— FINZEL — In announcing his candidacy for Garrett County commissioner in District 2, Jim Raley (R) stated that, “For too long, citizens’ input has been ignored and when they are willing to speak out they are often chastised and belittled for standing up for their rights as taxpayers. This must change!”
A longtime force in Garrett County, Raley has been a teacher (24 years); a member of the Garrett County Board of Education (13 years); and administrator. He has served 33 years with the Eastern Garrett County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, of which he currently serves as president of both organizations. He also serves on the board for the park located in Finzel.
Having been involved in all aspects of budgeting and employee oversight, Raley is concerned that the Garrett County budget continues to increase and the county continues to spend taxpayers’ money on “pay as you go” projects, while cutting vital services. “While it is great the county can afford to save enough money to fund multimillion dollar projects,” Raley stated, “the current taxpayers are bearing those costs through increased assessments and higher taxes. The county boasts of having little indebtedness. However, the reason for this is simply that the money is generated from real estate taxes and they have increased over $14 million in the past four years. The time to lead is now during this economic turndown!
“Because of the pay as you go attitude, this year the county eliminated 26 positions,” Raley continued, “and those were living wages and benefits which enabled families to live and work in Garrett County. We must look towards bonds for our long-term projects and look to maintain jobs for our citizens and grow our county and economic strength.”
Raley concluded, “With the county cutting jobs to fund capital projects, our economic future is grim and our youth will not be able to live and work in Garrett County, our school enrollments will continue to decline and our economic base will continue to dwindle.”
This election will likely be determined in the primary on Sept. 14 as there is no Democratic opponent seeking the office.
Jim Raley has lived in Garrett County for 47 years in the Finzel area with his wife, Susan, where they raised their two children, Sharee and Ainsley. Raley can be contacted at 301-707-1061, at susanral@comcast.net or Jim Raley’s Facebook page.
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