The Calvert County League of Women Voters (LWV) sponsored an election forum at Huntingtown High School on Sept. 7, for county candidates with competition in the Primary election Tuesday.

This is the second in a series of three video news articles from the forum. Later this morning, The Bay Net will feature an article on the Maryland Delegate district 27a candidates.

The three videos here, and others linked, show introductions for the 17 county commissioner candidates that attended the forum.

In order of their appearance here are: Patrick E. Flaherty (R), Linda L. Kelley (R), Dixie C. Miller (D), Cal Steuart (R), Susan Shaw (R), Becky Tice (R), Barbara Stinnett (D), Mike Benton (R), Jan Horton (R), Bernie Nutwell (D), AJ Pitcher (D), Wilson Parran (D), V. Charles Donnelly (D), Jerry Clark (R), Mark Frazer, William “Bill” Chambers (R) and E. Lloyd Roberston.

In addition to the candidate responses included in the videos here, videos 4, 5 and 6 of the candidate introductions can be found by following this link. Also, below is a long transcript of additional LWV questions answered by the candidates.

Scroll down to go directly to videos 2 and 3.

LWV Questions
1. LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING: What action(s) would you propose to help solve Calvert County’s affordable housing problem, including providing housing for our workforce?
2. BUSINESS: How can Calvert County attract more high-technology and clean industries to enlarge our tax base?
3. OPENNESS IN GOVERNMENT: Government decision making bodies: 1) must protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions; 2) hold open meetings in reasonable locations for those who want to attend; and 3) make all public records accessible. Comment on your commitment regarding these principles.
4. PRIORITY SETTING: What are your priorities if elected?
5. TRANSPORTATION: How can the Board of County Commissioners facilitate the process to provide more park-and-ride sites to coordinate commuter bus systems to reduce the number of vehicles on Routes 2-4?
6. TAXES: The assessed value of homes in Calvert County, which continues to increase, has resulted in added tax revenues for the county. How do you propose to reduce the real estate tax burden to county home owners?

CANDIDATES ANSWERS (scroll down to see their answers to the above questions)

Democratic Candidates–Vote for No More Than Five

Kevin Cornett
          LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Currently I’m looking at Federal, State, Local Government and Private Industry to help provide affordable housing for our Teachers, Fire, Police and average to low income residents of Calvert County. Along with the possibility of subsidize housing.
          BUSINESS: I would like to increase our High Technology and Clean Industries Business base. Realizing there has been a lack of balance between resident growth and commercial growth we need to be careful as not to over develop and make a negative impact on our environment in the process.
          OPENNESS IN GOVERNMENT: I will be striving to obtain an open door policy by meeting with local leaders and reaching out and listening to the residents of Calvert County. I believe with today’s technology e-mail etc, along with friendlily localized scheduled mee