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Thompson to seek third term as county commissioner

Thursday, June 8, 2006

After months of speculation, Frederick County Commission President John ‘‘Lennie” Thompson Jr. officially announced Wednesday he will run for a third term.

‘‘I intend to ask the voters for another term as county commissioner,” Thompson (R) said in a statement. ‘‘My opportunity to serve thus far has been an honor and a privilege. I am grateful for that opportunity and will remain so whatever the outcome this time around.”

Thompson issued his announcement in an e-mail, sent just hours before attending the graduation of his son, Jake, from Walkersville High School.

Thompson’s announcement puts an end to months of speculation about whether he would seek a third term. He remained undecided based on the fact that no male president had ever before won a second term on the Board of County Commissioners. Family obligations were also a major concern in his decision.

On Wednesday, Thompson said the board’s recent approval of the New Market Region Plan helped to sway his decision. Thompson voted against the controversial growth plan.

‘‘Hopefully the next board will set things right on some of these land decisions,” he said.

In February, Thompson told The Gazette that several recent events were also signs he may need to run for re-election. For example, comments made by radio commentator Blaine Young, host of WFMD’s ‘‘Frederick Forum,” comparing Thompson’s attitude toward developers to Adolf Hitler’s attitude toward Jews.

‘‘The scales are tipping ever so slightly that I’ll ask the voters for another term,” Thompson said at the time.

On Wednesday, Young said he was surprised that Thompson would seek a third term.

‘‘I honestly didn’t think he would run from the comments and concerns and issues I heard and based on what other people said,” Young said.

Young, who agrees with Thompson’s conservative spending, but little else about the candidate’s views, predicts Thompson has a good chance of winning, since all five seats on the board are up for election this year.

‘‘There’s no question he has found a niche for himself,” he said. ‘‘He appeals to a segment of people in Frederick County.”

That segment includes residents that believe the county is growing too fast and residential development must slow down. As was the case in 1998 and 2002, Thompson said the theme of his campaign is ‘‘to place the well-being of our existing residents, school children and taxpayers above the financial interests of land developers, real estate speculators and their entourage of lawyers and paid lobbyists. I will continue to resist the developers in their effort to bulldoze and pave the county from the mouth of the Monocacy to the Mason-Dixon Line.”

Thompson said he is prepared for another fight from those looking to oust him from government after 20 years in politics.