Republican, Frederick County Board of Commissioners

Name: John R. Lovell

Place of residence: Jefferson

Date of birth: May 27, 1944

Current occupation: Commissioner, Board of Frederick County Commissioners; Insurance associate agent.

Education: Frederick High School; West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Community associations, involvement: Past president, Valley Elementary School PTA; past officer, Brunswick High School PTA; past president, 4-H Camp Center Board; past chairman, Frederick County Board of Zoning Appeals; advisory board, Jefferson School Superintendent’s Advisory Committee on School Construction and Attendance; Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company; Elks; Rotary; VFW Post 3285; American Legion Post 2; AMVETS; past council president, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Jefferson.

Family: Married to wife Johanna. Three grown children; Laura, Carrie and Jonathan.

Campaign office address and telephone: P.O. Box 580, Jefferson, MD 21755. 301-473-8848.

Candidate’s Web site: www.electlovell.com

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

Quality Education. I believe the young people need excellence in education, which includes continued and expanded repair, renovation, and new schools.

Measured Growth is a rational relationship between population growth, and job creation so that future needs will be met. The current level of 2,000 homes per year meets this need at this time.

Fiscal Responsibility. Holding the line on taxes, balancing the budget, maintaining diligent review of all budget requests, and always maintaining a balance between budgeting for current needs with an eye on future needs. Maintaining the current tax rates.

All of these priorities are best served by economic prosperity and continued economic development. A growing economy also better helps to provide for future revenue with less pressure on our taxes as individuals.

How would you rate the performance of the current commission: excellent, good, fair or poor? Why?

I think that the current Board of County Commissioners has done an excellent job of meeting the challenges facing the county and making good decisions. This board has not shied away from any issue or problem. We have, as a majority, tackled the problems and making excellent decisions that will benefit the residents and the county in the years to come.

Still, we can do better providing the working majority that emerges fully understands and appreciates the need to present a positive, unified, and mature posture when seeking more assistance from the state and federal government.

Is the rate of growth in Frederick County too fast, too slow, or just right?

The rate of new housing is in line with the natural pressures coming from new births, longer life expectancies, and that part of the population that resides here but commutes out of the county. (Approximately 40 percent of the population).

In addition, we have been able to make Frederick County a leader in the nation in job growth (within top ten for counties). This growth comes with some problems, but we need to remember that it is the graduates, job seekers, and those with uncertain employment situations (and their families) that benefit from this change. Since most people cannot be totally sure of their employment, job creation ends up helping us all. Except in the area of job growth, most of the pressure for more housing is natural and not subject to governmental control. A long-term benefit of ‘‘live here, work here” would be to reduce some of the pressure on the roads.

While the current Board of County Commissioners has built fewer homes than the previous commission, I think the rate is still in line with the demand for housing that comes from those pressures described above. Failure to build homes in line with population growth, only results in radical increases in the real estate market.

The current planning model that protects 85 percent of the land as open⁄Ag, 10 percent residential, and 5 percent industrial commercial, is in line with my goal of keeping Frederick County – Frederick County.

What’s your plan to provide more affordable housing in Frederick County?

The county needs to look for additional ways to work with the private sector on affordable housing. Current programs to help with county fees and offer low interest loan help are a start.

There are areas where a working partnership with government and the private sector can improve the situation. We need to look at opportunities for improvement in areas such as density zoning, and tax incentives. The need of affordable housing for those just starting out, for those retiring, and for those whose paycheck is not quite up to their current requirements, is very important and I look forward to continue to find ways to meet those needs.

If government is unable or unwilling to cooperatively work with the private sector, the end result is government going it alone. Going back to public work projects as a model is a step in the wrong direction.

Do you think the county is doing enough to meet the needs of its growing population? If not, what do you think the county needs to do?

The fact is we have made great strides in improvement in infrastructure for schools, parks, fire and emergency, and public safety, etc. It is also true that there is always more to do. The rate of housing is about right as previously mentioned.

However, one of the greatest frustrations has to do with traffic. This problem hits us all. The county is benefiting from combined $300 million funds from the state and federal government. Our state delegation and the leadership in the government has been very effective since this amount is stronger than for most counties our size. Improvements completed can be seen, the plans for more improvements are in place, but even more needs to be planned.

Much of the problem is unavoidable dependence the state and federal highways, the pressure for money from the state and federal is enormous from throughout the nation. Therefore, we need to maintain a strong, diligent, and cooperative relation with them to be able to if we are to maximize funds at this level.

As the Board of County Commissioners’ liaison to the Metropolitan Council of Government, I represent the county with this regional coalition of area governments. Collectively, we look to find new ways to use our combined strength to get even more federal and state support. Through conversation with the State Secretary of Transportation, I know my concerns about this problem have been heard and I look for ways to continue that dialogue and to help our state delegation get even more state money.

Does the commission form of government still work in Frederick County? Should we adopt a charter government, or code home rule?

Be careful what you wish for here. Every form of government has its problems. I like the fact that each commissioner has to respond to the entire county not just his or her own neighborhoods. I worry about pitting one part of the county against another. I also think the checks and balances of taking legislation to the delegation works well.

Does the Board of County Commissioners need to tighten its lobbying regulations?

The current county and state regulations are appropriate and adequate allowing for a transparent system. They are also in line with other counties in the state. The list of campaign donors is publicly listed and open to the public. Lobbying and special interests groups have their role. From environmental groups to builders, and from business groups to unions, each helps inform and educate officials on the needs and desires of the groups they represent. All elected officials need to be able to hear and communicate with these groups.

Should the Board of County Commissioners adopt stricter campaign finance rules?

They are transparent, about same here as elsewhere, and do not need change.

What programs would you add to the budget and how would you pay for them?

I am not proposing any new programs at this time and continue to look for ways to make government more efficient.

Are there any programs, taxes or fees that should be cut? What would you do with the money from the savings?

Nothing in a big way. On the other hand, I am always looking for efficiencies and pressing justification for budgets submitted in every area. The counties budgeting process allows us to watchdog every program and their proposed budgets. I spend a great deal of time and ask many questions to satisfy myself prior to approving budget requests. I take my role in the process very responsibly and I do not just rubber-stamp a request from any department, no matter how much I support their goals. I always view things in a practical and realistic way. It doesn’t always mean that each department or special groups always receive what they want but the county does get what it needs and we have been able to hold the line on increasing taxes.

Do you think the current system for renovating schools is adequate, or does it need changing?

I think we need to move faster on major renovations of schools especially in such areas as heating⁄HVAC systems, roof repair, and on a schedule that better fits the life cycle of the asset. We need to improve on the timeframe for normal maintenance such as painting, bathroom upkeep, dining facilities, doors, windows, etc. It is as important for practical reasons as it is for the morale of the teachers and students.

It will take money in the maintenance budget, but this is a great example of an expenditure that can also save money down the road.

Do the commissioners have too much, too little or not enough oversight of the school system?

I think we have the right amount of oversight of the school system. Our role is to justify the budget, not run the system. That commissioners should be sufficient taskmasters overseeing the budget requests is not contradictory to our objective for quality education. When we do our role right, public support for educational budgets is improved because waste and inefficiencies are minimal.

What is the No. 1 public safety concern for Frederick County? What would you do about it?

I am concerned about some types of crime that have been around a long time elsewhere but have recently begun to grow here. Gang crime and violence has reared its very ugly head in Frederick County. I am pleased to have worked hard to make sure that the funding for the prosecutor’s special anti-gang crime initiative met his need and request. That public safety, always a top priority of concern, is not a bigger issue in the county is a credit to our sheriff’s department and current prosecutor’s office and all their staff and employees.