FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bob Gallagher (410) 263-2417, riverkeeper@comcast.net
February 1, 2021

COUNTY EXEC PITTMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS LACEY, RODVIEN, PICKARD, & PRUSKI FARE WELL IN MID-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD
Maryland Anne Arundel Chapter’s Report Card Lauds Positive Conservation Shift for Council Since December 2019

(Annapolis, MD) – County Executive Steuart Pittman and four of seven county council members received strong grades in a new environmental report card released by the Anne Arundel Chapter of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

The report card’s positive grades – which heavily weighted forest conservation and general leadership and support for conservation efforts – reflect a major change in environmental direction for the county since Pittman assumed his executive role in December 2019. Council members Nathan Volke, Amanda Fiedler, and Jessica Haire were the only council members who received poor grades from the Chapter.

County Executive Pittman’s overall performance received an A grade thanks to “his outstanding record and the broad support he earned from the environmental community.”

“The 2018 elections brought us the strongest conservation minded Anne Arundel County government we have had in recent memory,” said Maryland League of Conservation Voters Anne Arundel County representative, Bob Gallagher. “Thanks to County Executive Pittman’s leadership, the County is heading in a very positive direction when it comes to the conservation of our threatened natural resources.”

Gallagher particularly praised strong improvements to the county’s forest conservation law, sponsored by county council member Lisa Rodvien with Pittman’s strong support.

“The administration poured enormous effort into shepherding the forest conservation proposal through the county council in the face of fierce opposition from developers,” said Gallagher. “The resulting bill is a major improvement over the previous law.”

 The report also graded the council on the Styrofoam ban, environmental protection and stormwater fees, and a bill that limited density increase in conservation areas.

The Chapter’s report card covered the period starting with the swearing in of the new county council and county executive in December 2018 through October 2020. Grades were based on the following factors:

  •       votes of each council member on bills and amendments relating to conservation issues.
  •       sponsoring, supporting bills and building support for conservation initiatives, whether or not those initiatives resulted in bills or enacted legislation.
  •       public comments on conservation issues and their responsiveness to the concerns of the environmental community.
  •       views of environmental leaders and organizations in the county.

View the full report card here:

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Maryland LCV is known for educating lawmakers and holding them accountable for their leadership and votes on key environmental issues. Their annual scorecard, along with other reports, help inform voters about their legislators’ records.