UPDATED (1:40 p.m.)—Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Thursday that resident Tom Fitzpatrick has been appointed to the Harford County Board of Education.
Fitzpatrick, , replaces , and will serve through June 2015, representing District F (Havre de Grace).
In a phone interview with Thursday, Fitzpatrick explained that he was initially approached about the role in casual conversation, but was immediately interested.
"Certainly a lot of people here in Havre de Grace here are concerned with campaigning for a new , which is going to be my issue," he said. "I figure if we have a representative here from the community, that understands the community and will work with folks in the community, we need to work with that in mind."
Fitzpatrick mentioned City Councilman and County Executive David Craig, two strong , as individuals he will speak with regarding that topic.
He also said he'll lean on current and former educators, including City Councilman —a teacher at Aberdeen Middle School—and Bob Magee—a former school board president and schools administrator in Harford County.
Fitzpatrick has spoken with Browning and former school board representative and Havre de Grace High School educator —both of whom departed the board before their terms were complete—about education and Havre de Grace. He hadn't spoken with them—or many others, for that matter—regarding his new position.
"I will certainly be reaching out to them for guidance and for input," he said. "After all, ."
Fitzpatrick said he has little experience regarding education, but he plans to use his business background in helping the school system.
Fitzpatrick is the manufacturer's representative with Storm-Services, LLC, and active in the Havre de Grace community. He's a member of the Havre de Grace Lions Club, the city's planning and zoning commission, the and a volunteer with Havre de Grace Main Street. Fitzpatrick is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers Technical Advisory Committee on Storm Water Issues and the County Engineers Association of Maryland, according to the news release from Gov. O'Malley's office.
"I think I have a lot of people I can reach out to for advice outside of the school bureaucracy itself," he said.
Fitzpatrick is also interested in history, and wrote a regarding Havre de Grace history.
TELL US: Do you know Tom Fitzpatrick? What Havre de Grace-themed issues would you bring to the Harford County Board of Education? Leave a comment.
