Q & A Session with Kevin Hornberger
Who am I?
My name is Kevin Bailey Hornberger, and I am a longtime Republican who cares about our county’s future. I have a keen interest in returning Cecil County to the decision making table in Annapolis and returning equity and resources that have recently been squandered by misguided incumbents.
I was born and raised in Cecil County and grew up primarily around Perryville, North East and Rising Sun. I was a product of a strong and vibrant community. In 1998 I was sent by American Legion Post 135 to Boys State in Annapolis. I received my Eagle Scout Award and graduated from Rising Sun High School in 1999. I later went on to earn my bachelors of science in Mechanical Engineering. So much has changed between then and now.
This long time residency combined with an active community volunteer lifestyle have given me a unique and recent perspective. As my wife and I raise our son we are constantly reminded that Cecil County has new challenges that require novel solutions from its’ state government. The erosion of our communities and an ever growing cost of residency is what compelled me to run for office.
My current full time job is serving the United States Congress, specifically the Library of Congress as a Facility Engineer. Since 2006 I have managed multiyear, multimillion dollar contracts and projects in a very political and diverse landscape. I have devised strategies and effectively applied innovative approaches to save the tax payer’s dollars. I feel that Libraries are the most important community institutions and working for the world’s largest Library as a custodian of the most important collection of America’s knowledge has strengthened that belief. As an avid reader and bibliophile my job provides me with an unparalleled access to information.
I think Cecil County needs someone that is accustom to a long commute, has experience working for the legislative branch of government and is used to balancing family, work, a business and volunteering in the community. My positive energy, drive and proven results in diverse environments will be a formidable force in the General Assembly.
As a part time small business owner since 2006 my goals are to bring tax reform and reduce oversight from Annapolis. I am a true conservative who will challenge the tax and spend practices of the current super majority. Annapolis has to stop treating the citizens and its businesses like ATMs. Spending less and better oversight of expenditures is the only way to ensure Maryland’s economy can prosper.
These two professional roles that I have just described in both the private and public sector will help me strike a balance in evaluating policy reform as I strive to be an agent of change in Annapolis. I have the tools and experience necessary to make the hard decisions.
I think Cecil County is ready for fresh leadership, especially considering what has transpired over the last four years in Annapolis. I am a 2013 graduate of the Cecil Leadership Institute and predict an exciting campaign for the voters of 35A.
What three critical issues at the State level have the biggest impact on Cecil County?
I believe we share a keen interest in making decisions that are best for our families and neighbors throughout the county and state.
My three greatest concerns are:
The growing disparity between dwindling state funding and increased taxes. Reversing the financial burdens imposed by incumbent lawmakers in the form of taxes, fees, tolls, fines, mandatory insurances and unnecessary permitting, licensing, tier mapping and oversight of businesses that are crippling Cecil County residents far greater than our neighboring counties to the west. Restoring the recently lost funding for our infrastructure improvements. Roads, bridges, water/wastewater and broadband expansion are the top three infrastructure needs for our local businesses.
Safety for our citizens. Repealing SB281 by restoring our second amendment rights we can restore our citizens’ trust in their government and allow existing laws at the federal level to suffice. Maryland State Police were tasked with implementing this onerous task against law abiding citizens. I contest that we need to refocus enforcement where it belongs: on criminals, and patrolling our communities, schools, and streets. We have to stop drug trafficker’s migration from neighboring urban centers into our county. Effective law enforcement and the ability of our citizens to protect themselves are crucial to curtailing the poison from flowing into our County. No matter how enticing we make it for employers, without tackling our rampant drug problem businesses will continue to leave or look to adjacent counties or states to locate their businesses. Once we stop the flow of drugs only then can we effectively concentrate on healing the wounds inflicted and treat those battling with addiction. By securing more state and federal funding—along with financial help from corporate, business, private, grants and charitable sources I will have a significant positive impact on this repulsive social plague that is destroying promising young lives and destroying families.
Creating a sustainable environment for entrepreneurs and locally based businesses to thrive. My belief is that the best cure for our social ills and a declining quality of life is jobs. Many politicians believe that they can create jobs. As a business owner I know this to be a falsity. I will push the General Assembly to stay away from businesses and work to kill meddlesome legislation. While it is advantageous to attract large businesses to the County we have limited infrastructure and we can’t expect corporations to bear that cost. We need to take a more organic approach and empower the future CEO of fortune 500 companies not the current ones. Entrepreneurship is endemic to Cecil County by way of necessity. As a net job exporter, focusing on growing indigenous businesses will benefit our citizens more so than just having a branch or depot of a major corporation. Bentonville Arkansas is a perfect example of this. (Headquarters of WalMart)
Why am I the best person to serve as Delegate for District 35A?
In closing I would like to share three of my personality traits that have served me well in life and will continue to serve me as effective leadership skills in the general assembly. It is my hope that they will motivate voters, especially younger voters, to get involved and participate in this important election. We recently received 300 “Likes,” on our Facebook page purely through word of mouth, many of which are under the age of 35—indicating our effort is involving people of all ages—the only way to sustain progress and achieve success.
First Passion: My mission is to empower and inspire the people of Cecil County, especially our youth, to steer their energy into solutions. I want this election to be more about the people and less about the candidates. I aim to be a servant leader by listening and shepherding my constituent’s ideals to Annapolis. Leaders are not found or discovered they emerge when times are so tough that folks start giving up and apathy is ultimately what I am here to combat.
Secondly Courage: The act of challenging the status quo and giving people real alternatives, not just talking points, is only the first step. My bold ethos will win back the God given rights that have been stripped from us by the O’Malley O’Brown regime. My top priority is restoring our second amendment rights and preventing future attacks from the left by knowing when the time is right for new leadership and springing into action. When I filled for office I decided to step up to the plate and DO something. Will you join me? The last attribute is
Resolve: It will take time and a herculean effort to reverse the rampant spending and subsequent taxation endured over the last eight years. Forty consecutive tax hikes have taken an additional $9.5 billion dollars out of our economy and shuttered 6,500 small businesses. We owe it to our children to end the fiscal practice of balancing bloated budgets by raising taxes. Our problems cannot be solved overnight and that it will take time, hard work and dedication to reverse the recent onslaught of taxes and revocation of our civil liberties.
As a small business owner I know all about weighing risk against rewards. I will build on my current relationships with the Cecil County Office of Economic Development, Chambers of Commerce and Cecil County Public Libraries to attract diverse employers to our region. I have already begun work on a young professional organization with the Chamber that aims to strengthen and network local up and coming entrepreneurs. By nurture entrepreneurs and organically create thriving businesses by advocating for the same ideals as the Government Relations Committee of the Cecil County Chamber in Annapolis. While these agencies and organizations have blossoming and relevant programs already underway I want to assist by bringing these groups and their students together. Thus proving the quote by Aristotle that “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.
As an individual I will continue to volunteer at youth and community organizations. As a Delegate I will strive to empower average citizens, of all ages, to become active in important volunteer leadership roles.
Biography
Education: Graduated Rising Sun High School 1999; Cecil College – (Associates Degree) Dean’s List, Phi Theta Kappa 2000-03; University of Maryland College Park 2003-04, Founding Father Chi Phi Fraternity (ΧΦ); University of the District of Columbia 2007-10 (B.S. Mechanical Engineering) with honors; Graduate of the Cecil Leadership Institute 2013.
Professional: President and Owner of Blue Collar Engineering Inc. 2006 to present; Class A Commercial Driver’s License with Hazmat. Chief Manufacturing Engineer CloudSolar Inc. 2010-12 Participated in Cupid’s Cup – Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship – University of Maryland. Facility Manager for The Library of Congress 2006 to present. Active security clearances. Jumbo Jimmy’s Crab Shack Project Manager and Cofounder 2005-07.
Community: Born in North East, Maryland; Volunteer at the Perry Point Veterans Hospital 1994-96. Attended Boys State at Annapolis MD 1998; Eagle Scout Award 1999; Election Judge Gubernatorial Primary 2006.Life Member of the National Eagle Scout Association. Committee member for Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop 131 North East Maryland. Life Endowment Member NRA.
Member of the following: Cecil County Republican Club, Maryland Saltwater Sportsman Association MSSA Northern Bay Chapter, The Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Post 135 Perryville Maryland, Southern Lancaster County Farmer Sportsmen’s Association, The Friends of Cecil County Public Library, North East Rotary Club, American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME and The Cecil County Chamber of Commerce.