Lansdowne Group Losing Leader

Lansdowne native and live-long resident Brian Bailey, elected president of Lansdowne Improvement Association , announced on Jan. 19 that he accepted a job in Arizona and is leaving the area.

"We'll really miss Brian," said LIA board member Christine Koloski, who has known Bailey since he was five years old while working as a teacher's assistant at Lansdowne Elementary School.

"This is a very big opportunity for him," Koloski said. "He's a very kind and generous person, and I'm very proud of his accomplishments."

Beginning March 1, Bailey will become executive director of the Phoenix-based Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association.

Previously, Bailey worked in the government relations office of the American Urological Association.

Bailey bas been very active in local political and community groups aside from LIA, including th Southwest Leadership Team, Wilkens Police Community Relations Organization and the Southwest Baltimore County Democratic Club.

"I'm sorry to see hi leave," said councilman Tom Quirk, who introduced a resolution from the County Council praising Bailey for his community service.

"I've really appreciated his energy and commitment," Quirk said.

Bailey's announcement in email and Facebook has triggered a deluge of comments expressing support for his decision.

"The outpouring of well wishes has made me feel very special and reinforces for me the fact that the work I've done has been appreciated," Bailey said. "Some would consider community activism a thankless task; however, the relationships I've formed with other local community and political leaders mean quite a lot to me--they have been the greatest reward for this work--and I will hold them dear no matter where my career takes me. Lansdowne is my home, always will be."

Gary Koloski will serve the remainder of Bailey's term as LIA president.