McKay proposes refund

from surplus budget

By Ahmar Khan

ST. MARY’S TODAY

HOLLYWOOD ---

At a gathering of businessmen, family, seniors, officials and citizens, St. Mary’s Commissioner President Tommy McKay officially launched his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Maryland State Senate on a populist promise of returning $20 million in surplus budget of the last two years to St. Mary’s residents in tax rebates.

“That (money) should be returned to you,” he said.

He recounted his list of achievements as president of the St. Mary’s County Board of Commissioners, which he said included right-sizing the government structure, eliminating waste, reducing county debt fully funded education system, increase in police force, adopting a master plan to preserve land, soon-to-be built first school in a quarter century Wildewood Elementary.

“We lowered income taxes two years in a row. We lowered property taxes two years in a row,” he said.

McKay called for an end to Democratic absolute majority in the Maryland Senate

 “After 88 years of the Maryland Senate being controlled by one philosophy, it is time for new vision and leadership,” he said, who had been a Democrat but switched parties prior to running for office four years ago.

But he surprised the Republican-dominated audience when he said, “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. They left me.”

McKay made no secret of his admiration for President Reagan by choosing January 4 as the date and Hollywood as the venue for his fray into state politics. He recalled Reagan announced his candidacy for the California gubernatorial contest at Hollywood, California on January 4, 1966. “I am doing it in Hollywood, Maryland.”

McKay recalled that in 1986, President Reagan described bad governance in three short phrases:  “If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”

He castigated the Maryland senate for what he called its penchant for higher taxes, more regulation and anti-business bias.

Two Republican members of the House of Delegates spoke in support of McKay.

Del. Anthony O’ Donnell (R. District 29C, Charles and St. Mary’s counties), minority whip in the House of Delegates, said McKay is a man “more of substance than of style.”

O’Donnell said McKay would provide balanced leadership in Annapolis, adding “Maryland is terribly out of balance” because voters had been returning Democrats to the Senate since 1898.

Danny Mayer, House Delegate (R. District 28 Charles County), credited McKay for doing team work and bringing St. Mary’s “from the 19^th century to 21^st century in three years.”

Mayer said there was no doubt Democrats  were fine people and many  rural Democrats supported Republican moves, but said a two-party system was needed in the senate of Maryland to end the two warring camps at Annapolis.  He said no sooner than the house meets this year, as many as 26 bills were pending an override of the Governor’s veto.

Later, McKay told ST. MARY’S TODAY, his No. 1 priority would be comprehensive addressing of transportation issues in Southern Maryland.
Ironically, a bill passed by the General Assembly last year and sponsored by the three Southern Maryland Senators, Dyson, Miller and Middleton, all Democrats, was vetoed by Gov. Ehrlich and stands as the first order of business for the General Assembly to override.  The bill calls for a comprehensive study of all transportation issues in Southern Maryland.

Lou Sierra, an aerospace engineer originally from New York but now living in Leonardtown, said he knows McKay for two-three years now and supports him for being family- and business-oriented. He said he liked his principle of lowering taxes.

Calvert county commissioner Susan Shaw said, “We need a two-party system at Annapolis.” She said only then would the two parties try to outdo one another for public good.

Walt Gillette, who works for the Department of Defense and is the coordinator of the all McKay-support events, said McKay was an outstanding president of the board of county commissioners.

“He’s not worried about political affiliation. He’s worried about getting the job done,” Gillette said.

C. Ronald Franks, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, who had come down from Annapolis to show his support for McKay, said he thinks McKay has a history of achievements.

“He will be a welcome addition in Annapolis and great help for Governor Ehrlich.”

Area notables present to show support included States Attorney Richard Fritz, Carolyn Hay, former St. Mary’s Commissioner Rodney Thompson, Circuit Court Candidate George Sparling, Rusty Garner, former GOP Central Committee Chairman Don O’Neal and Kathleen Reef.