Politics

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore laid out his vision for Anne Arundel County and Maryland over the next four years Tuesday night at the Caucus of African American Leaders’ monthly meeting. Moore, an author and nonprofit leader, greeted a full house at the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center in Annapolis where he promised to make education more accessible, and create more pathways to well-paying jobs. When discussing his plans to bolster mental health resources in schools, Moore praised Anne Arundel County for its efforts to create a consolidated 911 center that will integrate more kinds of expertise in responding to emergencies.

Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford spoke on multiple issues on the C4 and Bryan Nehman Show on Wednesday morning. California just passed a bill that would end the sale of all petroleum-based cars by the year 2035. But under the federal Clean Air Act, not only does California set car emissions recommendations for itself, but their proposals also apply to several other states including Maryland.

Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Harris and Democratic challenger Heather Mizeur agreed to a debate in their 1st Congressional District race but planning stalled when Harris suggested he wouldn’t participate unless the Libertarian Party candidate was invited. Harris, a conservative seeking a seventh term, has not said directly that he will withdraw from the Oct. 26 debate if Libertarian Daniel Thibeault is not included. But Harris’ campaign had agreed to the debate before a staffer contacted an organizer and insisted that Thibeault be invited, said Doug Donley, executive director of Cecil Public Media, also known as Cecil TV, which is overseeing the event.

The Clean Water Act of 1972 pushed for nationwide change to pollutants discharged into America’s waters, cleaning up various watersheds and tightening other environmental regulations. On Monday, federal, state and local officials and representatives with the Environmental Protection Agency visited Sandy Point State Park in Anne Arundel County to highlight the law’s positive effect on the Chesapeake Bay, and to cheer the estuary as one of the nation’s best natural resources for fishing and recreational activities. “What we’ve learned is that we can’t do this alone. We need people who are going to be passionate about the bay. The bay is a national treasure,” said Kandis Boyd, who started her job as EPA director of the Chesapeake Bay program in June.

Baltimore County school superintendent Darryl Williams is asking county officials to earmark $372 million for raises and expanded services over the next five years, according to an updated spending plan the school system sent to the county last week, even after County Executive Johnny Olszewski said he opposes the county paying those costs. To fulfill the teachers union contract, the system would need to scrounge up millions for its $1.7 billion operating budget to sustain the higher pay over the next five years. The county school board voted last month to ask Olszewski to use $50 million in surplus funds to raise pay for teachers and other school staff. The money would cover raises for just one year.