Legislation Alert: Support HB834
During Calvert County’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan adoption process a former County Commissioner voted to put his personal property into the Huntingtown Town Center. By doing so, the Commissioner would personally benefit by this action, thus violating the Conflict of Interest provision of the County’s Code of Ethics.
Numerous Ethics Complaints were filed against the Commissioner, one from a member of the bipartisan group, Calvert Citizens United, Inc. (CCU) and one from the Republican Central Committee. As a result of their complaints, the Ethics Commission unanimously concluded that; 1. The Commissioner’s participation constituted “a textbook conflict of interest.” 2. The Ethics Commission enacted the strongest course of action within its authority by issuing the Commissioner, a Letter of Censure and Cease and Desist. The Commissioner’s appeal of this decision ended with a ruling from the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, which upheld the Ethics Commission’s ruling.
Obviously the threat of being censured was not enough to deter the Commissioner from voting on his property. HB 834’s future enforcement policy would allow that any Commissioner committing the same offense could be fined $5,000 a day and face expulsion by the other Commissioners from the Board. Therein lies the need to pass HB 834.
CCU has worked closely with Delegate Mark Fisher and a member of the League of Women Voters resulting in House Bill 834. HB 834 will mandate that our elected officials vote in accordance with this bill. CCU’s bill is co-sponsored by Delegate Mark Fisher (R) and Delegate Todd Morgan (R) with Delegate Jeffrie Long’s (D) full support and willingness to sponsor. HB 834 is working its way through the Maryland House’s legislative process. With the additional support of Senator Michael Jackson and Senator Jack Bailey, we have an amazing bipartisan show of solidarity for the citizens of Calvert County from the entire Southern Maryland Legislative Delegation.
If you agree with the proposed law, we are asking that you click this link, hit the "Start Writing" tab on the right, and then fill in your information and send an email to each of the members of our Southern Maryland Delegation and our Calvert County Commissioners, letting them know that you back their full support of this bill:
Let’s work together to get HR 834 passed! Together we can do what we cannot do alone.
[Note: The Action Network page states that this is sponsored by the Calvert County Democratic Women's Club. This is just because their account was utilized. This information WILL NOT show up on your emails to the Commissioners and members of the Southern Maryland Delegation. Also, your personal information is not shared among those sending emails - it is only seen by the Commissioners and the members of the Southern Maryland Delegation].
If you have any questions, contact Sue Dzurec of Calvert Citizens United at calvertcitizensunited@gmail.com
HB 834 link:
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/bills/hb/hb0834F.pdf
Follow HB 834 legislative process here:
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0834?ys=2024RS
