More Eyes Moving Towards 38-B

Wednesday evening we laid out a chronology of events which lead to Thursday’s Daily Times article about 38-B House candidate Mike McDermott receiving an “emergency suspension” from his boss – Worcester County Sheriff, and big Norm Conway supporter, Chuck Martin.  Thursday morning Daily Times reporter Jenny Hopkinson provided her take on the brewing Scandal in 38-B.  This morning, DT Opinion Editor Susan Parker weighs in.  We sincerely hope that Sheriff Martin takes the advice of both Parker and Delmarva Dealings – wrap this affair up promptly and fairly.  While we never hesitate to criticize the DT if we find fault, neither should we hold back applause for a job well done.  In this case, both Hopkinson and Parker deserve such applause.

More Questions?

Hopkinson’s piece was fair and well written.  I can’t imagine either McDermott or Martin having any serious concerns.  Our only criticism isn’t really a criticism. We understand that Hopkinson spoke with Martin prior to contacting McDermott and his attorney, Michael Davey.  We only wish that Hopkinson had gone back to Martin with a few additional questions:

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Scandal in 38-B

After nearly losing his seat in 2006, is Del. Norm Conway (D-38B) so afraid of facing two strong GOP opponents in November that he and his allies will stoop to circa 1972 Nixonian dirty tricks to win an election?  I don’t know, but connect the dots and see where it leads you….

Tomorrow morning the Daily Times will run a piece (probably front page) by Worcester reporter Jenny Hopkinson that discusses the “emergency” suspension of Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Mike McDermott.  COINCIDENTLY, McDermott has been the strongest GOP candidate running in District 38-B, which covers all of Worcester County and about 1/3 of Wicomico County.  Here is the expected lead for tomorrow’s story:

Worcester County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael McDermott was temporarily stripped of his police powers while the department investigates a Sept. 2009 incident involving a service weapon, according to his lawyer. McDermott is the mayor of Pocomoke City and a Republican candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 38B.

Worcester County Sheriff Charles T. Martin confirmed that McDermott’s power to arrest was taken away on July 22, and said McDermott is now on administrative office duties. An incident involving McDermott is being investigated, Martin said, but he declined to comment on the specifics of the case because it is a personnel matter.

“Those powers remain suspended until they are reinstated by me or the case is adjudicated,” Martin said. “It’s something that is going to be adjudicated within the system, and he knows the system as well as I do."

Sounds terrible on the surface.  Let’s start at the beginning and see where the story leads.

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Mike Lewis and Better Benefits for Deputies

This morning’s Daily Times piece on the need for better disability benefits for Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputies is a well written piece.  Sadly, the headline is misleading.

Wicomico Sheriff Mike Lewis DID NOT call for Wicomico County to adopt Law Enforcement Officers Pension System (LEOPS).  Why?  Is Lewis opposed to the benefits afforded by the system?  Of course not.  It’s just that Lewis is an even better elected official than he is a sheriff and a politician; and he’s a darn good sheriff and the most popular politician in Wicomico County.

I draw the distinction because Lewis has been very prudent in not using his political power (as the most popular elected official in Wicomico County) to force additional hardship on the county’s taxpayers while at the same time quietly lobbying on behalf of the deputies who serve us.  When the county faced its last round of budget cuts, Lewis didn’t complain.  Instead he vowed to work within the fiscal framework placed on him.  While Lewis could have easily attacked the county government and accused them of sacrificing public safety, he didn’t.

Lewis has been wise not to use the power of his office or his own political popularity to force fiscal decisions on our county government.  He should be applauded for that judgment.  We would be fortunate to have our county executive exhibit similar wisdom while exercising the duties of his office.

Contrast Lewis’s stance with that of Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt:

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Speak Out Against Crime in Salisbury

Attend this evening’s Salisbury City Council meeting.  During public comment ask this simple question:

Will you continue to support the rising crime rate or will you take action against crime, starting now?

Let the Barrie Comegys bloc – Gary Comegys, Louise Smith, and Shanie Shields – know that you want change!  This means letting Police Chief Allan Webster go and putting someone in the job that is more concerned about fighting crime than attacking Mayor Jim Ireton and Councilwoman Debbie Campbell.

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Why Doesn’t Maryland Have Right to Carry?

Maryland Delegate Mike Smigiel (R-36) has published a great letter on his blog from a citizen of Cecil County.  The gentleman expresses many of the same concerns we hear from other law abiding Marylanders.  Yet, the leftist government of Maryland refuses to allow honest, law abiding citizens to exercise their full rights of self protection.

Mike Smigiel is right.  This citizen’s letter deserves an answer.

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Stoplight Cameras in Fruitland?

Right Coast Girl, the blog of local AFP leader Julie Brewington, reports that stoplight cams are coming to Fruitland.  Stoplight cams are highly controversial, particularly in conservative counties such as Wicomico.  What makes this especially interesting is that this blog post went up 3 days before Greg Latshaw’s article in this morning’s Tilghman Times.  Latshaw implies that there are no plans to put up stoplight cams on the Shore.

Good work Greg!

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Ken Cuccinelli Endorsed by Virginia FOP

GOP Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli has received the endorsement of the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police.  According to FOP President Tommy Edwards:

 

"Ken Cuccinelli’s outstanding recognition of the problems faced by the Supreme Court Case Melendez Diaz, his early and outspoken push for a Special Session, and its ultimate success which will allow the prosecution of certain cases to proceed – is a testament to his skill, knowledge and support of the law enforcement community."

The Virginia State FOP, which represents 8600 law enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth is considered to be the most important endorsement in the Virginia AG’s race.

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The Joke That Is Salisbury’s Tapegate

On days like this I am reminded of a comment made by my friend and Red Maryland colleague Brian Griffiths.  It was something to the effect that more things appear to be written about Salisbury town government than most cities 10 times its size.  He’s right.  I’m one of many culprits; but at least I can be thankful that I’m not in the idiot pen with the Tilghman Times and the Barrie Comegys crowd.  Case in point – TAPEGATE.

The Story -

It all began in early July.  Salisbury police chief Allan Webster thought that the town’s new mayor, Jim Ireton, might send him packing.  Fair assumption given Webster’s record and the city’s less than stellar crime statistics.  Ireton had made both an issue during the recent mayoral campaign and Webster attacked Ireton in the Tilghman Times on multiple occasions.

To save his job, and reportedly to pad his pension, Webster went on the offensive by publicly attacking Ireton’s two allies on council – Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen.  Unfortunately, Ireton’s bungling of the matter appeared to make Webster and his cronies even more brazen.

To date, Webster has asserted (on several occasions in collusion with the Tilghman Times) that his rights were violated, that city personnel policy was circumvented, that the Salisbury taxpayers should foot all of his potential legal bills, … and that he was was somehow being persecuted as a “whistleblower”.  What makes this so amusing is that it was either Webster or someone acting on his behalf that provided copies of the documents (which Webster claims are damaging to his reputation) to both the Tilghman Times and to the house blog of the Barrie Comegys party.

Webster’s claim of “whistleblower” status is based (if one can call it that) on a purported investigation of Councilwoman Campbell.  Webster claims that Campbell has possession of police surveillance footage supposedly taped about 12 years ago when Mrs. Campbell was the founding Executive Director of Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Service.  TAPEGATE!

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Why Do Terrorists Have More Rights Than Inmates?

It’s ironic that Democrats believe that foreign terrorists should receive all of the rights and consideration of a US citizen while many of these same people don’t blink at the mistreatment of US citizens housed in our correctional facilities.  No, I’m not soft on crime.  I don’t even think these people deserve to have TV and other recreational activities  I also don’t believe that they should be abused by the very same people charged with guarding them.

The Caesar Rodney Institute has just released a new report, Rogue Force, outlining more abuses at Delaware’s own little version of Attica circa 1971.  Abuses at the Sussex Correctional Institution are well documented.  They are currently under a federal consent decree to straighten out their act.  Evidently they aren’t doing too well at accomplishing that goal.

Who’s been in charge of the Delaware prison system for almost 20 years?  Democrat administrations.  But wait!  I thought it was us evil Republicans who were brutal, fascist thugs.  Isn’t that why the Obama administration wants to give all of these rights to terrorists?

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McDonnell Unveils Public Safety Plan

Calling for tougher sentences on drug dealers and tougher sex offender registration laws, former Virginia AG Bob McDonnell unveiled his plan for public safety.  We can expect Democrat opponent Creigh “Me Too” Deeds to present his plan as soon as his Xerox machine warms up.

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