Eldersburg resident Doug Howard to run for County Commissioner in 2010
November 10, 2009
Eric Villard

Doug Howard, known for his involvement in Eldersburg business affairs with BDG Entrepreneurial Services and being the executive director of Carroll Area Transit Service (CATS), is throwing
his hat into the ring this election season in a bid to become the town’s next county commissioner.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and something I thought I’d have success at,” Howard said. This is his second time running for a commissioner seat, the first being in 2006.

Howard filed to be in the election on earlier today and plans on announcing his running at a fundraiser for Delegate Susan Krebs (R – District 9) occurring this evening. The more formal announcement will occur at the BDG Entrepreneur Factory at 1532 Liberty Road at 4 p.m. on Nov. 12.

The New System

If elected, Howard would be one of five total county commissioners under the new election system. The previous system allowed for three commissioners to be selected at- large. The current system, approved in March of 2008, allows for five commissioners, one each selected from districts in which they reside. Voters can only select a commissioner for their home district.

Newly Defined Carroll County District Map for South Carroll

With this new system, the districts have been redrawn. Each district houses about 30,000 residents. District 1 encompasses the northernmost part of the county, including Taneytown and Manchester. District 2 accounts for most of the eastern border, including Hampstead. District 3 contains the city of Westminster. District 4 covers most of the westernmost border of the county,
including New Windsor and Mt. Airy. District 5 belongs mostly to Eldersburg and Sykesville, with a small piece jutting into the center of the county.

The Competition

But who will he be running against? Chances are Commissioner Michael Zimmer,
also from Eldersburg, will be vying for reelection in District 5. According to his Web site, he’s already having fundraisers.

“I think Commissioner Zimmer and I have some philosophical values that we share,” Howard said. “It’s not enough to have conservative ideas, you need conservative results.”

Howard mentioned that his biggest challenge in the race would likely be running against an incumbent, namely Michael Zimmer. The secondary challenge, he said, would be getting his name out to the public and getting
the name recognition that drives most elections.

Howard has a considerable amount of experience with the District 5 area. He recently spearheaded the Eldersburg $20 on the 20th, where residents were encouraged to spend money within the town to help locally owned small
businesses. Howard also runs the Eldersburg 20 / 20, which aims to be a think tank made up of residents whose goal is to analyze and offer suggestions on how to deal with issues affecting the town. Most recently they looked at the Carroll County Comprehensive Plan to see how it would specifically affect the surrounding community.

Just how involved in the community is Howard? Here’s some of the positions he’s held, according to his Doug Howard for Carroll web site.

• Start-Up Carroll, Founder
• Leadership Carroll, Class of 2003, Graduate
• Carroll County Board of Department of Social Services, Board Member
• Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, Former Board Member
• South Carroll Business Association, Former VP and Board Member
• Change, Inc., Treasurer and Board Member
• Freedom Area Citizens Council, Member
• Carrolltowne United, Member
• South Carroll Republican Club, Member
• Youth Leadership Carroll, Volunteer and Sponsor
• Freedom Optimist Soccer, Sponsor
• Finance Academy Internship Program, Sponsor
• Century High School Internship Program, Sponsor
• Carroll Community College, Instructor

The Issues

Howard broke what he thought were the key issues in this election down into a list. Top on his list was the budget. “We need a whole fresh look at the budget,” he mentioned.

This would include seeking alternative sources of revenue and fostering strategic partnerships, he added, the latter of which he said he has had a lot of experience with in his time dealing with businesses around Carroll County.

Perhaps of most interest to Eldersburg residents was his desire to cater to the local populace. “We need some solid representation in the Eldersburg area,” Howard said. “There needs to be someone looking in this area who wants to make change in this area.”

He added that the biggest concern for the town was where its future laid. “What’s it gonna look like five years from now?” Howard said, mentioning specifically the Boulevard Project to revitalize MD 26 and that fact that the town was seeing a decline in business.

Among other issues he might hit on according to his campaign Web site?

- Protecting citizens from rising taxes by taking the burden off the individual taxpayer and creating a more business-friendly environment
- Improving education by supporting academic accountability and performance standards and encouraging a system that reflects community values
- Protecting the community through protecting natural resources and bringing more resources to the county
- Lessening project waste by supporting road improvements and working with citizens to create a vision for the district that promotes sound development

If elected, Howard said that by the end of it his success would be measured as it is measured for any other public official – by two questions. Did I utilize my talents to the fullest? Did we strengthen the community?

If the answers to those questions are negative, then “the voters should respond accordingly,” Howard said.