Public slams Harford County’s ‘double dip’ bill

Harford County residents packed the council chambers Tuesday night to speak against a proposed charter amendment that would bar thousands of county workers from serving on the County Council.

The bill would prohibit anyone employed by or receiving payment from any government entity that receives county funding from holding a council seat. That includes teachers, sheriff’s deputies, correctional officers, social workers, and employees of nonprofits that accept county money.

The measure cannot take effect unless voters approve it in a referendum.

A Targeted Measure

Councilman Tony Giangiordano introduced the bill earlier this month. He said the measure is needed to prevent conflicts of interest when council members vote on budgets that fund their own employers.

“You shouldn’t have served as a council person and get a job paycheck from the county and have your boss being the sheriff and the people,” Giangiordano said. “Same thing with the teachers. If we cut any of the budget, it goes to the school. So bottom line is then Jacob [Bennett] will vote on the school budget unless he recuses himself.”

Recusing oneself from votes that create a conflict of interest is a common practice in governmental bodies and executive boards, as conflicts of interest do arise from time to time with any governing body.

The bill comes after years of legal battles over whether public employees can serve on the council. County Executive Bob Cassilly tried to block Councilman Jacob Bennett from taking office in 2022 because Bennett works as a kindergarten teacher. The Maryland Supreme Court ruled in Bennett’s favor in 2023, finding no conflict of interest existed.

A similar challenge involving former Councilman Aaron Penman, a retired sheriff’s deputy, also failed.

Giangiordano said the Supreme Court ruling found the charter language ambiguous and suggested clarification was needed. He argued voters should decide the issue through a referendum rather than having the council settle it.

“Let the public weigh in on it, not seven council members who say whether this bill is going to be approved or not,” Giangiordano said.

Broad Language Draws Fire

Thirty-two residents signed up to speak at the public hearing. The vast majority opposed the bill.

Critics said the measure is written so broadly it would exclude far more people than Giangiordano intends. The bill removes the words “Maryland” and “Harford” from the charter, meaning anyone who works for any state or county government anywhere would be barred from serving.

“This bill would not just bar a member from being a public school teacher in Harford County,” Bennett said. “It also would prohibit a council member from working in Cecil County Sheriff’s Office. It would prevent someone from being a Prince George’s County or Baltimore City firefighter. There is no legal argument that could be made that these types of positions are in conflict with Harford County government.”

Bennett said the bill is so poorly written that the number of amendments needed to make it legally sound would require a complete rewrite.

Jerry Eaton, president of the Harford County Deputy Sheriff’s Union, called the bill a targeted attempt to silence working public servants.

“This legislation would remove experienced voices from the ballot and replace them with career politicians, business interests, individuals who have far less understanding of how government actually operates,” Eaton said.

Christy Crawford Smith said the bill is discriminatory and would likely be found unconstitutional.

“This bill is so poorly worded that I’m not even sure the maker realizes what’s being presented,” Smith said. “Picture it. Harford County, 30 years from now, our resident decides, after a long career in public service, that they would like to make a difference in a new way, only to learn that they are barred from serving on the council because of a bill that was drafted in 2026 without any forethought about excluding people who are collecting a pension after a career in public service.”

Educators and Law Enforcement Speak Out

Multiple teachers and law enforcement family members spoke against the measure.

Noah Hutton, a teacher at Edgewood High School for 11 years, said individuals in public service positions have daily experiences that inform them of the supports needed throughout the county.

“If they are fairly elected, their voice and position should be respected and honored,” Hutton said. “These individuals should not be prevented from completing their elected duty and speaking up for who they represent.”

Terrence Rogers, a candidate for sheriff, said the bill targets people who have committed their lives to service.

“They stand in the gap in between where policy is made and where policy is experienced,” Rogers said. “How many lives have you saved? How many people are still alive because you performed life saving measures? How many missing kids or vulnerable adults have you recovered? These people deserve a seat on the dais.”

Hunter Baker, a candidate for County Council and a teacher at a nonpublic school, said the bill misunderstands the concept of double dipping.

“Setting a department’s budget is not the same as giving oneself a raise,” Baker said. “Both positions have their own internal pay scales, determined by years of experience and contract negotiations.”

Supporters Say Voters Should Decide

A handful of speakers supported the bill or argued voters should have the final say.

Ron Stuczynski said the issue affects more than just District F, where Bennett was elected.

“District F elected a council member, Mr. Bennett, who openly challenged charter 207. That is undisputed, but voters in District A through E never had any opportunity to weigh in on what was now become a court mandated reinterpretation of the charter,” Stuczynski said.

Douglas Phillips said the Maryland Supreme Court told the county to clarify the charter language.

“The overarching picture was that they were saying that we need to clarify and lay out exactly what we want, who can serve,” Phillips said. “Allowing the voters to decide this gets to the most pure and best way to decide this.”

Fred Serkis said he has seen council members vote on issues that directly affect their other jobs without recusing themselves.

“I feel that employees that work for the state or county should not be serving on the county council, since they could be voting on issues that directly affects their primary job,” Serkis said.

Council Members Respond

Councilwoman Nolanda Roberts said the bill is extremely broad and would exclude valuable community members.

“If cops and teachers can serve in our community, they should be able to serve on the council,” Roberts said.

Councilman James Reilly said he supported bringing the bill forward for public discussion, even though he does not have a problem with teachers or police officers serving.

“I just want to make sure everybody’s on the understanding of how it got to where it is today,” Reilley said. “Why don’t we let the voters decide? That’s what it’s all about.”

Council President Patrick Vincenti said the council keeps excellent records and noted that Giangiordano voted in 2021 to reject a similar bill using the same process he now criticizes.

“I don’t know why you’re making such an issue of it. It has happened again multiple times. It’s a part of the process,” Vincenti said.

What Happens Next

The council will vote on the bill at its next meeting. If it passes with at least four votes, the measure would go before Harford County voters at the next general or congressional election.

Bennett is seeking reelection this year while continuing to work as a kindergarten teacher.