VoteBYoung - Healthy Balance

Harford County is home to approximately 280,000 residents. It is expected that BRAC can bring as many as 90,000 new residents in the next 10 years, with many arriving within the next 4 years. This is a terrific economic opportunity.

At the same time, Harford County has long prided itself on our rural and suburban heritage. This is what makes our quality of life here in Harford so great, and is why I am so proud to call Harford my home.

We must ensure that we have a healthy balance, through planning and zoning on the council, to preserve this way of life, while making sure that there is room for economic advancement. An essential part of this lies in preserving our open space and continuing to preserve our history, as County Executive Craig has proved willing to do since his appointment.

The County Executive and I are both historians. As a history major and a member of the Harford County Historical Society, I will do everything possible to ensure that we preserve our past so that we maintain the quality of our future.

As an Eagle Scout, I will I will strive to preserve our open space and to ensure that Harford can continue to be home to the great outdoors. My grandfather grew up as a farmer, and visiting his farm in Perry Hall gave me the appreciation necessary to give farmers the option to preserve their land for agricultural and open space purposes for years to come.

Part of increasing the quality of life is to improve on our local traditions. The possibility of moving the Bel Air Farmer’s Market to Main Street and inviting more of our local vendors to participate in a regular bazaar is the kind of innovative idea that should be considered so that that we can keep Harford a unique community.

The county’s development plan principally shares its boundaries with our district C. As you drive around the district, one can’t help but notice that at practically every point, the land across the street from our district is less developed than what lies on our side of the road. The development envelop is part of the master plan that must be upheld in our county, but I will work to keep our town one that is a pleasure to live in and visit.

I will work to bring the debate and planning that is necessary to ensure that we have a healthy balance of quality of life preservation and economic development, and I will work to put these plans into action.