County Executive Candidates Provide Thoughts on Environment
Five of the Democrats who want to be Montgomery County’s next county executive fielded questions Thursday night at Takoma Park Middle School.
One question showed each would take environmental steps, although they seemed to have different ways to approach the issue.
Participating were Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich and George Leventhal as well as health care executive David Blair and former Rockville mayor Rose Krasnow. Del. Bill Frick was not part of the forum. The audience numbered about 130.
The candidates showed their differences on what to do with county liquor sales. The county’s Department of Liquor Control has a wholesale and retail monopoly on the county’s liquor business.
Krasnow and Elrich favor keeping the DLC. Leventhal said that if the county gets rid of the DLC monopoly, the new liquor suppliers should pay the county.
Blair said he didn’t think the county should sell liquor, but the DLC has 350 employees and they need to be protected.
Berliner was the only one of the five who stated flatly the county should get out of the liquor business.
Asked about the county budget, Blair said he believed the county spends too much on overtime. He restated his plan to use telemedicine to save on school wellness centers. He also shared his proposal for the county to buy local products to help grow the county’s economy.
Krasnow said the county needs to do more with entrepreneurs and make regs more business friendly.
Elrich said he would work with labor leaders to help county to save money.
Berliner said he favors zero-based budgeting.
Leventhal says college, school system, parks and county government could combine procurement.
Doug, thanks for covering. This was an excellent forum. Bruce Depuyt did a great job as moderator. 5 of the candidates participated. Great crowd of between 125-150. Several sets of photos on the Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club facebook page.