(11/2018) It’s time to vote! Time to help shape the future of Frederick County.

Today, I am asking for your vote for Frederick County Executive. I believe I am the best choice and the best person for the job. I have delivered professional, pragmatic leadership with proven results. The county is headed in the right direction. I am proud to have delivered outstanding public schools, safe communities, and a high quality of life.

The county is well managed and county employees do a stellar job of delivering exceptional services that truly add to our quality of life. Our libraries offer an incredible array of services; our parks are beautiful and provide something for everyone to enjoy; our county roads are plowed promptly and are well maintained even after all the flooding of recent months; and our community is safe. If you call 9-1-1, your call will be answered, on average within 4 seconds, and help will be on the way.

The hot topic in the county race is residential growth. People are rightly concerned about overcrowded schools and congested roads. After a two year spree of zoning hundreds of acres for thousands of houses during the term of the prior Young Board of County Commissioners, my administration has brought it to an end.

During my administration, we have approved no new housing with the exception of a senior housing project. Because we have such a large pipeline of approved housing, it is my position that we should not add to it until we can catch up on needed schools, roads, and public safety services. We have done the analysis of what’s needed and have a plan to put it in place.

I also don’t want Frederick County to be just a bedroom community to the more metropolitan areas. That’s why I am focused on more jobs so more people can both live and work here. We are fortunate to have a thriving economy with over 6,500 net new jobs in the county over the past few years and a new major employer coming to Urbana. I want to support jobs for people with a wide variety of interests and skills. We need to make sure there are jobs for everyone.

To protect our rural and agricultural areas, we have accelerated agriculture preservation increasing the county funding commitment by 25% utilizing a portion of existing recordation tax revenue. Over the four years of my administration, we have permanent preserved over 10,000 acres of farmland, bring our preservation totals to over 60,000 acres. I am committed in the next term to increase the commitment to agriculture preservation. I have also added an agriculture economic development position to support our farms and help them diversify. We can be proud that Frederick County farmers provide food and fiber to our region and our nation. The time is now to preserve this land before it is too late.

I have advance plans that will manage growth better. We have strengthened our Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to time residential development with schools, roads, and public safety services is critically important to sustain a high quality of life.

I have ended the use of developer agreements that have proven to be bad deals and harmful to existing residents and taxpayers. And, I have put an end to taxpayer giveaways. I have had the opportunity to renegotiate two of the bad deals of the past saving taxpayers over $50 million. This is real money that can better be used for core services like education and public safety. And, I have a plan for the future with Livable Frederick.

In contrast, my opponent has voted for corporate welfare at the state level supporting a $37.5 million state taxpayer giveaway to Northrup Grumman to "keep them" in the state. This taxpayer gift did not require a single new job or any new capital investment. Most of our state delegation voted against this proposal but not Kathy Afzali who was more than happy to giveaway our tax dollars. I do not want to see a return of taxpayer giveaways to developers. Without a doubt, there will be opportunity to re-negotiate one or more of the existing developer agreements over the next few years. Citizens deserve a County Executive who will be on their side and will fight to protect taxpayers. And that County Executive is me.

Protecting taxpayers is job one. We have lived within our means, squeezed a dime out of every nickel, and save taxpayers almost $70 million. And, there have been absolutely no tax increases. Tax rates have remained the same over the past four years.

Together, we have made some significant and meaningful accomplishments.

• Made a record investment in public education to ensure the best teachers in the classroom.
• Accelerated school construction and identified cost savings to reduce the cost of a new elementary school by 8 to10%.
• Earned the first ever AAA bond rating from all three rating agencies, saving taxpayers $13 million on refinancing our debt.
• Retained Citizens and Montevue, keeping our promise to our seniors. This accomplishment was a legal feat. The best news is that these facilities are financially self-sustaining with revenue or profits from Citizens subsidizing assisted living at Montevue for people who otherwise could not afford it.
• Created a new Senior Services division to better serve our growing population of seniors so more seniors can enjoy life well into retirement. A new expanded senior tax credit was approved.
• Advanced plans for a detox center in Frederick County to address the heroin and opioid addiction crisis that is taking too many lives and devastating families.
• Passed the strongest ethics laws in the state to ensure honest, transparent government.

The County Executive is responsible for the management of the county and the effective and efficient delivery of services. It is a big responsibility with over 2,000 employees across 18 divisions and an annual budget of over $608 million.

You are effectively hiring someone to manage a large organization. You should hire someone with a breadth of management, supervisory, and budget experience. I am the only candidate that brings business experience from a Fortune 100 company, a degree in finance and economics, and experience in government.

Most important, citizens deserve a County Executive who is honest and fair, who will listen and balance competing needs and interests.

If you want good schools, a safe community, more local jobs, responsible growth, and frugal financial management, vote for me, Jan Gardner for County Executive. I am on your side and will always fight for what’s right.

It has been my honor to serve the citizens of Frederick County as the first County Executive. I look forward to a continued partnership, good governance, and a bright future.