Frederick Rejects Secession Proposal

FREDERICK, Md. - A look down any Main Street in Frederick County, Maryland is a look at a slice of small town America. With a population of about 200,000, it's a small county tired of being treated like one.

So call it crazy, but when County Commissioner Lennie Thompson proposed withdrawing from the state of Maryland, he was serious.

"I think my colleagues pretty much acknowledge the concerns I have about the financial direction that the state is going," Thompson said.

The Republican lawmaker introduced a resolution at a work session today asking his fellow commissioners to study the benefits of statehood. He envisioned the state of Shangri La, but some envisioned it as no more than a media stunt that made the county look like a joke.

"I think the idea of seceding from the state and forming our own state is a bit outlandish. I think it was outlandish by intention to grab media attention, it certainly has done that," said Jan Gardner, President of the Board of Commissioners.

Thompson's measure failed. His was the only yes vote. But seceding wasn't the point. This was a message to Annapolis.

"I would think there is a less extremist way to do it," said Robert Farmer, who has lived in the county for three years.

Aurora Munyan, who grew up in Frederick from the age of 6, says every county has the same problems with the state but secession isn't the answer or the way to get your message across.

"It was a bit silly. I don't think it would have been taken seriously. It wouldn't have sent any message I don't think," said Munyan.

What commissioners did agree on was that the county is tired of bankrolling Maryland's overspending and unfunded mandates. A decline in state funding this year has the county looking at a $39.5 million deficit for FY2011. Its share of the gas taxes has shrunk from $14 million two years ago to just half a million.

"We're all frustrated that we don't get what we feel that we should back from the state of Maryland," said Commissioner Blaine Young.

But he said he couldn't support a resolution that would use taxpayer money to fund a study when the county has more pressing issues.

Frederick County isn't the first in Maryland to consider forming its own state. Nine counties on the Eastern Shore tried it in 1998 but it didn't get past the General Assembly. This didn't even get that far.

"I was disappointed but not surprised," said Thompson.

As of now, the state of Shangri La will have to wait. Commissioners say even if they wanted to secede, the chances of getting it past the General Assembly and Congress were virtually zero.