Snook will seek fourth term on Washington County Commissioners

June 04, 2002|by DAN KULIN /Staff Writer

dank@herald-mail.com

Washington County Board of Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook is seeking a fourth term in office.

Snook, 44, said he enjoys being commissioner and wants to continue working on some of the issues and projects already under way, such as lessening the county water and sewer debt, airport improvements and the planned state university center for Hagerstown.

The planned University System of Maryland Education Center for downtown Hagers-town is expected to be built with state funds, but Snook said the county probably will help pay for a $4.4 million plan to add parking and widen alleys around the school site.

Snook, a Republican, said the county should continue funding improvements at the Hagerstown Regional Airport, especially the planned runway extension. He said the extension will cost $35 million to $40 million. The federal government will pay for most of the project, but the county will be called on to contribute $2 million to $3 million, he said.

The county water and sewer debt, which was about $55 million in 1995, is at about $48 million, and Snook said he wants to continue lowering that debt.

He said the county should look into selling the sewage pretreatment plant, which accounts for some of the debt.

Snook said he supports the county spending $400,000 to help pay for new libraries in Boonsboro and Smithsburg.

He also said he wants more parks in the northeast and northwest sections of the county.

To raise more money for education, Snook said the county should "be a marketer" for a private fund-raising foundation for the public schools.

Snook was first elected in 1990 and has been commission president since 1994. The president is elected by the other commissioners.

Snook counts the increased county reserve account among the successful efforts since he's been in office.

The reserve account contained about $2 million to $3 million four years ago, and now it is between $9 million and $10 million, he said.

"Just like any business, we need a reserve for the bad days," he said.

Snook, of 16025 Cloverton Lane in Williamsport, co-owns Greenlawn Cemetery, a human and pet cemetery, with his brother and sister.

He and his wife, Ruthann, have been married for 24 years and have two daughters ages 21 and 18.

Snook will be on the Sept. 10 Republican primary ballot.

The filing deadline is July 1.

The other Republican commissioner candidates as of Monday afternoon were Doris J. Nipps, John C. Munson, Paul Toothman, Jaime Trujilo and Harold L. Phillips.

The general election is Nov. 5.

The next group of county commissioners will be paid $30,000 a year. The commissioners president will be paid $33,000 annually.

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