Watson Outpaces Other Council Members, Raises $254,000 in 2012

Courtney Watson raised more funds than the other members of the County Council combined.

  2012 was a great fundraising year for Howard County Council member Courtney Watson. Watson, a Democrat who represents Ellicott City, Elkridge and Hanover in the First Council District, raised $254,410 in 2012, more than the total fundraising numbers of the four other Council members combined. She has a total of $374,457 cash on hand. "I am working hard to make Howard County an even better place to live and work," said Watson in a statement announcing her fundraising figures. "We should all be proud of the progress we are making." Watson has not formally announced whether or not she'll run for County Executive in 2014, when Ken Ulman must step down from the post due to term limits. In a recent Baltimore Sun report, she said she has been …

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Ulman to Cast Ballot For Giles, Siddiqui and Scott for School Board

County Executive Ken Ulman said he would vote Friday.

  Howard County Executive Ken Ulman wrote in a blog post Friday that he was going to vote for school board candidates Janet Siddiqui, Jackie Scott and Ellen Flynn Giles as part of early voting at the Florence Bain Center on Friday. "I have worked with both Ellen and Janet for a number of years, and I know how committed they are to ensuring our students receive a top-notch education," wrote Ulman on why he made the decision to support those three candidates in a competitive Howard County Board of Education race. "Jackie Scott is a leader who will bring energy and passion to the Board, and I am proud to call her my friend." In addition, Ulman said he would vote yes on Question 4, the Dream Act, Question 6, in support of gay marriage, and …

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Pr. George's Executive Announces Wife's Early-Onset Alzheimer's Diagnosis

Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker says his wife was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's about two years ago, according to a report by The Washington Post.

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III made an announcement Wednesday morning to inform the community and residents that his wife, Christa Beverly, is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s, WUSA9 reported. “We've decided to take this step of sharing our story, in hopes that other families in Prince George's County and the D.C. metro area, can learn what we've learned: mental health disease is not the end, nor do you need to be embarrassed or ashamed,” Baker said in a letter to his campaign supporters, according to WUSA9. The Washington Post reported that as Beverly’s condition has progressed and become more obvious, he felt it was time to make a public statement. In an in-depth look at the Baker family’s struggle over the …

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Photo of the Day: Ken Ulman Running with Rushern Baker

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker went for a run this morning in Prince George's County.

About a month and a half ago, Patch posted a photo of County Executive Ken Ulman and Howard County Council Member Calvin Ball posing in boxing stances as part of a men's health fair article. In response, Patch commenter Ohai wrote, "Look at the pic of Ulman and Ball- they are so out of shape they couldn't do 3 chinups between them." So, at the ribbon-cutting for Wegmans Patch asked Ulman if he thought he could do five chin-ups. (We upped the number ourselves) Ulman responded that he wasn't sure, but now that he has a challenge he would attempt to meet it. On Wednesday morning, it looked like Ulman was getting himself in shape by going for a run with Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker, PG councilmember Eric Olson and some Prince…

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Rushern Baker to hold Budget Hearing in Laurel

Prince George's County Executive will be meeting with community members to discuss the county's 2013 budget .

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker is set to hold his first meeting on the FY 2013 county budget at Laurel High School Thursday at 7 p.m. Baker will host a series of public hearings to engage citizens in a dialog about the budget amid an estimate $126 million shortfall. The hearings, which will be held in three locations in the northern, southern , and central parts of the County,  will be provided residents with an opportunity to give their input and opinions on the Prince George’s County FY 2013 budget.  Baker will use the feedback he receives from citizens during the hearings to help prioritize the county’s spending options for the upcoming year.       Citizens interested in testifying at these budget hearings need to …

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LIVE: Jack Johnson's Sentencing

Live at the United States District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland for the sentencing of former County Executive Jack B. Johnson.

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Jack Johnson Faces Up to 14 Years in Prison

The former county executive faces sentencing Tuesday morning for years of bribery scheming.

It was a Friday in November 2010 when Prince George’s County was shaken by the arrest of sitting County Executive Jack B. Johnson. He and his wife were charged in federal court for tampering with evidence and attempting to destroy a bribe check. That was the tip of the iceberg. Johnson faces sentencing Tuesday morning for orchestrating a years-long pay-to-play scheme throughout his two terms in office. Johnson accepted up to $1 million in kickbacks from developers and others in the county to whom he delivered favors, as detailed in the sentencing document by federal prosecutors. Johnson faces as many as 14 years in prison, according to The Washington Post. His crimes are worthy of substantial prison time, according to federal prosecutors. …

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