As many people do, Smith documented his life on Facebook. He posted videos steering a boat on the Chesapeake, vacationing and coaching football. During these activities, he reported on his overtime forms that he was working.

Smith was charged in September 2023 and hired as a long-term substitute by Harford County Public Schools in December 2024. Worse, Smith was then hired as a full-time educator this August. HCPS either failed to gather these easily accessible facts about Smith or ignored them entirely. Either way, that is unacceptable.

When hiring teachers to educate our children, HCPS should pay closer attention to who they choose to lead their classrooms. They should not be hiring rejects from other school systems, especially not those being prosecuted for defrauding the taxpayer out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. To ensure such an incompetent oversight can never happen again, HCPS must conduct a full review of its hiring process.

After pleading guilty to two felonies last month, Smith wasn’t fired. He was placed on administrative leave and is receiving his full salary. As Smith awaits his sentencing, we are left paying him for what could be several months. It feels obvious, but apparently it must be said: It is a waste of our tax dollars to pay someone who faces up to 25 years in prison.

The problem is more fundamental than just the fiscal irresponsibility of HCPS. This kind of poor decision-making is a breach in the trust that taxpayers and parents alike place in the school system to steward their money well and keep their children safe. We have a responsibility to protect our students and provide them with the best education possible. Currently, with hires like Smith, we are failing miserably.

Harford County is home to many great teachers and faculty who embody the values of honesty and integrity. Students look to their teachers as role models, and they deserve educators who can encourage them to have exemplary moral character through their HCPS journey and after graduation. HCPS should hire only the best and most qualified teachers.

To restore community trust in HCPS, the system must strengthen its hiring process and keep those with criminal records and charges out of the classroom.

Our students deserve better.

Liliana Norkaitis is a candidate for the Harford County Board of Education, District C.

First is the incredibly naïve claim that the mobile command center unit should be closer to where the calls are received. This comment is the antithesis of true public safety planning. There is a reason that there are police officers on patrol and fire stations in communities: to be closer to where the need is when the calls come in. No one wants an ambulance or a police car where the call comes in; they want emergency resources at their doorstep quickly. Using data and informed experience to pre-deploy resources is just good public safety.

Next, the executive’s either uninformed or intentionally misleading assertion that the location where he deployed the unit “is also where we have a team of qualified drivers with the required CDL license…” As I am made to understand, the county only has four people assigned as command unit operators, but just two confirmed with the necessary commercial license and CJIS certification, a requirement for command unit operators. For the record, the Sheriff’s Office has 14 trained, licensed and certified operators.

Then, Mr. Cassilly wants to make the outlandish claim that, as sheriff, I am not willing to work collaboratively in major emergencies. Fortunately, this claim is so easily dismissed as another false attack by Mr. Cassilly since, the one time – just once – that this command vehicle was needed for a non-law enforcement mission was during the fatal house explosion in Abingdon. In this incident, trained Sheriff’s Office operators had to respond to Hickory from the Southern Precinct to drive the unit back into the southern area of the county. The Department of Emergency Services’ (DES) trained operators were understandably needed elsewhere and, although a delayed response, Sheriff’s Office members brought the unit to the scene and maintained it operationally throughout the event.

These continual attacks on the Sheriff’s Office, whether it be defunding the Central Precinct and Training Academy or now moving the Joint Command Unit, have been deeply misguided and detrimental to effective public safety operations. I strongly hope this county executive will allow the professional commanders at the Sheriff’s Office and DES to make these decisions and stop his vindictive attacks that are not good for anyone in Harford County.

— Jeffrey R. Gahler, Bel Air

The letter writer is the Harford County sheriff.

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Rather than simply obeying the court order to release public records, Mr. Cassilly has chosen to mislead our community by distorting the issue with legal mumbo jumbo. No one cares about unspoken thoughts, but as the director of administration’s meeting notes were an official written document prepared in his role as a government employee, these are public documents, and the public has a right to see them.

In its January ruling, the Public Information Act Compliance Board ordered Bob Cassilly to release official documents, emphasizing that “the Maryland Public Information Act is rooted in the principle that all persons are entitled to have access to information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees.” This decision was recently upheld by the courts, which likewise ordered Mr. Cassilly to release the public documents in question.

As the elected sheriff, answerable to the people, I am seeking transparency from an administration that has defunded the police, circulated false narratives targeting the men and women of law enforcement and handed out a $1 million taxpayer-funded payday based on a ransom note and lies. Our county deserves accountability from Mr. Cassilly, not deflection.

Make no mistake, Cassilly’s act of releasing the documents was not a genuine act of transparency, but a calculated political distraction. His explanations are nonsensical excuses to deflect attention from the deeply troubling conduct of his Administration.

The public deserves better. The public deserves consistency, accountability, integrity and honesty from its elected officials. Unfortunately, we have seen the opposite from this county executive — contradictory actions, evasion of responsibility and persistent disregard for the law.

— Jeffrey R. Gahler, Bel Air

The letter writer is the Harford County sheriff.

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Harford County joined the 287(g) program in 2016, and it has proven to be an effective, corrections-based tool. Our deputies screen every individual booked into our detention center, helping ensure that those who pose a threat are identified. Importantly, this program does not involve street-level immigration enforcement and does not target law-abiding residents. Decisions regarding deportation are made solely by ICE, based on national security and public safety priorities.

This partnership has helped prevent repeat offenses, reduced strain on local resources and enhanced community trust. I commend Wicomico County’s leadership for exploring this responsible approach and encourage you to move forward with confidence.

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office stands ready to support your efforts and share our experience.

— Jeffrey R. Gahler, Bel Air

The letter writer is the Harford County sheriff.

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Harford County deserves a sheriff who spends his time fighting crime, not chasing headlines. Instead, Jeffrey Gahler has turned budget hearings into a sideshow by attacking McCord for scribbling a French version of a familiar proverb during an April meeting. The phrase — “Tout travail et aucun jeu fait de Jack un garçon ennuyeux,” or “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” — long predates “The Shining.” Variations of it appeared in English literature as early as the 1600s, and French translations have been used in schools for centuries as an example of simple wisdom: a reminder that life requires balance. It is not “satanic.” It is a well-worn proverb passed down for centuries, not a horror-movie incantation.

Harford County is fortunate to have well-educated leaders at the top of its government. Rob McCord is a brilliant attorney, capable of managing high-level budget deliberations while also engaging his mind creatively — whether in another language or in poetry. That’s the mark of a public servant who brings intellectual depth to his role, not someone deserving of childish attacks.

The real embarrassment is Sheriff Gahler’s decision to waste taxpayer resources combing through another official’s notes and blasting them to the press. Public records requests require time and staff attention. Every hour spent on this stunt is an hour not spent reducing violent crime, supporting deputies on patrol or ensuring our county has the law enforcement resources it needs.

What Harford County needs is a sheriff serious about public safety, not one obsessed with sideshows. Gahler’s “satanic” rhetoric is a distraction, not a solution. We deserve better leadership than this.

— Leigh Maddox, Aberdeen

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Police officers are required to perform the functions of their job in accordance with Maryland law and agency policy while working professionally to uphold the rule of law while keeping our communities safe. In certain situations, they are compelled to use deadly force to stop an immediate threat. Can you imagine a world where we ask our plumber to judge whether a medical doctor acted appropriately? Perhaps it would make better sense for an auto mechanic to review and oversee the activities of pharmacists? Or vice-versa in these examples? Of course, these suggestions are as outlandishly foolish as you might imagine, yet this is the process and thinking our legislators have given us when it comes to the law enforcement profession.

The recent police-involved shooting in Baltimore City and subsequent comments made by members of the city’s PAB during its “emergency meeting” last Friday are clear examples of the concerns raised by law enforcement leaders. There is no place for activism or personal agendas when sitting in positions that review the actions of those tasked with keeping order in our communities.

When tragic incidents occur, in which officers must use deadly force to neutralize a threat, a full and thorough investigation should take place before any conclusions are drawn or public statements are made that could bias the process. The comments made by one PAB member in Baltimore City concerning that police department’s use of force policy and whether officers should “shoot to kill” demonstrate a clear, premature and biased judgment of this incident by an activist, not an informed professional, before any investigation has been completed.

Frankly, it is both disturbing and disgraceful that a member of any PAB would even need to ask whether it is departmental policy to “shoot to kill.” The fact that such a question was even posed highlights the alarming ignorance and complete lack of training and understanding among certain board members — individuals who have been irresponsibly entrusted with judging the split-second, life-or-death decisions made by trained law enforcement professionals.

This level of uninformed commentary would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. Our citizens and our law enforcement professionals deserve better, much better.

Jeffrey Gahler is the Harford County sheriff.

On the capital budget front, and despite overwhelming public and County Council support, the Central Precinct and Training Academy remains stalled again in this year’s budget, with no plan to move forward from Cassilly. He has also failed to fund the sheriff’s office’s needed upgrade to our taser, body camera and in-car camera programs to ensure our deputies are equipped with the most up-to-date and effective non-lethal use of force tools available. And nowhere is Mr. Cassilly’s lack of support for law enforcement more evident than, in a time when protests and civil unrest are on the rise, Mr. Cassilly’s refusal to even fund a modest $122,000 request to replace outdated and expired riot helmets to protect our men and women. It is clear that Bob Cassilly does not want to ensure our deputies have better tools and equipment to more safely perform their dangerous duties.

It’s a sad coincidence that the dollar amount needed for riot helmets or updated taser requests is similar to what Mr. Cassilly has spent to purchase 12 drones for the Department of Emergency Services (DES), apparently from a company whose CEO’s father is one of Cassilly’s major campaign donors. By his own admission, DES does not need 12 drones, and Mr. Cassilly has stated that he will give them to his other departments, private fire companies and municipal police departments, which would be in direct conflict with the information presented to the Board of Estimates to justify the initial purchase. It is shameful that Mr. Cassilly chooses to mislead through creative wording in his budget messaging to paint a picture that he supports law enforcement and corrections, but the reality of his budget actions over the past three years tells an entirely different story.

Lastly, it’s troubling that Mr. Cassilly has once again excluded the sheriff’s office from key budget discussions — a pattern throughout his three years as county executive. Despite claiming to prioritize public safety, his actions consistently undermine the vital services the sheriff’s office provides to Harford County. This contradiction between rhetoric and reality cannot be ignored.

Jeffrey Gahler is the Harford County sheriff.

Across the first district, known state-wide for its rural heritage and conservative political leanings, you would be hard-pressed to find a constituent who is not in favor of increased government efficiency, proper stewardship of taxpayers’ funds and accountability for waste and corruption. After all, our district does not benefit from the same level of geographic and financial proximity to Washington and Annapolis that many other Maryland constituencies do. Our district is a place that prides itself on self-reliance, a place where you will find communities dependent more on the labor of farmers and watermen than government officials and contractors. These factors considered, I would like Harris, as well as my fellow constituents, to ask ourselves if the current efforts undertaken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are what we really deserve regarding our mandate of change and accountability within the federal government.

My concerns regarding the actions of DOGE are twofold. The first is that this entity is not providing adequate transparency to Congress or the American people regarding its activities. The second is that it is a mechanism for the House of Representatives to inadvertently cede its Article I authority, derived from our Constitution, to the executive branch. Regarding the first concern, I think it is right for the current administration to deliver on its promises of accountability for federal employees, agencies and departments. But is the wholesale firing of probationary employees and closure of entire agencies without a thorough investigation really bringing us closer to this end? Where are the congressional inquiries regarding these decisions? Given that the House already has a Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led by Republican Congressman James Comer, why is it not more involved in these decisions? How are organizations that were funded by last session’s Republican-led Congress now losing funds without congressional buy-in? Harris, as our representative, should be diligently trying to find answers to these questions on our behalf rather than allowing DOGE to make unilateral decisions regarding the Treasury and structure of the federal government.

Regarding my second concern, I would argue that allowing the executive branch at the behest of DOGE to impound funds that Congress has already allocated represents a severe curtailment of the House’s ability to control the government’s purse strings. If DOGE or the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform were to conduct comprehensive public inquiries into government waste and abuse, could the speaker of the House, Congressman Mike Johnson, not simply incorporate changes based on these findings into our upcoming federal budgets for 2025 and 2026? This process, after all, would create both lasting progress toward fiscal responsibility and transparent accountability for past waste and abuse of government funds. Furthermore, with midterm elections still two years away, the House has adequate time for a meticulous review and reappropriation of funding.

Harris, as a member of the House’s Freedom Caucus, and residents of our unique district should be among our nation’s most ardent advocates for both government accountability and the necessity of a strong legislature. They are not mutually exclusive. It is evident that the mandate the American people delivered to the Republican Party in 2024 was not just for the president, but for Congress as well. I ask only that Harris advocate for legislative oversight of government reform as the term continues and that he urge Johnson and Comer to do the same.

Will Hopkins lives outside Havre de Grace. 

The math of America’s future

The numbers don’t lie. In 1950, America was 90% white. Today, nearly 40% of the population is Black and Brown. Within the next decade, minorities will be the majority. History proves that every global superpower thrives on economic strength, and the United States is no exception. If we fail to include all Americans in our economic future, we risk national decline.

We are living through America’s Third Reconstruction. The first followed the Civil War, promising economic empowerment to freed slaves — promises that were swiftly broken. The second, the Civil Rights Movement, brought progress but also fierce resistance. Today, in the wake of the Obama presidency and the racial reckoning after George Floyd’s murder, we see a familiar backlash.

But this time, we have the power to break the cycle. The most diverse companies and regions are the most innovative and profitable. America is, at its core, a capitalist democracy — where money talks. Our nation’s success depends on embracing diversity and ensuring equitable opportunities for all.

AI and the future of inclusion

While we debate DEI, a far greater force is reshaping our world — artificial intelligence. AI is projected to displace 75 million jobs across industries. It won’t discriminate; it will simply replace those unprepared to adapt.

That is the real challenge. If we fail to equip our communities — Black, brown, white and everyone in between — for an AI-driven economy, the consequences will be devastating. That’s why I propose establishing an AI Council in Harford County and across Maryland to prepare young people for AI-driven careers. We must build a pipeline of AI-ready workers, ensuring no community is left behind in this technological revolution.

If some want to erase the term “DEI,” let them. Words are secondary to action. What truly matters is that we prepare all our children for the future.

The real storm isn’t DEI — it’s AI. If we fail to prepare, we fail our communities. The future belongs to those who seize it.

Andre Johnson Jr., a Democrat, is a Maryland state delegate representing District 34A in Harford County.

One bill that is especially personal to me is H.B. 763, which aims to combat human trafficking through education. This bill would require the State Board of Education and certain nonpublic schools to incorporate human trafficking awareness and prevention into the health curriculum for students in grades six through eight. By raising awareness and providing education, we can better equip our students to recognize and prevent human trafficking and sex trafficking.

Another important piece of legislation is H.B. 768, which addresses the issue of “taxation without representation.” Currently, there are areas in our state where residents are subject to taxes without proper representation or advocacy. The bill allows these areas to incorporate as municipalities, giving them control over development, finances, government services, grant applications and the ability to elect local leaders who can advocate on their behalf. It is known that the municipal population is growing at a greater rate than non-incorporated areas (1.2% vs. 0.3%). And after incorporation, land value rises higher than it would otherwise. Also, a third of all sales tax is collected in municipalities, which occupy about 5% of the state’s total land mass. It is time for these communities to have a say in their future.

Finally, I remain committed to fully funding education so that every student, no matter their zip code, can succeed. Importantly, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is not contributing to the current general fund deficit. Any potential changes to the Blueprint will be part of a separate conversation as we work through these budget challenges. Thanks to the foresight of the House last session, the Blueprint Fund is secured through fiscal year 2026.

As we move forward this session, my commitment to the people of my district and all of Maryland remains unwavering. These pieces of legislation and budgetary priorities are not just about addressing immediate challenges — they are about ensuring a better, more equitable future for all Marylanders. I will continue to advocate for the issues that matter most to our communities, whether it is protecting vulnerable populations, empowering local governments or ensuring the economic stability of our state. Together, we can make Maryland a place where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive.

Del. Steve Johnson is a Democrat representing District 34A in Harford County. He can be reached at (410) 841-3280 or steve.johnson@house.state.md.us.