Schuh Looks to Make County, State Better to Business

Del. Steve Schuh (R-District 31) said he is pursuing the office of Anne Arundel County Executive because the county can play a key role in making the state of Maryland more friendly to business.

In remarks to the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Schuh said he found his time in the legislature rewarding, but felt the county executive spot would give him a better chance of moving the state toward one with lower taxes and less regulation.  

“I believe strongly that if Maryland is going to start going in a different direction, it’s going to be because Anne Arundel County points the way,” he said at an appearance at J. King's Restaurant in Gambrills.

Schuh announced in April that he will seek to be on the ballot in 2014, but acknowledged he had been considering a bid for county executive for some time prior. He said he raised more than $1 million during an exploratory period and massed 120 volunteers. He now has a campaign staff of about 20 workers. 

“We’re already working hard on it,” he said. “Anne Arundel County has an unbelievable opportunity to take a leadership role within our state. We’ve had a tough couple of years filled with political disruption, but it’s time to put all that behind us put the county in the position it should be.”

Schuh sought to be appointed to the county executive position following the resignation of John R. Leopold in February. The Anne Arundel County Council instead selected former Howard County economic development chief Laura Neuman, who is expected to seek election in 2014. County council member John Grasso has also entered the race. 

Schuh, a former investment banker who now owns several restaurants in the area, has served in the legislature since 2007. He said he is seeking to become the county executive in part because it more in line with his past experience in the business world. 

“I’m a businessperson by trade, and as a businessperson you get up, you make decisions, you get things done, you go to bed and you get up and do it all again the next day,” he said. “Legislature’s not like that ... it’s hard to get things done. I realized that if I was going to spend this time in public service, it would be best for me to be in the executive branch of government.”

During his remarks on Tuesday, Schuh also offered a recap of the 2013 legislative session, which included an increase in the gas tax to fund transportation, a repeal of the death penalty and the passage of strict gun control laws. He said those measures were victories for Gov. Martin O’Malley and other Democrats, but that he was pleased that legislators blocked measures to raise the minimum wage and require businesses to offer paid sick leave.