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Oct. 20, 2011
The Garrett County commissioners this week informed officials in Allegany, Frederick, Washington, and Carroll counties that they will not participate in a plan to hire a lobbyist to represent western Maryland interests in the 2012 General Assembly session.
Allegany County commissioner Michael McKay suggested the plan during a Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) meeting a few months ago. The cost of the endeavor was estimated at $5,000 per county.
Garrett County administrator Monty Pagenhardt said it was unclear to the local officials if a lobbyist would pursue several issues or just one.
“There are too many uncertainties,” he said about the plan.
He noted that the five western counties might not have the same level of interest or all be in agreement on such issues as Marcellus shale drilling.
Local commission chairman Gregan Crawford announced his opposition to the idea last week, and the commissioners voted unanimously not to participate in the plan.
“They simply thought there were too many unanswered questions and concerns about hiring a lobbyist,” Pagenhardt said.
He noted that Crawford, is on the MACo board of directors and the MACo Legislative Committee.
“He is very involved in all legislative matters, and Garrett County is represented very well by his efforts,” Pag-enhardt said.
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