[Editor’s note: The Dagger does not make endorsements in political races]
From James “Jim” D. Thornton:
TO THE READERS OF THE DAGGER
Many people have asked me how I felt about the Aegis not endorsing a candidate in this year’s election for President of the Harford County Council.
Frankly, it would have been very easy for the Aegis to endorse my opponent — after all, he has been in office for 12 years as a councilman, and has been vice-chair of the council. But the Aegis didn’t endorse my opponent. It called into question exactly what my campaign has also noted, again and again: that my opponent’s voting record does not match the wishes of his constituents, or the best interests of the county. The Aegis editors concluded that, based on the positions and actions he has taken during his long tenure in office, they could not endorse my opponent’s candidacy.
I also welcome the Aegis citing my corporate and business experience as a senior executive at MBNA America Bank, N.A., and as a vice president of Sears, Roebuck & Co., even though I have never actually held elected public office. The Aegis also noted that I am and have been an outspoken and active member of the Board of Education. It is exactly this experience that I believe is needed to lead the County Council.
This campaign has been hard-fought, and it’s not over yet. Throughout, we have been very careful to keep criticisms of our opponent strictly confined to his record in office, which we find lacking, and to his overall management experience, which we find insufficient. We have listened to the complaints of his constituents that he has failed or refused to meet with them or even hear their needs and concerns, and we have given some of his very disappointed former supporters a platform to express themselves as citizens of Harford County and as voters in this election. The light of truth illuminates all things.
Endorsing candidates is a very serious matter. We would have been delighted to have received the Aegis’ endorsement in the General Election, as we received it in the primary. But in any event, if I am elected President of the Harford County Council, I will provide the leadership and independent direction that it has lacked, and I will afford the Aegis and every other medium and news organ in this county and beyond total access to me, and the opportunity to endorse my future candidacy, without equivocation.
Very truly yours,
James “Jim” D. Thornton
Candidate for Harford County Council President
So Jim, seems you know exactly why the Aegis didn’t endorse Slutzky, so why didn’t they endorse you?
Mr. Thornton:
I don’t want to vote Slutzky. But I also don’t want higher property taxes or any more TIFs. Will you pledge to support no tax hikes, no more TIFs? Will you be a fiscally conservative Democrat?
He is an O’Malley and Brown Democrat. It is that simple.
” I will afford the Aegis and every other medium and news organ in this county and beyond total access to me…”
Wrong his is an Obama / O’Malley / O’Brown Democrat!
So Mr. Thornton if elected will you represent the whole county or just the NIMBY groups that have been directing your campaign? It is a shame you have used their rhetoric as your platform instead of sharing your vision for the county. As far as the Aegis not supporting Mr. Slutzky they never have except one primary endorsed him. When it comes to NIMBY’s one of the editors of the Aegis is the poster child for all NIMBY’s based on his personal agenda.
Those of us that have known Mr. Slutzky personally and professionally know how deep his integrity goes and are deeply insulted by the bold face lies and innuendos put forth by yourself and wack job NIMBY’S that feel they need to slander a man who has given 40 plus years of public service to our county changing lives of young people along with improving the Quality of life for the citizens of our County.
Mr. Slutzky has always done what he feels is right and best for the majority of the Citizens based on research and gaining knowledge of the Facts not hear say. Even if the Aegis doesn’t approve so he has never governed to gain their ENDORSEMENT.
I have observed you at the board of education and felt you were a man of integrity unfortunately over the past few weeks you have proven me wrong.
Vote integrity and hard work VOTE SLUTZKY!!!
Not me – not this time. Fool me once shame on you fool me twice – shame on me. Toss Slutzky out. Give this guy a chance. If he doesn’t get it done, then toss him out too.
I agree Slutzky has to go.
If you are going to make such statements at least have the courage to use your real name. I am challenging Slutzky’s position on a singular issue that impacts all Harford County residents who have the misfortune of running into the development juggernaut that runs this County. How dare I question Saint Slutzky’s wisdom!! The all-knowing, always correct, can do no wrong, benevolent Saint Slutzky. I hate to break it to you but this is a democracy. We have every right to question his decision to turn his back on us and on other residents in his district who are facing similar issues. You have your opinion, I have mine. I present you with my argument as to why I think I am right. You disagree and call me a whacko NIMBY. Make sense. You people who blindly follow Slutzky and the others like Craig who bend over backwards to cater to developers are the problem in this County. The minute somebody stands up and questions our government or voices so much as an ounce of a concern about a development (regardless of whether that concern is valid or not) we are immediately labeled liars, whackos and NIMBYs. Apparently that is the best you can come up with because I have yet to hear an argument against my piece on the merits. And that is sad. Because if I really was a liar and a whacko NIMBY surely somebody with your intelligence could poke holes in my argument. The fact is that you can’t, so you resort to petty name calling. The fact that you choose not to reveal your real name speaks volumes. And the name you chose “seniors count” speaks even more. Clearly you are one of the thousands of wealthy seniors lining up to live in the Eva Mar Palace that the County so desperately needs to stop the mass migration of Harford County to Oak Crest all of 15 miles to the south in Baltimore County, (i.e. upper-Siberia to seniors). If you want to engagement in a debate on the merits, then use your real name and tell me why I am wrong. If you only want to engage in childish name calling, then save it for bingo night at Eva Mar.
Bill the fact that you want the government to intervene on your personal behalf and stop other harford county residents from using their land legally, is not what this country was founded on.
I would use my real name but I too live in Tudor manor and believe you are so nuts over this I wouldn’t trust you to know who I am. You are going to blow a blood vessel man.
Vote “Saint” Slutzky. (would that be considered namecallin Bill? hehehehe).
BillH you do realize that we can now figure out where you live through public land records assuming you have given the right first name and the initial of your last name. Given that you live in the lower part of Tudor Manor that is not as affected as the part of Tudor Manor where I live, I now understand your lack of concern. The best of part of all of this is that Eva Mar has expedited the need for a new fire station in the Fountain Green area. And guess where that is going? Right in your backyard by the Verizon lot. Ha!!! Yup you will be hearing the sirens morning noon and night heading over to the retirement facility. Enjoy!
I have no doubt you will attempt to figure out who I am and good luck with that. As for a new fire station, that is a wonderful thing having first responders all that much closer maybe I’ll volunteer as a firefighter again. I can assure you Bil,l that no mater how mean and ugly a person you are, I would still risk my life to help you if you needed it.
Upon further thought on the fire station there is no way the would put one in the Verizon lot on 543. After all remember the gridlock traffic that you have told us about?
The most likely spot will be on the already county owned property on Prospect mill rd, which would be unfortunate for me as it would be a longer drive to the fire house. The upside is we would probably go right down Falstaff to get to Eva- Mar. Hope you like sirens as much as me.
Thornton sold himself for the same few votes Wagner did and lost.
Vote Slutzky the man at least has some self respect.
I will be voting for Thornton only because I can’t in any way support Slutzky. The “coach” needs to be fired.
Your name says you are a republican and you are going to vote for a far left liberal…..
Sounds legit.
Why? Because someone can’t possibly use his/her own intelligence and cross party lines? I am a democrat and tend to vote mostly for democrats (usually personal freedoms trump other issues for me). This year, I will be voting for many Republicans (though not Slutzky), but most certainly Hogan. Just because I chose a party so I can have a voice in the primary, doesn’t mean that I am a sheep. I would imagine (I would hope) many party members do the same – vote for the best candidate regardless of party.
I will not vote for Mr. Thornton because of his voting record on the School Board; his low income developer past; and because of his close ties to the O’Malley / Brown administration.
While on the School Board Mr. Thornton voted to raise fees over cutting expenses. Aka pay for play. He demanded more money from the tax payers so he and the other school board members could just keep spending. Mr. Thornton does not understand that the tax payers are not his unlimited source for money, we are his only source of money. He needs to be stopped before he and other people like him and his good friends Marty O’ and Brown suck us all dry. I will not vote for him because of his non-conservative votes on the board of education. Take the time and look up his voting record on issues like pay for play, common core, fee increases, higher spending plans, cutting contractors to expand the system, and cutting security upgrades from the budget.
I will not vote for him because he is a low income housing developer. He will increase low income housing in conservative areas of the county just like he has done in the past. He will support expanding the development envelope to make this happen. He has already made zoning related statements at board of education meetings.
I will not vote for Mr. Thornton because he owes Governor O’Malley and Anthony Brown for past appointments and political favors. Thornton is a big supporter of them both. Thornton also, supported SB 281, O’Malleys anti 2nd amendment bill. Governor O’Malley has appointed Jim to the Harford County Liquor Control Board and the Harford County School Board and to many other boards over the year. I will not vote for Mr. Thornton because he is the same as O’Malley and Brown. Mr. Thornton may be a good man but he is also a very good democrat.
Thank you Mr. Greene for the information. I’ll abstain from this vote. They both give me heartburn now.
When Slutsky admitted at a County Council meeting that he was intimidated by a law firm’s letterhead, I lost what little respect I had for him.
This is a wake up call to all Harford county republicans. Thornton and his liberal buddies that oppose Eva Mar and all legal development in Harford county need to be stopped. We cannot let the government steal our God given rights which these lefties are he!! bent to take away.
Vote for the Coach.
Sorry, I’m a life long Republican and somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun. I just voted for Larry Hogan and proud of it.
Name calling doesn’t do anything other than obfuscate the issues that affect everyone. Opposing Eva Mar,as it was originally conceived, was not liberal or leftist, it was common sense. Large scale developments should be a model for the future and leave a legacy for our children s children. As conceived, it was incompatible and inharmonious with all of the surrounding neighborhoods.
There were serious issues with the original plan which had a whole host of flaws. Changes have been made due to CIMs, DACs, and other meetings. It still has issues, primarily related to traffic. The plan will evolve further as the SHA reviews proposed traffic improvements for their efficacy now that the new traffic impact analysis (TIA) has been submitted. Constructive changes were made to the preliminary plan.
Mr. Slutzky needed to do a much better and balanced job of representing and communicating with all his constituents whether they be businessmen or citizens.
Nobody is taking away anybody’s God given rights. As a Republican, I merely want an improved government responsive to both business and citizens. All Republicans should not only want that, but demand that. At the state level, I share your distress. At the local level, the clarion call should have started at the primaries where apathy reigned.
Hope you vote. Hope everybody votes. But take the time to get to know the candidates and vote for the best man or woman.
Although I am registered as a Republican, I am willing to look beyond party labels especially at the local level. I am not a fan of the current council at all and am leaning in the direction of Thornton.
Good God man you are condoning a government based on emotions and not law.
Hate to burst your bubble but if you think you are right of attilla the hun we can only assume he was a fabulous gay interior designer…..
BillH. Once again, you’ve run out of ideas and have to resort to name calling and insults. It’s a pity that you can’t do better.
I didn’t call you a name, Is english not your first language? if so please let me know as I will type slower.
Your hard sell tactics actually make me rethink my already uncomfortable Slutzky vote ……….. I am going to either skip voting for this office or longer odds take another look at Thornton.
Oh the pseudo republicans are showing their true colors voting for a liberal who makes O’Malley look conservative.
Well done you bunch of worthless dbags.
Am I reading this right? Did Jim Thornton just say his min objective for the next four years is to earn the endorsement of the Aegis Editorial Board? Why would we need him, lets just have the three clowns on the Aegis editorial board take over for us. Anyone that would vote for this guy is as ridiculous as he is!
” I will afford the Aegis and every other medium and news organ in this county and beyond total access to me…”
Obama said something just like this?