FIDEL CASTRO

MORE FISCALLY

CONSERVATIVE THAN

MONTGOMERY COUNTY?

Say it ain't so! Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, speaking on behalf of himself and the County Council, and the budget they collaborated on and passed, recently made a startling statement.

When asked about the county's lack of lawnmowing of highway medians and rights-of-way, Mr. Leggett said, "If I mow the lawns, then I have to fire people." Wow. Let me give you a chance to think about that one. The question is, is this a government that serves the people? Or is it a charity? Obviously, it is supposed to be the former, but Mr. Leggett and my Democratic opponents believe it is the latter - as well as a personal political machine that can generate tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions at the 11th hour of the election.

This is yet another fundamental difference between myself and my opponents. They believe you must pay more - even as you are hurting financially with the recession and the high cost of living in Montgomery County - to provide even more money, perks, and job security for elite county management and employees. Meanwhile, county residents face the threat of layoffs and devastating furloughs from their own employment every day. Talk about a council that is out of touch with the real world!!

How "out there" are Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, and George Leventhal, as they collect record energy taxes and - along with running mate Hans Riemer - personally reap the financial rewards through massive union cash contributions?

The Castro regime in Cuba has just announced it is laying off 500,000 government workers. This means that your county council is now less concerned about government finances than Fidel Castro. Fidel Castro! You can't make this stuff up. Have your election day decisions been affected by this news bulletin?