Leopold lets record speak for itself

John R. Leopold is nearing the halfway mark of his first term as Anne Arundel County executive, after serving 20 years in the House of Delegates as the first Republican from District 31.

While Leopold, 65, has made a name for himself — and won the praise of many — as a staunch opponent of illegal immigration, he has been criticized for questionable campaign contributions and strained relationships with other elected officials.

You will be a delegate at the Republican National Convention [Sept. 1 through 4 in Minneapolis].

What’s your take on John McCain, especially since you had backed Rudolph Giuliani early on?

McCain has the strength and competence to do well.

He has a long record of bipartisanship and problem solving, something we haven’t seen in [Democratic candidate Barack] Obama.

I’ve offered to help in neighboring battleground areas, such as Philadelphia, my hometown.

What led to your firm stance against illegal immigration?

Whenever I talked to groups about issues [that concerned them], it wasn’t taxes or the environment.

The issue that aroused the most response was illegal immigration.

It touches a raw nerve in people who see that it is highly inequitable.

They don’t understand why they are asked to play by the rules while illegal immigrants don’t.

Small businesses feeling undercut have urged me to do something.

I have tried to institute a balanced approach to immigration.

I’m trying to reach out to help [illegal] immigrants play by the rules and seek citizenship.

In the budget, I’ve put in $14,000 to help those groups.

It’s a federal problem that must be solved federally.

But we’re cracking down hard.

The policy I’ve instituted — that any [immigrant] convicted of a crime will be reported to the [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] office — is supported by everyone.

Residents have complained about a lack of public input in the county’s once-a-decade review of its master zoning plan.

Are taxpayers getting a fair voice in the process that will shape development in the county?

I’m doing everything to ensure maximum public input.

We’ve appointed citizen advisory committees.

Keep in mind that we went through an exhaustive small-area planning process, and the public had ample time to comment then.

Take the Wayson’s Corner property, for example. People said they wanted the land preserved, and we acted on that.

[The Wayson’s Corner property was slated for development before being purchased by the county.]

Are you concerned that some have labeled you as pro-development after a bill this past year helped out a developer who held a fundraiser for you?

Most builders give money to the person who is the county executive.

That’s the way it’s been for decades.

What’s different is that my administration accepts no sacred cows at the trough.

I’ve had numerous requests for zoning changes to help certain developers, and I’ve denied all of them.

Another development issue is the impact fee bill that will raise the cost of new construction in the county. You pulled the bill to be revised. Where does it stand now?

I’m cautiously optimistic.

We’re working with the council for a compromise, but I have nothing to announce at this moment.

A report this past month said Anne Arundel will face a $250 million deficit in three years if nothing is done to increase revenue. What does that mean for Anne Arundel’s beloved cap on property tax?

I support the tax cap, and we’ve proven the county can still acquire a triple-A bond rating with the revenue cap.

That saves taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in interest.

It is far better to assess the out-of-state residents than our taxpayers, but unfortunately, those measures [the proposed car rental and hotel taxes] were not approved.

My job is to secure the maximum amount of revenue I can, apart from property and income tax, which I pledge not to increase.

That’s why we’re preparing for more difficult financial times [with] the hiring freeze and by consolidating positions.

That was prudent in the light of the fiscal tsunami on the horizon.

But how much cutting can you do before slicing into the meat of public services?

It is always on my mind to ensure continued delivery of quality-of-life services in the county.

People have been asked in surveys whether they would prefer increased taxes or reduced spending to balance the budget.

A large majority say reduce spending, and that’s where the focus of this administration will be.

There have been comments that your strained relationship with the County Council and Anne Arundel Board of Education often gets in the way of legislation.

I’ve been an elected official for 32 years.

In 2000, I was named the most outstanding Republican legislator in the nation on the basis of my ability to build bipartisan coalition to get things done.

If you look at the record of what the council and I have achieved — increased homeowner tax credit for senior citizens, disability parking enforcement — the list is extensive.

Look at the record, not the rhetoric.

Base Realignment and Closure will bring thousands of jobs to the county. As a member of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, what do you think Anne Arundel can do to improve traffic in the region?

The board has identified MARC trains [as] a regional priority, which means Anne Arundel must increase parking spaces at MARC stations, push for more cars and more scheduled rides.

We recognize a great priority for transit, which is why we’re establishing and promoting commuter bus service.

In the general development plan revision, I’m pushing for more mixed-use, transit-oriented development.

Only 8 percent of county residents use mass transit.

In order to increase that number, we must provide a more convenient means to use mass transit.

And it’s more convenient to use if you live next to it.

What’s Baltimore City’s effect on the county?

I work well with Mayor [Sheila] Dixon.

We’ve discussed a regional campaign to reduce litter and to recycle more.

As a state delegate, I worked with the city about issues such as prostitution and air pollution in Brooklyn Park, which abuts the city.

Those issues know no boundaries; these priorities will continue.

Governing Baltimore City is a challenge.

Where we can help, we will.

jflanagan@baltimoreexaminer.com