Showing posts with label local politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local politics. Show all posts
Go Vote Today!
If you live in the City of Salisbury, today is the day! Please go vote early and often...oh yeah, and vote for Laura Mitchell.
Letter to The Editor (snagged from sbynews)
Why I’ll Be Voting For Laura Mitchell In April
Events during the past week have convinced me to cast my third vote for Ms. Mitchell, who is an intelligent and moderate person – the type that we need on the Salisbury City Council now more than ever after the specter of the “Dream Team” and more recently the Comegys-Shields-Smith nightmare. Her response to questions at the PACE/Chamber of Commerce forum was uniformly outstanding, to say the very least. And consider how she has replied – with grace and civility – to the false allegations that were recently made in a comment that was posted on this blog.
It appears that a certain group composed mostly of nonresidents of Salisbury, which has controlled the Council under the regimes mentioned above, realizes that, if Ms. Mitchell and certain other candidates are elected, it would place the power back into the hands of City residents. For that reason they are doing everything possible to smear those candidates, using some of the same tactics as they did in past elections and some new ones too.
Ms. Mitchell has my vote, and many others from folks that I know.
Andy Harris Townhall Meeting Monday 3/21
Long Overdue Post
I have been wanting to write this post since before the primaries. It concerns the candidate Julie Brewington, aka Right Coast Girl (hopefully that's no big secret). When she abruptly shut down her blog a few months back, it was quite obvious she planned a run for something. But what? The logical choice would have been for County Council. With John Cannon going after a MD Delegate seat, it looked like the path was clear. After Tuesday, it is even more obvious she missed her chance after two Republican won At Large. So now she has returned to her blog where, IMO, she runs a really tight ship. The posts are very incisive and targeted to make Democrats look as terrible as possible. For the most part I think it works. Well Julie, there is always 2014. And next time, leave your blog up. Until then, see you in cyberspace!
Up next: a post on why her husband Mike, a die hard Rep, registered as a Dem the day before he announced a bid for County Council, which he was bound to lose from the start.
ELECTION REDUX: We're Screwed!!!
Okay, not completely. At the state level we retained Gov. O'Malley which is great news. And we sent Norm Conway back to Annapolis but, unfortunately it looks like the name-calling Mr. McDermott is going along too. In speaking with Norm, McDermott will really have to humble himself if he expects to build the type of partnerships and relationships he'll need if he is going to be effective and successful in the MD House. On the Senate side, Jim Mathias was up by 512 votes at the end of last night. This one will come down to absentee ballots and have foreseen this, Mathias and Co. ran a strong absentee campaign. At the County level we now have six, count em, SIX Republicans on the Council to one lone Democrat. I gotta hand it to Matt Holloway, I think he'll be the most centrist and bi-partisan, though only time will tell. In a close one Rick Pollitt was also given another four years. I asked Rick about the newly stacked council and he seems confident he'll be able to work with them, and I'm sure he will because he is just that type of guy, but one thing he did say was that "they (the Republicans) are going to have to decide what they stand for." Okay, so now you've got the power, let's see how you use it.
Mike "Effigy Guy" Calpino to challenge Stevie Prettyman
Good luck to the man, Stevie is terribly atrocious, but I don't think this man stands a chance. He'll be running as a Libertarian in District 2 which is basically the Southwest part of the county. Nisthdale to Nanticoke. If anyone can find his website, let me know.
Joe Ollinger to run against Rick Pollitt
1. Serve as the Primary Representative and Advocate of the Wicomico County Taxpayers
I will maintain a taxpayer’s perspective of government.
I will view your tax dollars as, not belonging to government, but to you, the taxpayers.
As your fiduciary, I will demand that County employees spend your precious tax dollars wisely and in your best interest.
As an executive leader, I will work diligently to streamline our County Government so that it operates at the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness.
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2. Implement a County-wide (including the Sherriff’s Department and the Board of Education) Pay-for-Performance Compensation Plan
I will develop a “Performance Appraisal” system for management to evaluate all County employees on an annual basis.
Each County employee’s future compensation will be based on their performance.
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3. Transform our Public Schools into the Safest and Most Disciplined in the State of Maryland
I will set a community-wide goal of “transforming our School System into the safest and most disciplined in the State of Maryland."
I will ask our community to take ownership of the problems that exist within our Public Schools and participate in solving these problems.
I will request that the Board of Education implement a student uniform policy along with other new policies related to safety and discipline.
I will request that the Board of Education reprioritize by making its number one mission: “to graduate self-disciplined, personally responsible young adults prepared to participate as productive citizens in American society.”
I will request that the Board of Education implement the “Kids of Honor” philosophy throughout its system.
I will request that the Board of Education establish the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System and its teacher testing program.
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4. Empower the County Executive to Appoint All Members to the County’s Board of Education
I will initiate a proposition for the November 2012 ballot to “empower the County Executive to appoint all members to the County’s Board of Education.”
I will lobby support from the County Council and the Maryland Legislators for this initiative.
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5. Create a One County-Wide Law Enforcement Agency
I will initiate a public debate on the merits of the establishment of one County-wide law enforcement agency.
I will work with the municipalities and Wicomico County Sherriff to design the most efficient and effective law enforcement agency for fighting crime and protecting our citizens.
for more details check out joeollinger.com
City Considers Police/Fire Furloughs
Mayor Jim Ireton released a $47 million budget April 15 with provisions for employee furloughs, a sewer rate increase and cuts across the board. But it left many departments and organizations dissatisfied.
(Police and Fire furloughs should not even be on the table, especially with crime as it already is in SBY. If we don't have safety and security, what do we have?)
"We're not going to be able to have it all," said Council President Louise Smith, who suggested leaving the city-wide furlough schedule alone and assisting public safety with a new vehicle or extra overtime. Smith's opponents on the council disagree, but compromises are slow coming.
Council members agreed to uphold Ireton's choice to deny funding to The Village of Hope and the Maryland Food Bank, citing the availability and more appropriateness of seeking funding elsewhere, namely through Wicomico County.
(Unfortunately this is a better choice for cuts though it angers some. Of course I believe in helping the poor, but I also believe in safety. Charitable organizations are always the first to get cut.)
More at Daily Times
(Police and Fire furloughs should not even be on the table, especially with crime as it already is in SBY. If we don't have safety and security, what do we have?)
"We're not going to be able to have it all," said Council President Louise Smith, who suggested leaving the city-wide furlough schedule alone and assisting public safety with a new vehicle or extra overtime. Smith's opponents on the council disagree, but compromises are slow coming.
Council members agreed to uphold Ireton's choice to deny funding to The Village of Hope and the Maryland Food Bank, citing the availability and more appropriateness of seeking funding elsewhere, namely through Wicomico County.
(Unfortunately this is a better choice for cuts though it angers some. Of course I believe in helping the poor, but I also believe in safety. Charitable organizations are always the first to get cut.)
More at Daily Times
Live from the WY&CC
Not much going on here. I count 56 people seated in the audience, far less than I have seen in the past. Schwartz was here nice and early, JA strolled in at five after and started clicking away, Miss Julie was about 20 minutes late, no harm though.
It is nice to see the entire council here this time. That's different.
One thing brought to my attention is that the county is increasing the assessable tax base over the next year, how I don't know, but it should theoretically increase tax revenues.
I might not stay much longer, all the pacing by Alblahblah is making me nervous.
I'd like to post some pics by don't want to give up my position so I'll just grab some later from RC or JA.
It is nice to see the entire council here this time. That's different.
One thing brought to my attention is that the county is increasing the assessable tax base over the next year, how I don't know, but it should theoretically increase tax revenues.
I might not stay much longer, all the pacing by Alblahblah is making me nervous.
I'd like to post some pics by don't want to give up my position so I'll just grab some later from RC or JA.
Do Not Let This Guy Around Your Women
He is a drunk and a sleaze. I have seen him on several occasions, specifically late-nite at the Salisbury Festival drunk and "all up on" women not his wife. And just ask any State Trooper who patrols US 50 how many times he has been pulled over wasted. Is that a legislative bill in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
SBYNews Latest Slam on Mayor Ireton = Total Crap
