J.H. ("Jim") Snider, PhD
J.H. Snider, a political scientist and democratic reformer, is a student of local politics. For updates on his local and state articles, like this page. (This Facebook page is an experiment and may be discontinued.)
J.H. ("Jim") Snider, PhD's Latest Posts

Alleviating the school board’s special interest politics
Between now and July 1, 2015, Governor Larry Hogan will appoint to the Anne Arundel Board of Education a majority (five of eight) of its adult members. In doing so, […]

On Landmark Media (the Capital’s Owner) Cashing Out
Since January 2008, Landmark Media has been trying to cash out its investment in the Capital-Gazette, but could not get the price it wanted. Finally, on May 1, 2014, more […]

Expected $2.4 Million ‘Signing Bonus’ For Chosen AACPS Superintendent
The Anne Arundel County Board of Education is currently conducting a search for the next superintendent to replace interim Superintendent Mamie Perkins. As has been widely reported, the three finalists […]

How the Next Superintendent Will Really Be Selected
We have recently observed Russia’s “democratic” takeover of Crimea. As a democratically elected Crimean parliament holds a democratic referendum to join Russia, the stage-managing has been superb. However, AACPS has […]
Our Highly Politicized Board of Education
Members of our Board of Education love to pretend that they are above politics; that such behavior is reserved for County Council, General Assembly, and other public officials. As for […]

Court Likely to Let Leopold Run for Public Office
In January 2013, a local court convicted former County Executive John Leopold on two counts of misconduct in office. In addition to requiring him to serve jail time, it banned […]

Two General Assembly Bills to Democratize the AACPS School Board
Last Wednesday the Maryland Senate’s Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee held hearings on two bills to create a more democratically accountable system for selecting school board members in Anne […]

Explaining the Capital’s Inane Political Reporting
Campaign finance articles are a staple of good journalism, as campaign contributions may signal to the public more credibly than campaign promises the type of interests a politician will represent […]

More Misleading Education Reporting From The Capital
Yesterday the Capital ran a story on the results of the superintendent survey designed to elicit feedback on the characteristics the public wants in its next public schools superintendent. From […]

Superintendent Search Update: AACPS Answers Capital’s Criticism
Last summer the Capital criticized AACPS for a lack of public involvement in the interim superintendent search (see Capital-Gazette Takes On AACPS). AACPS promised to address that issue in its […]

Getting What We Pay For: Are our school board members underpaid?
Should we apply to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education the maxim that “you get what you pay for”? Regular school board members earn $6,000/year (the president earns $8,000/year) […]

Capital-Gazette Takes On AACPS
In the last few weeks, the Capital-Gazette (Capital) has flipped from years of mindlessly repeating AACPS talking points to a critical stance, including a news story with multiple, competing sources. […]

School Board Pays Maxwell $4,582/Day In July; Maryland Taxpayers Pay Perkins $410,018 Signing Bonus on Top of $249,735 Annual Salary
The Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) Board of Education has been generous to outgoing superintendent Kevin Maxwell for his last month of employment ending July 31, 2013. Excluding his […]

Poll: Media Coverage of Superintendent Maxwell
Superintendent Kevin Maxwell’s last day in office is tomorrow, July 31, 2013. On August 1, 2013, he takes over the helm of the Prince George’s County Public Schools. The Anne […]

Maxwell’s Political Legacy: Not Pretty
After more than seven years at the helm of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), Superintendent Kevin Maxwell will resign and become head of the Prince George’s County public […]

Understanding The Capital Gazette’s Political Biases
My Ph.D. is in the field of political communications, and I’ve worked in various capacities covering media policy, including as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow in Communications and […]

Maxwell’s Unreported $1 Million Signing Bonus with Prince George’s County, Courtesy of Maryland Taxpayers
Prince George’s County has hired Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) Superintendent Kevin Maxwell for a reported annual salary of $290,000, a $33,000 year increase on his $257,000 current salary […]

Governor to reappoint two incumbents to AACPS school board
In the next few days, Governor O’Malley will reappoint two incumbents, Andrew C. Pruski (Board President) and Teresa Milio Birge (Board Vice President), to the Anne Arundel County Public School […]

Anne Arundel’s Next Superintendent Should Restore Integrity to SMOB Elections
In 2012, the Anne Arundel County Public School System spent more than $1 billion, employed more than 10,000 individuals, and taught more than 75,000 students–and its student member of the Board […]

AACPS School Board Nomination Applications Due May 24
This year the School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) of Anne Arundel County must nominate candidates for two seats on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education. Candidate applications are due […]

Shame On Maryland’s State Board Of Elections
Have you observed how a politician often answers a reporter’s question that he doesn’t want to answer? Instead of truthfully replying that he doesn’t want to answer the question, he […]