Former Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler, who took the helm of county government after the unexpected death of Kevin Kamenetz last year, was honored by the Greater Baltimore Committee at its annual dinner Monday night.
“Though he had never held elected office, Mohler took the helm with dignity and brought immediate stability to county government,” said Donald C. Fry, president and CEO of the committee, as he presented Mohler with the Walter Sondheim Public Service Award.
“It’s a bittersweet moment standing here tonight because it wasn’t supposed to be this way. My friend Kevin Kamenetz by now was either supposed to be in the governor’s mansion or sitting at home with his feet up watching the Orioles play,” Mohler said.
He thanked U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) and all of the county’s former executives who offered advice and guidance as Mohler took the helm after Kamenetz’s unexpected death from a heart attack.
Mohler recounted one thing that Ruppersberger told him, a message he said would now resonate with newly installed Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young: “Dutch said from Day One: You’re not a caretaker, you’re not a placeholder. Be the county executive.”
Mohler enthusiastically cheered Young and other members of the Baltimore City Council, who were briefly recognized at the dinner, telling attendees: “Baltimore City and the surrounding counties and the region are joined at the hip. We go forward together.”
Mohler said he is now dedicating himself to a podcast called Baltimore Positive, which featured Ruppersberger as the first guest.
“We’re going to be out there, we’re going to be telling stories about this great city,” Mohler said.
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