Harris touts replenishment

OC beach project, tourism emphasized as District 1 candidate tours Lower Shore

By Earl Holland
Staff Writer

OCEAN CITY -- Republican state senator and congressional candidate Andy Harris braved the rainy afternoon weather Thursday to check out firsthand one of the largest beach restoration efforts in Maryland.

Harris, R-7-Md., and other Ocean City officials visited the 27th Street area to view the ongoing replenishment project.

"The beach looks entirely different than it did when the project started in the 1980s," he said. "This project is a perfect example of what the government can and is supposed to do."

The beach restoration effort has been a joint initiative since 1988 between the town, Worcester County, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers that involves millions of dollars and millions of cubic yards of sand.

Town Manager Dennis Dare said resort officials were anxious to show Harris the beach replenishment effort since he had taken a great interest in it.

"Ocean City's only industry is tourism, and the beach is where it begins," he said.

Mayor Richard Meehan said he and Harris have been discussing the replenishment since last summer.

"We wanted to let him know about the importance of the project and maintaining it," Meehan said.

The beach visit was the fifth of a seven-stop tour by Harris on the Lower Shore as he continues his run for Maryland's 1st congressional district seat, which encompasses the Eastern Shore.

Earlier in the day, he addressed the Coastal Association of Realtors and met with Berlin residents. He concluded his Shore visit by addressing residents at the Mallard Landing Retirement Community as well as members of the Salisbury Rotary Club.

During the evening meetings, Harris aimed to strengthen his Lower Shore base by discussing his voting record in Annapolis, where he said he has backed many area interests.

He also discussed one of the major issues effecting many on the Shore: the economy, which includes the tourism industry.

"The people want to see a Congress that can help keep the economic engine of America going," he said. "Tourism is the anchor of the economy in Worcester County, and we want to help keep Ocean City as a major tourist attraction."

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