George Wenschhof
Brinkley
started his political involvement by interning for former state senator Edward P.
Thomas (R) and shared with me he remembered working for him the year (1981)
President Ronald Reagan was shot.
Now,
entering his twentieth year of elected office and serving his second stint as
senate minority leader, Brinkley focuses on Republican Party issues and
representing his district in Annapolis.
Brinkley
told me the state redistricting that will go into effect with next year’s
election has the 4th district looking somewhat like a horseshoe
around The City of Frederick, with his district now including Brunswick, half
of Urbana, Green Valley and Kemptown. In
addition, about 20,000 voters in Carroll County were cut from the new district
4.
I shared
with him my position calling on the state to create a nonpartisan committee to
handle redistricting, if called for every ten years. Presently, the political party that holds the
majority influences redistricting in states across the country and allows, as
it has been said, for politicians to choose their voters, instead of the voters
choosing their politician. I added my
belief this has added to the current day gridlock in congress.
Brinkley
said he agreed with me and would support the creation of a nonpartisan
committee to handle state redistricting.
I asked
him if there was any truth to the rumor he was going to run for Frederick
County executive and that board of county commissioner president Blaine Young
would run for his seat. Brinkley said he had been approached with the idea, but
was going to be running for reelection.
After
serving 8 years as a state delegate and entering his 12th year as a
state senator, he feels he is positioned well with committee assignments and as
Minority Leader to be most effective for the voters in his district and
Frederick County by continuing to serve as state senator.
His time
served on the Budget and Taxation committee along with his relationship with
Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley and Senate president Thomas (Mike) Miller
enables him to be helpful when it comes to Frederick County issues.
When, I
asked him if there were issues he would like to see more effort directed at by
the state, Brinkley said drug use and mental health were two areas he would
like to see more work done. He mentioned to me the tragic death of Robert
Saylor, a man with Down syndrome, highlighted the need for more education and
training.
He added drug
and alcohol addiction is also something most families can relate to as many
have experienced a family member suffering with this illness.
Brinkley
also told me he was disappointed to see the poor rollout of the Maryland Health
Exchanges and would like to see a committee appointed with subpoena power to
investigate to find out why this happened.
I shared
with him I had received several questions on my Facebook page pertaining to
growth and how to pay for it. I asked
him specifically about the controversial planned Monrovia Town Center and he
said he saw that as a local issue.
In regard
to how to raise funds to pay for needed infrastructure, I mentioned the proposal
by Blaine Young to increase the transfer tax and by Maryland state delegate
Galen Clagett (D) to increase the personal income tax. Brinkley said he opposed any increase to
personal income tax and spoke about how the impact fee was originally intended
to cover the costs associated with growth.
During the
upcoming 2014 election, Brinkley said as senate minority leader, he will work
to focus attention in the governor race to issues the Republican Party feel are
important and he will work hard to keep the Republican Caucus intact, adding he
hopes they will pick up some seats.
The
deadline for candidates to file in the 2014 state of Maryland election is
February 25. The primary will be held on
June 24 and the general election will take place on November 4.
Stay
tuned.
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