John Phoebus Attacks Jobs Issue on Lower Shore

It doesn’t matter whether you are looking at national or statewide polls, attending candidate forums, or simply talking with your neighbors; the NUMBER 1 ISSUE in this year’s election is JOBS.  John Phoebus, GOP candidate for Maryland House District 38-A is one of the few legislative candidates who is prepared to offer a concrete proposal to stimulate economic development in his District, and the state of Maryland.  Phoebus wants to reduce (or eliminate) the state’s corporate income tax).

Phoebus has proposed, along with many others, that Maryland roll back the 20% sales tax increase enacted by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and the Democrat controlled legislature.  While this definitely would put money back into the pockets of Marylanders (where it belongs), the positive effects of such a roll back would primarily be felt in the state’s retail sector.  However, Phoebus’s proposal to reduce state income tax rates for businesses would definitely increase Maryland’s competitiveness in attracting employers to the Old Line State.

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Cannon, Democrats Approve Enviro for Planning Commission

Things are back to usual at the Wicomico County Council.  Nominal Republican John Cannon returned to where he appears most comfortable – on the left leaning side of the council.  By a 4 – 3 vote, Cannon and his Democrat allies approved County Executive Rick Pollitt’s nominee for the Planning Commission – Jacob Day of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy.

With outgoing councilman Bill McCain carrying water for Pollitt, Cannon spoon fed Day a series of leading questions designed to make Day appear to have no bias against development in Wicomico County.  Cannon even went so far to admit:

“I want to dispel any view of bias”.

That’s dandy John.  There’s just one problem.  While any reasonable person will concede that Mr. Day could offer certain expertise to the commission, any reasonable person also realizes that Day’s employer is a strong proponent of stripping county farmers of their property rights through down zoning.  Are we to believe that the ESLC would employ Mr. Day if he does not share those same views?

This is from ESLC’s own website:

ESLC has developed the Regional Landscape Initiative, a program that focuses on one of the greatest landscape protection tools available: strong, proactive planning and zoning.

Translation – down zoning of agricultural lands.  Farmers don’t want to develop their land.  However, to deny them that option reduces the value of their land and in some cases has forced farmers off of their land.

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Gotta Spend Those Tax Dollars in Wicomico County

In the spring of 2008, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt proposed that the county spend Maryland “Open Space” money to purchase land for a park on Crooked Oak Lane.  Amid charges of insider dealing and bad appraisals, the Pollitt administration told the public that we had to do it.  Gotta spend that tax money.  If we don’t spend it, someone else will.  Fortunately, a majority of the county council saw fit to continue looking for a piece of property that cost less.

Move forward one year …

In April of 2009, the county council saw fit to purchase 100 acres on Levin Dashiell Road for approximately $1 million.  All council members, except for councilman Joe Holloway, voted for the purchase.  While the approximately $10,000 per acre paid out of state coffers (read “YOUR POCKET”) was substantially lower than the cost of the Crooked Oak property, many still considered the price too high.  While continuing to emphasize the supposedly “free” money coming from the state, the Pollitt administration and their allies on council could never overcome one giant hurdle – why is Wicomico County taking more land off of the tax rolls when they free admit that they don’t have the money to develop this park.  The Pirates Wharf purchase continues to sit undeveloped despite promises of a park when it was purchased years ago.

Move forward 10 more months …

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Wicomico NAACP Candidate Forum

Every election cycle, the Wicomico County Branch of the NAACP hosts a candidate forum.  While it should be expected that a forum sponsored by the NAACP would, and should, focus on issues of particular importance to the African-American community the forum gave ALL in attendance an opportunity to see and hear local candidates under fire.

I’ll leave it to my friend Michael Swartz at MonoBlogue to provide his usual (and excellent) blow by blow.  I’m going to focus on a few questions, and some of the surprising responses.

County Executive:

Incumbent Rick Pollitt continues with his normal fence straddling and platitudes.  GOP candidate Joe Ollinger is giving it the ole college try but continues to lack the red meat necessary to get conservatives to whole heartedly support him.  Democrat challenger Tom Taylor gave the best performance of the evening.

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Another Grand Turnout for a RARE Wicomico County Council Night Meeting

Last night we, the people who actually pay the taxes in Wicomico County, were given the RARE “privilege” of being able to see out county government at work.  The council had one of their quarterly night meetings.  Around 50 citizens turned up; far more than their usual 10 AM crowd.

A New Library – Another Multi-Million Dollar Pipe Dream

Admittedly, it was a long one; but we were able to see a few important issues discussed.  Tops on the agenda for many was a presentation by library director Tom Hehman on the Library’s proposed acquisition of land on Beaglin Park Drive.

I’m a strong proponent of a new library.  That is why I am especially saddened by the approach being taken by Hehman and the library board.  They are asking the county council to agree to purchase land out of the downtown core, with no plan of how to pay for a new library (other than to load more debt on the taxpayer).  In addition, we also found out during public comments that Mr. Hehman and the library folk aren’t being totally open about other potential sites.

One remark from Hehman sealed the deal for me:

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Media Monday, 02/01/2010 – Spinning Travel Abuse at the WCBOE

Tracey Sahler, “Public Information Liaison” (that’s “Spin Doctor at Taxpayer Expense” for you non-bureaucrats out there) for the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) really earned her pay this week.  She’s proving the old adage “It’s not what you know, but who you know” is definitely true when it comes to the WCBOE and the Daily Times.  Thanks to her relationship with the paper’s managing editor (her husband, Erick Sahler), Daily Times reporter Greg Latshaw will not only print the WCBOE’s spin, but their lies as well.

Sunday, the paper ran a front page story – “Wicomico School Travel Expenses Scrutinized”.  This piece was in obvious reaction to pieces ran last week by both Delmarva Dealings and Salisbury News outlining just a few of the abuses found by Wicomico County Councilman Joe Holloway.  Holloway has spent months attempting to get this information from the WCBOE and has been stonewalled every step of the way.  He has requested copies of the receipts for specific line items and has still not received those!  Yet, what was Mr. Latshaw’s lead for this puff piece?

The Wicomico County school system is viewing every out-of-town conference or business lunch with increased scrutiny as it prepares for big budget reductions.  "We would anticipate the (seminars and conferences) budget to be substantially and significantly reduced," said Superintendent John Fredericksen.

The WCBOE has refused to cut this year’s travel budget – instead choosing to cut from SPECIAL ED!  They have been caught using taxpayer funds for trips to Hooter’s, junkets to Vegas (including tickets to a Toby Keith concert), and dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse!  It appears that the taxpayers have even been charged for Superintendent John Fredericksen and Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt to have lunch.  Yet, Latshaw (and his boss Erick Sahler) want the public to believe that the WCBOE is attempting to be a faithful steward of the taxpayers’ money.

Fredericksen Lies … Again

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Holloway Uncovers MORE Wasteful Spending at the BOE

Wicomico County Councilman Joe Holloway isn’t very popular with the bureaucrats over at the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE).  He politely asks for information on their spending habits, they attempt to stonewall him, Holloway keeps fighting for the information, the bureaucrats are embarrassed.  At least the taxpayers get to find out how their dollars are being wasted.

Speaking last night at the monthly meeting of the Wicomico chapter of Americans for Prosperity, Holloway gave a brief re-cap of his term on the county council.  Holloway made one thing crystal clear – despite the protestations of people like Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt and several members of the county council, Wicomico County doesn’t have a REVENUE PROBLEM.  Wicomico County has a SPENDING PROBLEM.

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Why The Proposed Wicomico Budget Amendment Is Bad Policy

On Tuesday, November 10th, the Wicomico County Council will hold a public hearing on County Executive Rick Pollitt’s proposed budget amendment.  Nominally, this budget amendment is to correct a revenue shortfall caused by a loss of over $6 million in state aid to the county.  In reality, Pollitt’s amendment is designed to force citizens to repeal the revenue cap and will result (within 7 – 19 months) with a tax increase for Wicomico homeowners and businesses.

If you don’t mind paying higher property taxes, you should attend Tuesday’s hearing and say so.  However, if you agree with me that the revenue cap should stay in place then you should go to Tuesday’s hearing and DEMAND that the county council vote this measure down and call on Pollitt to RESTRUCTURE the county government to live within its means.

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“Daily Times” Endorses Evening Meetings for Wicomico Council

Lo and Behold!  The editorial board of Salisbury’s Daily Times has actually taken a firm stance on an issue.  Usually straddling the fence with a skill usually seen only in Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt, the Daily Times has decided to endorse the idea of the Wicomico County Council holding at least 50% of its meetings in  the evening.

The Daily Times has now joined Americans for Prosperity, NAACP, Delmarva Dealings, and SbyNEWS in calling for the Wicomico County Council to allow more participation in our local government.  We’ll have to see if our council members begin to get the hint.

Councilman Joe Holloway (R-5) has been the people’s champion on this issue since he was sworn in to office.  Bill McCain, council’s chief advocate of the teachers’ union, has been the council’s most vocal opponent.

Take one minute and email Holloway and McCain to show your support for evening meetings.

Simply CLICK HERE and you can email McCain (with a copy going to Holloway).

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The Arrogance of Bill McCain

Wicomico County councilman Bill McCain (D-At Large) must be the most arrogant elected official in Wicomico County, perhaps the whole Delmarva Peninsula.  It’s obvious that he answers to his special interest pals, not the people who elected him.

For the last several council meetings, members of the local chapter of Americans for Prosperity have been showing up at council meetings and asking that the Wicomico County Council begin holding at least half of their meetings in the evening.  While only a few of us actually went to the podium to comment, as many as 15 – 20 AFP members would show up at a meeting to show their support for evening meetings.  The idea behind this is simple.  Most taxpayers work during the day.  In order to give these citizens an opportunity to see their government in action, evening meetings would be necessary.

Admittedly, this is an issue dear to my heart.  I’ve been advocating for this since the current council took office in 2006.  Councilman Joe Holloway (R-5) has been leading the charge on this attempt to bring county government closer to the people.

Some council members don’t want to hold evening meetings for various reasons.  Councilman Dave MacLeod (D-4) argues that evening meetings would prevent seniors from attending.  While I don’t agree with his argument, I also don’t doubt that MacLeod is sincere.  Other members argue that they have experimented with evening meetings in the past and that attendance did not increase.

I understand this argument.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t hold much water.  If council would commit to holding all (or half) of their meetings for a period of time (I have suggested one year), then we could really find out if attendance would increase.  Holding an evening meeting every once in a while certainly won’t tell us anything.

Back to Bill McCain …

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