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Shreve joins crowded Republican field in bid for county commissioner

It's been common knowledge for a while that Billy Shreve was going to run for county commissioner. He officially filed as a candidate some time ago, but made his public announcement this morning.

My unofficial count of folks running in the Republican primary (not all officially filed or announced yet) includes incumbents John "Lennie" Thompson, Mike Cady and John Lovell, along with challengers Charles Jenkins and Thomas Henderson, who both ran in 2002, and Samie Conyers, Joan McIntire, Billy Shreve, Ed Lulie and previous two time commissioner David Gray. There may be more by the filing deadline on Monday.

In my opinion, Shreve has a pretty good chance to get through the Republican primary. Even though he may not have a lot of name recognition around the county, he is well known in some circles, due to his involvement in various activities and his appearances on Pressing Issues, among other things. He has a solid list of credentials. And he's likely to raise and spend a lot of money, including plenty of support from individuals and companies in the development community.

I don't know Billy personally. But...I've watched him on Pressing Issues and in his role on the Board of Zoning Appeals. I've read a fair amount of his comments on various issues over the past few years. And I've read through his new campaign website.

When I put all that and more together, I'm sure of two things: Billy will be serious contender in the campaign, and I hope he isn't successful – that he doesn't get elected.

I'm not saying that because I'm a candidate (who will be competing for the same position if we both make it through the primary), or because he's a Republican. There are five positions to fill, after all. And, in the end, I expect I'll be casting my five votes for candidates in both parties.

And it isn't because Billy serves as an Associate Realtor® with Frederick Land Company, where he "provides General Brokerage services for Commercial Sales and Leasing transactions, Land Sales and is a Land Development Consultant." It isn't because of his "7 years with the Nations 6th Largest Homebuilder," or his time on the Board of Directors of the Frederick County Builders Association.

No. It just comes down to what I know about his views, beyond what he has placed on his website. I'll share just a bit of that here...

Watching Billy during many of his apprearances on Pressing Issues, it's been very clear to me that he has been heavily biased toward the developers point of view on almost every contentious development issue in the county, from his support for the New Market Region Plan to his repeated assertion that the key to solving the problem of affordable housing in Frederick County is to open a lot more land to development (an argument conspicuously absent from his website).

In fact, while watching a recent discussion about affordable housing on Pressing Issues, I was dumbfounded to hear Billy assert that a big part of the problem was that Frederick County has had twelve straight years of no-growth boards!

Even if he supports a more rapid rate of development, and advocates for opening a lot more farmland to sprawl development, it is incredible that he could characterize the current board, and the previous two boards, as being no-growth boards. For a bit of perspective on that, during the last twelve years or so, Frederick County has averaged about 2,000 new houses every year. To paraphrase a Gazette editorial from last year about a similar comment: In what universe is five houses a day considered no-growth?!

Billy's comment about the last three boards being no-growth boards offers a glimpse into his perspective, and is, by itself, cause for serious concern.

But there is a lot more to be concerned about.

In discussions about the highly controversial and unpopular New Market Region Plan, Billy supported the plan as it was written and encouraged the county commissioners to vote for it and move on. More troubling in some respects, was that he dismissed the genuine concerns many citizens and organizations voiced about particular elements of the plan as nimbyism and no-growth extremism.

He seemed completely unwilling to consider any of the serious objections many people had to the plan as legitimate.

In addition, on his website, under the subheading "Farmers," Billy says:


Certainly, I agree that we must find more and better ways to support farmers and farming in Frederick County. But the first point in that quote is coded language that says – without saying it directly – that farmers ought to be able to have their land rezoned for development if and when they want it rezoned.

For the last few years, we've heard the same thing from commissioners Cady, Lovell and Reeder, who have used it to justify the random, piecemeal and haphazard redesignation or rezoning of agricultural land to residential (or something else), with little regard for good long term planning or how the changes fit into the broader community or the county's comprehensive plan.

There is a lot to be discussed on this point, but I'll limit my comments on it here to two basic points:

1) Through numerous legal challenges over the years, zoning has been clearly and consistently upheld as constitutional. Some specific zoning laws have been overturned in individual cases where the laws were not applied evenly or were considered to violate free speech. But there is no question that zoning is firmly established and protected under the constitution.

2) If we determine land use, in general, or zoning, in particular, based on what each individual property owner wants to do with their property, we might as well get rid of the county's comprehensive plan, toss out the regional planning process, and dump all zoning.

There are plenty of legitimate reasons to criticize specific zoning patterns and practices, and I'm an advocate for tackling a major re-write of the current, but out of date, zoning ordinance in Frederick County. But owning farmland – whether the owner is a farmer or a developer – does not include the guaranteed right to convert any 200 acre farm to isolated and sprawling subdivisions, even if that option offers a bigger profit (to the current landowner, often at the expense of the rest of us).

The truth is that fighting for the right of any owner of farmland to be able to grow sprawling subdivisions instead of crops is the fastest way to destroy farming in Frederick County.

And finally, for now, on his site, Billy says:


Well, everyone would like that. Nobody is going to argue the merits of the goal of building schools in a "timely manner." Though I would like to add that it would be great if the county was able to renovate our older schools in a timely manner, as well.

But the biggest reason we have not been able to keep up with new school construction and old school maintenance and renovation – not to mention roads and parks and a lengthy list of other basic public services – is because a majority of the county commissioners have had a blind faith in the benefits of almost any growth, anywhere, and have supported an out-of-date, business-as-usual approach to growth that comes at the expense of our prosperity and diminishes the quality of our communities and our lives.

As long as we have county commissioners who support the pattern of development we see embodied in the New Market Region Plan, there will never be enough revenue to build schools before we need them, or renovate all our old schools when they should be, or improve our roads sufficiently, or...well...you can fill in the blanks.

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Below are two articles about Billy Shreve's announcement, and a Joe Volz column from March.

From the FREDERICK NEWS POST: Shreve announces candidacy for county commissioner Thursday, June 29, 2006 By Liam Farrell FREDERICK — Development and affordable housing are two of Frederick County's biggest issues this election season, and Billy Shreve believes he has a vision that will allow all people to share in the growing county. Mr. Shreve, a 38-year-old Republican and lifelong resident of Frederick, is running for county commissioner. He said his background selling property for Frederick Land Co. and houses for Main Street Homes will be an asset for the county's future growth. "I think it's a strength because I understand what economic factors influence that," he said. Mr. Shreve joined a field of roughly a dozen candidates, including incumbents Mike Cady, Jan Gardner, John L. Thompson Jr. and John Lovell. The primary election will be held Sept. 12, and the general election will follow Nov. 7. Mr. Shreve said developers are operating within the rules of Frederick County, and if residents believe the changes are undesirable, the way the government plans for new homes should be changed. "(Growth) doesn't happen overnight," he said. One key part of this, he said, would be making sure county government works with the municipalities to ensure infrastructure is in place. "Adequate public facilities (such as) schools, water, sewer, roads, parks and libraries must be planned jointly for the good of all Frederick County," Mr. Shreve said. By taking advantage of the county's moderately priced dwelling unit program, which requires new developments to offer some lower-priced homes, he said, teachers and fire and rescue personnel will be able to live in the county where they work. At a campaign kickoff Wednesday, Mr. Shreve was joined by County Commissioner John Lovell Jr., Deputy State's Attorney Charlie Smith and Delegate Rick Weldon. Mr. Weldon said the commissioners' political campaign has to transcend the stereotypical division of pro-growth and anti-growth, so candidates can reach for actual discussion and solutions. He pledged to bring forth a proposal in January that was drafted by Mr. Shreve and aims to waive the $11,600 of impact fees imposed on each unit of affordable housing "We want our candidates to be able to talk about issues," Mr. Weldon said. "Billy is a broader thinker than we've experienced before on this level of local government."

From the GAZETTE: Shreve to run for commissioner http://www.gazette.net/stories/062906/newmnew200416_31949.shtml Thursday, June 29, 2006 By Sherry Greenfield Staff Writer Standing in front of a home built by Habitat for Humanity Wednesday, Billy Shreve, the organization’s former president, announced his bid for Frederick County Commissioner. ‘‘Why I am running for county commissioner? I believe everyone deserves a decent and affordable home, a good job, schools that are not overcrowded and roads that are more than parking lots,” said the 38-year-old Shreve. Shreve (R) is chairman of the Frederick County Board of Appeals and a board member for Community Commons, a local conservation organization. Flanked by elected officials, homebuilders and commissioner candidates John R. Lovell Jr. (R) and Samie Conyers (R), Shreve laid out his campaign vision. ‘‘The entire Frederick community will plan the future of Frederick County together,” he said. ‘‘Every group will have equal representation, and together will design Frederick for the next 100 years. The plan will be stringent enough to be fair to all involved, yet open [to] encouraging ideas.” Shreve’s ideas include road construction that will keep pace with development, affordable homes for teachers, emergency workers and senior citizens. ‘‘Seniors on a fixed income will be able to live here and afford their taxes,” he said. ‘‘Modifying their existing home so they can age in place will become easier.” In December, Shreve drafted a proposal to waive the $11,600 impact fee, which is charged on new homes to build schools and libraries, on housing that is considered affordable. Del. Richard Weldon (R-Dist. 3B) of Brunswick announced prior to Sherve’s speech that he will introduce the proposal as a bill for the 2007 legislative session, which starts in January, if he is re-elected. Preserving the environment and bringing new, high-paying jobs to the county will also be a priority of his campaign, Shreve said. ‘‘This is my vision for Frederick County,” he said. ‘‘I will focus on these issues to make them become a reality. We can make things better if you believe in Shreve.” Local Realtor Steve Fox says he believes in Shreve. ‘‘I’ve known Billy for a while, every since I interviewed him and he went through the leadership program through Frederick County,” Fox said. ‘‘I had the privilege of joining him on the board of Habitat and having him lead Habitat to phenomenal years, and I think that Billy brings to the table a well roundness we need in county commissioners and hopefully get Billy elected years after that.”

Column from the FREDERICK NEWS POST: Here comes Billy Thursday, March 22, 2006 By Joe Volz Billy Shreve, chairman of the county board of zoning appeals, is "seriously considering" running for county commissioner. Translation: Billy will announce his candidacy as a Republican candidate in the next month or two -- in plenty of time for the September GOP primary. Although Billy, 38, a city resident, has been active in a wide variety of community and business activities, he is not widely known outside of political circles. In fact, Billy says people have such trouble pronouncing his name that he has come up with a rhyming slogan to ease the problem, "Believe in Shreve." Billy is among the long line of would-be or over-the-hill politicians who have been panelists on Adelphia 10's "Pressing Issues." Let's hope that the new cablevision owner, Comcast, keeps the show alive if for no other reason than to act as a tryout stage for would-be candidates. Sort of an amateur hour for political talent. He has just joined the show, so hopefully he will be able to get in a few more appearances before he is forced to retire when his campaign begins. Candidates Kai Hagen and Tim Brooks recently had to leave the show when they announced they were running for office. Billy, as they say in the trade, "jumps out of the set." His good looks and warm personality are made for TV. And he doesn't mumble like some of the panelists. He also speaks in easy-to-understand declarative sentences, unlike some of the panelists. He is another pro-developer candidate, which puts three of the four Republican candidates, the incumbents Mike Cady and John Lovell and Billy, on the side of the builders. The lone GOP warrior, Lennie Thompson, a very likely candidate, is on the other side. Billy has been selling commercial real estate with Tony Checchia at the Frederick Land Co. and also peddles houses and townhouses for Natelli Communities, which is developing a mini-metropolis in Urbana. Billy supports everybody, including Lennie, although he disagrees with most of Lennie's views on growth. Billy figures it's good to have a dissenting opinion on the board. If you want to picture the developers as the greedy bad guys, Billy doesn't fit the stereotype. He is no bad guy cast in the mold of, say, Billy the Kid. Our Billy is a non-confrontational pleasant personality in the style of Mayor Jeff Holtzinger, one of his heroes. Billy was a freshman football player at Thomas Johnson when Jeff was the star running back leading the varsity to a state championship. Here's part of Billy's platform to help "the little guy." (What's he trying to do? Steal Lennie's thunder?): Billy wants to introduce legislation giving preference in the moderate income housing program to school teachers, firefighters and police officers who are having trouble finding houses they can afford. And he wants broad property tax relief for senior citizens. He is proposing a "pioneer" tax freeze for anyone over 65 who has lived in the county 25 years. There is no means test, as the current law requires. Billy also wants a "practical difficulty" zoning variance provision standard so that sick seniors can make additions to their houses, like first floor master suites, and don't have to move. He sounds a bit like a New-Dealer, doesn't he? Maybe, he ought to run in both the Republican and Democratic primaries.

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Gary Sandman
Urbana, MD

Kai Hagen is one of the most informed people around when it comes to the issues affecting Frederick’s County. He is very knowledgeable, and he understands what it takes to run a well-balanced, successful county government. He will work to build an affordable, dynamic and balanced community that will protect our high quality of life, and balance development, the environment, roads, schools, infrastructure and taxes. The best part is...

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