You can be proud of your many accomplishments over the last 30 years. Many of your residents grew up or have lived in Montgomery or Prince George s Counties at one time or another. We share common cultural, entertainment, and sports resources. We live in the same media market. Many of our constituents work for federal agencies and our counties enjoy a significant federal presence.
High technology is increasingly a significant growth industry in our county economies.
Our local governments share the same challenges of educating a growing number of students, funding similar transportation and other infrastructure needs, and, unfortunately, addressing crime and other public safety problems. The focus of my remarks today will be on our need to cooperate on education and economic development issues, and our challenge to develop a strategy for what I have been calling the Capital Region - from Frederick to Southern Maryland and including Howard and Anne Arundel Counties. Such a regional approach can and should be constructive and not divisive. Indeed, many jurisdictions outside of our region face some of the same challenges that we, as a region, face. By putting solutions on the table as a region, all can benefit.