Carroll County, MD Commissioner Ed Rothstein- District 5, 4 Dec 2018

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From YouTube: 61st Board of County Commissioners Swearing In Ceremony

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The 61st Board of Carroll County Commissioners is sworn in.

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Swearing-In ceremony for the 64th 60 sorry 61st board of county commissioners.

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I was gonna, get it right eventually. I also like to welcome here today.

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Brett gerard who is representative for united states senator chris van hollen.

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And heather campbell, the representative for senator cardin. Thank you all for.

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Coming today now we're gonna start with the swearing-in ceremony and we're gonna.

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Have heller dewey's come forward to new clerk of the court hi good afternoon.

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Gentlemen, please raise your right hand and repeat after me, I state your name. Do.

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You swear or affirm that I will support the constitution of the united states.

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And that I will be faithful and that I, and that I will bear true allegiance to.

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The state of maryland and support the constitution and laws thereof and that I.

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Will to the best of my skill and judgment diligently and faithfully.

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Without partiality or prejudice execute the office of commissioner for carroll.

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County maryland, according to the constitution and laws of this state,.

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Congratulations: gentlemen:.

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Okay, now I'd like to give each I'd like to give each of the county commissioners.

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A chance to say a few words we start with commissioner lantz. It's.

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Not in my vocabulary, it's good to be district, one first out of the gate, all.

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Of you that live in district 1, insert applause here, pretty well represented.

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Today, first of all welcome to everyone. We are very honored to see this kind of.

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A crowd come out for what I and my colleagues believe to be one of the most.

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Important days in carroll county- and that is the swearing-in ceremony of five.

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Tremendous individuals- maybe I can tell you that I have had the honor to be in.

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This job for four years now, I think I've aged a good bit and some will tell you.

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That I've lost a little bit of hair, but is it for me it is one of the most.

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Humbling experiences to be able to do this job and to do it for what is not.

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Arguably the best county in this state of maryland, we are the safest county in.

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The state of maryland- and I I want to recognize a couple people here- bear with.

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Sheriff deweese and lieutenant rebecca bosley.

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Are so blessed in this county to have top-notch law enforcement, and we truly.

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Appreciate all the efforts that you put in to make sure that we maintain a.

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Tremendous quality of life county, so thank you both. We truly appreciate it.

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And it doesn't stop there, I'm not going to go through all the staff, because I've.

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We've already done that this morning and and debbie told me to keep it brief. So I.

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Got to keep it brief, but we're blessed to have a tremendous.

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Staff we're blessed to be able to have fantastic relationships, a great.

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Cooperation and collaboration with our delegates in annapolis, we truly.

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Appreciate their role and what they helped us through and we're most.

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Fortunate to have a great team down there so not sure what this sessions.

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Going to bring in that quaint little village, but we know you all, have our.

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Backs and working together, we can continue to bring great things to this.

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County, so I started this job, not knowing what to expect I'll. Tell you forty years.

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In the fire service, jumping off of fire apparatus, ambulances making split-second.

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Decisions that ain't easy- and I can tell you that this job isn't either and it's.

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Not split-second decisions here I kid people all the time takes us about six.

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Months to buy a box of pencils here and that's interesting to me, but the bottom.

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Line for me is making sure that our citizens have the best quality of life.

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And the best place to live, work and play, and I think you see that each and every.

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Day we have made tremendous strides over the last four years and we've made it.

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Because we've been able to work together in a common goal of bringing that to our.

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Citizens so quickly. For me, I started off in 2014 with what I called the 3yz.

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Education, economic growth and emergency, sir.

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And there's an s on the end of that and that's staff, because without a fantastic.

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Staff, we wouldn't be where we are today. I say this every single day: you're only.

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As good as the people you surround yourself with, and we continue to be.

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Blessed to have the best staff anywhere and I thank you all very much. I've got.

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Some goals that I'd like to see accomplished in the next four years.

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Certainly in my district, I've got an internet issue. Don't have a whole lot of.

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People that have it I talked to my boots on the ground. Folks, each and every day.

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Because I got this thing called gravel roads in my district, they ain't easy.

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Either and because of decisions that were made, I've got a very interesting.

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Project that I'm going to be bringing back to one of the areas of my district.

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That I'm very proud of and that's a community center to take the place of.

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One of us one of our schools- I embrace that community up there for the passion.

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And the the will that they have and the way in which they have changed to.

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Embrace a project, it's always been a tough decision up there, but that.

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Community has embraced it and I very much look forward to bringing that.

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Together for that community in the next four years and listen- it's not just.

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About the district's, the way that we're set up here, we got to know a little bit.

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About everything and every place, I'm fortunate- and I say this and I said this.

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This morning, I've had a beautiful lady by my side for the last 39 years, and I.

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Couldn't do this job without kathy, so thank you.

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Kathy happens to work in the eldersburg area and we've got a lot of friends down.

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There so for me, it's not about just district one. It's about representing the.

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Whole county and I will continue to do that in the next four years. My door is.

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Always open and I look forward to working for all of.

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You so summing it up. I know you are surprised by that. I want to make sure.

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That we stay on the path of a successful carroll county, maintaining our.

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Transparent successful form of government that I think brings the best.

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To our citizens, I applaud all of you and I applaud each and every one of you that.

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Continue to support us filling the room means a lot. Thank you very, very much.

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Call me when you need me. Thank you.

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Move on out to commissioner weaver, as I stated this morning, fourteen hundred and.

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Sixty-Two days, that's what we have to accomplish things with this board in a.

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Near future- and I just want to say the last four years, the last fourteen.

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Hundred and sixty-one days have zoomed by really fast and it's hard to believe.

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That we're starting over again, but I am starting with two colleagues that I.

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Think a lot of we've really worked together very well, and I thank you.

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Gentlemen for the work that we've done over the last four years with that we.

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Have two new guys coming in and I think the brotherhood is changing a little bit.

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And I'm really looking forward to the respect and hard working that we have.

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Coming on and this board is going to be different than any board, I think we've.

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Ever had before, I'd really feel good about it, but before I go on, I must thank.

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My wife lila for all she's put up with and the family has pitched in in.

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Different times when I'm gone- and I just thank you for all you've put up with and.

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Helped with and everything else that we've done here today or in the last.

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Four years, but I want to say a couple things number one: our staff is.

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Phenomenal, if you're, a member of the staff of carroll county.

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Any aspect stand up, would you staff members in carroll county give them a.

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Round of applause.

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These are the people that make us look good, and I tell you these folks I've. I.

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Stopped by even though I'm told maybe sometimes I should not stop in talk to.

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People and now ask him what's going on or we just see what's happening in the.

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World I'll stop by road crews, occasionally and see what they're doing.

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But these are the people that make this county great, and I just want to.

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Recognize them for what they do with that, I have several goals that I want to.

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Have for the next four years, and one of those is collaboration, and that is the.

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Key, I think, to everything we're going to be doing. We have a good rapport with the.

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Delegation would go for over two digit judiciary, we're good before I think, with.

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The school board, we want to continue with that, and I want to keep going with.

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That collaborative effort and really focus on that and why I mentioned that.

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If you remember the school board, would you just stand up or wave here or.

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Superintendent of schools.

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Education is one pillar that I think we need to base carroll county on. We have.

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One of the best school systems in the county and I'm going to keep that going.

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In the future, the second pillar of that is police and we have developed a whole.

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Different system with policing we have the police academy and gym and that very.

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Well-Known but lieutenant she hears in the backyard. I want to thank these guys.

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For what they do in keeping this county, the safest county in maryland- and they.

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Have done a fantastic job, I will say sheriff deweese wants to be.

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Adopted and put in the will, but he's my sons are fighting that the president I.

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Honor but we have a good rapport with the police department, what we're doing.

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Is just starting- and I want more than that- and I want to thank the delegation.

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Last year for giving us in the neighb and labeling enabling legislation easy.

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For me to say to deal with the fire and ems service and that service is going to.

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Be moving ahead, but as far as public safety, commissioner wentz alluded to.

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That's going to be a major focus in the next four years, how we are going to be.

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Able to help our 14 volunteer fire departments to move forward and do a.

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Better job going out to calls and answering the ems calls, so it's our duty.

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To work with them to make some changes here in the next few years, so fire.

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Police and education are my major focuses and they have been for four.

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Years, but with that, I want collaboration, unity and problem solving I'm looking.

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For these four gentlemen, myself to start solving the problems of carroll county.

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And I'm looking forward to that, I won't pull a win, so I'm gonna keep it short.

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And I thank you guys for your understanding so far and for the wives.

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Of these guys, believe me, thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you.

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Move on to commissioner rothstein newly-elected, I was hoping we'd go a.

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Little out of order- and I do appreciate- do have a few prepared remarks, but first.

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And foremost, you know, being in this room is pretty special: the ragan room, if you.

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Go in the back showcase you're, going to see pictures of president reagan and the.

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Late vice president, our 41st president, george hw bush, pretty special because he.

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Was a true leader joining in as 18th birthday into the navy and serving ever.

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Since then, up until he's recently passed so, although we're celebrating today, I do.

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Want to start with something that he shared. You know during his presidency.

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There is nothing more fulfilling than to serve your country, and your fellow.

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Citizens and do it well, and I think that's a strong statement to say, and I.

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Think that's why we are all here today and I am very proud to serve with the.

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Four commissioners, you know, and also all those that recently were elected and.

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Congratulations to also those that were elected delegate, krebs, delia miller.

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Thank you so much for being here as well and happy birthday susan. So if anybody.

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Doesn't know she's, 29, 29, plus, okay, up front.

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Once again, oh yeah, I can't keep going without thanking my wife, audrey and the.

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Kids, they really worked hard and you know in my efforts and my endeavor in.

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Moving forward and I'm very proud that they have stood with me from the career.

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I had in uniform and further on to now being elected as county commissioner. I'm.

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Going to use those experiences that I've had from being in uniform and from.

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Economic development, but I'm not going to rely on those experiences, I'm going.

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To be working hard- and I love the word collaboration with our commissioners.

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With our staff with our delegation with you, the community to solving problems.

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This is not about being working hard. It's a.

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Getting results the way we're going to get results, I believe, is through three.

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Simple terms or three simple words: listen, learn and lead. I'm going to.

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Listen to you, learn from you and lead to get lead together with you. That's how.

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We're going to solve these problems, I'm looking forward to working with our.

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Staff with the you know, those in our government, my focus- I do have these.

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Prepared they're they're shot now my focus is really on three three pillars:.

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As you say, or verticals, one is economic and business development and growth.

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Business and economic development growth where it makes sense, so I look forward.

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To working with jack librarian and his team in furthering our economic and.

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Business development, especially down in district five in eldersburg sykesville.

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Area, it's a wonderful corridor that we have going east to west and I'd like to.

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Be able to take advantage of that? The second is those that serve every day.

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In our community in uniform, both police and fire, and continue to strive for.

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Better successes in giving them the resources necessary to do our job and.

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Protect our community. The third is public education. I'm a.

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Product of public education, my kids are as well from here in carroll, county and.

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I'm very proud of that so again continuing to resource the.

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Public education, the best we can in closing it's real simple. I come here.

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With five values, my family, my faith, integrity, discipline serving others.

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Those coupled with the community values and then prioritizing the work that we.

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Can do with those values is very important and figuring out how to.

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Resource those priorities and keeping us on track. This is a great day to.

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Celebrate again, I thank you so much for being here and look forward to serving.

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You in the next four years- thank you.

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I just have to aside from what mr. rothstein said reminds me of a game that.

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Used to play when I was younger, it's called you, don't know, you don't know jack, no offense jack, but we'll wash back to go.

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Commissioner boucher good afternoon folks, thanks for coming out, I like to.

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Give special recognition to three individuals in this room who have known.

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Me longer than anyone else here, and that is former delegate don murphy doggett.

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Susan krebs and delegate warren miller, they have known me a long time and.

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They've watched me run for public office six times three times for county.

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Commissioners, so obviously the third time's a charm when I first moved to.

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Carroll county and oh, for I had the honor of having the late senator bob.

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Kittleman, as my senator, he was a mentor to me when I first started in politics.

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Well, I moved to this county. I sent him a letter and I sent in a letter originally.

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I didn't know he is terminally diagnosed with cancer and he took time out of his.

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Day to have breakfast with me one morning, three months before he passed.

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And he gave me two pieces or he made two recommendations for me to accomplish as.

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A citizen of carroll county, and today I just accomplished the first one he said.

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Eric become county, commissioner, the second request he made of me was to.

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Bring independent government to carroll county, which means bringing charter government to this county and electing a chi.

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Executive and a county council man or a county councilman, hopefully five of them.

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If it holds up under the charter, writing that is very important to me as a.

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Businessman I come to you with my experience as a businessman understand.

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That a successful business needs to have a board of directors and a chief.

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Executive officer and the same thing applies to our county government. The.

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Individuals who legislate should not be executing the law, an individual who.

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Executes the law should not be legislating to law, so I'm determined in.

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The next four years to bring an upgraded modern system.

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Government discount, so that we are more efficient. I am for economic development.

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And that's part of the process of bringing economic development to our.

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County, not only do we need economic development on a large scale of.

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Corporations, but we need economic development, our small towns. I have two.

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Small towns in my district, new windsor and union bridge and when I was.

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Door-Knocking, I can tell you those little communities need our love. Those.

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Citizens are just as much citizens as a people westminister mount airy, hampstead.

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They need economic development, I'm determined help bring it to them. So I.

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Ask of you to believe in me in the future I'm offering this county.

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As we move forward together to become even more prosperous of a county, thank.

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I only have about six pages. Somebody has to step up for wins. First, I'd like to.

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Thank my family through this last four years and for through the election.

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Actually, the hardest part about this job is going through the election. It really.

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Is difficult so many things can be said and makes the difference true or not.

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True, it really doesn't make a difference. It's out there. It's sometimes because.

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Printed letter to editor goes on facebook, all stuff. It's it's! It's tough.

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I kind of let it go, but it's tougher on the family than it is on me as an.

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Individual, so I like to fight thank my wife, for if you know her she's, not.

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Politically correct, she says whatever she wants to say whenever she wants to.

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Say it, but during the election sorting campaigns she reeled in a little bit so.

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I was able to get reelected. I appreciate that, thank you and she has helped me a.

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Lot, the entire time I've been running. I thank special thanks to my daughter who.

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Went on the internet every single night and found out what was happening and.

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Called me up said: dad, did you know so-and-so, did this or so-and-so he said, that's it. Sarah relax! It's not that big a deal. It's a.

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Day-To-Day thing: it's a long election, let's see what happens, but she was very, very concerned about it. So I thank you for that. I thank my son, christopher.

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He's been under the spotlight since I've been in this position, and I thank you.

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For putting up with that, I also like to thank the county staff. They do a.

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Tremendous job here they make my job much much easier without them this job. I.

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Don't think I could handle it as I mentioned earlier, I get a lot of emails.

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A lot of texts and during those emails in tax, what I normally do is for down to.

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Someone in the county staff say please look into this. Please handle this and.

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They do they never come back to me through commissioner, come the day they.

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Handle it for me, I do really appreciate that. I appreciate the staff on the third floor. It helps support the commissioners.

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They do a tremendous job. We work with them every single day that we are here.

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They help us out in so many ways special shout-out to denise who's. My assistant.

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If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't know where I was going what's happening. I.

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Have if you count this as the part-time job, three part-time jobs.

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So I have to have the schedule. I have to have it in the air. She does a tremendous job. I thank you very much if it wasn't for her. I might not be here right now.

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You know know so thank you very much for that. Denise. I'd like to thank the city.

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Council and the mayor for city westminster, I think most of them had my.

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Back in this election, a special shout out to tony kawachi and dr. whack, mainly.

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Because they didn't run against me because if they had, I might now be here.

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But they did a tremendous job and help me out throughout the entire election. I.

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Do appreciate that my third thank you, I guess, is to the.

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Voters of district three who are not fooled by the half-truths and outright.

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Lies that happened during the election. They weren't swayed when elected.

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Officials went out and campaign against me door-to-door. They saw through the.

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Deception- and he voted me in for a second term, and for that I am very.

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Appreciative, thank you very much. My main areas of focus for the next term would.

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Be number one I'm trying to at least double the amount of solar fields.

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Carroll county has right now we're saving about five hundred thousand.

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Dollars a year and it elects electrical bills for the county I like to make that.

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About a million dollars for the end of four years, also, looking at how my list.

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Here give me a second.

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I'm also would like to see if we can put a committee together to look at charter.

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Government, I think it's about time to do that, and I also like if that committee.

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Gets together and we write a charter that we get the true information of the.

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Charter out there, so people can look at what the charter actually says and don't.

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Vote on things that other people say that what says this it says that look at.

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The charter read: the charter, understand what's being put out there, then, if you.

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Don't like it don't vote for it, but let's try to get that move moving forward. I tried to push that last four years was successful. Let's try it again.

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This year- because I do think it's time for carroll county to move to charter government, I'd like to work to make the solid waste fun self-sustaining. We put.

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About two million dollars of general fund money into that every year to keep.

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It moving along we're looking at different ways we're looking at ways to do that. Something always comes up to like a stumbling block in front. We need.

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To make a solid waste fund self-sustaining, I think we're moving.

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Or that, hopefully, that that what happened, I would also like to see.

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High-Speed internet service available to every citizen to carroll county because.

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I think it's needed and necessary. I would like to see every business to have.

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Multiple choices of high-speed internet- you don't have to just take one company.

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You have one or two at least two, maybe three to choose from so you have.

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Different, you know, different varieties and competition would be very good, I think. And lastly, but not least, we have to tackle the drug problem in carroll.

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County we've got to get on that over eighty-five percent of all crime.

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According to the sheriff is related directly or indirectly to drugs and drug.

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Use we get a handle on that we can solve a lot of other problems in carroll.

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County because we'll have the resources to do it, we have a lot of resources committed to the opioid and drug problem. It's got the drug problem, everybody.

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Talks about the opioid problem, because the opiate problems up front and center.

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Because a number of people that are dying because of opioids. But it's not.

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Just opioids it's all types of drugs, so hopefully we'll get together, we'll work.

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On that, and and maybe take some steps forward in solving that problem as well.

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Like to close by thanking everyone for coming here today, it's nice out.

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Standing-Room-Only, that's why you only put us just a little bit of chairs. Thank.

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You all for coming, and I guess that's about it, that's it that's it. Thank you.