To the Republican Voters of Legislative District 33:

I am writing to ask for your support for Phil Bissett for county executive on Primary Election Day, September 12^th.

I first had the opportunity to meet Phil when he became my seatmate on the floor of the House of Delegates after the election of 1989.  He immediately impressed me with his knowledge of the problems existing in the state of Maryland, and most importantly in the area in which he was elected to represent.  As the days went on, it was so inspiring and gratifying to see Phil work hard for his constituents and see him accomplish so many of the goals he set out to meet.

After I retired from the legislature in December 1994, I was so proud and pleased when Phil was elected as chairman of the Anne Arundel County Delegation, a tribute to his leadership. He was the youngest delegate and first Republican to serve in that capacity. During that time, Phil was a dynamo. Among his many accomplishments, Phil:

• Worked successfully on both sides of the aisle to secure $128 million in state funds to upgrade the congested stretch of Rt. 2 through Edgewater;
• Earned two "Legislator of the Year" awards for his work in the areas of protecting victim's rights and curbing lawsuit abuse;
• Was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his sponsorship and dedication to Annie's Law to toughen drunk-driving legislation

 Now, Phil wants to work for us as county executive, and I am confident that with him at the helm, our county will enjoy four years of prosperity under his excellent leadership.  Among Phil's goals are his action plans to:

• Reduce the gridlock and congestion that chokes our roadways and communities through a Gridlock Free Zone initiative;
• Channel development into revitalizing older areas where infrastructure already exists to reduce sprawl;
• Consistently and effectively enforce zoning and conservation laws already on the books to improve the quality of our waterways and the health of the Chesapeake Bay;
• Push to pay teachers competitive salaries and recruit the best to improve our public schools;
• Work for more federal and state homeland security dollars for Anne Arundel County;
• Make the Fort Meade expansion a model for positive growth.

It was my privilege and honor to represent the citizens of District 33 in the Maryland House of Delegates for five four-year terms, beginning in 1975 until my retirement in 1994.   During that time, I enjoyed tremendous support from my constituents, for which I am eternally thankful.   Now, I am asking that you give that same support to Phil Bissett and cast your vote for him as our next county executive.   I know you will not be disappointed.

Thank you, and warmest personal regards.

Sincerely,
Betty Smith