Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1958-05-15
Excerpts From Our
United Democratic.
PLATFORM

chanessl shows on actual decrease
in the cost Of county government
lin the years Iss4-ss 70 lsss-sql .
The only increase has been fer
psblic education. II reflects a
deliberate policy Of Increasing the
salaries ct teachers, NOT only TO
keep our school system in a strona
ecmpstitiys position but also TO
pay our share Of seeisty's debt
to these dsdicafed people for the
ail-imPortant work that they per-
form. We challenge fhs RspubIi-
can opposition to state whether
they would have done ethsrwise.
II would not have been pos
sibls TO hold tho county tax rate
to . moderate inereass without
the striking success Of cur dele
CATION ct Annapolis in securing
additional State aid. -"
TAX RELIEF I'VE hereby
pledge ourselves to sponsor
and wost for legislation that
viii grant partial exemption
in the assessment Of homs-
stseds owned and occupied by
elderly persons who live On
fixed incomes Such persons
are aSt In . position TO cope
with the forces Of initiation;
they stand h imminent danger
Of being driven from their
homes"
PUBLIC EDUCATION - The
Democratic Party has proven. both
in its county budgets and in IFS
promotion Of salary measures at
Annapolis. that Il favors whole
heartedly the best possible school
system for Montgomery County.
This Is q matter Of performances on
record. NOT mere promises. We
will pursue the course that We
have already set.
I'VE favor periodic review. by
the proper authorities. Of the
school curriculum in order TO make
sure that the educational program
remains worthy of the vast amount
Of public money that is being in
vested in it.
We note with pleasure that
Montgomery County has made
. bsttsf record than any other
suburbsn Maryland county in
avoidino split sessions in over
crowded schools. Despite the in
Hux Of more than 5000 additional
Students each year, we shall strive
TO eliminate split sessions COM
land USE -"Montsomsry
County has been designed and
developed as . choice residen-
tiaI community. We intend 70 keep
II that way.
I'VE will continue TO combat
spot zonine end TO sspouss
public and private development
on the basis Of sound planning -.
There Is room. within the vast
expanse Of Montgomery County
for wsll-planned and carefully
controlled industrial development.
which can be Of great value in
providing employment and in re-
duoin9 ths homo owners share
Of the tax load"
PARKS-"Ws favor a liberal
program Of regional and local
parks and nsiehborhood rec
reation areas We feel
that the necessary investment
in order TO buy pork lends now
will pay huge dividends TO tho
community in the future"
OPEN SPACE We will do
everything possible. within reason
able and prober limits. 70 en-
eouraes development Of satellite
communities rather than urban
sprawl in Upper Montgomery
County.
I'VE will seek to work out a
system whereby large ereenbsIt
areas can be preserved either by
. combination of zonine and re-
ducsd assessment or by public
acquisition Of limited develop
menf rights in, such properly"
"ANTI-BULLDOZER" LAW-"Ws
are proud Of tho 'anfi-bulIdozsr'
law which we sponsored and en-
acted at Annapolis. and we urge
the County Attorneys Office TO
proceed as rapidly as possible
with the preparation Of the i'm
plsmsntinq ordinances. It's pur-
pose will be TO prevent real estate
developers, within reasonable
limits, from disturbing the trees
and natural ground cover in new
subdivisions"
PLANNING AGENCY-"Ws
have created single Montgomery
County Planning Board, which has
exclusive responsibility for oil local
planning matters. Its five members
are appointed by the County
Council, and its budget is re-
viewed by the Council.
ITS members, along with the
members of similar Prince
Georges County Planning Boerd,
compose tho Mardand-Nationsl
Capital Psrk and Planning Com
mission. with jurisdiction over
regional planning matters and the
regional park system"
SANITARY cOMMISSlON-"The
public be damned altitude thsf
prevailed in the Commission under
Republican administration has
been sliminsfsd. New msmbsr
have provided . different outlook.
and new laws require public hear
ines on The Commissions snnusl
budget and on certain types Of
projects which may be offensive
70 . nsighborhood."
"cONFLlcT or INTEREST
I'VE believe thet conflict Of
interest or local regulatory
agencies should be avoided
by the appointment Of per-
sons Of character and integ-
riiy. who can be relied upon
70 plses the public interest
above any other eonsidera-
fion.
We would oppose any effort
70 ehsfseferi1e en- entire pro-
fsssion or business occupation
a. lacking such virtues end
therefore unfit 10 hold public
Aal. As-A Al II til l.