8/30/2006

Candidates express views at CAR form
By Dolores E. Pike

When asked, "Do you feel it is important to preserve the agricultural heritage of the lower shore?" eleven of the candidates running for Worcester County commissioner seats answered to a man (or a woman, as the case may be), "Yes."

This was just one of eight questions posed by the Coastal Association of Realtors at a forum held last Thursday in Ocean Pines to which all candidates running for the seven commissioner seats were invited.  Twelve of the 19 candidates agreed to attend although Kathy Phillips, running as a Democrat in district 3, was not able to be present due to a family medical emergency.

Though each candidate was only given one minute to introduce himself/herself, one minute to answer each question and one minute to summarize his/her platform, all managed to identify their position on issues facing the county now and in the immediate future.

The questions posed to the candidates centered on issues that are uppermost in the minds of the county's voters, such as affordable housing, jobs, spray irrigation, transferable development rights (TDR), the environment and traffic on Routes 589 and 113.

One question asked candidates their position on the use of spray treated waste water on fields and forest.  The majority of the candidates were in favor of the process with Louise Gulyas, Arlene Page and Ellie Diegelmann saying this is the way to go.  Mrs. Gulyas added that as "we continue to find out about this" it could work for the farmers.  Judy Boggs said that farmers will use it to their benefit while Shirley Pilchard maintained that it "does work if handled properly."

On the issue of bringing businesses and jobs to the Eastern Shore, Harold Scrimgeour wants "to see young people empowered to start businesses" and the county not give in to the same old familiars like Wal-Mart and Rite Aid.  He wants to see "veggie markets not Taco Bell" line the roads.  According to Mr. Scrimgeour one of the biggest stumbling blocks for a business is the two or three years it takes individuals to get through the county's permitting/planning departments.  Kathy Phillips, in a summary of her platform as read by moderator Joan Strang, also stressed the ongoing problem of processing permits.

Virgil Shockley believes that Broadband will bring the much-needed technology that will give rise to the creation of a lot of jobs.

More than one question combined aspects of land use, controlled growth and the environment, allowing the candidates to espouse their positions in these particular areas.  Mr. Shockley, a farmer from Snow Hill, voiced his strong opposition to taking productive farm land out of the picture.  Joe Jackson, the grandson, son and nephew of a family of farmers said, "Within one generation our family was lost" from the occupation of farming.  And he cautions the county not to ruin the environment for the sake of short term benefits.

In answer to the question, "What would you do to alleviate the hardships experienced by many people on the shore in terms of housing costs?," Linda Busick is in favor of asking developers to allocate ten percent of each development to affordable housing.  Whereas Bud Church said, "Builders have to be involved but they cannot just give up" a specified percentage. "The county commissioners need to give (the developers) an incentive plan."  He then quoted a statement made by a fireman with regard to affordable housing, "I can be your hero but I cannot be your neighbor."

As the final question of the morning, candidates were asked, "What do you think the county will look like in five years?"  Mrs. Gulyas quipped she hoped that Route 113 would be completely dualized by then to which Mr. Shockley, from the opposite end of the candidates' table called out, "Amen."

At the conclusion of the morning's forum Mr. Shockley announced that Maryland Secretary of Transportation Robert L Flanagan would be on hand at the October 11 commissioners' meeting in Snow Hill.  Mr. Shockley went on to urge county residents to attend, reminding them they will have to "scream load and long" to get the state's attention that both Routes 113 and 589 need to be dualized now, a position stressed by Tom Cetola more than once that morning.

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