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Floyd finds support from both parties

Thursday, May 4, 2006

It may be unprecedented, but Richard M. Floyd is getting support from both Democrats and Republicans in his bid for Frederick County commissioner.

The 65-year-old Democrat publicly announced his candidacy at the C. Burr Artz Library in Frederick Monday, with former Commission President David Gray — a Republican — by his side.

‘‘My campaign is not about politics, nor is it about party affiliation,” Floyd said in his speech. ‘‘It is about you, the citizens of Frederick County, and what is in your best interest, your families and the legacy we leave our children and grandchildren...”

Gray supports Floyd’s vision of controlled growth and admires his years of government experience.

‘‘Dick Floyd has stood beside Frederick County citizens for the last three decades, both as a citizen advocate and planning commissioner,” Gray said in a written statement. ‘‘He has an unparalleled knowledge of how this county functions and the integrity to do what is right.”

Floyd, who was unsuccessful in his first bid for commissioner in 2002, is a well-known figure in county government.

He served two terms as the chairman of the Frederick County Planning Commission. Floyd was a member of the Frederick County Charter Writing Committee (1990-1991) and the Planning & Zoning Rewrite Committee (1996).

Floyd is also a strong supporter of controlled growth and, if elected, insists he will not vote for any new development in the county until traffic congestion, crowded schools and mounting trash issues are addressed.

‘‘Increased traffic and congestion are at the top of a seemingly unsolvable problem,” Floyd said. ‘‘We cannot continue to put more cars on our already overburdened road system by merely throwing more asphalt on the ground...”

2006 county election Five candidates have announced plans to run for Frederick County commissioner as of this week. Democratic candidates include: Kai Hagan and Richard Floyd. Republican candidates include: incumbents Michael L. Cady and John R. Lovell Jr., and Charles Jenkins. The deadline to file for candidacy is July 3. The primary election is Sept. 12; the general election is Nov. 7.

Floyd believes a study of roadways throughout the county must be done. The study would identify areas that need improvement.

Affordable housing is also an issue Floyd wants to address. He blames developers for rising home costs.

‘‘Look at the builders here, none are from Frederick County,” Floyd said in an interview Wednesday. ‘‘They’ve tapped out where they’re currently building and looking to build elsewhere. We’ve got a problem and growth is the name.”

Floyd uses the now famous phrase from the movie ‘‘Field of Dreams” to describe Frederick County, ‘‘If you build it they will come.”

Floyd is retired from IBM and Lockheed Martin and now works part-time at the Frederick County Family YMCA. He is a 1959 graduate of Frederick High School.

He and his wife, Virginia, live in Jefferson. They have two sons and three grandchildren.