County Executive James T. Smith Jr.
400 Washington Avenue
Old Courthouse Mezzanine
Towson, Maryland 21204
410-887-2450
E-mail Address: jimsmith@co.ba.md.us
Dear Friends of Baltimore County,
On November 7, 2006 I was honored when you, the people of Baltimore County, decided to renew our partnership for another four years when you re-elected me as Baltimore County Executive. As I look forward towards our County’s future, I see boundless possibilities for our communities.
For the past four years, it has been my privilege to work with the people and businesses of Baltimore County to create a renaissance that has affected every citizen of our communities. We have built new police stations to make our communities safer, renovated our older schools and constructed new ones to give our children and teachers the best possible environments in which to learn, and built new community and senior centers to keep our communities vibrant and active. But our renaissance is in more than the bricks and mortar of these buildings, it shows in the spirit of the communities that form the foundation of our County.
I have seen the spirit of our renaissance in the faces of the families who live around Kingsley Park who can now sleep soundly knowing that their streets are safe at night. I have witnessed the spirit of our renaissance in the imagination of a child who has discovered a whole new world in a book at the recently reopened Lansdowne Library. I have heard the spirit of our renaissance in the ringing of cash registers at the booming businesses of the merchants of our historic downtowns all across the County, from Frederick Road in Catonsville to York Road in Towson. And I have felt the spirit of our renaissance in the enthusiasm of our senior citizens as they flock to the new fitness centers at our senior centers.
Working together we will continue to introduce initiatives designed to maintain the momentum of the past four years through continued focus on the three goals that shaped our past success.
Strong families build strong communities, and in Baltimore County supporting families is our top priority. We will continue to support our children by providing our public schools with the resources they need to provide a first class education to every child in a Baltimore County school. We will finish the renovations to our County’s middle schools, and then we will begin a systematic renovation program in our high schools, so that their teachers and students have the facilities that they deserve and need to prepare the future leaders of not only our County, but our entire Country. We will nurture the quality of life for families in Baltimore County through additional support of the green renaissance of our County. Our senior centers will continue to respond to the needs of our growing senior population through improved facilities and the innovative programs and support services that have brought Baltimore County national recognition.
It is the responsibility of our government to make certain that our communities are safe and secure places for families and businesses both new and old to Baltimore County. Public safety will remain a top priority for my administration, and we will support our police and firefighters by making sure they have the tools and resources they need to keep our citizens safe in their homes and communities. We will serve the needs of our communities, as we construct new community centers throughout the county, starting in Dundalk and Randallstown. Community centers provide not only safe place for our communities to gather and learn, but offer important programs and services that are vital to maintaining the health and security of our communities.
Good government works when it solves problems by investing in the future of its communities. Just as we did at the Yorkway and Kingsley Park Apartment Complexes, Baltimore County will continue to work to improve the lives of our citizens by proactively addressing the problems that impact their day to day lives. By continuing to preserve and protect our open spaces and build new parks we can enhance Baltimore County’s pristine environment and give our citizens a County they can not only be proud of, but also enjoy. We will continue to bring new life and opportunities to all our citizens in our older beltway communities as we work to build upon the strong foundations that are the legacies of those who came before us.
I begin my second term as County Executive knowing that our renaissance is alive and well, and I know that by working together with the people of Baltimore County there is no limit to what we can achieve. As committed partners, the people, businesses, and government of Baltimore County have given new life to our historic beltway communities and created new opportunities for a whole new generation of residents. I eagerly anticipate working together with Governor-Elect Martin O’Malley in Annapolis. As the Mayor of Baltimore, Governor-Elect O’Malley was always a friend to the people of Baltimore County, and I know that we can continue to count on his support and friendship in the governor’s mansion. There is much work ahead of us, but I cannot wait to get started on another four years of success, progress and renaissance in Baltimore County, and I am humble and grateful that you have chosen to continue our journey of progress together.
James T. Smith, Jr.
Baltimore County Executive
Revised November 14, 2006
Courthouse 