Baltimore County Councilman Joe Bartenfelder, candidate for County Exec
By Doni Morton Glover, www.bmorenews.com
Yep! I can tell you some stories about my treks out Liberty Road via bus, bicycle, and even on foot; back in high school, my Herculean accomplishment was jogging from Coppin to Liberty and Rolling Rd. Oh, the invincibility of youth!
Well, time moved on; but, my love for my weekend get-away only got stronger. And as the journalism thing would come to fruition, I’d even get the opportunity to serve as Editor of the Northwest Voice newspaper. That was a monthly put out by advertising guru and Scott Donohue supporter Kenny Brown a couple years back.
Although short-lived, that opportunity brought with it an even more intimate schooling on the workings of Baltimore County. For instance, people like County Councilman and former Development Credit Fund banker Ken Oliver would tell me about how the County’s way of doing business is more conservative than how we get down in the city.
During my Northwest Voice tenure, I’d come to question certain things, and I’d also come to understand the power of the black vote in the northwest area. From Woodlawn to Lochearn to Randallstown to Owings Mills and Pikesville, I’ve learned that this area is the wealthiest part of Greater Black Baltimore. African Americans in this neck of the woods are quite often homeowners, college educated, and gainfully employed.
As the publisher of www.BMORENEWS.com, we have focused on 5 core areas in our 8 years of covering the news: public education, black business, ex-offender services, affordable housing, and universal access to health care.
Hence, I’ve always attempted to bring some intelligent dialogue to my columns on Northwest Baltimore County – especially since my three siblings and most of their children and grandchildren are products of the Baltimore County Public School system.
For the uninitiated, many of the residents of this segment of Baltimore County hail originally from Baltimore city. Thanks to integration, African Americans who desired a more suburban lifestyle flocked to this area – particularly over the past 40 years.
With this urban flight, however, came certain consequences. For instance, many people kept on voting in their old neighborhoods. Also, County living caused some African Americans to become less connected. And when it comes to politics, some African Americans in Baltimore County have fallen into an abyss – having no idea of who Jim Smith, the current County Exec, is.
Many times on our weekly WOLB 1010 AM radio show, I have tirelessly toiled to encourage African Americans in the Northwest to become engaged in the affairs of Baltimore County, for example, by going to the County Council and School Board meetings held in Towson. However, truth be told, by the time people get home from work, help their kids with homework, and water their lawns – the last thing one ponders is heading to Towson.
However, given the enormity of African American wealth in this part of the state (I refer to the Northwest as Baltimore’s Prince George’s County, the wealthiest black jurisdiction in the country) – this is inexcusable.
African Americans have far too much invested to not have a say in the goings-on of this voter-wealthy part of Maryland.
In short, Northwest Baltimore County is the swing vote in this year’s County Exec race. Don’t get it twisted! Others will suggest the battlegrounds are elsewhere, however, all one need do is listen to Kevin Kamenetz’s barrage of radio commercials on Radio One’s four stations – and on Heaven 600 AM – targeting the black community in the Northwest corridor.
So, here’s the skinny: State Senator Delores Kelley, who flip-flopped support on County Councilman Ken Oliver 8 years ago – has done it again. Back then, N. Scott Phillips and Penny McCrimmon were forces with which to be reckoned. However, despite tepid support from Kelley and the 10th District Democratic Club, Oliver prevailed.
Honestly, I don’t think Oliver ever forgot what happened 8 years ago. I tend to believe that when loyalty is broken, the scenario is irreparable. Trust goes out the window!
In any event, Oliver has done well as the first African American on an otherwise all-white male County Council. Windsor Mill Middle School and the Randallstown Community Resource Center and the new athletic center are demonstrative of his accomplishments.
Interestingly, Kamenetz represented Liberty Road for 8 years, and would suggest he did so much for my County brethren. He even insinuated yesterday on WOLB that he was the force behind helping this area get its first black Councilman.
Wrong!
Ask Ella White Campbell, also a matriarch of this part of the County. The long-time advocate for African Americans told BMORENEWS.com in an exclusive interview on Tuesday night that it was because of her pressure that Kamenetz ‘did the right thing.’
Common sense suggests that when you have been there for people and have done the right thing, your work will be self-evident.
Has the Kamenetz campaign been genuine? Has he really been an advocate for blacks in the County? I don’t think so.
But the question remains: Does he really care about black people?
As for me, short of Jesus coming on the radio touting Kamenetz – it really doesn’t matter who endorses this man. I like County Councilman Joe Bartenfelder, a man’s man.
Like Oliver told me early on, Bartenfelder will look you in the eye and speak his mind.
Over the past several weeks, I have come to find him to be a man of his word. He has not made a promise he has not kept. He doesn’t mind rolling up his sleeves, nor getting his hands dirty. More importantly, I have yet to hear him tear down Kamenetz so as to prop up himself.
Like the old folks say, if you lie – you steal; if you steal – you cheat; and if you cheat – you ain’t no damn good!
Bartenfelder for Baltimore County Exec! Go, Joe!
Doni Morton Glover, the founder and publisher of www.bmorenews.com, has been a journalist for the past 15 years. He is a writer, photographer, and a political analyst for WBAL TV 11. Additionally, he is a local radio personality and host of “Empower Hour” on Radio One’s WOLB 1010 AM. The show is now in its 10th year and is the longest-running customized program on the station.