| Public Safety Above everything else, a government is responsible for ensuring the safety of its citizens. Presently, we are more than 100 police officers short, and perhaps as many as 250 firefighters short. This is simply unacceptable. If elected, I will support fully funding the police department, and raising the starting salary so we can attract the very best of recruits. I will also support fully funding the fire department, so when our firefighters respond to an emergency, they do so with an appropriate number of responders. Some say we do not have the funds to fully fund the police and fire departments. I do not agree. In the event there were to be a fiscal crisis, however, I have publicly pledged, and do so again here, that I will forego taking any salary for serving on the County Council, so that whatever funds which would be used to pay me could instead be devoted to funding essential public safety departments. I also believe that, in addition to having the best personnel, the best equipment and the best training, there must be a collaborative relationship between the management of the department, the union, and the political branches of government. Accordingly, I support binding arbitration. I do not support, however, management rights clauses which, it has been my experience in representing the police officers in other contract matters, has been used by management to foist ill-considered changes upon the members, to the detriment of the force and the public. Accordingly, I will oppose any attempt to unilaterally change union contracts. Anne Arundel County Firefighthers Questionnaire Fraternal Order of Police Questions & Answers Smart Development Green Building Standards Efficient Transportation Schools Citizen Involvement Something to add? We value your opinion, Share it with us | | |
