Dennis Callahan
Encyclopedia
Dennis Callahan is an American
politician from Annapolis, Maryland
, and the former director of the Recreation and Parks Department of Anne Arundel County, Maryland
. As a Democrat
he announced he was running for Anne Arundel County Executive in the 2006 election, which he lost in the primary.
During his tenure as director of the Recreation and Parks Department, Callahan was at the center of two controversial park developments. One of the park developments involved the Smith Farm on the Broadneck Peninsula. The plan called for tearing down most of a horse farm and building ball fields over the land, leaving limited space for a community equestrian center. Citizens organized against this proposal, and groups such as WHOA (We Hold Officials Accountable), SACReD (South Arundel Citizens for Responsible Development), and the Anne Arundel Green Party literally stood in front of the bulldozers to stop the farm from being torn down. Eventually the farm was preserved and is now the Andy Smith Equestrian Center.
The other park development involved converting a substantial portion of wetlands on Franklin Point into ballfields and parking lots for those fields. Once again, citizens in the community organized to oppose this destruction of wetlands. They offered alternate sites for the ballfields. However, it was only after the Critical Area Commission ruled that plans for the park would have to be severely curtailed that Anne Arundel County backed out of the proposed development.
During Callahan's tenure as the Recreation and Parks Director, football commissioners throughout the County petitioned the County Executive to have him removed from his position, which did not happen. On one embarrassing occasion, Callahan called a radio talk show, introduced himself as "Bobby from Edgwater", and boasted of his Department's accomplishments.
Callahan is a former Mayor of Annapolis
, serving from 1985-1989. He was originally a Republican
before serving as Mayor. He was defeated in the 1989 mayoral primary. He ran again for mayor in 1993 as an Independent, placing second in the General Election. Callahan was again the Democratic nominee for Mayor in 1997.
Callahan was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Anne Arundel County Executive in 1990.
Callahan served as CEO of the P.O.I.N.T. Corp., which owned Chiro-Serve. After two years under his leadership, the P.O.I.N.T. Corp. and Chiro-Serve went under in 1996.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, and the former director of the Recreation and Parks Department of Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
. As a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
he announced he was running for Anne Arundel County Executive in the 2006 election, which he lost in the primary.
During his tenure as director of the Recreation and Parks Department, Callahan was at the center of two controversial park developments. One of the park developments involved the Smith Farm on the Broadneck Peninsula. The plan called for tearing down most of a horse farm and building ball fields over the land, leaving limited space for a community equestrian center. Citizens organized against this proposal, and groups such as WHOA (We Hold Officials Accountable), SACReD (South Arundel Citizens for Responsible Development), and the Anne Arundel Green Party literally stood in front of the bulldozers to stop the farm from being torn down. Eventually the farm was preserved and is now the Andy Smith Equestrian Center.
The other park development involved converting a substantial portion of wetlands on Franklin Point into ballfields and parking lots for those fields. Once again, citizens in the community organized to oppose this destruction of wetlands. They offered alternate sites for the ballfields. However, it was only after the Critical Area Commission ruled that plans for the park would have to be severely curtailed that Anne Arundel County backed out of the proposed development.
During Callahan's tenure as the Recreation and Parks Director, football commissioners throughout the County petitioned the County Executive to have him removed from his position, which did not happen. On one embarrassing occasion, Callahan called a radio talk show, introduced himself as "Bobby from Edgwater", and boasted of his Department's accomplishments.
Callahan is a former Mayor of Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, serving from 1985-1989. He was originally a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
before serving as Mayor. He was defeated in the 1989 mayoral primary. He ran again for mayor in 1993 as an Independent, placing second in the General Election. Callahan was again the Democratic nominee for Mayor in 1997.
Callahan was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Anne Arundel County Executive in 1990.
Callahan served as CEO of the P.O.I.N.T. Corp., which owned Chiro-Serve. After two years under his leadership, the P.O.I.N.T. Corp. and Chiro-Serve went under in 1996.