More News

Henderson to make another bid for county commissioner

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Thomas C. Henderson promised supporters Tuesday that he would be elected to the Frederick Board of County Commissioners this time.

‘‘I won’t let you down,” said Henderson, who lost his bid for commissioner in the 2002 primary election. ‘‘This time it’s a different situation. I’m happy I’m not a county commissioner running for re-election.”

Henderson (R) is referring to the controversy surrounding some members of the current board over the last four years.

‘‘I’m going to need your help if we’re going to be successful,” said the 72-year-old Henderson to supporters, local land-use attorneys, and Republican leaders at the C. Burr Artz Library in Frederick. ‘‘Thomas Henderson is going to win and work for you, the taxpayer.”

A resident of Frederick, Henderson worked as an account manager with Sears for 21 years before retiring in 1992. He now works part-time as a senior sales associate at Sports Authority.

‘‘I’m doing it so I can pay my taxes,” Henderson said.

During his speech, Henderson acknowledged that the county is facing many problems, with high taxes topping the list.

‘‘Taxes are severely hurting the citizens of Frederick County, especially our senior citizens and persons on fixed or limited incomes,” Henderson writes in his campaign literature.

He is also pro-business, and believes the county should be more active in bringing new jobs into the county.

‘‘Tom Henderson means business, and I want to bring more business into this county,” he said.

Addressing over-crowded schools, Henderson said he sees no problem with students and teachers using portable classrooms to save money.

‘‘Let them use portables like our kids used portables,” he said.

Finally, as a member of the Defenders of Citizens’ Rights Inc., a group of local landowners that in 2002 endorsed pro-growth candidates, Henderson continues to believe development is needed in the county.

‘‘We can’t look at growth as being evil or being made bad,” he said. ‘‘It’s not evil, it just has to be managed properly.”

Henderson and his wife Elizabeth ‘‘Bette” have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Eight candidates have filed to run for Frederick County commissioner as of this week. Democratic candidates include: Kai Hagen and Richard Floyd. Republican candidates include: incumbents John ‘‘Lennie” Thompson Jr. and John R. Lovell Jr.; Samie Conyers, Thomas C. Henderson, Charles Jenkins and Billy Shreve. The deadline to file is July 3. The primary election is Sept. 12; the general election is Nov. 7.