Have you gotten your recycling postcard?
The one side features a couple dumping items into their recycling bins. The other side features a few--and we emphasize a few--details about the county's new recycling policy...but that side is dominated by a big photo of County Executive Jim Smith and a message from Smith that amounts to a pep talk on solid waste management.
Now there's nothing wrong with recycling; in fact, the County Executive might have improved the county's recycling program earlier than seven years into his tenure in office. But there's quite a bit wrong with an expensive mailing that trumpets the County Executive while leaving out the details for a future, later publication.
Everything about this County Executive is style, from the constant press releases to the stamping of the County Executive's name on what seems to be every trinket or document paid for by Baltimore County taxpayers. Even a mailing about garbage can't escape the County Executive's thirst for attention.
Here's what Baltimore County Republican Party Chairman Chris Cavey had to say:
“It is true Baltimore County’s families could use a mailing or two to learn about the new recycling program, instead, our county government sent out hundreds of thousands of postcards that amount to a personal promotional campaign by our County Executive,” Cavey commented. “Half the postcard was used for a message from the County Executive; no doubt it is intended to promote Jim Smith before the 2010 election.”
“We’re quite used to Jim Smith’s endless and shameless self-promotion,” Cavey concluded, “but this practice needs to stop. Baltimore County citizens should be offended that they are paying for potential candidate promotion with their hard earned tax dollars.”