In Salisbury, Working People Need Not Apply

March 1, 2010 by Cato  
Filed under Maryland, Salisbury Politics

As Salisbury councilwoman noted on the radio this morning, today’s Salisbury City Council work session is “relatively meaty”.    While I haven’t talked to councilwoman Debbie Campbell today, it’s a decent bet that she won’t be there.  Why?  Campbell has to work for a living.  So does Cohen, but fortunately she is self-employed.

The “council majority” of Louise Smith, Gary Comegys, and Shanie Shields don’t work for a living.  They live off of the teat of the taxpayer.  Therefore, why not move work sessions to the morning.  The meetings aren’t televised.  Working citizens can’t attend.  Campbell can’t attend many.  Cohen will undoubtedly miss a few because she has to earn a living.

By this action alone Smith, et al provide an excellent argument for not allowing anyone on a PUBLIC pension to hold elected office.  No – I’m not advocating that action.  I’m just noting that there is an argument to be made when people like Smith, Comegys, and Shields behave as they do.

Coupled with their action to make work sessions difficult for Campbell (and Cohen), these shining examples of public service are also attempting to void Campbell’s and Cohen’s access to health insurance through the city.  The city’s ethics commission has asked the city government to specifically include health insurance within the portfolio of the compensation commission which recommends the salary of both the mayor and council.  Sadly, the “council majority” has recently refused to do that as well.

I can make an excellent argument for not providing the mayor or council members with access to the city’s health insurance.  I can also make an excellent argument for allowing them access, but making them pay full freight.

However, that’s not what this is about.  As soon as Shields discovered that she could get her insurance through the state pool it was time to go after Campbell and Cohen.  Why not?  The taxpayers are footing the bill for Smith, Comegys and Shields – just not on the same account.  They got theirs, so why not screw their political opponents?

Here’s the message coming from the city council offices – working people need not apply.  Only those who are retired or living off of the taxpayers should be able to hold public office in Salisbury.

As I noted above, I can make an argument for taking away health insurance from Campbell and Cohen.  However, if the city wants to do that they should also not pick up the tab for any travel – particularly Comegys’s MML expenses.  There is one thing for certain.  The taxpayers of Salisbury benefit far more from the presence of Campbell and Cohen on council than they do by paying for Comegys to glad hand around Maryland.

Salisbury citizens need working people to be able to serve on the city council council.  They also need retired men and women to be able to serve.  They just don’t need vindictive individuals like Smith, Comegys, and Shields.