CHOOSE ETHICS!!

Stop the Howard County Special Interest Stronghold

Please sign this petition which is asking our Howard County State legislators to support Howard County Local Bill 15-20, and amend it to prohibit developers/builders from donating to campaign accounts of the County Executive and County Council, since they regulate their financial interests so frequently.

UPON SIGNING - ipetitions asks for a donation, this is not us, ignore if you desire, the signature is already entered. THANK YOU.

Other counties have these local laws forbidding the contributions and Howard County must do the same. The People's Voice Ethics Ballot asks Howard County State Legislators to take the lead for us in this year's session. This Bill was introduced last year, but it was not supported enough to pass. Let your legislators know this is a priority for you by signing this petition.Currently, the Bill calls for recusal in zoning decisions if donations are received. It is simpler to just make the contributions illegal. Prince George's County's similar law has stood the test of time since 1992.

There are ethics laws on conflict of interest that disallow taking money from those you can financially benefit. For instance, you cannot give a Judge money who is about to decide your case! This should be no different in land use. It is time for Howard County community interests to outweigh special interests and have a level playing field on quality of life decisions in land use.

Our schools are overcrowded, our affordable housing is concentrated, our public services are overwhelmed, traffic is worsening, our forests are disappearing, and we have major flooding issues. Solutions always seem to benefit developers to the detriment of the County. It is time to make it harder for that industry to funnel funds in their attempt to keep their financial interests protected, over those of our general community, the environment, and even the County's own fiscal health.

Elected officials should not even have to deal with the appearance of a conflict. These laws locally in other counties have stood beyond rights to donate where one wishes, due to the regulatory financial interest issues.

Sign the petition to let our local lawmakers know it is time to forbid these contributions, which often end up over the set limits by having "agents" contribute, and using other loopholes. It is time to get bipartisan support for this effort.

See www.EthicsBallot.com for updated information.

See the text of the current Bill here: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=xcNBeQJGtJY%3d&tabid=2120&portalid=0

By Authority of The People's Voice, Lisa Markovitz Treasurer