executive have made.
But how he makes his own “tough” decisions?
It’s a snow job.
Remember the facts when you go to the polls this year, Harford County.
Don’t get snowed by politicians like Councilman Guthrie.
What can you do to stop Crony Capitalism in Harford County and around this beautiful state?
Get involved. Join your local Campaign for Liberty group,attend local government meetings, and let your elected officials know your opinion.
And stay tuned – Maryland Liberty PAC will continue to update you whenever we see crony politics at work.
We’re committed to YOUR VOICE this election year.
In fact…
Maryland Liberty PAC has been working hard to make the liberty voice heard this election cycle in several ways:
****** Forcing candidates to take public positions on important issues so voters know the truth about where they stand
****** Running online ads to identify voters on key issues so we can communicate with those voters between now and the next election
****** Mobilizing the grassroots activists to door knock and phone bank in their local communities and get information out to other voters
We’re activating as many volunteers as we can, but it’s no secret we need financial resources to get the word out.
What happens NOW will set the tone for the NEXT two years.
Won’t you help us to fight deceitful Statists running for office?
Your support will help us get critical information into voters hands throughout the state to let them know where all candidates stand on the issues.
For Liberty,
Christina Trotta
Director of Operations
Maryland Liberty PAC
Another mud slinging post from C4L. Too bad you can’t produce a winning candidate..
We’ll see about that 🙂
Mike, are you still against the county’s widely-popular and successful farmland preservation program? If so I respect your views but can’t support you.
The fact that C4L (viz., Ms. Trotta) spent so much time putting this “news release” together suggests that they think Guthrie can be defeated. Wouldn’t that be great–no “liberals,” no Democrats, no mavericks, all rubber stamps. And with Slutsky as their “thoughtful” leader! And Barry “Baahh” Glassman as CE!
Well…. Guthrie voted for whatever zoning changes made Eva Mar possible, and he voted for both TIF loans. So it’d be truth-slinging instead of mud.
If the shoe fits….
Guthrie lost my vote when he showed his true colors by voting for a raise for the County Executive when it’s been years since the county employees, teachers, sheriff’s office personnel, etc, has had a raise. Slutzky is the ONLY one who supported the employees by voting no.
I’ve had to work with him so I know first hand he’s a snow job! In fact I’d almost bet if you looked the word up in a dictionary a group photo of the whole council would be there as part of the definition.
When I first met him I actually thought he was a used car salesman!
Maybe he’s Burbey’s father. They do resemble each other in a slimy used car salesman sort of way.
This so-called press release looks more like a clarion call for campaign finance reform, which is odd, considering that it is a PAC, which has itself benefited from Citizens United, which basically gutted the concept.
Moreover, I’d be curious to see the list of “deceitful statists” that are running for office. I wonder how many of them could actually be classified as statists in the real sense of the term, rather than hyperbole.
Did Dion get that PA dutch guy back in the market and shut Redners down for holding the owners to their lease?
There was a lawsuit between Redners and its landlord, adjudicated mostly in favor of the landlord. Only part of the Amish market was forced out, but the remainder allowed to stay. I believe that the two parties are still attempting to reach a final, financial settlement.
What part of the ? didn’t you understand? Did he get the vendor back?
Ok. I am assuming that you mean the fresh meat counter and, no, the County Councilman was not able to override a court order and restore that one vendor.
If I remember correctly, all that Guthrie offered to do was to offer his time to mediate a resolution to the dispute. Redner’s declined and went forward with its lawsuit. it sounds like you want to hold him responsible for the actions of a private party in a matter that was beyond his control.
I hold no one responsible. He said he was going to get in the middle of it. I asked how it worked out. The answer you were looking for is “no” but you blather on like you swallowed a dictionary.
Are you mentally handicapped?
Mr. Guthrie has been on the side of the community residents in several issues that I know of over the last several years so I have nothing against him. In fact, I think of him rather favorably. Does any Dagger reader think that if the C4L did a similar investigation into the other six members of council that their reports would read any differently?
In addition, Mr. Guthrie doesn’t have dictatorial powers; he needs the votes of at least a majority of the members to approve all of these giveaways, so blaming him alone for the TIFs and sweetheart loans mentioned in the article is not right. They’re all in it together.
It has long been my opinion that people get into government so that they can steal legally and divert public funds to their friends, family, and supporters to insure reelection. I wish I were wrong and that our elected officials were public servants representing the welfare of those who elected them, as we learned in high school, but over the last 30-40 years I have seen little evidence of this. If an honest person were elected, how long do you think it would be before they were corrupted by the campaign donations and offers of buy-ins into the development schemes they urge council to approve?
Realizing that most voters are ignorant of their schemes and deals, totally disinterested in local politics, once elected they can do what they want, knowing that they’ll be reelected for life unless they commit some blatant felony.
If I remember correctly, Mr. Guthrie’s comment printed in the Sun (if it is correct mind you) about the raise for County Exec was “I had trouble voting FOR the amendment and I had trouble voting AGAINST it.” so he abstains ???
If this is correct reporting, sorry THAT is a waffle job. grow some, vote for or against OR here is a novel idea, vote how your constituents want you to” wow what a concept. but this is only my opinion, what counts is on Election Day !! and I know what button I will push.