The final forum
At least for this go-round, anyway. Last night I came home and watched the WMDT-TV forum that I taped. What was strange about the format was that the questions weren’t necessarily the same for everyone – Kenny Beck also made mention of statements and positions that were espoused in the previous Channel 47 candidate forum back in February. In general, each round of questioning had the same theme but was tailored to each speaker.
So there really wasn’t a lot of new ground plowed, and the candidates were relatively tame to one another. There were only a few disputes among the participants, most notable a difference between Don Ewalt and Tim Spies regarding starting police salaries. Also I thought Don Ewalt may have stepped in it a little bit when he termed a $50,000 salary as a “good job” – many city employees make far less. But as before, the candidates hammered out their familiar positions regarding issues like crime, pay parity for first responders, growth, and as part of the growth issue the Old Mall TIF in particular.
I did score the debate as I had the prior two, but I came to a realization that the scores were always going to be relatively constant because I play favorites as I watch. The only real news in regard to my scoring was that I thought Louise Smith’s performance was a little disappointing. But I think she comes across better in a one-to-one situation anyway, while Terry Cohen and Tim Spies seem quite at home in a forum format. Thus those two “scored” the highest with me, while the other three participants trailed in a fairly equal group among themselves.
But as I took notes, there were a few highlights worth mentioning, so I’ll do the candidates in alphabetical order.
John Atkins: I suppose the thing that sticks out is that he missed a key chance to explain his positions. But all political candidates have a personal life and it does show his priorities are in the right place. John Edwards might not agree with my assessment, but to each his own.
Terry Cohen: Interesting comparison between supporting first responders and supporting our troops. She was also correct in terming the TIF as “corporate welfare” and that citizen input has made the Old Mall project (aside from the financing) more palatable.
Gary Comegys: He seemed to be quite defensive about being a firefighter yet not getting their endorsement, citing a rift between volunteers and careerists. Gary also questioned the oft-cited Daily Times figure of each dollar received from residential development outweighed by $1.21 in services. Also he noted that didn’t support Mayor Tilghman in her first campaign, but it’s apparent he’s in her corner now (as I’ll attest to later.)
Don Ewalt: As I wrote above, he’s now placed a figure on what is a “good paying” job. So when the TIF he supports begats development that will have almost all of the jobs created paying far less, is it a good project? He did point out that growth is inevitable, or in his words, “we can’t blow up the Vienna bridge.” And I’ll concede that the idea of a SU student as a non-voting councilperson may have merit and deserves a bit more study.
Louise Smith: I suppose the one problem I have with Louise is that she’s placing a lot of eggs as far as additional revenue goes in the “grants” basket. I don’t doubt she’s fiscally conservative and would be a budget hawk. But President Clinton used the same tactic to promise 100,000 additional police officers on the streets – problem was, when the grants run out the money needs to come from someplace or you’re letting cops go. She did bring up the Westbrook project as an example of good working-class housing, which I can buy. I’m just hoping that we’re not concerned about what a slum it’s become ten years hence.
Tim Spies: The idea of “pick(ing) the budget apart like a surgeon” is my kind of talk. The other really intriguing comment he made regarded the idea that we could’ve had light industrial on the Old Mall site long ago. Well, who killed that idea? That’s what I’d like to know. And Spies did the best job of tying things together that I agree with. The way I look at this is that the city of Salisbury scares prospective residents away (except for the Larsens, apparently) because of its high crime rate and low home ownership. But securing good jobs may help to turn around the vicious circle we’re in by promoting home ownership, which may help to lower the crime rate.
Because I was away from my computer for most of last night, I didn’t catch one of the bombshells that was revealed yesterday evening as Mayor Tilghman came out and endorsed her personal selection of candidates. Not surprisingly, the three who are Barrie’s chosen ones are John Atkins, Don Ewalt, and incumbent Gary Comegys. Apparently Ewalt was caught unaware, but Gary knew about it.
The other item that I think was initially covered on the local blogs but blew up in a more public display last night was Richard Insley’s [he of Salisbury Area Property Owners Association (SAPOA) fame] suggested message to tenants that voting for Terry Cohen and Tim Spies would drive renters out of Salisbury. Terry Cohen blasted the letter as an “out and out lie” and called the SAPOA group Salisbury’s largest special interest. Tim Spies added his thought that the letter was “bogus” (to put it nicely) and landlords are sending a message that they don’t want to be messed with. As I recall, it was only in the last decade that out-of-town property owners lost their right to vote in Salisbury, so apparently SAPOA is attempting to flex its muscles in another way.
One question that I know was politically correct not to answer but I feel should’ve been was the query about rescinding the TIF. Given the right circumstances, a measure doing this could pass City Council with a vetoproof majority (4-1.) We haven’t seen many mayoral vetoes during my time in Maryland (have there been any by Mayor Tilghman?) but with the right mix of people the next two years may become something of a power struggle, and help attract a diverse field to the 2009 mayor’s race.
As for the here and now, we have divided this election into two contending camps. On one side, you have Mayor Tilghman, SAPOA, and (to some extent) the Daily Times and Chamber of Commerce types supporting what’s become a ticket of Gary Comegys, John Atkins, and Don Ewalt. The other side (backing Terry Cohen, Tim Spies, and Louise Smith) is led by the Salisbury version of the pajamas media, and has become a coalition of those who do not support the Old Mall TIF (but are not necessarily against redevelopment of the site), along with those who feel the current Council isn’t responsive to the citizens’ interests, and other “good government” types.
As my readers know, first of all I don’t live in the city (as of last October) and second of all I’m on the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee. So I can only endorse these candidates, not vote for them myself. And because of my pledge to support Republican principles I endorse this trio with some risk; however, this is a nonpartisan election. Further, I believe the ideas that this trio have put out during the campaign come closest to coinciding with the principles of good government that should be followed regardless of party affiliation.
It begins with fiscal responsibility, but continues with thinking that can be best described as “out-of-the-box.” The trio I’ve chosen to endorse carry an element of both. And while I’m sure all six candidates are approachable, I’ve been impressed with the way all three have handled their contact with average voters at the forums I’ve attended. Another factor in my decision is the passion these three seem to have for the task at hand. They were among the earliest to file for the race, and also have shown no aversion about putting in time to benefit the community (although the same can be said for all six candidates, I commend each for their public service and for running.)
But above all, these three have by and large articulated a vision of the future and tried to stay out of the twin traps of “well, that’s the way we’ve always done it” and playing the blame game. And it is with that thought uppermost in mind that I encourage the citizens of Salisbury’s District 2 to cast their ballots on April 3rd for Terry Cohen, Louise Smith, and Tim Spies. While this is hardly an original endorsement among the blogging community, to me these three represent the best hope for keeping Salisbury as a viable city. And while I may not agree with the whole package of their personal and political philosophies, I’m confident that they’ll listen to my concerns along with everyone else’s and if we disagree, it will only be on a matter of degree and not the overarching thought of improving the city I still work and shop in.
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Another good forum synopsis — I really have enjoyed your work on these.
The last (possible the only) mayoral veto in the “Bury” probably was that by Mayor Paul Martin of a landlord licensing ordinance in 1996 (or thereabouts) when the slumlords got to him when he was hospitalized. At that time a SAPOA stalwart (Robt. Gladden) was on the Council and was able to prevent an override vote — Bob Caldwell led the effort to get the ordinance through as I recall.
Let’s hope that Cohen, Smith & Spies emerge winners — I want to see the 4-1 vote pattern continue, if you get my drift.
And, with Barrie Tilghman throwing garbage at them, it may be impossible for the mainstream media to continue their blackout of Comegys’ personal matters — nonpayment of child support until held in contempt of court, etc.
[...] By this point, after all of the forums and mainstream news coverage the candidates’ positions on issues should be pretty well outlined. All the public needs to do now is get to know those positions and vote accordingly. To review, I covered forums here, here, and here. You might also be interested in other background information I wrote here, here, here, and here. [...]
[...] Don’t miss these posts from MonoBlogue. Michael provides us with one of his great summaries of the WMDT forum from Tuesday night. For those of us who missed the Wicomico County Republican Club meeting on Monday night Michael keeps us up to speed. [...]