Month: July 2006

Allen parade in pictures

I told you that I love a parade. Now I don’t care how hot it was, I was going to show up and I did. The only thing that could have made it better was a marching band, although since I was standing by the Asbury Methodist Church, their carolier was thoughtful enough to program some patriotic tunes into the 2:00 chimes.

So here’s where I was standing in relation to the parade route:

Looking southwest from Asbury Church.

And you know it’s not a parade this summer without at least some politics. He wasn’t marching, but Sheriff candidate Kenneth Pusey had someone in his corner.

Maybe not there physically, but he has a supporter at the Allen 4th of July parade.

Finally the parade arrives as a police car is leading the way.

Leading off the parade is a police car and Boy Scout color guard.

Once the police car came closer, I realized it was a Wicomico County Sheriff’s cruiser, and who’s behind the wheel? Sheriff candidate (and current second in command) Major Doris Schonbrunner. Perhaps she’s getting in some practice?

Sheriff candidate and current second-in-command Doris Schonbrunner paces the parade.

But she was certainly not without some competition. Almost immediately behind the cruiser walked Kirk Daugherty, another candidate for the post. I suppose this is a good health indicator, since it was a pretty long stroll in 90 plus degree heat. The man must not sweat.

Sheriff candidate Kirk Daugherty walks the parade route.

Soon Wicomico County Council’s Gail Bartkovich came by in a very nice Mustang convertible. This is another thing I love about parades, I love classic cars in (slow) motion. But I think I caught her a half-beat off a classic politician’s smile. Oh well.

Inside this sweet Mustang convertible sits District 3 Councilwoman Gail Bartkovich.

Here’s another nice classic car, this time sans politician. Instead there was a gentleman driving who should be proud of this stately automobile.

An old classic Buick from the era when Detroit ruled the auto world.

And once again, a Mustang with a politician in it. This time it’s District 37 Senator Rich Colburn.

Senator Rich Colburn waves to the crowd at the July 4th parade in Allen.

But not everyone rode through the parade. It’s sort of an oddity, but most of the Democrats who were in the parade walked the route, while the bulk of the Republicans rode in a car. I’m not sure if this has any political significance. Anyway, Mark Bowen, Wicomico County Clerk of Courts, was among the walkers. It’s a good thing he carried the sign because personally I wouldn’t know him from Adam otherwise.

Clerk of Courts Mark Bowen with his large sign.

It wasn’t all politicians who were represented. You had the obligitory Scout troops, a few floats, lots of bikes, and cute kids. The next photo is of a group called the Buffalo Soldiers, which represented ancestors of the onetime Negro-only regiments in the U.S. military. They weren’t integrated with the rest of the armed forces until World War II. It’s sort of a forgotten chapter in military history that this group serves as a reminder of.

The local Buffalo Soldiers proudly participated.

And here’s just a sample of the cute kid quotient:

A young lady rides a decorated ATV in the Allen July 4th parade.

Now I find it interesting that District 38A Delegate Page Elmore has his own campaign van. Even more interesting was the fact he was walking the route, and the van stopped for a time because he was gladhanding Allen residents and the van pulled over so he could catch up. The van was originally behind Gail Bartkovich’s Mustang but didn’t pass until almost the end of the parade!

And he was not unopposed at the parade. I spied Tony Bruce, a Democrat hopeful, walking (again a Democrat walking!) along the parade route, but I got a bad picture of him. The same happened to Bob Culver, candidate for County Executive. That’s too bad because he was alongside a neat little yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

But here’s Page, finally caught up to his van.

District 38A Delegate Page Elmore walks alongside his campaign van.

Now, there’s always a finish to the parade. If it’s a Christmas parade, they put Santa at the end. I’m not sure she qualifies at Saint Nick, but Orphans Court Judge Melissa Pollitt Bright struggled to keep up on her bike and thus was the parade’s tail end. But she made it through.

Melissa Pollitt Bright is the cow's tail for this parade.

Now there was a celebration at the Allen Community Hall afterward with food and music, along with the acknowlegement of candidates and elected officials there. Most of those I pictured stayed around for that as well, plus I was greeted by Wicomico County Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman and Sheriff Hunter Nelms. Since they’re both Republicans, they know me from the WCRC meetings. It’s nice that they can recognize me now, and from the indications that the Board of Elections has given me, I’ll be their elected peer for at least a short time.

I’m going to post all my Allen photos on my Flickr page, I didn’t take all of them for cropping to blog size and as I noted some of them didn’t turn out as I liked. (And it was bipartisan.) This will likely happen over the weekend since I have several personal and blog-related items on my agenda the next few days.

But I’ll tell you what, I enjoyed the parade and gathering. Had I known what kind of fiasco the Lynard Skynard concert would be, I would have stayed in Allen a little longer!

Happy Birthday to US

Once again, our nation celebrates its birthday with pomp and circumstance. I’ll likely go down to the hamlet of Allen and scope out their parade because I love a parade! (That sounds like a song.) Then I’m off to the Lynard Skynard concert.

If it sounds like a campaign calendar, well, it sort of is. But last night I found out that there were just 7 applicants for the 7 spots on the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee ballot so barring a late write-in campaign, come September I’ll become one of 4 new members of the committee (joining 3 incumbent holdovers.) However, I also found that there were quite a few new names added to other ballots, so this week I have to send more copies of my original Ten Questions posthaste to latecomers in the U.S. Senate race and the Maryland General Assembly version to 22 folks (and slot them in.) That should be interesting and it should be fair warning to hopefuls who read monoblogue.

But I think this is good news. I got a handout at last night’s Central Committee meeting of everyone who is running in Wicomico County. For all of the elective offices, there are 78 people on the ballot.

As long as America has a stock of people who wish to make a difference, we’re going to be all right. It’s when apathy becomes the norm that we are in trouble.

And it’s not just a popularity thing. The Democrats and moonbats out there like to rail on President Bush’s 40% approval rating. From what I understand, if there had been opinion polls out during Revolutionary times, the approval rating of that war would’ve been in the low 30’s. Fortunately for us 230 years later, those guys you see the places named after (Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Hancock, et. al.) ignored the polls and did what they believed was right to secure the blessings of liberty.

Today we celebrate with fireworks, concerts, parades, family gettogethers, and the like. It’s one of the few days the government hasn’t messed with as far as holidays go, and it’s the one day we should revel in the red, white, and blue.

Speaking of which, I’m a little tardy in doing it, so I’ll take my leave to proudly hang up my flag! Happy Independence Day to all!

Election Calendar – July 3 thru July 16

Another edition of the Election Calendar. People are starting to get it slowly but surely – putting word of events on the internet is a good thing!

This week several events in Sussex County have crossed my computer screen, so they now lead the pack.

Sussex County:

July 4: U.S. Congress candidate Dennis Spivack is slated to appear at the Bethany parade. The parade steps off at noon.

July 6: U.S. Senate candidate Jan Ting is scheduled to be at the Sussex County GOP Passport Party. This is at the Baywood Greens CC in Long Neck. Cost is $45 per person or $80 a couple, starting at 6:00 with social hour. Speaker is former Ambassador to China James R. Lilley and info can be had at (302) 856-6323.

July 7: The next night, Ting is back in Seaford for his listening tour. The info number given is (302) 651-0271.

July 11: Delaware Attorney General candidate Ferris Wharton holds the first stop on his Announcement Tour at 9 a.m. at the Old Courthouse in Georgetown, 10 S. Bedford Street.

July 15: Sussex County Sheriff Robert Reed is having a barbecue fundraiser at 32046 River Road in Millsboro from 4-8 p.m. Cost is $15 and kids 4-12 for $6. Info: (302) 945-2586.

Wicomico County:

July 4: District 38B candidate Bonnie Luna will be circulating about the Wicomico Fireworks display at Wicomico High School in Salisbury. Also, I’m told several candidates will be at the earlier parade in the village of Allen. (That parade starts at 2:00, I found that out today.)

July 6: As far as I know, the Sheriff Candidates Forum at the Elks Club is still on. I’m assuming that this is the one at 401 Church Hill Avenue (by the golf course and zoo) since that’s the only Elks Club I’m aware of here. Not certain of the time yet, but I’m still sure someone will tell me – I would guess 6:30 or 7:00.

July 8: Bonnie Luna is the guest of honor at a neighborhood “Meet the Candidate” party. For info call (410) 749-1736.

July 10: On Larry Dodd‘s calendar (District 5 County Council incumbent) is an interview for Bill Reddish’s WICO-AM morning show. Generally these occur in the half hour between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m.

Worcester County:

July 8: Both District 38B hopeful Jack Lord and U.S. Congress candidate (MD-1) Jim Corwin are slated to be at the Ocean Pines Boat Parade.

July 9: Fellow 38B candidate Bonnie Luna is scheduled to be at the “Concert on the Lawn” at the Calvin B. House Museum in Berlin (208 N. Main Street).

July 15: Jack Lord is having a “Surfin’ Safari” fundraiser at the Showell Fire Department hall, 1-5 p.m. Cost is $35 per person.

Dorchester County:

July 7: District 37 State Senator Richard Colburn is having the 10th Choptank River Cruise. This cruise will embark from the Suicide Bridge Restaurant (6304 Suicide Bridge Road in Hurlock) at 6:30 p.m. sharp, and the cost is $75.

July 8: U.S. Congress candidate Jim Corwin’s calendar has him stopping by the Dorchester Democrat Central Committee fundraiser at the Canvasback Restaurant in Cambridge. This begins at 3:30 p.m. and the cost is $35. Also having this on his calendar is Maryland AG hopeful Doug Gansler.

Wow, this took a lot more time. But I’m happy to do it! I counted 14 events so things are beginning to pop here for sure.

Ehrlich Night with the Shorebirds

There were 6,022 people in attendance at Perdue Stadium tonight to watch the Shorebirds do battle with their SAL North foes, the Lake County Captains. Generally Saturday night fireworks draw a large crowd, but tonight there were about 200 of those people mostly wearing something in common and sitting in one section.

About 200 people were in the house to show their support for Governor Ehrlich and his reelection bid.

And the show of support was appreciated by the campaign as Governor Ehrlich made it down to Salisbury. Here he’s shown with District 38B Delegate candidate Michael James, son Drew (hidden in the picture) and representatives from our service branches.

Governor Ehrlich greets the Navy's representative as the military is honored in a pregame ceremony.

Since Michael James was using this appearance as a fundraiser and has already shown his support of the Shorebirds with a large political advertisement on the outfield wall, he was allowed to throw out one of the first pitches, along with the five service branch representatives.

District 38B Delegate hopeful Michael James shows good form in throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.

I’d have liked to get the photo of the service reps throwing out five simultaneous first pitches, but I missed the moment. Ever the politically savvy person, Governor Ehrlich deferred his first pitch duties to son Drew. I think he’s had practice at this:

Drew Ehrlich, son of Governor Robert Ehrlich, throws out his ceremonial first pitch at the July 1st Shorebirds game.

And after the game started, the governor does what politicians are seemingly born to do, work the crowd. But a few innings into the contest, he stopped over to join his supporters.

Governor Ehrlich watches with supporters at a Shorebirds game in Salisbury.

Now, the Governor is a busy guy and obviously a lot of people who were amongst his supporters needed to bend his ear. I did spy District 38A Delegate Page Elmore in his normal public bright red shirt speaking to the Governor briefly, along with a host of other well-wishers. But Governor Ehrlich was nice enough to pose for pictures with a large number of folks, sign a few autographs, and generally make himself a little bit available to us folks at the game. By the way, I took advantage of the opportunity to have a pic taken with Governor Ehrlich but it’s not resizeable to my blog’s format. This may be the one and only time I’m to the left of the governor!

So it was a really fun night – baseball, fireworks, and politics all converging on a lovely warm summer evening. The only downer was that the Shorebirds, after scoring in the bottom of the ninth to tie it at 1 run apiece, broke down in the 10th and lost the game 3-1. Three errors did us in, one allowed the first Lake County run to score as catcher Zach Dillon dropped a relay throw. Had the play been made, Delmarva stood to win a 1-0 thriller.

The scoreboard tells the story as the Shorebirds drop an extra-inning affair to Lake County.

Of course, if I find out about an O’Malley night I’ll have to secure the tickets to that (from my workplace, I’m not giving money to his campaign!) That would be an interesting study in comparison. But I doubt Martin O’Malley is really planning on spending much time on the Eastern Shore because we’re pretty solid Ehrlich country here. We really appreciate the governor spending some time tonight securing his base though.

Hack-ed off

The controversy over the early voting petitions stepped forward Friday after an Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge denied a request by Marylanders for Fair Elections (MFE) to overturn a decision by State Board of Elections administrator Linda Lamone that their petition drive failed to meet the May 31st interim deadline by 138 signatures. However, the drive continued with twice the required 102,000 number turned in by yesterday’s final deadline.

Judge Paul Hackner, a 2002 Glendenning appointee, denied the MFE motion in his decision, which now will be heard by the Court of Appeals in late July.

The decision comes as a continuing series of pitfalls plagues the effort to overturn early voting.

A controversy over whether the referendum challenge was even legal hurt early signature gathering, but 40,000 signatures were turned in for the first May 31 deadline (with about 34,000 being required.) The item prompting the legal challenge was the Board of Elections’ refusal to consider signatures that were delayed in the mailing process, as well as an MFE request to observe the signature verification which was turned down by the state elections board.

The ruling actually centered on whether MFE had submitted its appeal to the Board of Elections in a timely manner. The organization needed to respond within 10 days of receiving notification; however a letter sent on June 8th was not received by Marylanders for Fair Elections chairman Tom Roskelly until he returned from an out-of-state vacation June 17th.

While the decision may deny the Maryland voters an opportunity to cast their ballots on the Senate bill regarding early voting issue itself, the referendum on the companion House of Delegates bill which actually specified the early voting locations (and allows the State Administrator veto power over locations) did make it through the first hurdle and is expected to pass through the second one.

As expected, Democrats were gleeful about the news. From the Washington Times:

“They can make all the baseless, groundless charges they want,” said David Paulson of the Maryland Democratic Party. “It doesn’t hide the fact that they failed.”

The question for the Court of Appeals will be whether the MFE actually failed or if they had a little bit of help in that from a partisan Board of Elections administrator. If she cannot be trusted to judge whether a petition drive fairly met its goals or not without stooping to picayune reasons for denying signatures, how can Free Staters trust that the election results announced come November 7th will be proper?

I’d be curious as well whether the Board of Elections actually verified each signature or did it by random sampling (which is allowed under Maryland elections law in certain instances.) With the number being so close, I’d hope that the Board of Elections actually did the work of verifying each signature – to me, the benefit of the doubt should go to the will of the voter and not the will of the Board to save itself some work, or undo what dastardly deeds are done under the guise of encouraging turnout.

When the rules are changed to require a photo ID for voting and provisions made for assuring one cannot vote multiple times, then I’ll be more amenable to early voting. Right now I see it as a naked power grab by the big-government forces in Annapolis.

Late edit: I looked into the process of appointing judges to the Maryland court system. In Judge Hackner’s instance, he was selected in 2002 by Governor Glendenning as stated. In the case of Circuit Court judges, they are first winnowed out by a judicial nominating commission. Hackner would have fallen under the auspices of Commission District 7, which covers Anne Arundel County. This commission is appointed predominantly (9 of 13) by the governor from lawyers and non-lawyers, with the Maryland Bar Association selecting the remainder. They made the list that Governor Glendenning selected from.

In 2003 Governor Ehrlich got his chance to select his appointees to the court nominating commissions at both the Appellate and Trial levels. Included among them was District 38B candidate Bonnie Luna, who serves as an at-large member of the Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission. With the recent power grab by the legislative branch, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the General Assembly tried to usurp Governor Ehrlich’s right to pick these members should he be reelected.