Letters: Al Luckenbach, other topics
Dec 10, 2014 | 3:00 AM
Al Luckenbach
Thank you for your recent opinion piece and for E.B. Furguson's article on Al Luckenbach.
I appreciate what his digging up sites in Anne Arundel County has taught us. Al is still as intrigued with these discoveries as he was when he began the job.
More than that, he is able to interpret and then to teach the meaning of these discoveries as they fit into a historic pattern. Working at Pig Point, he has found a site that whets the appetite of those of us waiting to learn more about prehistoric civilizations.
The possibilities stretch the mind.
T.C. MAGNOTTI
Parole 2
It was interesting to hear recently of a possible discovery of another Civil War internment camp, "Parole 2," off Forest Drive, on the site of the proposed retirement community Crystal Spring.
If true, it could be an impetus for both Towne Centre and Crystal Spring to create permanent exhibits in their downtowns for the public to see, telling the story of Civil War imprisonment and "parole" release.
Capture and release is current news in the Middle East.
DAVID FOGLE
In his column (The Capital, Nov. 30), Rick Hutzell invited comment regarding the reminiscences of your outgoing county councilmen.
One significant improvement that was not included in Daryl Jones' assessment was his strong support of my administration's budgetary initiative to install the "Field of Dreams" adaptive sports facility at Lake Waterford Park for individuals with disabilities. Councilman Jones' critical vote in support of my administration's long-overdue increase in developer impact fees was also noteworthy.
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With regard to Councilman Jamie Benoit, his support of my administration's initiative to preserve the 857-acre Naval Academy Dairy Farm property in Gambrills — a commitment he and I made during our respective 2006 campaigns — was noteworthy, while his instigation during my first term of an exhaustive search for collusion in a contract for my administration's installation of artificial turf fields at our county high schools was unfortunate.
As pointed out by The Capital, this "all-out, time consuming probe that included affidavits and review of phone records, emails, and public documents" that cost taxpayers more than $20,000 "was simply not worth the trouble and expense."
Permit me to also respond to a recent letter to the editor alleging that two of County Executive Steve Schuh's recent appointments show that "government reformers walk" and are a continuation of "politics as usual."
As the new county executive embarks on what he has called "a new era" in Anne Arundel government, I note with interest that, as of today's date, he has appointed 10 individuals whom I also appointed to serve in my administration.
All 10 of these individuals served with distinction, and I was pleased that the new county executive sees the same qualities of competence and hard work that I discerned when I hired them.
JOHN R. LEOPOLD
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Editor's Note: Leopold is a former county executive.
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