Red Kettle Drive Kicks Off, Let The Sniping Begin

Is it possible to sap the spirit of giving from Christmas?  No, but some Easter Shore residents sure give it a go.

Yesterday the Salvation Army kicked off its annual “Red Kettle Drive” with a breakfast in Salisbury.  These giving individuals, and many others, will spend countless hours during the Holiday season ringing a bell in the cold and collecting funds to help those less fortunate than themselves.  Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Not on the Lower Shore.  Why?  SbyNEWS publisher Joe Albero has the unmitigated gall to use Maryland and Delaware’s most popular blog to promote the Kettle Drive and encourage his readers to volunteer their time and money.  Shame on you Joe!

Because Albero is none too popular with certain quarters of our community, some will actually encourage residents NOT to contribute.  For those who live outside of the confines of our bizarre little “Peyton Place”, I’m quite serious.

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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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Kudo’s to Salisbury News and the Salvation Army

With the economy in decline, turmoil around the world, and other non-profits decrying drops in funding, the Salvation Army in the three lower shore counties saw a 62% increase at their kettles this Christmas season.  In addition, all kettles were manned only by volunteers this past season – the first time in recent memory.

Our thanks goes out to the 442 individuals and 255 groups who volunteered their time to help provide a better life to our neighbors in need.  From local luminaries such as Wicomico Sheriff Mike Lewis and Salisbury Councilwoman Debbie Campbell to folks who don’t even want their names mentioned in public, your neighbors saw a need and rushed in to fill the breach.  For that, much credit should be given to Salisbury News publisher Joe Albero.
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Shouldn’t the Rules Apply to Brenda Wade?

Smack on the front page of today’s Daily Times we have a story about retired UMES dean Brenda Wade withdrawing her name from consideration for the Somerset County Board of Education. I get the distinct impression that writer Deborah Gates expects us to have sympathy for Mrs. Wade.

With all due respect, why should we? Yes, she was disqualified for election to the Princess Anne Town Commissioners. So was her husband. However, rather than offer any evidence that either Wade was the victim of any injustice we are simply offered a vague allusion that unnamed candidates in previous elections were allowed to run with fully meeting the residency requirement.

Is it the Gannett’s editorial policy that two wrongs make a right? Even if this is so, we should expect better evidence of the first wrong.

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O’Malley Appointee Doesn’t Qualify for Office

The last time I checked, to serve on a county liquor licensing board you had to be (not only) a Maryland resident, but a resident of the county where your appointment rests. True to form, little things like this don’t bother Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

John Wade, who was recently disqualified as a candidate for the Princess Anne Town Commission because he failed the residency requirement, is an O’Malley appointee to the Somerset County Board of Liquor License Commissioners.

Wade has a driver’s license from Georgia, is reportedly driving a car with New Jersey tags, and reportedly has a residence in Delaware! By Somerset County standards, the man is absolutely cosmopolitan.

It seems that Wade is just one more example of the type of governance we can continue to expect from O’Malley. Let’s keep trying to raise those taxes and leave little things like the law to others.

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