Saturday’s Conway / Mathias Meeting

Much has already been written about Saturday morning’s Salisbury town hall meeting held by Del. Norm Conway (D-38B) and Del. Jim Mathias (D-38B).  Michael Swartz of Monoblogue provides a very factual, blow-by-blow account.  Julie Brewington of Right Coast Girl weighs in with a little more opinion.  My friend Joe Albero, uncharacteristically, is taking a “can’t we all get along” approach.

There are two things that almost everyone seems to agree on.  One is that we appreciate Conway and Mathias taking time to meet with constituents.  Yes, I know it’s an election year AND that it’s part of their job.  Yet, not every member of the legislature takes the time.  The second thing is that both Conway and Mathias are “good guys”.  I concur.  Wicomico County Exec Rick Pollitt is a “good guy”; so is Councilmen John Cannon and Dave MacLeod.  Councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes is a “good person”.  Hell, I’m sure there are even a few people who like Salisbury Councilwoman Louise Smith and Wicomico Councilman Bill McCain.  Regardless, taxpayers need to ask themselves if they can afford to continue supporting these “good guys”.

BIG GOVERNMENT CONSERVATIVES?

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Wicomico Taxpayers Receive Back Door Tax Increase

The arrogance of bureaucrats never ceases to amaze me.  They spend the TAXAPAYERS’ money yet act as if it’s from their personal discretionary account.

A current example is the $4 million purchase of the Powerwave campus on the corner of US 50 and Walston Switch Road, east of Salisbury.  Almost daily we hear a sad tale of woe from Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley or Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt about the said state of either the Maryland’s or Wicomico County’s fiscal situation.  There simply isn’t enough money to go around according to these two.

However, a few days ago we learned that the Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore (TCC) has purchased the Powerwave Campus.  According to comments made by several officials, the TCC needs the space.  Perhaps they do.  I’m certainly in no position to argue that point.  However, several points are easily arguable.

With the purchase of this property, the land and building will be going off the tax roles.  Based on its current assessment, Wicomico County will be losing approximately $30,000 per year in property tax revenue.  This means that county taxpayers will be paying a higher rate next year than they would be otherwise.  This isn’t arguable – this is fact.  One of the benefits of the county’s revenue cap is that big government advocates such as County Executive Rick Pollitt or Councilman Bill McCain can’t truthfully argue otherwise.

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Lowell Stoltzfus Not Seeking Re-election

Maryland Sen. J. Lowell Stoltzfus (R-38)  announced this evening that he will not seek re-election.  Speaking at the Fountains Conference Center, Stoltzfus said that he would not seek another term in 2010.

Contrary to rumors that have been circulating, Stoltzfus will not be resigning his seat.  Some have speculated that Stoltzfus would resign his seat so that a replacement could be appointed and run as an incumbent next year.

Currently there are three individuals that have either expressed interest in the seat, or are rumored to be interested.  Michael James, who narrowly lost to Maryland House Appropriations chair Norm Conway (D-38B) in 2006, along with Pocomoke City mayor Mike McDermott, have expressed interest in running for Stoltzfus’ seat if he did not seek re-election.  Del. Page Elmore (R-38A) is also rumored to be interested in the seat.

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Don’t Forget Tonight’s AFP Meeting

Don’t forget tonight’s meeting of the Lower Shore Chapter of Americans for Prosperity!

The Lower Shore chapter of Americans for Prosperity is having a meeting tomorrow evening at 7PM. The meeting will be held at the Greater Salisbury Committee building, 200 W. Main Street, Salisbury.

Park in the parking lot between the Library and the Plaza. You access the building on Camden Street between Channel 47 (WMDT) and the Plaza Gateway building.

If you can, RSVP at 410-251-8884 or americansforprosperitymd@comcast.net

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AFP Lower Shore Meeting – Tuesday

The Lower Shore chapter of Americans for Prosperity is having a meeting tomorrow evening at 7PM.  The meeting will be held at the Greater Salisbury Committee building, 200 W. Main Street, Salisbury.

Park in the parking lot between the Library and the Plaza.  You access the building on Camden Street between Channel 47 (WMDT) and the Plaza Gateway building.

If you can, RSVP at 410-251-8884 or americansforprosperitymd@comcast.net
If not, come anyway.  Take the opportunity to meet a growing group of people who stand for individual liberty and free markets.

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Somerset BOE Stands Firm, Educations More Important Than Sports

The Somerset Board of Education has stood firm and kept its current policy of requiring student to hold a minimum 2.0 GPA to participate in school sports.  The BOE should be commended for its strength of character.  This is in particular contrast to the Wicomico and Worcester Boards who allow a much lower GPA.

At least someone gets it.  School is for learning.

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Somerset NAACP on Participation in Sports

Kudos to the Somerset County branch of the NAACP for demanding that students be required to keep a 2.0 average in order to participate in sports.  These folks obviously have their priorities in order.

Unfortunately for the Wicomico and Worcester Boards of Education this raises a serious question.  Why do they seemingly place a higher priority on sports participation than academic achievement?

Wicomico only requires students to maintain a 1.6 GPA.  Worcester? 1.75  As we approach budget time, the two boards should be asked some hard questions.  Bad teachers can’t be fired.  Money is wasted on often meaningless bureaucratic programs.  But … we need to make sure that kids who can’t get at least a C in all of their classes should be able to play football or basketball.

I’m dying to hear a response to this one.

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Worcester BOE Gives County Commissioners the Finger!

While all other county departments are expected to trim their budgets for the coming fiscal year, the Worcester County Board of Education has told the Worcester County Commissioners that they just can’t trim a dime.  In true “IT’S FOR THE CHILDREN” fashion, the BOE claims that it will be students that suffer.

Sure they will.  While enrollment has actually declined in the past six years, the BOE has ADDED 111 new teacher positions and 81 staff positions.  Could the BOE cut some of those administrative jobs?  Of course not.  They’ll probably be whining about not giving them raises.

The true agenda unfolds.  Adding to the public payroll is far more important than educating kids.  I only hope that the Worcester Commissions possess the moral courage to knock the bureaucrats down a peg or two.

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Not In My Backyard – Even at $4.00 a Gallon

True to form nobody wants to pay $4.00 per gallon for gas, nor do they want oil rigs offshore. That was the message from this morning’s article in the Daily Times.

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan doesn’t want the view from his beaches ruined. It doesn’t matter that you would need a telescope to see an offshore rig. Nor does he want the risk of pollution. Forget the fact that there is a higher risk of pollution from the city’s own waste water treatment plant. How many oil spills were there after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf?

I wonder what Meehan would say if the government proposed outlawing recreational and commercial fishing in the waters off Ocean City? There is probably more pollution from that than there would be from a dozen rigs parked 12 miles off his coast.

Meehan shouldn’t feel bad. At least his “not in my backyard” views aren’t nearly as bizarre as the arguments put forward by Delaware Sen. George Bunting (D-20): Read more

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Caesar’s Wife #2

It’s being reported elsewhere that the State’s Attorney is completing his self-imposed exile, and the Evelyn Woods Speed Reading and Substance Abuse Awareness Course, and will be back in the office shortly ready to mete out justice to malefactors large and small. Too bad, if true. Read more

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