EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO STORIES ON THE QUEEN ANNE'S BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRIMARY RACES. 

Kent Island looks to get a bigger say than ever under the new five-district map created to elect the Queen Anne's Board of County Commissioners -- and it shows in the Sept. 10 primary. 

A total of seven candidates are running from the two districts on Kent Island, besides another two who are seeking the at-large seat. 

Still, voters participating in the Democratic and Republican primaries will choose a candidate from all five districts to move on to the Nov. 5 general election. 

The decision won't be so hard for registered Democrats: In Kent Island's Districts 3 and 4, Gene Ransom and Alvin Helfenbein are running uncontested, respectively. 

The winner of the at-large seat will serve as president of the board for the first year of the four-year term. 

Whatever the seat being sought, growth is the top issue in the race. 

Candidate Rick Moser, president of the Kent Island Defense League, has pledged to support growth at the speed that it has historically come to the county. 

"I think that would be a good way to grow the county," he said. "I don't think we should be turning everybody loose and allowing large-scale development." 

Gene Ransom, a District 3 Democrat who has long been active in county politics, said the first thing the county needs to take care of when addressing growth is its current residents. 

"The most important thing we need to do is stop the policy of current residents subsidizing new growth through higher property taxes," he said. 

District 3 

DEMOCRATS 

Mr. Ransom, 30, of Grasonville is the sole Democrat running in this district, which includes Grasonville and Kent Island north of Route 50. 

He has served on several political committees and boards in the county and state. 

An attorney, Mr. Ransom believes in slowing growth to ensure that it is properly managed. He also believes that public safety must receive more funding from the county. 

Robert Foley, who lives within 30 feet of the Four Seasons site in Chester, said the county doesn't have the infrastructure to handle such large projects. He would also like the county to hold its meetings at night so residents who work during the day can get involved. 

Peter Lee of Chester has served for 21 months on the Planning Commission and is its vice president. 

He supports the county's Comprehensive Plan, which directs growth into six designated areas. 

He called the recently updated plan, which the Planning Commission helped create, a critical tool in guiding growth because it protects the county's rural legacy. 

Michael Hoffman of Stevensville filed as an Independent and therefore is running only in the general election.District 4 

In the district covering southern Kent Island, Alvin Helfenbein of Chester is running for the second time. 

He owns Helfenbein Insurance in Chester and served as president of the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce and the State of Maryland License Beverage Administration Association. 

He believes the county needs a better master plan, which would be created and implemented with input from several citizens advisory committees. 

REPUBLICANS 

Michael Koval of Chester also enjoys some name recognition as a vice president of the Kent Island Defense League and an outspoken critic of the Four Seasons project. 

Though he owns a construction company, Mr. Koval wants the county to limit the number of building permits issued and sewer service allowed each year. 

He also said ethics and more fiscal responsibility should be important to county officials. 

John McQueeney Jr. of Stevensville is running for his second term. During his 1998 campaign, he promised not to accept a salary if elected. He stayed true to his word and has donated his income to county non-profit organizations and residents in need. 

Mr. McQueeney recently sold his Annapolis liquor store and is now retired. A member of the Planning Commission, he said growth is inevitable so the county might as well use it to its advantage by making developers pay their fair share and then some. 

At large 

Mr. Moser is best known for his role in forming the Kent Island Defense League in 2000 to fight the proposed 1,350-home Four Seasons housing project. 

He supports impact fees with no exemptions and a strong adequate public facilities ordinance to ensure that the county's infrastructure, such as public safety and schools, is strong enough to handle growth. 

Board President George O'Donnell of Queenstown is running for his third term. A former waterman for more than 20 years, he wants to preserve the county's waterfront, agriculture and rural character. He said the way to do this is by setting an annual cap on the amount of development projects approved. 

REPUBLICANS 

A former treasurer of the Kent Island Defense League, Benjamin Cassell of Romancoke has been a vocal critic of the current board, saying the county needs a board that is more fiscally responsible and sensitive to the needs of the community. 

He also believes development must pay for itself. 

He works for Guardian Services Group, a transportation and warehousing firm in Baltimore, and said it's a job he can do from home if elected. 

Charter boat Capt. Robert H. Newberry of Crumpton is running because he believes the county government has lost touch with the residents. 

He said meetings should be held at night when more people can attend and get involved. 

Richard Smith recently completed his term on the county Board of Education in June. He has worked for Tidewater Publishing for 25 years and also owns Smith Realty and Smith Farms. 

He would like to put a 5 percent limit on the county assessment tax and believes growth should pay its own way.

mmohsberg@capitalgazette.com

Published August 31, 2002, The Capital, Annapolis, Md. 
Copyright © 2002 The The Capital, Annapolis, Md.