One Last War of Words for Hanley, McMahan

Harford County Councilman James McMahan says his opponent does not have enough experience.

Bel Air Commissioner Terence Hanley says McMahan is out of touch with the community.

One day before McMahan and Hanley face off in the Republican primary election for the Council Council's District C seat, the campaign rhetoric is heating up as the two candidates try to distinguish themselves for voters.  

"I think there is an incredible difference that the Harford County [voter] is aware of," says McMahan, who is better known as Captain Jim.

And Hanley agrees—sort of.

"The clear, big difference between Captain Jim and Terry Hanley is a generational thing," Hanley says. "I've got a little bit more of an edge knowing what's going on with current events."

But McMahan says his time as a county councilman for the district representing Bel Air is the real difference.

"I have the experience and education my opponent does not have," McMahan says. "I have talked the talk and walked the walk. ... My opponent has only talked the talk."

Hanley, however, says that he has been politically involved almost as long as McMahan, who was elected to the council in 2006 after serving one term as a Bel Air commissioner.

"I've been doing this the same amount of time as Captain Jim so evidently his memory has failed," Hanley says. "He was elected [as a Town Commissioner] a year before me. I was elected the following year right after Captain Jim raised taxes in Bel Air."

McMahan claims otherwise.

"I have worked to decrease the tax burden on Harford County citizens five times in the last four years [as county councilman]," he says. "I was the leader in revamping the IT at the Harford County Government, which resulted in $2 million in savings in the first year."

Hanley, who is in his second term as a town commissioner, says that McMahan cannot back up his claims.

"Bottom line, I am a true fiscal conservative. Mr. McMahan has said that he's cut taxes five times. Well if he's cut taxes five times, show us where. Identify that," Hanley says.

Both candidates identify themselves as fiscal conservatives, and McMahan says that Hanley has copied many of the points that McMahan spelled out in a mailer last month.

"My opponent has taken [my points] and now he's adopted the same points," McMahan says.

Says Hanley: "I think that is utterly absurd. I certainly wouldn't copy anything that Captain Jim has put out."

Both candidates have one final message for the voters to consider before Tuesday.

"We know what's going on in our community. You're electing a family here not just one person," says Hanley, who is married with three children in Harford County.

The incumbent says that the chemistry with the current County Council, led by Billy Boniface, who is unchallenged as President, is the best he has ever seen.

"I am one of the councilmen who should be kept," McMahan says.

That is for the voters to decide.

The winner of Tuesday's primary will face Democrat Jack Feldman in the general election.