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New Human Services Center Draws Democrats

(Baltimore Sun) -- The celebration last week of an expanded human services operation in North Laurel is the kind of ribbon-cutting event that politicians love, and a bunch of them -- all Democrats -- showed up at the Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center to mark the start of what County Executive Ken Ulman called "a major step forward" in bringing more services to the southeastern corner of the county.

"There can often be two counties in Howard County," Ulman said at the event Wednesday morning. He said that while the county is often seen as a wealthy, highly educated enclave, "we have real needs in Howard County," especially in Savage and North Laurel.

The North Laurel-Savage Community Service Center will help people with incomes below the federal poverty level -- roughly between $15,000 a year for one person to $55,000 for six or more. Eligibility varies depending on federal income formulas.

Ulman put $125,000 in his budget for the center this fiscal year, which, with $100,000 from the Horizon Foundation and $15,000 from the Columbia Foundation, will pay for the six-office service center situated between a pizza parlor and a tae kwon do gym and two doors from a Police Department satellite office.

The service center is taking over space used for the past three years by Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, a private nonprofit agency. The county's Community Action Council will now staff the new office, and host volunteers from six other social welfare groups: county social services; the Domestic Violence Center; the Foreign-born Information and Resource Network, an immigrant aid group; Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center; the Legal Aid Bureau; and Family and Children's Services.

James B. Smith, director of the Community Action Council, a quasi-governmental agency established during President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, said the service center is a pilot for what could be more like it. The offices will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays, said Quinton Askew, the center director.

"The goal is to get the services to the community, where people live," Smith, 30, said.

He and Charlene Gallion, county social services director, said that a neighborhood social services office can be helpful for lower-income people who have problems with transportation.

Ulman pointed out that within the next two years, the county is scheduled to build a regional park and a large community center next to Laurel Woods Elementary School, and within walking distance of the service center.

Joining Ulman were Councilwoman Jen Terrasa, Del. Guy Guzzone and Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty, a west Columbia Democrat and Women's Giving Circle member.

"I'm completely in support of all the things we do in the county for human services," Sigaty said.

C. Vernon Gray, the county Human Rights Commission chairman and a former Democratic county councilman, and Michael McPherson, the Community Action Council board chairman and county Democratic Party chairman, also attended.

Although no elected Republicans appeared, the center is also the kind of place that members of the GOP say they like.

"The idea of a government-private sector partnership is in line with Republican values," said Ananta Hejeebu, chairman of the board of the Howard County Salvation Army chapter and a Republican candidate for County Council in 2002.

Donna Thewes, a Republican County Council candidate last year, worked as a community-police liaison for several years in North Laurel and campaigned for more government help for the area, which has a higher concentration of transient and low-income people than some other parts of the county.

"I think it's a good thing," she said the day before the ceremony.

Dunbar aiding Obama

Harry M. Dunbar's maverick run for Howard County executive last year did not win him many friends in the Democratic Party. He opposed Ulman, the mainstream party candidate and ultimate victor in the primary, and then backed Republican Christopher J. Merdon in the general election.

But now Dunbar, a retired federal employee and real estate agent, is a volunteer among local Democrats backing Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primary. He joins state Sen. James N. Robey, a former county executive, and Guzzone, both Ulman allies.

Dunbar, who has appeared at many Republican events, supported other GOP candidates over the years and characterized himself as a man not limited by party affiliation, billed himself as the "slow growth" candidate last year.

"I support the best man for the job. Party is not my interest," he said after attending an Obama organizing meeting recently at the east Columbia library.

At the meeting, Dunbar said that he backs the Illinois senator because "he represents radical change in the mentality of the presidency."

"Obama is fresh blood," he said. "He hasn't yet been captured by the system."

He said he might have backed New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton "if she hadn't supported the [Iraq] war."

Guzzone helped run that small meeting and did not publicly object to Dunbar's involvement. Dunbar said, "I've been treated fine" by other Democrats, despite opposing the party's nominee last year.

Democratic Party Chairman McPherson said that "registered Democrats are welcome to participate in any [party] activity" if other volunteers accept them.

"The governing thing is how serious we perceive an individual to be in terms of his support," MacPherson said.

The county party will not choose among the Democratic primary contenders, so "it's up to them," he said.

But McPherson also said that some people "bring very little credibility to a campaign."