Cathy Bevins doesn't look like a political zombie.
But to hear her tell it, at least one zoning-enraged developer has declared her among the politically walking dead for the coming 2014 election.
Bevins, the first-term Oliver Beach Democrat, believes she has a target on her back because of the zoning decision she made in September on the Middle River Depot.
David Cordish, a well-known developer and owner of nearby Carroll Island Shopping Center, is not pleased with her rezoning and is helping back an effort to overturn the decision at the 2014 ballot box. Bevins said that the message she's been given is that Cordish may be looking for a candidate to challenge her in that same year.
"I've heard he's said that I am politically dead in 2014," said Bevins.
Cordish, along with David S. Brown Enterprises, have into an effort to defeat zoning decisions in districts represented by Bevins and Councilwoman Vicki Almond.
"Who the hell is David Cordish to come out of the blue and start a referendum against my maps?" said Bevins, adding that she would rather work with the developer than fight him.
"His shopping center is struggling," said Bevins. "I'd think he'd want to think of how to reinvest and re-invent it. I'd be willing to work with him."
But she acknowledges that she could face a Cordish-backed primary challenge in her new district that is redrawn to favor a Democratic candidate.
"If he wants to back a candidate, if he wants to spend his money and his time doing that then he can and I can't spend a lot of time worrying about it," Bevins said.
Bevins is also not wasting time raising money. The councilwoman, like her collegaues, is now raising money again after taking more than a year off because of the quadrennial rezoning process.
Last week she held a fundraiser reportedly attended by about 250 people who paid $35 per person. Another 15 businesses sponsored the event at $250 each.
Next week, Bevins will hold another higher-priced event at the Arbors at Crossroads where the ticket prices top out at $1,000 per person.
Ultimately, Bevins says it's her constituent service that will keep her in offce.
"I'm not doing a bad job," she said. "If David Cordish thinks he can make the argument and say that I'm doing a bad job and find someone to run against me then that's his god-given right."
Now she is upset because a developer is trying to help remove her from office. What goes around comes around.
Does anybody else see anything? Or is it just me.
Cordish and Howard Brown are crying like babies because they didn't get their way in the zoning decisions in the 6th and 2nd districts respectively, so they bring in people from out of state who blatantly lie to get the petition signed because they make a few bucks per signature. Ms Bevins does serve all the citizens well when she stands up to a bully like Cordish who has always thrown around money to get his way. It's the same way Vicki Almond has stood up to Howard Brown, I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to prop up some empty suit with mounds of money in 2014.
A person collecting signatures for this referendum drive argued with me that this effort is actully giving the individual voters the right to disagree with the zoning process. I say we made that choice when we voted for our elected officials. Cathy's deciion was one that upheld what the people in her district wanted. They each have a vote. The developer has one vote until he uses his money. This process would be fair if each of the voters had enough money to donate an an equal amount as the developer. This is not going to happen becausse they don't. Where are we headed with this referendum process? Will we be asked to vote on every decision the County Council makes? I believe I have voted for the best person to make those decisions, and if that elected official turns out not to represent me I will change my vote when the next election comes along. Lets point out here that Councilwoman Bevins defeated another elected official to get herself elected. This is how our sytem has always worked. This attempt to put zoning decision on the ballot is simply an attempt to make the ballot more confusing than it has ever been. This will eventually work to reduce voter turnout and more greatly enpowering people with money. Is this demaocracy?
That is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. "Vaulted"??
Yes I make typos but not the same one a thousand times. I took off five points and I'll take off 20 for yours. Vaulted is not capitalized. It is not a proper noun and you made that mistake a thousand times
Cathy Bevins did well for Middle River, but she did not do well for the people of Carney. She knew she would not represent Carney after 2014 and acted accordingly. Let's see whether Fader and MileOne contribute to Bevins. Bottom line greatrer than 40 year buffer of land between the people who have lived on East Avenue and the now large conglomerate Auto Dealer (Mile One Heritage) was removed by Cathy Bevins CZMP decision. This is after the community went to court to protect that buffer of land and after it was preserved by former Councilman Joe Bartenfelder. Expressing opinions is not "gripping", Mike, it is the American privilege of free speech. I could say that you whine, Mike, but that would bring me down to your level. BTW Mike--I am not a Republican.
Ms. Bevins needs to stop playing the victim and get to work helping the county become a place for the new job market. He she can't handle it she needs to move on.
Cordish cannot be denied his rights to create more wealth for himself to the detriment of the middle class.