Garrett files for commissioner

Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010

After spending months fundraising, attending public functions and meeting with residents, Nick Garrett of Prince Frederick officially filed as a Democratic candidate for Calvert County Commissioner on Jan. 19.

Garrett became just the second candidate to file — Kimberly Mackall of Lusby, also a Democrat, threw her name in the empty hat early last fall. While he's known for years that he wanted to run for commissioner, Garrett began fundraising in earnest last March. He's held a handful of larger events to raise money and plans to hold another on March 24, his birthday, and knock on doors until the September primary.

While the usual priorities – small business, taxes, public safety, education – remain, Garrett has gotten the impression that, more than anything, people want a breath of fresh air.

"People are really excited about somebody new. Somebody who maybe hasn't served before but has energy and a passion about government," Garrett said. "I think they're frustrated with government right now."

Much of that frustration has zeroed in on Democrats. Voters have bucked federal stimulus and health care legislation, delivering the GOP significant victories in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections and, most recently, the Massachusetts special U.S. Senate election. But Garrett, who considers himself a conservative Democrat, is confident his party will not be an impediment and echoes the same theme that President Barack Obama rode to victory last November.

"My message is one of hope. Let's look to the future, acknowledge what we're doing well with local government and emphasize what we can do better on," Garrett said. "I'm not a big believer of reinventing the wheel. I'm a big believer of analyzing things, finding out what we do well, keep what works and get rid of what doesn't."

Garrett identified the county's traditions of fiscal responsibly and land preservation as two he'd like to continue and the construction of a third Calvert Cliffs nuclear reactor and expansion of the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge as initiatives he'd pursue.

Before he began campaigning, Garrett spent time serving on various local committees, boards and councils. He also worked as a legislative aid to state Sen. Roy Dyson (D-Calvert, St. Mary's, Charles), who witnessed Garrett's passion for government firsthand.

"He'll bring something very few county commissioners have," Dyson said of Garrett's experience in Annapolis. "He has that experience and applied himself very directly to [local] issues and walked into it with a lot of study and a lot of knowledge."

Under Dyson, Garrett was given the freedom to focus on issues pertaining to Calvert, such as transportation, the bridge expansion and matters specific to private communities.

"I see him as a very good commissioner, one that will really study the issues before making a decision," Dyson said. "That's what county commissioners are – they're decision makers."

Garrett called the advice of experienced politicians like Dyson "invaluable," but said the best part of his campaign has been the interactions with regular citizens.

"People extending their trust whether they're telling me something that's going on in their life or something they perceive that can be improved in the county," he said. "People extending their trust to someone they believe can do a good job for them is really gratifying."