Government workers heading to Ocean City conference

“I think it’s to talk about what we are doing as a county and to establish working relationships with people in the other counties,” Patrick Lacefield, a spokesman for Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, said Tuesday.

“There are plenty of things you can pick up from other people and plenty of things they can pick up from us.”

The four-day event starts today and features panels on issues from strategies for calming traffic and managing the cost of health insurance to dealing with bond ratings and addressing homeland security.

Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson is a panelist on a seminar titled “Frontline Homeland Security.”

“One of the reasons I know they looked to Jack Johnson was because he represents a substantial jurisdiction … and Prince George’s County is the first jurisdiction [in the state] to have a homeland security department,” said Michael Herman, Johnson’s chief of staff.

During the conference, Herman said, Prince George’s will also host a “Big Seven” meeting. A Johnson spokesman said the Big Seven involves the seven largest counties in Maryland economy-wise, and Herman said the host county chooses discussion topics.

“One of the things we will be discussing is land use,” Herman said.

The conference also features a crab feast; buffet lunches; a reception; and state, county and commercial exhibits. Herman said 13 people from Johnson’s office will attend the event at between $900 and $1,000 per person.

Karen Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Prince George’s County Council, said 24 members of the legislative branch, including four council members, are attending. She said Campbell didn’t know how much the trip would cost. Lacefield estimated at least a dozen people from Montgomery County would attend the conference, and said he didn’t have cost estimates.

dfowler@dcxaminer.com