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—– By: Ann Costantino —–
Republican Baltimore County executive candidate, Al Redmer, Jr., has a message for Baltimore County teachers.
In a video posted on his Facebook campaign page last night, Redmer said, “Over the last number of months, I’ve visited different schools. I’ve chatted with teachers, parents and administrators and have seen firsthand the conditions that you have to work in. I’ve seen the overcrowded classrooms, seen the brown drinking water and, often, the deplorable facilities; and have certainly heard about the lack of discipline that occurs.”
“You have my respect and gratitude,” he contiunued, “for the job that you do and your focus on educating our children, even under these challenging circumstances.”
If elected, Redmer says he plans to take a business-like approach to identifying the needs of teachers and administrators in Baltimore County, including adding personnel into the system’s school buildings.
And, Redmer says, he will create a long-term, 10-year plan and multi-year budget.
Redmer then criticized the leadership representing teachers – the Teachers Association of Baltimore County (TABCO) – saying that leadership has stood by as “working conditions have continued to deteriorate.”
TABCO endorsed Democratic candidate, District Two Baltimore County councilwoman, Vicki Almond.
Redmer says he will be active and engaged in the school system with a laser-like focus on the education of Baltimore County’s students, but understands that a County Executive does not run the school system.
In the video, Redmer promised an open door policy for teachers, under a Redmer Administration.
He told The Baltimore Post in an interview last week that the same would be true for the media and county citizens, having built a track record of working with transparency and openness as the state’s insurance commissioner.
Redmer has one Republican challenger in the race for county executive, Del. Pat McDonough. A poll conducted earlier this month by the University of Baltimore and The Baltimore Sun showed Redmer trailing front-runner, McDonough, by five points.
The primary election is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 26.
