Swartz

tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County Commissioners Vice President Paul Swartz said Tuesday he has changed his mind and decided not to resign over the secret retirement compensation the county gave former Economic Development Commission Director John Howard. Swartz said the compensation was being kept a secret because the commissioners acted on advice from the county's two attorneys, Richard Douglas and John M. Martirano, and that the majority of the commissioners think they handled the situation poorly.

Former Washington County Commissioner Paul L. Swartz has filed to win back the seat he lost in 2002. Swartz, 67, a Democrat, said the county should put $2 million in a scholarship fund so all graduating Washington County high school seniors can go to Hagerstown Community College tuition-free, if they keep at least a C average. He wants the county to lower its property tax rate. He favors a sliding scale in which people would pay less as they get older. Around age 75 or 80, they would pay no property tax. Swartz said the sales tax in Washington County should go up 1 percentage point, bringing in, by his estimate, $12 million to $20 million.

tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County Commissioners Vice President Paul Swartz said he wants the county to start charging those locked up at the Washington County Detention Center $10 a day. The money from the boarding charge could fund other public safety expenses or projects, such as a central booking facility for area police departments, Swartz said Tuesday. "We give a free ride to the prisoners," Swartz said. "Somebody has to pay for that, and it shouldn't be the taxpayers.

tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County Commissioners Vice President Paul L. Swartz has spent nearly $12,000 in his bid for re-election, the most of the 10 candidates running for a seat on the five-member county board. Swartz, a Democrat, spent $11,654 for fund-raising events, advertising and other campaign costs, according to his campaign finance report. The reports for all candidates were due Oct. 25, and cover how much candidates raised or spent on their campaigns through Oct. 20. The general election is Nov. 5. Swartz also raised the most of all those in the running with $15,755.

Washington County Commissioner Paul L. Swartz has devised a strategy for paying off some of the county's water and sewer debt: Get $10 million from the state's budget surplus. cont. from front page In a letter he mailed Monday, Swartz asks Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening to give $10 million to each of the state's 23 counties plus Baltimore city. The money would come from the state's $620 million surplus, he said. Swartz said he has not decided how all of the $10 million would be used but some of it would go to debt service.

tarar@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - Washington County Commissioners Vice President Paul L. Swartz proposed Tuesday that every new graduate of Washington County Public Schools be given free tuition to Hagerstown Community College, and he called on area businesses to help pay for the costs. Swartz said free tuition would get more students in college and generate a better trained work force for local businesses. "We sat here for four years and said education is our top priority," Swartz said after the meeting.

tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County Commissioners Vice President Paul L. Swartz said there have been times when the elected post required him to get down and dirty. He explained that he has cut down overgrown brush and pulled weeds near the homes of residents who were concerned that the county had let the work go. "I wouldn't be worth my salt if I didn't try in some way to answer their concerns," Swartz, 64, said. "I think a politician is good at delegation, and that's what separates me from politicians, because I'm not a politician.

tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County Commissioners Vice President Paul Swartz asked The Herald-Mail last week to sue the county to force disclosure of the amount it paid former Economic Development Commission Director John Howard, becoming the second commissioner to ask the newspaper to take legal action over the issue. "I would suggest that the paper sue," Swartz said. On Wednesday, Commissioner William Wivell said the paper should ask the court for a legal opinion on the matter.

tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County Commissioners Vice President Paul Swartz said Tuesday that former Economic Development Commission Director John Howard received compensation based on accrued sick and vacation time as part of his retirement package. Swartz said Howard possibly received severance pay. Swartz said he will try to figure out the total amount paid to Howard and release it to the public later this week. "It looks like the commissioners are doing something under the table and dirty," Swartz said.

scottb@herald-mail.com Washington County Commissioners Vice President Paul L. Swartz said Monday he was willing to resign over the issue of publicly releasing the amount of money former Economic Development Commission Director John Howard received as part of his retirement package. "If I can't be open and honest with the public, if they think I am not worthy of their support," then he would resign his job, Swartz said. "I am willing to resign if that's what (people) want ... I am willing to go that far if I have to. " In a letter dated Monday, Swartz asked the Washington County Ethics Commission to rule on whether the ethics panel has the legal authority to reach a determination regarding the "John Howard Termination of Employment Agreement.

Jeffrey Lynn Swartz, 64, of Hagerstown, Md., went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 11, 2013, at Meritus Medical Center. Born June 10, 1948, in Hagerstown, he was the son of Jacob Beckley Swartz and the late Anna Irene Myers Swartz. He was a 1966 graduate of South Hagerstown High School. In addition to his father, he is survived by two brothers and two sisters, Gary L. Swartz of Boones Mill, Va., the Rev. Daniel R. Swartz of Cadiz, Ky., Kathy A. Merritt of Smiths Station, Ala., and Pamela K. Markel of Williamsport, Md. He was particularly fond of and interested in the lives of his four nephews, 10 nieces, nine great-nephews and 12 great-nieces.

Walter S. "Josh" Swartz III, 65, of 357 Gladhill Road, Fairfield, Pa., died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012, at his home. The family will receive friends Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, Pa. The service will be Monday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be private in Jacob's Church Cemetery.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A woman who failed to appear in Berkeley County Magistrate Court this week on charges she failed to pay vendors who took part in a fundraiser for a terminally girl in April 2007 was arrested and placed in Eastern Regional Jail on Thursday. Jennifer Nicole Swartz, 34, of O'Connor Lane, in Martinsburg, was charged last year with a felony count of obtaining money by false pretenses and five misdemeanor counts of writing worthless checks, according to court records.

It may be overly dramatic to say this is the most important county commissioner race in Washington County's history, but there is no question it will affect the greatest number of people. Since 2000, Washington has become one of the fastest growing counties in the state. In that time, we've added 10,000 residents, our population growing at a rate of 7.6 percent - a full 2 percent faster than the state of Maryland as a whole. While spiraling housing prices have stalled the boom at the moment, it's likely only a pause in the trend and the next board of commissioners must demonstrate a deft hand at managing growth and growth's byproducts, both good and bad. We have chosen to endorse a mix of candidates who we believe will be able to find middle ground on a broad range of issues.

Editor's note: There are a lot of people you see around town that you recognize, but don't know anything about. People like ... Gary Swartz Age: 63 Hometown: Hagerstown What is Swartz's story? Just over three years ago, Swartz's life took an unexpected turn. He went to get some rope out of the trunk of his car as he helped his adult daughter, Cory, and her four children move to their new home. While standing at the back of his car, Swartz was struck by a drunken driver.

Former Washington County Commissioner Paul L. Swartz has filed to win back the seat he lost in 2002. Swartz, 67, a Democrat, said the county should put $2 million in a scholarship fund so all graduating Washington County high school seniors can go to Hagerstown Community College tuition-free, if they keep at least a C average. He wants the county to lower its property tax rate. He favors a sliding scale in which people would pay less as they get older. Around age 75 or 80, they would pay no property tax. Swartz said the sales tax in Washington County should go up 1 percentage point, bringing in, by his estimate, $12 million to $20 million.

WASHINGTON COUNTY andrews@herald-mail.com In late 2002, when Paul L. Swartz failed to win re-election as a Washington County commissioner, he had his retirement life to fall back on. He considered coaching basketball again. A book idea was in his head. He thought about moving to North Carolina. More than three years later, Swartz is still here and the politics bug is back. Swartz, 67, of Maugansville, filed Tuesday to run again for county commissioner in this year's election.

Martinsburg Police Department officers said the driver of this Oldsmobile lost control of his car as he rounded the 90-degree turn at the intersection of East King and Swartz streets Monday evening. A portion of the storage building's cinder block wall, along with boxes inside the shed, fell onto the car's windshield and roof. The driver, whose name was not released, was taken to City Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries, police said.

andrews@herald-mail.com Over the railroad tracks, across loose rocks and along a beaten grassy path, a group followed J.C Fisher into the bowels of 310 E. King St. At street level, the house is lived in and ordinary, but its basement contains clues to Martinsburg's past. The city's legendary tunnel system has never been proven, but it was fodder for speculation Saturday during the annual Founder's Day celebration. Martinsburg formed 225 years ago, not long after founder Gen. Adam Stephen bought land there in 1770 and 1773.

kauffman@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Before the first softball game of her senior season Thursday afternoon, Chambersburg senior Jen Swartz received a prediction from assistant coach Darren Fritz. "In school today, Coach Fritz told me I'd go 3-for-3 today, and that was the goal," Swartz said. Mission accomplished. With an inside-out left-handed swing crafted during the preseason, Swartz needed only five pitches to rip three line drives and drive in the Trojans' first two runs - including the key RBI double in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie - as Chambersburg opened with a 5-1 victory over Northern.