Day: January 6, 2010

Observations on Wicomico County Council – January 5, 2010

Last night I attended a rare night meeting of the Wicomico County Council. The stars must have been aligned just so because I was far from the only one.

It was a packed house at a rare evening meeting of the Wicomico County Council.

County Council President Gail Bartkovich called this turnout “wonderful.”

I’m not going to make this a blow-by-blow account of what turned out to be a four-plus hour meeting and work session, just hit the highlights. There were two proclamations, nine resolutions, and three public hearings on the agenda plus a open work session, not to mention a presentation of the county’s new website and new crime initiatives the county was planning.

It was that crime initiatives segment which seemed to draw the most interest.

Speaking with Lt. Ernie Leatherbury of the Maryland State Police, Acting Chief Ivan Barkley of the Salisbury Police Department, and State’s Attorney Davis Ruark flanking him, Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis stated the solidarity between these agencies has never been stronger and that they were “working harder than we have ever been” to be preventive.

Sheriff Lewis added that the unity was “extraordinary” and “unprecedented” during the Sarah Foxwell search and complemented the newly-installed Salisbury chief who “wants to work on everything” with the assistance of the WCSD and MSP. He also had a message for criminals: they’re “getting ready to rock their world.”

Lt. Leatherbury also praised the “unprecedented” cohesiveness with other agencies and shared his willingness to bring the full resources of the State Police to the Eastern Shore when the problem dictated such a response.

Chief Barkley had little to add as the “rookie” of the group but assured those gathered “we’re gonna get this done.”

From his side of the crime issue, Davis Ruark called the Christmas Day search for Sarah Foxwell “a moving experience” and vowed that Wicomico County “will be the safest county in Maryland” with the cooperation of these agencies.

Regarding the Foxwell case, Lewis said “no case has affected me more deeply” and that he “just can’t thank the community enough” for their help. He also revealed that the FBI had offered 200 agents to help (Lewis accepted 18) and called the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police the “unsung heroes” of the investigation.

Lewis also addressed the question of why no murder change had been placed against suspect Thomas Leggs, noting that time is on their side because Leggs is being held without bond and that allows them time to “tie up some loose ends” – they still have “a lot of work to do.” Ruark as well promised “additional charges will be forthcoming” within 45 days, and they would be sufficient to keep the suspect from ever molesting again. “Ultimately justice will be served,” concluded Ruark.

Once Lewis and company had said their piece, some of the audience left and the topics eventually turned to the more mundane business of running the county. Most of the issues were dispensed with briefly and by a unanimous vote but there was some controversy.

The normally ho-hum task of selecting names to submit to the Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board drew opposition because one applicant happened to be a county employee. Eventually Bartkovich sided with the three Democrats (McCain, MacLeod, and Sample-Hughes) to send two additional names to the Governor, including the county employee. They now have the six required to choose from.

Spirited objection to the acquisition of five acres for additional parking for the Civic Center was led by District 5 Councilman Joe Holloway and District 2 Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman. While the lot designer attempted to assure the Council that the state would indeed allow over 500 spaces on the parcel, the pair also asked for a new appraisal, considering the $300,000 per acre too much despite the fact the money comes from a Program Open Space grant. They were the lone opposition to moving the project along and scheduling a public hearing for February 2.

Another item hitting a roadblock was a proposal to change the burning permit laws to better reflect state law and allow county enforcement. Some provisions were objectable to several members of both the County Council and all but one of those who spoke about the proposed rule change, which was tabled on a unanimous vote.

The final item on the agenda for passage that yielded a split vote was a proposal to reject the Compensation and Allowance Commission’s recommendations for increasing the County Executive’s salary. Only Democrats David MacLeod and Bill McCain voted against rejecting the recommendation while the others (who all rejected the CAC’s recommendation for increasing the salaries of County Council) voted to reject.

The public hearing on our Capital Improvements Program also drew criticism from the Holloway/Prettyman camp as one item to be considered was the purchase of 15 more acres adjacent to the 5 acres being considered for Civic Center parking at a lesser price – $250,000 per acre. The county would chip in only a portion, but the pair rightfully fretted about the two deals being separately priced.

But the biggest discussion was yet to come, and occurred after all but a half-dozen or so patrons had left and the PAC-14 cameras turned off.

The County Council hashed out a number of ideas on filling a $2.9 million hole in the county roads budget, placed there when state funding was pulled. The consensus for moving forward seemed to be a combination of dipping into the county’s reserves along with another fund the county unexpectedly received. Other measures would eventually be taken to rebuild the reserve fund; one in particular I was asked not to disclose.

Perhaps the best comments during this portion of the meeting belonged to Prettyman, who bluntly noted, “we are going to have to cut the size of government (next year)” instead of continuing to “kick the can down the road.”

We elect our representatives to make hard choices like this, and sitting through that meeting was an inspiring learning experience. Obviously the roads department is a core function, and perhaps some are right when they claim you can’t rob Peter to pay Paul.

Yet there’s only so much the public is willing and able to give. During the next budget go-round it may be prudent to begin thinking outside the box to alternatives like privatizing services and starting the budget from scratch at a department level. These evening meetings may go a little late, but it also gives the public the chance to directly involve itself in the process. So I commend the Wicomico County Council for holding this meeting in the evening and encourage more of the same.

Harris officially in the Congressional race

“In 9 months and 27 days we get America back.”

That’s how Andy Harris termed the 2010 election as he officially confirmed probably the worst-kept political secret in Maryland and placed himself in the running to oust Frank Kratovil as the First District’s Congressman.

Andy Harris (left) arrives at the East Coast Iron facility in Salisbury to wrap up his announcement tour of the district. With him is local business owner and Harris volunteer Mark McIver.

After speaking to an audience of 70 in Easton (according to one observer) and earlier stops in Bel Air and Annapolis, Harris greeted over 40 supporters in the metal shop turned announcement location. Observers shivered in the chilly room but were excited by what Harris had to say, interrupting the State Senator with applause several times.

First, though, he was introduced by one of his cohorts.

District 37 State Senator Richard Colburn introduced his fellow State Senator, telling attendees Harris was the 'smartest' State Senator because he knew the issues.

State Senator Richard Colburn told those present that Harris “knows the Eastern Shore” and would fight to preserve those industries and jobs which define our region – seafood and agriculture. After pointing out some of the half-dozen elected officials in attendance, Colburn praised Andy’s work in the State Senate as well, telling us he would be missed after this session.

State Senator Andy Harris discusses his opponent's record during his announcement tour of the district, January 5, 2010 in Salisbury, Maryland.

After Colburn’s introduction, Harris strode to the podium and told the chilly crowd, “this kind of business is what the election is all about” as it was one directly impacted by federal policy. It was time to put us back on the path to prosperity because people were telling him “enough is enough.”

He recounted the reasons he got into politics in the first place in 1998, as the entrenched incumbent held positions Harris believed were out of step with the district. In contrast, Harris defended his record as one which put families and businesses first.

By the same token, he felt Congress was out to “dismantle” our way of life and make our children worse off than we are. They “attempted to take over” business and health care while “whistling past the graveyard” of mounting deficits.

Andy Harris speaks to supporters during his official campaign kickoff announcement in Salisbury, Maryland, January 5, 2009.

Harris touched on a number of items he’s planning to work on when elected to Congress:

  • Ending the stimulus and deficit spending. America is saying “enough is enough” to wasteful and excessive government spending.
  • Patients and doctors making health care decisions, not a one-size-fits-all plan.
  • A Constitutional amendment for term limits, similar to one recently introduced by Senator Jim DeMint.
  • No cap-and-trade “schemes” since they’ll threaten the area’s agricultural tradition.
  • Stopping the “payoff for union muscle” by killing the legislation enabling “card check,” best known by the misnamed “Employee Free Choice Act.”
  • No earmarks – “business as usual” in Washington is the wrong way to do business.
  • Not voting to maintain Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.

Perhaps the biggest direct swipe at opponent Frank Kratovil came at a point in Andy’s speech where he spoke about Kratovil’s pledge of fiscal conservatism while spending $250,000 of taxpayer money to send out several full-color brochures to local supporters and other residents. (For the record, I’m not on that mailing list.)

The overriding theme for Harris, though, was one of “bring(ing) back America from Pelosi and company.”

After his remarks, Harris took a few questions from the reporters present. Responding to a question about the election, he termed it “a clear call for changing business as usual in Washington.”

The first thing Harris would do if elected? Co-sponsoring the Constitutional amendment for term limits.

Biggest issue? “Getting our jobs back and preserving our heritage.”

Which Kratovil votes did you object to most? Harris mentioned the vote for the stimulus bill (after voting against it), the partisan vote to install Pelosi as Speaker, and Kratovil’s vote for cap-and-tax, which Harris called, “a jobs bill – for India and China.”

It promises to be an interesting campaign, with the “9 months and 27 days” likely to be full of charges and counter-charges and 30-second commercials mainly sponsored by outside interests. This will be fun.

Update: Maryland GOP Party Chair Audrey Scott also chimed in, describing Harris’s Annapolis stop:

Yesterday was “Andy Harris for Congress Day” across the State and at the MDGOP headquarters, as State Senator, Andy Harris, announced his candidacy for Congress from Maryland’s 1st District. Excitement was high and turnout of supporters and the Party faithful was impressive… the headquaters was packed with enthusiastic, cheering Republicans commited to electing Andy to Congress!

Notable attendees included Former Ambassador Ellen Sauerbrey, and elected officials, Senator Ed Reilly, Delegate James King, Delegate Bob Costa, Delegate Tony McConkey, Delegate Ron George, former Senator Janet Greenip, and County Executive John Leopold, who addressed the crowd in support of Andy Harris. The race is on! Get on the band wagon and help Andy return the 1st District to Republican representation in Congress.

As a general policy, the MDGOP does not get involved in contested primaries. There are many candidates coming forward and those who are not challenged in primaries can count on full State Party participation from the onset. During the General elections, we are supportive of all our Republican candidates.