On my Examiner site I have pictures as well, but quite honestly they serve to record some of the participants for higher county office.
There are 46 total candidates on the primary election ballot for county offices here in Wicomico County. Perhaps it was the somewhat late notice for the event – as a candidate I received an invitation earlier this week – but barely half could be bothered to attend. (Granted, the thirteen Republican Central Committee aspirants make up a large percentage of the ballot and there was a competing event in Ocean City. But none of the four Democrats for their Central Committee showed either!) Many of the so-called “Tea Party” candidates locally were absent as well. In fact, aside from the County Executive race there weren’t a whole lot of challengers present – all but one District Council forum participant was an incumbent member of County Council.
Of course, being an NAACP forum many questions focused on race, but the audience of nearly 100 seemed to be most interested in economic issues. The audience-supplied questions tended toward that part of the platform. And since local NAACP head Mary Ashanti demanded respect in order to avoid trouble with the national organization, the candidates and audience were fairly well-behaved and polite.
In looking at each individual race, some differences were clear from the outset.
Right off the top, speaking in his opening statement, Tom Taylor told the crowd he was running on a “strict” fiscal accountability ticket for County Executive. On the other hand, incumbent Rick Pollitt said as the first County Executive, “we needed to concentrate on getting the citizens more engaged,” and talked about his efforts at diversity in employment and appointments. And these guys are both Democrats. The Republican in the race, Joe Ollinger, pointed out his lifetime of business experience and vowed to bring new, refreshing ideas to the table.
Even the books which best exemplify their approach to government (yes, this was a question) were radically different. Rick Pollitt chose John F. Kennedy’s “Profiles in Courage,” while Joe Ollinger selected “The Genius of the People,” which is a look at the trials and tribulations of our Founding Fathers as they drafted the Constitution in 1787. Tom Taylor preferred Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged,” which also happens to be one of my favorites.
Two related questions talked about disparity and inequity. While Joe Ollinger spoke about hiring the most qualified people, he also noted “the great equalizer” was public schools. Conversely, Tom Taylor said that government’s sole purpose was to protect individual rights, not provide services – it’s “the great umpire” but governs best when it governs least. And once again, Rick Pollitt brought up his contention, “the government had to reflect the face of the community” but not, as Ollinger said previously, a quota.
When the question turned to harmony between the executive and County Council, Ollinger promised to “work very closely” with County Council; Pollitt also thought “we’ve established a good relationship.” Meanwhile, Taylor related his experience with PAC-14: he tapes each County Council meeting for the community access cable channel. Taylor vowed to continue to attend County Council meetings if elected.
The final question dealt with quotas as moderator Orville Penn wanted to ask if the officeseekers would promise a particular percentage of minorities in county government. Of course, Rick Pollitt said, “I will try my best.” Joe Ollinger would hire the most qualified person since “the most important job” is to make sure money is spent wisely. But Tom Taylor not only would hire the best person, he spoke about us being “all one race – the human race.”
It’s unquestionable that Democrats have a choice in their primary race, as Taylor described himself as a libertarian Democrat while Pollitt spent the first three years of his term making the case the revenue cap was handicapping him. In some respects Taylor could even be considered to the right of Ollinger, who believed his business background would hold him in good stead for running the county.
Democrat John Wayne Baker, who would be described as a Tea Party candidate for County Executive, did not attend the forum.
The forum turned to the three (of six) County Council members who were present – Democrats Ed Taylor and David Cowall and Republican Bob Culver.
In his opening statement, Taylor talked about the three terms he’d already served on County Council, and remarked people asked him, “why are you crazy enough to run again?” He wanted to, “be part of the solution.”
Political newcomer Cowall said County Council was, “a job that needs doing right” and a place for “logical, nonpartisan decisions.” Culver, the Republican who ran for County Executive in 2006, simply cited his upbringing and business experience in his remarks.
The first question regarded the revenue cap, which Culver favored but Cowall thought “needs a new look” and Taylor opposed – he claimed that in 2002 he calculated the county would lose $50 million under the cap.
Another question concerned how minorities “get the axe” when budgets are cut. Culver contended that core services have to have “first consideration” while Cowall believed we needed to “set our priorities and set them right” – across-the-board cuts were a “bad idea.” Taylor would leave education and public safety alone.
A final question asked about jobs for the minority community. I thought Bob Culver had an interesting point, one that encouraged minorities to take low-paying jobs now because of the prospect for advancement as the economy rebounded. This generation expected what his already had without working its way through life as he had. He also had the idea of subsidizing job creation through grants which would defray part of salaries for new hires. (Of course, what happens when the grant money is gone?)
Cowall, who said we “need to support our farmers,” pointed out that jobs are being created in certain sectors like health care and by Salisbury University. Green jobs were also a possibility within our ability to create them, and he was upbeat about our future. Taylor thought we needed to add more economic development staff and try to draw construction back in.
Honestly, none of the three excited me a great deal and it’s a shame that Mike Brewington (another “Tea Party” Democrat), Matt Holloway, and Chris Lewis (a “Tea Party” Republican) weren’t in attendance to express their ideas and make the forum a little more rousing.
The final major portion of the debate dealt with district Council members, with most of the stage time devoted to District 1 council candidates. Not only was that the only district which was represented by both candidates in the running for the seat but it’s a district which serves a large part of the black community and is represented by the sole black member on Wicomico County Council, Sheree Sample-Hughes. Her opponent, Dave Goslee, Jr., is white.
In their opening statements, Sample-Hughes talked about “having a seat at the table” and her interaction with the community through quarterly meetings. On the other hand, Goslee touted his business and farming experience.
Of course, some of the questions involved NAACP and civil rights issues. Sample-Hughes played up her membership in the organization, calling it an “educating” organization, and discussed an incident which occurred in a local barbershop where patrons were told to hit the floor by police. The African-American community was “not as respected as it should be,” she opined, but added, “there should be a point in time where we are okay.” Meanwhile, Goslee spoke about his “endeavor” to attract talented people to the business he helps to operate and believed that Biblical principles should be the basis of our relationships.
One interesting interchange was the candidates getting to ask questions of each other. Goslee asked Sample-Hughes about her charitable works – which mainly involved working with the American Legion auxiliary – while Sheree asked Dave about what he could bring to the table in partnerships? Goslee cited his work with the Delmar Fire Department, the United Way, and the Joseph House as examples.
Since the other candidates were unopposed at the forum, they were allowed an opening statement before getting into group questioning.
Stevie Prettyman of District 2 told the crowd her “commitment is to conservative principles” and talked about her favorite books: a tome by fellow Councilman Taylor called “Just Me and God” and her mother’s journal. Her opponent, Mike Calpino (another local Tea Party participant and the lone Libertarian on the county ballot) did not participate.
District 3 Council member Gail Bartkovich talked about the importance of the upcoming county comprehensive plan and related how she and Sample-Hughes, who serves as Council vice-president, work out the weekly agenda together. Bartkovich has served as Council president for the last year. Her Republican opponent, John Hamilton, was not in attendance.
David MacLeod of District 4 was more blunt: “I need four more years to get it right.” He related his life experience, which including time living overseas in Africa, and said he would concentrate on crime – “a cancer” on the community – if re-elected. Opponent Bob Caldwell, a Republican known for community involvement, surprisingly missed the forum.
Joe Holloway of District 5 is in the catbird seat since he is unopposed. So he talked about Council’s role as a “filter” between the County Executive and the people and termed it the “last line of defense” against overlegislation.
The questions by this point were more simple, perhaps because the evening had grown long and there were still more candidates who were on the agenda.
On the revenue cap:
- Sheree Sample-Hughes thought a modification (a 3% increase) was needed because she could see the constraints from sitting at the table.
- Stevie Prettyman voted against the original tax increase which set off the drive for the revenue cap and instead said “we have to create job opportunities (and) get out of the way.”
- David MacLeod noted the “community expressed themselves…I have to learn to live within that.”
- Joe Holloway is deadset against removing it because the revenue cap acts as a control on spending.
- Gail Bartkovich described the “mistrust” caused by the original situation and called for more transparency.
- Dave Goslee would honor his constituents’ wishes.
Reagrding the comprehensive plan:
- Goslee related his business experience with making short- and long-term plans with his employer and vowed to create “the best county in the state of Maryland” by stressing jobs and public safety.
- Bartkovich sought public input and described the plan as a “vision of (the county’s) look and growth.”
- Joe Holloway wanted to make sure we didn’t tackle the “downzoning” issue before the comprehensive plan was complete.
- MacLeod sought a “balance between growth and agriculture” and also stressed public participation.
- So did Prettyman, who saw the plan as a method of expressing our, “hopes, dreams, (and) vision.”
- Sample-Hughes saw the plan as a foundation to preserve agriculture but also as a work which could enhance employment and public safety.
Speaking of downzoning, the last question was regarding the candidates’ position on the subject. While Sample-Hughes thought it best to study the approach other counties have taken, MacLeod was “very concerned” about the possibility of state involvement, and Bartkovich said she wouldn’t consider the subject until the comprehensive plan was finalized.
Even more hardened in their opposition were Prettyman, who demanded any downzoning plan include adequate compensation, and Holloway, who contended there was no good compensation method. Dave Goslee was very much opposed since part of his plan for retirement involved selling pieces of his farm – an option which Holloway also remarked saved some of his farmer friends from bankruptcy.
Since the hour was late, remaining candidates were briefly introduced. The two present State’s Attorney candidates answered a question about the role of the State’s Attorney – Seth Mitchell saw it as one of “seek(ing) justice” and demanding responsibility while training young staffers properly, while incumbent Davis Ruark saw his role as being a leader in the community, seeking justice, and assuring fairness. Newly-minted (and perhaps former) candidate Matt Maciarello was not present.
Other candidates who attended the forum (and absentees):
- Mark Bowen (Clerk of the Court) who remarked he’s unopposed for the first time in 16 years.
- Norma Lee Barkley, Melissa Pollitt Bright, William Smith, and Pete Evans for Judge of the Orphans’ Court. Barkley, Bright, and Smith are incumbents, and Smith is the sole Republican. Barkley remarked she was seeking her last term and the three incumbents work well together as a team regardless of party. No candidates were absent.
- Sheriff Mike Lewis is unopposed but was called away before having the opportunity to speak.
- Three officeseekers (of 13) for Republican Central Committee were there: myself, Dave Goslee Jr. and G.A. Harrison. Harrison has his own thoughts on the proceedings. Political bloggers running for public office: whooda thunk it?
- Amazingly to me, none of the four members of the Democratic Central Committee came up to speak. Each Central Committee member (by this point it was two, Goslee and I) were allowed 30 seconds to speak and I took about 15.
A future forum is in the works for state candidates (District 37A incumbent Rudy Cane and his Democratic opponent Von Siggers were in attendance) with a date to be determined. Hopefully they do a better job of showing up than a number of county officials did.
