As the Scouting for Food coordinator for Boy Scouts of America'sWestern Shore District, I would like to thank the many citizens ofSt. Mary's and Calvert counties who donated over 31,000 pounds offood and over $600 in cash during this year's Scouting for FoodCampaign.
This event has been held every year since 1988, and 2004 has beenone of our most successful years so far. All of the food was donatedto community organizations such as the Hope Food Pantry; CatholicRelief Services Emergency Food Bank; Mount Zion, Brooks and St.Paul's United Methodist churches; S.M.I.L.E. and many otherorganizations and churches that help citizens in need in these twocounties.
Once again, thank you for your generosity in helping those inneed.
Phyllis Krasnokutsky
Coordinator,
Scouting for Food Campaign
Western Shore District
Boy Scouts of America
In response to the letter last Sunday commenting on my experienceon Election Day [Letters, Nov. 14 Extra], I would like to offer thesepositive observations as a polling place monitor. There are simplefixes to the problems I noticed while monitoring the election. Thefirst may require a small change in rules and practices, but if wereally want people to vote in their designated polling places, it isimportant to make it easy for the voter.
I suggest posting voting lists in the halls and entranceways ofthe polling places so voters can easily check for their names beforethey spend half an hour or more in line. Then if there were a pollingstation aide nearby, voters in the wrong place could quickly learnwhere they should be and go to the right place or get a provisionalballot. In fact, the lists could be posted in stores, post officesand other places of public access considerably prior to the electionwith instructions on how to correct errors. This would allow moreworking people to vote because they would not have to spend as muchtime in line.
Another problem could be fixed easily. The sun shining on thecomputer voting machines made them hard to read. It was a lot liketrying to read some ATMs in the bright sun. In the next election, sunscreens or small umbrellas could be attached to affected votingmachines or they could be positioned differently.
In response to [Sam] Bergeron-Willis's attack on your reporterAmit Paley and me published on Nov. 14, his personal sin isignorance, which can be changed with just a little work. Thefollowing is a modest effort to help him with some facts. The firstis found on the Internet under the Help America Vote Act. Section302, also known as 42 United States Code 15482. It reads as follows:"(a) Provisional Voting Requirements. -- If an individual declaresthat such individual is a registered voter in the jurisdiction inwhich the individual desires to vote and that individual is eligibleto vote in that jurisdiction for federal office, but the name of thatindividual does not appear on the list of eligible voters for thepolling place or an election official asserts that the individual isnot eligible to vote, such individual shall be permitted to cast aprovisional ballot as follows. . . ."
The written word does not get much clearer. To avoid personal andprofessional embarrassment, it behooves those with responsibilitiesassociated with elections, at a minimum, to acquaint themselves withthe basic laws associated with voting. They should certainly do sobefore attacking others who do have the facts, and reporters who havechecked their facts, and before they write inadequately informedletters to the editor. If Bergeron-Willis would do a little researchhe will find that election scandals generally occur with those whoadminister the process, not with voter mistakes. Remember the 2000fiasco in Florida, and the reports of machine tampering inCalifornia. Poll watchers and voter error are rarely a problem. Pollwatchers are generally seen as helpful to ensuring the process iscredible. In fact, the HAVA provisional ballot language became a partof the law because of the internationally embarrassing electionsconducted by Florida officials prior to the 2000 election. Theyfeigned regard for voters while carelessly and contemptuouslystriking them from the voter lists. It is well documented that blackswere taken off the Florida rolls while very few Cuban -- likelyRepublican -- voters were removed.
Bergeron-Willis embarrasses himself by making light of the factthat I collected the names of only 15 persons sent away from theLusby polling station 1-6 after they were wrongly disqualified fromvoting. However, there were many more than 15. First, I did not startcollecting names until about 10 a.m. after watching many voters beingsent away and unsuccessfully trying to correct the problem. When Idid try to get their names, I could not get to them all. Many weredisgusted and just walked away. Some were so angry they did not wantto talk to anyone. A number did not give me their names . . .[because] they could not take any more time off work. Standing inline for half an hour or more and then being sent someplace else tovote, and in all likelihood having to wait in line again, is a polltax on wage-earning working people. They have taken time from theirjobs to vote, and many employers do not pay for this lost time. The15 names I gave the sheriff's deputies were a small portion of thosewho were denied their legal right to vote. (It was very generous ofthese sheriff's deputies to try to locate and get back to the pollsthe voters who were turned away.) The point is that even if it hadonly been one name, it would still be a violation of everyone'sconstitutional right to vote, the federal law, state law and anaffront to our servicemen and women trying to establish democracyelsewhere in the world. This is not a trivial matter.
Subsequent facts make it clear that there were many who weredenied their rights by county functionaries. In a Nov. 10 newsreport, Election Administrator Gail Hatfield is reported as saying:"It looks like two-thirds of the provisional ballots are beingaccepted. That is they were good ballots" and would be counted forsome elected positions. At the time of this comment, there were 240provisional ballots being opened and counted. Again these were thefew who were allowed to vote after the Calvert County Board ofElections was instructed by Annapolis to pass out the provisionalballots. Calvert County did not start passing out provisional ballotsuntil 4 p.m. By that time, two-thirds of the time the polls were openhad elapsed. If this ratio had held throughout the day, about 720provisional ballots submitted would have been accepted. PresidentBush took Florida with fewer votes than that in 2000, and the mayoralrace in Chesapeake Beach is being disputed over 57 votes. This is nottrivial stuff.
I talked with the staff in the Calvert County election office andadministrator Hatfield during the first week of October aboutprovisional ballots. Two election judges told me that they had beentold not to make provisional ballots available at the pollingstations. When I was at the Calvert County Board of Electionsoffices, with a few voter registrations I had collected in DrumPoint, I raised the issue and was told the county was following stateprocedures -- I had the feeling I was being dismissed.
No vote or voter should be trivialized as the Republican precinctcaptain for Precinct 1-6 in Lusby does in his letter when he sayssome voters could not be found: "Surprise, surprise, surprise."Following the media attention, I had a number of persons call me withtheir stories of rejection. I had one call from a woman who wasturned away without a ballot. She is the wife of a U.S. Navycommander who had recently been transferred to the Pentagon. One canassume she has experienced a number of transfers and that shecertainly knows how to register to vote. She said she was alsorefused a ballot, although she was sure she had registered properly.
Bergeron-Willis wonders why I was in the polling station in thefirst place and then concludes that I was electioneering. I was thecredentialed Democratic poll observer. If he had checked with thechief election judge, George Ernst, he would have been so informed.However, I was properly electioneering outside the polling place welloutside the 300-foot limit as provided in the law and marked on thesidewalk to the polling place.
On the recommendation of the U.S. State Department, I have managedelections and voter registration and observed elections in thetrouble spots of the world -- Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus and Kosovo.I have held office in Wisconsin and served as an election judge in anumber of U.S. elections. To put it simply, I am gravely concernedwith Bergeron-Willis's seeming lack of willingness to work acrossparty lines to ensure that all persons can exercise their legal rightto vote.
John L. Zalusky
Lusby
Charming, quaint and a small-town atmosphere: I think that is whatbrought most of us to the Town of Chesapeake Beach. If you wouldspeak to the long-term residents, you would find that most arepleased with the positive changes and improvements that have takenplace here over the years. I am very proud to be a member of the TownCouncil, to serve our community, and to continue to enhance theamenities that make this town a great place to live. . . . The townemployees are dedicated, and they extend themselves greatly to assisttown residents. . . . Mayor Gerald Donovan has worked for over 25years as our mayor, providing the vision and leadership helping tomake our town as beautiful as it is today.
It is unfortunate that continued rumors, misinformation andoutright deceptions are frequently disseminated throughout ourcommunity. Town corruption . . . as alleged by town residentsMarguerite Thomas, Joseph W. Johnson and council members Pat "Irish"Mahoney and Richard Manning are absolutely false and unfounded. Theircalumnious remarks damage the reputation and integrity of the mayorand town council and are reckless and destructive to the town image.Anyone can allege anything. Allegations are one thing, fact is quiteanother. What are some of the facts? Let's take for example therecent election. Candidate for mayor Johnson alleged that Donovan'ssupporters intimidated voters and illegally posted campaign signswithin 300 feet of the town hall polling place. . . . If Johnson hasa corruption complaint, he should file it.
Over the past 25 years, why have no complaints been filed andprosecuted? Because they are unfounded. Council member Mahoney, whois serving his third term, has alleged town misconduct and hasencouraged his constituents to speak out. Why has he not filed anyformal complaints with any state or federal agency? Because hisrhetoric is untrue. I know for a fact that on Nov. 2, except to vote,Donovan never went near town hall. He spent the entire day at theNorth Beach firehouse. . . . If voters were intimidated by Donovansupporters, then evidence should be brought forth forthwith. Who wasintimidated, and who were the intimidators?
Whose campaign signs were alleged illegal? Long on words and shorton facts. In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the 300- footban on electioneering was unconstitutional. The state attorneygeneral forwarded an opinion to local election boards informing theboards that the 300-foot rule was unenforceable. Rick Manning, whowas chairman of the town election committee, was informed by GailHatfield, Calvert County election administrator, of theunconstitutionality of our town charter's 300-foot ban.Unfortunately, Manning did nothing to make any changes to the town'selection rules during his tenure as chairman of the committee. . . .The state rule has a 100-foot limit. I personally measured both thesign south and north of the town hall. Both were beyond 100 feet fromthe entrance and exit of the town hall polling place. . . . However,Mahoney and Johnson and his family were actively campaigning on townproperty, and they were well within the 100-foot ban. . . . BeforeJohnson casts a stone, he needs to check his own conduct. Absolutely,I stand behind the honesty and integrity of Chesapeake Beach electionboard members Malcolm Funn, Randy Getman and Chuck MacDonald.
For a few to declare unfounded, unsubstantiated and unwarrantedclaims of corruption for their own self-interest, selfishness andpersonal vendettas is outrageous and damaging to our town. Thesemiscreants should be held accountable. When one has a legitimateclaim of misconduct -- file it. Allow it to be investigated, and letthe chips fall where they may. Otherwise, shut up. False allegationscast a terrible cloud upon our community.
During the previous election campaign, Mahoney and Manning scaredthe town residents by proclaiming that casino gambling was coming toChesapeake Beach. Not true. Four years ago, all town councilcandidates stated their opposition to casino gambling within thetown. No one on the Town Council -- neither then or now -- supportscasino gambling within the town of Chesapeake Beach. The council hasnever addressed it, suggested it or supported it. It is a nonissue!The rumor that the new Chesapeake Beach Hotel and Spa was built forcasino gambling and would not survive without it is false. The mayordoes not support casino gambling. The community should not rely onrumor but should seek the facts. Telephone or visit town hall, attenda town hall meeting and contact your town officials. Get a consensusfrom your council, but get the facts!
Keep in mind, we are one of three town centers within CalvertCounty where growth is to occur and to be concentrated so that ruralland can be preserved within the county. We are a model forresponsible financial management. Growth is inevitable, and we manageit to improve our community. We maintain our small-town atmosphere,we are environmentally conscious, and we follow the state's smartgrowth program in land preservation and community revitalization.
Aspersions cast upon our planning and zoning commission of failingto inform the public of zoning changes and secret backroom deals areludicrous. The town's planning and zoning commission is self-governing and under no control of the Town Council and mayor. Any andall changes in zoning have been publicly advertised and debatedthrough public meetings and hearings (all of which are well-documented and available at town hall). Changes in zoning were adirect result of the updating of the town's Comprehensive Plan.
During the next four years, I hope and pray that we will workdiligently to end the name-calling and slander directed upon the townand its dedicated public officials. Negativity affects all of us.Don't rely on rumor. Come to a council meeting, ask questions, obtainthe facts and above all be informed.
Stewart B. Cumbo
Council member
Town of Chesapeake Beach
At the information meeting Oct. 26 for the proposed minor leaguebaseball park in Hughesville, Board of Commissioners President MurrayD. Levy (D) stated that the public money for the stadium had noimpact on the public money for schools. He also said that whether ornot the stadium went forward, it wouldn't affect the money forschools and that the money came from different pots. If municipalbonds are used for funding schools, infrastructure and stadiums, thenwhy doesn't it affect school funding?
Isn't it true that the funds needed to repay bonds for sportsstadiums will often come from a tax increase?
If there is a stadium cost overrun, who pays these additionalcosts? Wouldn't Charles County have to pay them out of its operatingbudget? In fact wouldn't that reduce funds available for otherservices such as police and fire protection?
Who will pay for the police who must attend and patrol at everygame?
Sufficient information has been written about the public fundingof stadiums to statistically show that they are a drain oncommunities.
On Nov. 8, I dropped off a packet for each of the Charles Countycommissioners containing articles and studies on public financing ofstadiums. I have since e-mailed them Internet links to many more ofthese articles. With all this information available, how can theypossibly consider funding a private minor league baseball stadium forHughesville or for Charles County? I like baseball as much as anyoneelse, but public funds should not be used for this stadium. Inaddition, a private baseball stadium needs to be located where theinfrastructure will support it. This baseball stadium could becompleted a year before the Hughesville Bypass. We all know thatthese types of road projects aren't always completed on schedule. Howcan officials even consider this at this time?
It is important to note that of the many speakers at the Oct. 26meeting, only one was pro-stadium.
At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Al Smith (R) immediatelytold those present that he was for the stadium. He then told us hewould consider all the comments and questions we presented beforemaking his decision. Seems to me he has already made his decision. IsSmith representing the residents of Charles County or is herepresenting corporate welfare?
Charles County residents need to decide if they want their hard-earned tax dollars to make private team owners richer, or do theywant those dollars to be used for funding our schools, police, fireand rescue and infrastructure.
I urge all Charles County residents to watch the broadcast of thismeeting on Comcast public access television Channel 95 when it airs.
Sharon Moore
Hughesville
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