Wicomico County Examiner

Pusey receives key business group endorsement

One of several local candidates to score 100 percent on the Maryland Business for Responsive Government questionnaire, Marty Pusey was proud to announce her endorsement from the group. As they wrote, “your election to the state legislature will provide a much needed commitment to improving Maryland’s business climate.” Their criteria of having both a good score on the questionnaire and a solid business background placed Pusey in the position to garner the group’s support.

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Obviously I think this is a big deal but in looking at the questions I would have only scored 92 percent. I disagree with their position on eminent domain for economic development purposes because as I interpreted it they’re okay with taking private property from one or more landowners who aren’t adding much to the tax base (for example, a neighborhood of modest single-family homes) just to seize it for the benefit of another favored private interest who will add more to the tax base. This was the basis of the 2005 Kelo v. New London Supreme Court decision.

Election Calendar: October 18-31, 2010

Monday, October 18 – The Coastal Association of Realtors presents a Wicomico County candidates forum beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Fountains, 1800 Sweetbay Drive in Salisbury.

At Guerrreri Hall’s Auditorium on the Wor-Wic campus, the Wicomico Neighborhood Congress will present its Candidate Forum for Wicomico County at-large and District Council candidates from 7 to 9 p.m. Council district candidates will represent Districts 1 and 4.

Tuesday, October 19 – On his way to a candidate forum in Princess Anne, U.S. Senate candidate Eric Wargotz will stop for a Meet and Greet at the GOP Victory Center, 1016 S. Salisbury Blvd. in Salisbury, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, October 20 – District 38B Delegate candidate Marty Pusey will host a fundraiser featuring special guest Kendal Ehrlich at Trader Lee’s, located at the intersection of U.S. 50 and Maryland Route 611 in West Ocean City from 6 to 9 p.m. Lite fare and happy hour bar prices will be provided. Cost is $20 per person or $35 per couple ($25 per person at the door.) For reservations or questions, call (443) 340-8973.

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Pusey reveals economic plan

In a bid to break a decades-long Democratic stranglehold on District 38B Delegate seats, GOP challenger Marty Pusey has put together a three-pronged economic approach to bring jobs back to her district and Maryland as a whole. With unemployment in both Wicomico and Worcester counties above the state average and increasing quickly, her district may be receptive to pro-growth policies.

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Election Calendar: October 11-24, 2010

Looks like the fundraising is about over and the forums are taking center stage.

Tuesday, October 12 – The last day to register to vote for this year’s election.

Wednesday, October 13 – The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and Coastal Association of Realtors are sponsoring a Candidate Debate for District 37 and 38 candidates at Guerreri Hall Auditorium on the campus of Wor-Wic Community College (at the corner of U.S. 50 and Walston Switch Road) beginning at 6:30 p.m. District 37 candidates will speak from 6:30 to 7:30 while District 38 candidates will go from 7:30 to 8:30.

Saturday, October 16 – Boxing champion Fernando Guerrero will be the main attraction at an all-you-can-eat Bull Roast fundraiser for State’s Attorney candidate Matt Maciarello. The event will be held at the Main Street Gym, 310 Bowl Street in Salisbury and the cost is $35 for adults, $12 for kids 6-12, and under 5 free. Live and silent auctions will also be featured. Call for tickets: (410) 713-2833.

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Election Calendar: October 4-17, 2010

Monday, October 4 – District 37A Delegate candidate Dustin Mills will host a Small Business fundraiser from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Market Street Inn, 130 West Market Street in Salisbury. Cost is $30 per person or $50 per couple. For reservations e-mail electdustinmills2010@gmail.com.

Wednesday, October 6 – A candidate forum for County Council, County Executive, and State’s Attorney candidates will be sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 111, beginning at 6 p.m. It will be held at the Elks Lodge at 401 Churchill Avenue in Salisbury.

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While I’m at it, I decided not to put in two events which may draw politicians since there’s also a number of other festivals and gatherings over the next two weekends. But two major events are the Good Beer Festival next weekend and the Autumn Wine Festival the weekend of October 16-17, both at Pemberton Park outside Salisbury.

NOvember is Coming bus tour sets lone Maryland stop

The title is not a misprint – Americans for Prosperity is actually dubbing the bus stop part of the NOvember is Coming tour. It’s slated to appear at Adam’s Ribs in Fruitland (219 N. Fruitland Avenue, or Business Route 13) from 1 to 3 p.m. tomorrow.

According to Dave Schwartz, Maryland State Director for AFP, this stop will feature two keynote speakers: Andrew Langer and Duke Brooks. Both should be familiar names to local political activists.

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Mills focuses District 37A campaign on small business

It’s always a struggle to upend a 12-year incumbent from the Maryland House of Delegates, but first-time candidate Dustin Mills may have found the Achilles heel of current Delegate Rudy Cane by focusing his efforts on small business and job creation.

Despite the fact Mills currently works as a teacher and coach for Wicomico County Schools, he believes his strategy for incubating business on the lower Eastern Shore is a sound, time-tested one.

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Election Calendar: September 27 – October 10, 2010

Monday, September 27 – The monthly meeting of the Wicomico County Republican Club will be held at the Chamber of Commerce Building at 144 E. Main Street in Salisbury beginning at 6:30 p.m. Speaker will be State’s Attorney candidate Matt Maciarello.

Thursday, September 30 – Americans for Prosperity is bringing its national NOvember is Coming bus tour to Adam’s Ribs in Fruitland from 1 to 3 p.m. The program will feature a number of guest speakers from the local and national AFP along with information on the hot regional race for the First Congressional District seat. This is the only planned tour stop in Maryland. For more information visit NOvemberiscoming.com to sign up.

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Maciarello: I’ll keep Ruark for Foxwell case

Editor’s note 5/14/2022: This piece was brought home from Examiner.com.

According to a Greg Latshaw piece in today’s Daily Times, Republican State’s Attorney candidate Matt Maciarello has promised to keep current State’s Attorney Davis Ruark employed as a special prosecutor for the case against Thomas Leggs, who stands accused of murdering 11-year-old Sarah Foxwell last December. That case, which came to its sad conclusion on Christmas Day last year, attracted regional and national attention to the Salisbury area. Matt opined that Ruark “brings the most knowledge to the case,” according to Latshaw’s article.

The move is fraught with some peril in a political sense, though. Those who voted Ruark out based on his personal problems and treatment of the late Sam Vincent – who was on the verge of announcing a challenge to Ruark before his untimely death – might desire a clean break in the office and decide Democrat W. Seth Mitchell, who defeated Ruark in last week’s primary, could adequately prosecute what seems to most a slam-dunk case. But would Mitchell, a former public defender who’s “dedicated to criminal defense” (shown in the attached YouTube ad) seek the death penalty as many in Wicomico County wish?

The question may be the deciding factor in an election which has no clear favorite.

This is attached at the end of my Examiner piece, but I thought it was interesting enough to add here as well. How many of the people currently being prosecuted by the State’s Attorney’s Office were enticed by this ad? (Hint: when I found it the ad had 15 views.) But I lifted the quote directly from it.

Election Calendar: September 20 – October 3, 2010

With fewer candidates, there are fewer events upcoming. But some of them are pretty interesting.

Wednesday, September 22 – Peter and Judy Jackson host a fundraiser for Wicomico County Executive candidate Joe Ollinger at their home, 4488 Cooper Road in Eden, from 5 to 8 p.m. Catering will be by Black Diamond Catering. RSVP by September 15th requested (form available at the joeollinger.com website). Cost is $100 per person or $150 per couple.

Also that night, the local Americans for Prosperity chapter meeting is slated for 7 p.m. at Brew River – a host of local conservative and Republican candidates are normally present, with speaker to be announced.

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Ehrlich makes visit to SU, boosts Republicans

Taking a tone more like a speech to graduates than a campaign appearance (such as this one in April), Republican candidate for Governor Bob Ehrlich stopped by Salisbury University this afternoon to several dozen supporters, mainly from SU’s College Republican group.

Bob was credited with getting the Perdue School of Business going under his watch by CR President Matt Teffeau in his introduction, and Bob remarked how his first visit to the school came as the result of a high school football All-Star game. “I lived on the campus for two weeks…in the dorms,” he recalled. Bob considered SU “a hot school” and congratulated those attending for getting in.

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Mitchell, Otto biggest surprises in primary

There wasn’t a whole lot of drama in last night’s election results around Wicomico County save for the slow pace of counting returns. But by the time all was counted, our fair county had mostly performed as expected – with a couple exceptions. All results are unofficial based on around 600 or so absentee ballots to be counted.

Beginning at the top of the ticket, it was expected that Martin O’Malley and Bob Ehrlich would participate in the ‘grudge match’ for governor and Wicomico’s results fell in line with statewide numbers. The O’Malley/Brown ticket garnered 81% of the Democratic vote in Wicomico while Ehrlich/Kane bested the Brian Murphy/Mike Ryman duo by a 71%-29% margin. Similarly, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski routed her token opposition with 76 percent of the vote, easily beating Chris Garner’s 11 percent and four others with lesser numbers.

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