The candidates running for Queen Anne's County Commissioner who participated in the forum were: Richard E. Moser (D) and Benjamin F. Cassell Jr. (R), at large; H. Joseph Gannon Jr (D) and Joseph Cupani (R), District 1; Eric Wargotz (D) and Rodney "Nemo" Niedomanski (R), District 2; Gene M. Ransom III (D) and Robert W. Foley (R), District 3; Alvin Helfenbein (D) and Michael S. Koval (R), District 4. Independent candidate Michael R. Hoffman, running in District 3, did not attend.

All 10 candidates said they would serve a full term if elected. Gannon promised to stay in office even if he won the lottery.

"I'll be there the four years, health permitting," said Helfenbein.

"I plan to be your full-time commissioner. ... and I look forward to making Queen Anne's County the best it can be," said Niedomanski.

Paul Gunther, University of Maryland cooperative extension director in Queen Anne's County, asked the candidates their ideas on providing affordable housing. Cupani said the revised county zoning ordinance under consideration by the current commissioners includes a provision that requires developers of projects with 20 or more house to dedicate 10 percent of the houses for "inclusionary housing."

Ransom said he would consider the recommendations made by the affordable housing committee, but the county has to be careful in implementing any kind of plan.

"This county is laden with good plans that went awry," said Ransom. "We need to be cautious we don't make the whole situation worse."

Foley said if someone has a definition of affordable housing, let the candidates know. He said the median price of a home in Queen Anne's County is currently $218,000. Foley said he favors rebuilding rundown homes in metropolitan areas, but Queen Anne's doesn't have many metropolitan areas.

Wargotz said incentives are needed - possible lower impact fees - to encourage developers to build homes more people can afford to buy. 

"I don't want to control it through government," said Koval. "... I don't like density bonuses because they encourage development."

Ed Caporin asked the candidates if they planned to make changes to any county departments. The entire county government needs to be examined for cost effectiveness, said Cassell. Moser said health, education and public safety should be the county's top priorities, and staff rearrangements might be needed in the department of business and tourism.

"We have too many chiefs and not enough Indians," said Koval. He said cuts need to be made in certain departments, possibly business and tourism and planning and zoning.

"I can assure you changes will be made," said Foley. He said the state of Maryland will likely make spending cuts that will impact the county and "very frugal" times are ahead.

Ransom said he could not make specific recommendations until he was in office. "I don't have a 'hit list' (of people to fire)," he said.

Niedomanski said he thinks the county does "a pretty good job of taking care of our citizens."

Sometimes citizens demand so much of government, "we force growth," Cupani said. He said the commissioners have to figure out what people are demanding of government, then try to make government more efficient.

Gannon questioned the need for county departments to have deputy directors. He said two of the six deputy director positions that are currently open should not be filled.

Bob Newberry, a commissioner candidate who lost in the Republican primary, asked the candidates about the possibility the county might lose $10 million in state grants for a major project to rebuild the county sewage treatment plant on Kent Island. All 11 candidates and Del. Wheeler Baker, D-36-Queen Anne's, asked the Maryland Department of the Environment to delay any action on the sewer plant project and the county's request for a new MDE discharge permit for the plant until the next five commissioners take office in early December.

All 10 candidates believe the state grant is not in jeopardy.

"We're not going to lose the $10 million. ... By delaying it three months, we're unlikely to lose it," said Wargotz.

Cassell said he found five engineering firms that all agree the county does not need a new sewer plant. He said the firms believe the plant can be upgraded for a cost that is roughly half the cost of building a new plant. 
 
©The Star Democrat 2002