Jim Ireton Announces for Mayor …

… With a Unique Blend of Rhetoric and Substance

Anyone who attended Jim Ireton’s announcement that he was running for Mayor had to be impressed.  Ireton’s well thought out speech hit on the major problems facing Salisbury and Ireton presented common sense solutions to solving them.

The most important thing to note about Ireton’s speech was an almost unique blend of persuasive rhetoric and substantive policy recommendations.  Ireton accomplished this because he is truly passionate about Salisbury and in solving the problems facing a once great city.  There was nothing “over the top” about anything he said.  Instead Ireton focused attention on 5 issues:

• The Wicomico River

• Growth and Development

• Housing

• Fiscal Policy

• Crime

Ireton’s approach is well studied, without any rash proposals.

One item that I was particularly happy to see mentioned was the Tilghman administration’s incessant use of subsidy:

when we use taxes from small businesses to subsidize the creation of their competition…

This quote appears to be directed at enterprise zone tax credits.  I am a HUGE proponent of enterprise zones.  However, the Tilghman administration (along with her infamous “council leadership”) have taken a lazy, ineffective approach to a great concept.

Rather than draw enterprise zones in areas where they are needed, and remove the areas which have flourished, the Tilghman – Comegys approach has been one of continually adding areas to one big enterprise zone without trimming off areas where it is no longer needed.

The Tilghman – Comegys approach has lead to tax credits for condos (which are not permitted under the law), a Walgreen’s drug store on Salisbury Blvd. and a hotel at the north end of the city.  None of these were in blighted areas that enterprise zones were originally designed to benefit.  Ineffectual corporate welfare, rather than genuine attempts at economic development, has been a standing policy of the Barrie Tilghman / Gary Comegys / Louise Smith (nee Mike Dunn) school of misgovernance.

Another great idea advocated by Ireton is that of an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO).  By giving developers a choice – either delay development or contribute to the construction of needed infrastructure – existing residents and businesses are not forced to subsidize new residents or competetors.

A genuine APFO for Salisbury would also put the Wicomico County government in a corner on this matter.  To date, County Executive Rick Pollitt and the swing votes on the Wicomico County Council have used Salisbury as an excuse for not passing a county APFO.  It is a valid argument given Salisbury’s current zeal for annexation and residential development.  However, a strong APFO in Salisbury takes away that excuse and would force Pollitt and the County Council to take a stand.

It should, however, be noted that there were several areas where I believe Ireton’s approach was deficient.  While his proposal for cleaning up the Wicomico River sounds good, there is a gaping hole in the area of how to pay for it.

While Ireton devoted a sizable percentage of his address to fiscal policy, there was no mention of tax policy except for one brief reference to the subsidy our small businesses provide to new competetors.  Granted, given that the Tilghman administration is unable to even balance the city’s checkbook it would be unwise to take a no tax hike pledge.  We have no idea what type of rat’s nest will be uncovered upon Barrie Tilghman leaving office.

There is no question that an Ireton administration would help to make Salisbury more economically viable.  However, I wish he had directly addressed economic development in his speech.

While I wish that he had included a few other items (as mentioned above), there was only one item in Ireton’s speech which gave me pause for concern.  Regarding the Wicomico River, Ireton states:

We will … require that all development be environmentally and economically sound …

Hopefully, this was just a rhetorical device (just as I love alliteration).  I, for one, do not believe that it is the place of a municipal government to judge the economic viability of any project.  The state and federal governments have more than enough regulations on the books to police the environmental impact of any project.

If the city is subsidizing a project, then judging economic viability is a legitimate concern.  However it is my sincere hope, and understanding, that an Ireton administration would not be engaging in the myriad forms of corporate welfare which the Tilghman administration engages in with the support of Ireton’s chief rival Gary Comegys.

While Jim and I are at polar opposites of the national and state political spetra, there is no question that Jim Ireton would make an excellent Mayor.  He is passionately concerned about the future of Salisbury.  He is a good and honorable man.  IF the voters are wise enough to elect him AND a council that shares the same concerns, Salisbury residents and businesses face a much brighter future.

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