By Dolores E. Pike

If it was said once, it was said many times during the Wednesday evening candidates forum presented by the combined forces of CRASH and STAR589, "people make the difference." Candidates and forum sponsors alike echoed similar words during the course of the evening. To get all of the funding needed to complete Route 113 and get started on Route 589 people must be behind their local elected officials. Whether it is showing up in force for critical public meetings or personally contacting other state and federal representatives, the pressure must be ongoing.

Several of the candidates addressed that very issue directly. Commissioner Virgil Shockley said that he "has no trouble hounding Secretary Flanagan," Maryland State Secretary of Transportation. Commissioner Judy Boggs spoke of the possibility of the Worcester County Commissioners taking a bus to Washington, DC in 2007 to lobby for transportation funding. Delegate Norman Conway invited the commissioners to come to Annapolis where the Eastern Shore delegation meets every Friday morning. Commissioner candidate Linda Busick said she is accustomed to going to Annapolis and would have no problem lobbying for transportation funding.

County Residents Action for Safer Highways better known as CRASH, under the continued leadership of Bob Hulburd, has been around for 12 years and has been a major player in the dualization of Route 113. Safe Travel Along Route 589 (STAR589) was organized this year and is under the leadership of Joe Green. Both groups are dedicated to promoting safe travel along these two congested and increasingly dangerous roadways. It was with these two highways in mind that a candidates forum dedicated to transportation issues only was presented at the Ocean Pines library on October 18 for the benefit of the voters.

Addressing the ongoing matter of Maryland's transportation trust fund was House of Delegates candidate Michael James who reminded everyone that the fund was originally created to provide for road construction and maintenance. Instead the money is being siphoned off to support mass transportation because user’s fares do not cover all the costs.

Former Ocean City mayor and Delegate Jim Mathias spoke not only of the quality of life here in Worcester County but the fact that "eight million Marylanders recreate here, along with another two million on Assateague" each year. Thus it is incumbent upon everyone in the county to push the Maryland legislature about the need for adequate access roads. When referring to the $14 million so recently conferred upon Route 113 by the transportation secretary for further construction Mr. Mathias said, "It's surprising what can be found on the eve of an election."

Mrs. Boggs, who is running unopposed for the commissioner's seat in district 5, noted that when state Secretary Robert Flanagan came before the commissioners for the annual Consolidated Transportation Plan (CTP) meeting on October 10 he brought along a back-up group of nine people. She was especially pleased to see approximately 150 county residents in the audience, possibly inspiring the secretary to say, according to Mrs. Boggs, "We need to talk about Route 589 and put it in the design phase."

Another problem that was brought to the fore by The Courier in its issue dated September 27 in an article by Bob Lassahn entitled "Master plan needed for Racetrack Road" and mentioned by Mrs. Boggs Wednesday night was that Internet mapping sources are directing travelers southbound on Route 113, bound for the southern end of Ocean City, onto Route 589. Clearly a contributing factor to the congestion on Route 589.

Commissioner Louise Gulyas mentioned that the service road leading into Wal-Mart and Home Depot will take a lot of the traffic off Route 50 and work has begun on that road. Commissioner candidate Kathy Phillips noted that nine years ago some partial funding towards the construction of the service road had already been put in the pot by Wal-Mart and Home Depot.

As commissioner candidate Ellie Diegelmann has been advocating all along she believes that a lot of things can be accomplished through grass roots efforts.

Commissioner candidate Arlene Page illustrated with enlarged photos the roadway problems that are facing Bishopville residents as well as those living in Lighthouse Sound.

The first half of the evening allowed each candidate five minutes to speak. The second half was the presentation of written questions from the audience and read by Mr. Hulburd. These were addressed to the candidates in general.

In response to a question regarding continued building along Route 589, Mrs. Busick said she would recommend a moratorium.

When asked about the possibility of making Route 113 a toll road, all candidates presented reasons why that would not be such a good idea. But the best qualifier of the question came from Sheriff Charles Martin who said, "Once you get the toll plazas up then I have to deal with them getting robbed every week."

Forum attendance regrets were posted by candidates Bonnie Luna, who had a death in the family; Bud Church who had a prior commitment; and Lt. Dale Smack of the Sheriff's office who had duty. States attorney candidate Beau Oglesby was also present though he did not take part in the forum.