Showing posts with label MD Gen Assembly Opera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MD Gen Assembly Opera. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

This Day in History: April 12, 1946 Permanent Auto Tags For Maryland

Vehicle license plates long a topic of interest [Column] Eagle Archives



On April 12, 1946, Maryland Gov. Herbert O'Conor "announced his decision to provide permanent automobile registration tags for motor vehicles in the State," according to a local newspaper.

The Westminster newspaper, the Democratic Advocate, reported O'Conor to have "declared," that using two license plates on each motor vehicle in the state will "save $60,000 annually."

More research is needed to understand how two license plates would save the state money.

"This is the plan we intended to inaugurate a few years ago, but due to the war, and the shortage of metals, our plan had to be delayed," O'Conor said.


One thing is for sure. A quick search of the Maryland General Assembly website indicates that license plates are a perennial hot topic.

During the 2013 regular session, for example, there were 11 bills proposed, ranging from providing special tags for "United States Armed Forces," to changing the law so that only one "registration plate" would be required per vehicle.

For a number of years, the single plate legislation has been introduced by Del. Donald Elliot, a Republican who represents District 4B that includes parts of Carroll and Frederick counties.

In the session that concluded last week, legislators submitted eight bills for consideration, including Elliott's.

The 2014 legislative initiative failed, after receiving an unfavorable report from the Environmental Matters Committee.


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Oriole baseball history includes loss to Westminster in 1885 [Column]
Eagle Archives


By Kevin E. Dayhoff, April 8, 2014 Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: http://www.baltimoresun.com/search/dispatcher.front?Query=Dayhoff&target=adv_article



#Baseball, #Westminster, #Orioles, #History, #Carroll County, #Maryland,

Roses are red, violets are blue. I hate snow ... and you should too.

For those with a bad case of chionophobia — a fear of snow — no worries, spring is near. We know this because last Monday was Opening Day for the Baltimore Orioles.

After yet another unexpected Maryland snowstorm, the weather gave way to warmer temperatures and blue skies on March 31.

According to The Baltimore Sun, "a sellout crowd of 46,685 filled the ballpark" to see the Orioles defeat the defending world champion Boston Red Sox, 2-1.

Baseball has a long history in Baltimore. The current Baltimore Orioles franchise began playing baseball in 1954 in the old Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street, after it was announced on Sept. 28, 1953, that the St. Louis Browns were moving to Baltimore.


Historian Jay Graybeal researched the event for the Historical Society of Carroll County several years ago and wrote, "One of the great stories from the County's sports history is the June 1885 baseball game between the Westminster Base Ball Club and the Baltimore Orioles. …"

Graybeal quoted an old newspaper article which noted, "The Westminster Base Ball Club on Monday last, the 22d, won the most remarkable victory in their history, defeating (the) Baltimore team by a score of 9 to 7."

On that same date in 1962, Boog Powell became the first player to hit a ball over the hedge in center field at Memorial Stadium, according to a book of Orioles history by Ted Patterson.
Go Orioles.


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March 30, 1923: A gang of 25 Baltimore men attempted to rob Carroll County distillery.

The robbers received some buckshot in the hide, but no liquor.

By Kevin Dayhoff, March 30, 2014



On March 30, 1923, in the depths of prohibition, a local newspaper rang the alarm that “About 25 men, all from Baltimore, it is reported, attempted to raid McGinnis Distillery in Carroll County, just east of Westminster.”

It needs to be noted that although prohibition, known as the “Volstead Act,” did not go into effect throughout the nation until January 20, 1920; Carroll countians voted to outlaw the sale of alcohol in the county six-years earlier - in 1914, according to research by historian Jay Graybeal for the Historical Society of Carroll County.

Prohibition remained the law of the land until President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law the Cullen-Harrison Act on March 23, 1933.

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Westminster Methodist minister Lowell Ensor helped raise awareness of civil rights in 1940s

Anyone remember the Rev. Dr. Lowell Ensor, the pastor at the Westminster United Methodist from 1940 – 1947 and later became the president of Western Maryland College – now McDaniel, from 1947 – June 30, 1972? http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0323-20140325,0,3448847.story

[...]

By Kevin Dayhoff, March 25, 2014

In 1945, institutional racism in Maryland was a hot topic. In part, the discussion was driven by pragmatism in that, according to research by historian Kenneth D. Durr, more than 20 percent of the population in Baltimore was said to be black. But because of housing segregation laws, the city's black population was squeezed into 2 percent of the city's land mass.

Lowell Ensor would later assume the office of president of the college, now McDaniel, on July 1, 1947, according to Lightner's history of the college, "Fearless and Bold." He served until June 30, 1972, and died in 1975.

Lowell Ensor would later assume pres of college now McDaniel 1Jy1947, according to Lightner's, "Fearless and Bold." http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0323-20140325,0,3448847.story

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Current tensions in Ukraine bring back memories of Cold War
Eagle Archives

By Kevin Dayhoff, March 19, 2014

Who can remember the school air raid drill in which you were to hide underneath your desk – or in the hallway? Remember, drop to the floor, duck and cover your head, to protect yourself from flying debris and getting burned by the nuclear blast. Some schools distributed dog tags so that the bodies of the dead students could easily be identified.


On March 16, 1972, an article in The Carroll Record explained one of the basic building blocks of the Cold War era, the fallout shelter.

"Today's Paper Has Community Fallout Shelter Plan — The new community fallout shelter plan for Carroll County is included in this newspaper. …"

The article reported, "According to the County commissioners, 'The information developed in the plan could save the lives of thousands of persons in the event of attack. …' "

The recent tensions between Russia and the West over the civil unrest in the Ukraine and Crimean Peninsula have renewed an interest in Cold War nostalgia.

[…]


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Streets and history of Westminster intersect at odd angles [Eagle Archives]



Many residents today may not recall the crazy-quilt "dog leg" intersection of John, Bond and Main streets, or the equally mismatched collision of Main and Liberty streets, Railroad Avenue, and the train tracks in Westminster.

Years ago, these intersections did not look anything like they do now. Today, they form a perfect "cross."

But years ago, a motorist traveling south on John Street or Railroad Avenue had to make a 90-degree right turn onto Main Street, then hang a quick left to get on either Liberty or Bond Street and get through the intersection.

It may have worked well enough in the horse and buggy days. But by the 1970s, it was nuts.

Finally, sanity ruled and the two intersections and the bridge over the railroad tracks on East Green Street were rebuilt in the mid-1970s.

Many years ago, the area that we now know as John and Carroll streets in Westminster was known as the "space between."


Related








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Westminster Patch:
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster Online: http://www.kevindayhoff.org
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Politics: www.kevindayhoff@net

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Westminster Methodist minister Lowell Ensor helped raise awareness of civil rights in 1940s

Anyone remember the Rev. Dr. Lowell Ensor, the pastor at the Westminster United Methodist from 1940 – 1947 and later became the president of Western Maryland College – now McDaniel, from 1947 – June 30, 1972? http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0323-20140325,0,3448847.story

[...]

By Kevin Dayhoff, March 25, 2014

In 1945, institutional racism in Maryland was a hot topic. In part, the discussion was driven by pragmatism in that, according to research by historian Kenneth D. Durr, more than 20 percent of the population in Baltimore was said to be black. But because of housing segregation laws, the city's black population was squeezed into 2 percent of the city's land mass.

Lowell Ensor would later assume the office of president of the college, now McDaniel, on July 1, 1947, according to Lightner's history of the college, "Fearless and Bold." He served until June 30, 1972, and died in 1975.


Lowell Ensor would later assume pres of college now McDaniel 1Jy1947, according to Lightner's, "Fearless and Bold." http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0323-20140325,0,3448847.story
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By Kevin E. Dayhoff, kevindayhoff@gmail.com
Story | April 21, 2014 | 12:04 PM
... just endured are hard on a city — and expensive. In a recent edition of the city's newsletter, Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz wrote, "The City has spent all $100,000 of our snow budget plus an additional $50,000 in contingency funds purchasing ...

By Kevin E. Dayhoff, 
Story | April 15, 2014 | 5:52 AM
On April 12, 1946, Maryland Gov. Herbert O'Conor "announced his decision to provide permanent automobile registration tags for motor vehicles in the State," according to a local newspaper.

By Kevin E. Dayhoff, 
Story | April 8, 2014 | 5:38 AM
There were actually at least two sports stadiums in Northeast Baltimore at 33rd Street and Ellerslie Avenue in what was once a city park by the name of Venable Park. The first, Baltimore Municipal Stadium, began operations Dec. 2, 1922.

By Kevin Dayhoff, kevindayhoff@gmail.com
Story | March 25, 2014 | 12:16 PM
In 1945, institutional racism in Maryland was a hot topic. In part, the discussion was driven by pragmatism in that, according to research by historian Kenneth D. Durr, more than 20 percent of the population in Baltimore was said to be black.

By Kevin Dayhoff, 
Story | March 19, 2014 | 8:06 AM
"Today's Paper Has Community Fallout Shelter Plan ? The new community fallout shelter plan for Carroll County is included in this newspaper. ?"

By Kevin Dayhoff, 
Story | February 5, 2014 | 4:37 AM
... received an imported breech-loading shotgun. Throughout his career he gave away 5,000 guns representing sales of 5,000,000 cigars!" When he is not admiring the artwork on the old cigar labels,Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .
By Kevin E. Dayhoff, 
Story | February 17, 2014 | 1:57 PM
... City, a vast collection of skyscrapers and a thriving economic center that may be best described as the Hong Kong of Latin and South America. If he is not showing pictures of his trip to Panama to friends, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at

By Kevin Dayhoff Story | February 12, 2014 | 3:15 AM
... College: 621 employees • Carroll County Commissioners: 587 employees • Carroll Community College: 509 employees • Evapco: 440 employees When he is not counting the days until spring, KevinDayhoff may be reached at .

By Kevin Dayhoff, Story | March 4, 2014 | 8:42 AM Many residents today may not recall the crazy-quilt "dog leg" intersection of John, Bond and Main streets, or the equally mismatched collision of Main and Liberty streets, Railroad Avenue, and the train tracks in Westminster. Years ago, these intersections did not look anything like they do now.

Long-standing history of ground-rent on property in Westminster [Column] By Kevin E. Dayhoff, Story | March 11, 2014 | 1:12 PM In the last several weeks, articles in the Baltimore Sun report that a ruling by the Maryland Court of Appeals "tossed-out” an ambitious legislative effort" to address what some lawmakers perceived as abusive practices on the part of some ground-rent owners in Maryland.

Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for: Patuxent Publishing Co., The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.comhttp://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO








Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/



E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:


Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Baltimore Sun - Carroll County Times - The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO

Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Saturday, April 11, 2015

Maryland House passes major changes to public records access By http://marylandreporter.com/

House passes major changes to public records access



Major changes to the Public Information Act reported on earlier have now passed both the House and Senate in essentially the same form.

HB755 passed the House Wednesday 139-1, and SB695 passed the Senate unanimously March 25.

“This is a big step forward,” said Del. Dan Morhaim, the floor leader and a long-time champion of open government and transparency measures. The legislation makes the Public Information Act more understandable, reasonable and fair, Morhaim said.

The bill replaces inconsistent enforcement of current law with more standardized procedures for obtaining public records and documents. This includes a new ombudsman in the Office of the Attorney General to give guidance and mediate requests from all levels of government. There is also a new Public Information Compliance Board that will rule on fees that can be charged.

The Senate must now act favorably on the House version of the bill.


http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/04/maryland-house-passes-major-changes-to.html
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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/
E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Thursday, April 9, 2015

Carroll County Delegate Haven Q. Shoemaker's Weekly Update

Carroll County Delegate Haven Q. Shoemaker's Weekly Update

Delegate Haven Shoemaker, District 5, Carroll County
Annapolis contact info:
   House of Delegates
   Room 320
   6 Bladen Street
   Annapolis, MD 21401
   (410) 841-3359
Member
Ways and Means Cmte
Education Subcmte
Finance Resrcs Subcmte
Carroll County Delegation
Western MD Delegation
Veterans Caucus
Sportsmen's Caucus

Things are moving fast...

Well my friends, it’s down to the wire now.  We’ll have marathon sessions on the floor of the House of Delegates tomorrow, Saturday, and Monday.  If we don’t pass a budget by midnight on Monday we’ll have to make use of the extension Governor Hogan granted us via executive order late last week.  Hopefully that won’t be necessary, but if that’s what it takes to get this state on the right track then that’s exactly what we’ll do.

Here are a few important bills that are still up in the air…
  • Passed the House 139-1
  • Awaiting passage in the Senate
  • Passed the Senate unanimously
  • Awaiting passage in the House
  • Passed the Senate unanimously
  • Awaiting passage in the House
  • Passed the Senate unanimously
  • Awaiting passage in the House
  • Passed the Senate 46-1
  • Awaiting passage in the House
Of course this is just a sample of the myriad legislation we’ve seen come through Annapolis this year.  If you have a particular bill you’re interested in please don’t hesitate to contact me and I’ll give you the latest details.  Thanks as always for reading my weekly update.  Have a wonderful day!
Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr.
State Delegate, District 5, Carroll County

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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 



Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/


Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff

Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net



Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/

Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Friday, March 20, 2015

My copy of the pamphlet on the 1979 Maryland Public Ethics Law and some thoughts on the current Maryland Ethics disclosure law.

My copy of the pamphlet on the 1979 Maryland Public Ethics Law and some thoughts on the current Maryland Ethics disclosure law.


For your files, please find from my old papers a copy of a pamphlet that the State Dept. of Legislative References published in early 1979 about the newly enacted Maryland Public Ethics Law which went into effect on July 1, 1979.

I have long-since forgotten the context of the law or what particular incident may have precipitated the law.

I do remember that at the time fulfilling the requirements of the law were relatively effortless and unremarkable.

According to some individuals close to the situation, “legislation enacted by the Maryland General Assembly in 2010 required local ethics ordinances to be at least as stringent as state law. At the time, many municipal government officials expressed alarm over the breadth of the new financial disclosure requirements. Municipal officials were concerned that the broad requirements would deter capable new candidates from seeking local office and influence current elected officials to decline to seek reelection.

“Bills introduced in the 2014 session of the General Assembly by Senator Raskin and Delegates Gilchrist and Haddaway-Riccio sought to exempt local municipal elected officials from disclosing certain items.

In 2015, the Maryland Municipal League is taking a different approach to this legislation. Rather than exempting elected municipal officials and candidates for municipal office from filing financial disclosure statements, or certain information therein, this legislation would shield certain confidential information from public inspection absent a finding by a local ethics commission of a violation of any part of the municipalities’ financial disclosure or conflict of interest requirements.

“Specifically, the law would shield information regarding a spouse or dependent child, and, unless related to a business entity with which the municipality has conducted business within the last 10 years, the candidate or elected official’s interests in real property located outside the municipal corporation, interests in corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, employment information, and indebtedness.

“All of the above information would still be reported and submitted to the local ethics commission, be available to the local board of elections, and to the courts; however, it would not be releasable to the public absent a finding by the ethics commission of a violation.”

I was elected to the Common Council of the City of Westminster in 1999 and served as Mayor from 2001 until 2005.  In these capacities, and particularly as Mayor, I expended numerous hours engaged in activities in furtherance of the interests of the City and its residents and businesses.

At all times during my elected service, I worked in non-City-related employment, as a businessman, farmer, artist, and free-lance journalist.

I currently find the requirements of the Model Ordinance to be unreasonably burdensome. Although, in my capacity as an elected official, I thoroughly understand that I have no reasonable expectation of privacy as to information that is relevant to my service as a municipal employee, the Model Ordinance presents an opportunity for an excessive arbitrary invasion of my personal privacy, unrelated to the purpose and intent of the State Public Ethics Law, because the required disclosures would include information neither relevant, material, nor reasonably calculated to lead to the disclosure of pertinent information related in any way to my public service.

I take pride and satisfaction in my past service for our citizens as an elected official in Westminster, notwithstanding the fact that my expenses as an elected official exceeded the compensation provided by the Charter of the City of Westminster

I am unaware of any conduct by a City elected official or by a candidate for City elective office during my tenure that presented either a conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest that would have been identified and corrected by the Model Ordinance but that would have been missed by the City’s Proposed Ordinance.

In my view, the provisions of the Model Ordinance, if not modified and revised as set forth in the City’s Proposed Ordinance, impose a substantial hardship and an undue intrusion upon the personal privacy of persons who choose to run for and serve in public office in the City of Westminster, without accomplishing any significant benefit in terms of protecting the public that would justify the hardship or invasion of privacy.

Although I, along with current and former municipal officials throughout the state, understand that in order for municipal government, the government that is closest to the people, to be effective, it must be transparent and open, approachable and accessible.

Strong ethics ordinances are critical for local government to effective, vibrant and meaningful.

My family has been involved in municipal government for many-generations dating back to before the 1890s. It is my insight that adoption of the Model Ordinance is over-kill and as such would significantly reduce the availability of qualified individuals for public service and encourages currently- elected officials to decline to seek reelection.

I do not know the status of the current legislation in the Maryland General Assembly. I do know that the current law is so severe, punishing and draconian that many good folks who would make great local municipal officials have quietly opted-out of participating in local government as a result of the new law.

Many current officials have determined that it is punitive in nature but find themselves unwilling to publicly challenge it for fear of being subjected to political and media ridicule – so they have simply decided to quietly opt-out from serving.

It should be further noted that no one can serve in public office without the support of their family. Family members across the state have objected to disclosing aspects of their personal life that have nothing to do with the material conduct of municipal government.

The nature and breadth of issues that municipal government officials deal with are far narrower than those that state and even county officials address. It stands to reason that the nature and breadth of financial disclosure of municipal officials versus state officials should parallel those differences.

Just saying


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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 



Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/


Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff

Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net



Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/

Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Saturday, March 7, 2015

The time has come to change the way we fill vacancies in the Maryland General Assembly


The time has come to change the way we fill vacancies in the Maryland General Assembly

by Kevin E. Dayhoff March 6, 2015

Many have followed the seemingly never-ending drama produced by the Carroll County Md. Republican Central Committee to fill the vacancy of Carroll County Senator Joe Getty, who was appointed to the administration of Gov. Larry Hogan.

And now in a seemingly-endless sequel to a grade B horror version of political ground hog day; the drama has not stopped appointing a successor to the 5th district delegate seat vacated by then-Del. Justin Ready, who was appointed to fill Sen. Getty’s seat. See: Carroll County Md Republican Central Committee letter retrieved March 5, 2015 http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/03/carroll-county-republican-central.html

Are you still with me? Follow closely, it is going to be a bumpy ride…

Just for the record, there are many-many really good people involved in this soap opera. All the more reason to change the process. If good folks cannot make it work – over and over again; then the time has come to change the way we do it. If we keep doing what we are doing, we are going to keep getting what we are getting.

The system has arguably been broken for at least 150 years – since 1867. What are we waiting for to fix it? 

If you believe that the recent trials and tribulations that have befallen the process of filling a vacancy are an anomaly – think again. I am old enough to remember the challenges that took place in July 2004 when “A rift … developed in the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, as it prepare[d] to select a replacement for outgoing Del. Carmen Amedori, R-District 5A.,” according to July 3, 2004 article in the Carroll County Times by one the better political writers that the Times had in years, Justin Palk. See: July 03, 2004: Rift forms in Carroll's GOP central committee http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/03/july-03-2004-rift-forms-in-carrolls-gop.html

And actually, when taking an in-depth look at the vacancy replacement and appointment process, the problems have gone-on for decades and decades… I am old enough to remember that there were problems in the mid-to-late 1960s. Although I do not remember the details…

Many have appropriately referred to Art. III Sec 13 of the Maryland Constitution ... In particular, the Acts of 1966, ch 162 was ratified on November 8, 1966, and defined the duties of the political parties in nominating replacement members of the legislature and setting limits within which they must act.

The context of the passage of the law was fascinating and widely discussed at the time.

I am a bit familiar with this portion, Section 13 of Art. lll, (of the Maryland Constitution – ratified Sept. 18, 1867 with an effective date of on October 5, 1867.) I may have even written about Art. III Sec 13.

I am a bit familiar with this portion, Section 13 of Art. lll, (of the Maryland Constitution – ratified Sept. 18, 1867 with an effective date of on October 5, 1867.) I may have even written about Art. III Sec 13.

My cousin, Wilbur W. Magin, D-CC, 1959 – 1967, participated in the legislation which amended Art III Sec. 13 (b) (3) ratified Nov. 8, 1966.

According to the Maryland State Archives, “Maryland has had four consitutions [sic.] At the time of the Revolutionary War, the first constitution was adopted by the Ninth Provincial Convention, meeting at Annapolis, in November 1776. Voters adopted the second constitution in June 1851. During the Civil War, the third constitution was adopted by the voters in October 1864. Voters adopted the fourth and last constitution under which Maryland government now functions in September 1867. This probably the beginning of our current problems with filling vacancies.

Fast forward to today’s news, according to an article in Maryland Reporter by veteran political reporter Len Lazarick on Thursday, January 15, 2015, “In filling the three legislative vacancies he has created in building his new administration, Gov.-elect Larry Hogan said he’d like to see a more open nominating process used by the Republican central committees and more candidate names for him to fill the seats…”

Perhaps there has been no better time to change the way vacancies are filled to the most transparent of all procedures – a special election. Let the voters decide.

I am aware that many of the folks who do not want the special election method argue that they would rather avoid the expense. That is a compelling and persuasive argument.

That was the argument in the late 1960s and that was the argument in 2004. Upon both occasions, folks vowed that the challenges to the current process were a personality-driven challenge and that the central committees would do a better job in the future.

However, at this point I am increasingly willing to accept the more cynical version of events - that partisan politics – in both the Democrat and Republican parties - have entered into an unholy alliance to maintain the status quo, no matter how messy it be, than give up the power to exercise the inside baseball power partisan machine politics of a particular jurisdiction in the state. We are all familiar with the local party favorite with the strident partisan views that make him or her un-electable. The current process provides a way to circumvent the collective wisdom of the local voters.

Upon three occasions in the last fifty-years – central committees both Democrat and Republican have not done a better job. Three strikes, you're out. You ruined your opportunity to do it your way. Now is the time to put the publics' best interests first and change the system to a direct special election. Might be no better time than the present to develop a better procedure. Just saying.

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July 03, 2004: Rift forms in Carroll's GOP central committee By Justin Palk, Times Staff Writer



If you believe that the trials and tribulations that have befallen the process of filling a vacancy in the Maryland General Assembly are an anomaly – think again. I am old enough to remember the challenges that took place in July 2004 when “A rift … developed in the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, as it prepare[d] to select a replacement for outgoing Del. Carmen Amedori, R-District 5A.,” according to July 3, 2004 article in the Carroll County Times by one the better political writers that the Times had in years, Justin Palk.

Not to be overlooked were the problems in 1967…

Back in February 2015, I looked for this article on the Carroll County Times website and could not find it. If I had found it I would use the ‘AP rule’ and only post no more than 75 words and then provide the reader with a link… If someone over at the Times can provide me with a link to this article in archives; that would be great.

Pasted below, in part, is one of a number of articles in my archives file about the problems making an appointment to fill the seat vacated by Del. Carmen Amedori when she was picked by the administration of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich to fill a slot on the Md. parole commission.

Rift forms in Carroll's GOP central committee
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By Justin Palk, Times Staff Writer Saturday, July 03, 2004
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A rift has developed in the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, as it prepares to select a replacement for outgoing Del. Carmen Amedori, R-District 5A.

Thursday, Michelle Jefferson, the committee's chairwoman, sent an e-mail message to Joe Burns Jr., a committee member. It reads, in part, "since you've reniged [sic] on your word and have refused to resign, I am obligated to inform you of the rescheduled regular meeting for Tuesday, July 6 at 7:30."

Jefferson confirmed she composed the message. Carroll's central committee received a directive from John Kane, the state Republican Party chairman, asking the body not to meet until it had received Burns' resignation, which the party was working to secure, she said. This week, the party rescinded its order, Jefferson said.

[…]

Deborah Martinez, spokeswoman for the Maryland State Republican Party, said she could neither confirm nor deny that the state party had issued such an order. She did confirm the state party is aware of a problem with Carroll County's central committee.

The committee is meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the process for replacing Amedori, Jefferson said. Thursday, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. appointed the delegate to the Maryland Parole Commission, creating a vacancy in the county's legislative delegation.

Jefferson and Burns have had difficult relations in the past. On April 28 of this year, Burns pressed second-degree assault charges against the committee chairwoman, according to charging documents filed with the Carroll County District Court. In the documents, Burns accused Jefferson of grabbing his right index finger and bending it backward during a heated discussion at the end of a committee meeting on April 15.

Burns dropped the charges on June 17, the day before the case went to trial, according to a letter from the Howard County State's Attorney's Office, which was assigned to the case as a special prosecutor.

Burns said he dropped the charges at the request of Kane and Joe Getty, formerly state delegate for District 5, now the governor's policy director.

Despite making multiple phone calls, the Times was unable to reach Getty for this article.

[…]

The article goes on for a while; mostly more about ‘who stuck John ya da ya da…

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Carroll County Md Republican Central Committee letter retrieved March 5, 2015 http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/03/carroll-county-republican-central.html

This was an updated letter sent today to all applicants for the D5 Delegate Seat:

Dear Applicant:

Wednesday you may have received an email from Matt Helminiak, Secretary for the Republican Central Committee. If so, it has several factual errors and misrepresentations. We four members of the committee are and have been committed to a fair and open process but it continues to elude us. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to contact the Governor’s office on your own behalf to ensure that your application for the D5 seat now receives full consideration since our committee chose not to meet and make its own recommendation to fill the vacant seat.

The legal case Matt referred to in no way prevented the Central Committee from meeting and fulfilling its duty to recommend a name or names to the Governor. We also have no way of knowing whether it was a unanimous decision at this point. The injunction in place, lifted Monday, simply prevented the committee from recommending multiple names to the Governor. We were always willing to meet to make our decision regardless of the decision of the court. As we awaited the hearing, we urged our chairman on numerous occasions to conduct the interviews and we would hold our final vote after Monday (taking just a few minutes.) We followed an identical process in filling the D4 seat. Chairman Jones refused to call that meeting and now the Governor will decide, within 15 days, who is best to represent us in the legislature.

We will not dismiss the case despite pressure from the majority. Not only is it disrespectful to the court, but it would also prevent the court from issuing a full written opinion on the Constitutional issues at stake – our real purpose.

The Governor has 15 days from today to make his appointment. Here is the contact information you need to advocate for your appointment.

Good luck and thank you for your time and effort in this process.

Kathy Fuller, Melissa Caudill, Amy Gilford and Jim Reter, Carroll County Central Committee Members

APPOINTMENTS OFFICE

James D. Fielder, Jr., Ph.D., Secretary of Appointments
Chris Cavey, Deputy Secretary of Appointments
Jennifer Barker Jefferson, Executive Assistant
Kim L. Crispino, Special Assistant
Jeffrey P. Horsley, Special Assistant
Vacancy, Special Assistant
Fred L. Wineland Building, 5th floor
16 Francis St., Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1925
(410) 974-2611; fax: (410) 974-2456
e-mail: appointments@gov.state.md.us

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Related:


Carroll County Md Republican Central Committee letter retrieved March 5, 2015 http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/03/carroll-county-republican-central.html

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My story that is getting the most play may be found here - Watching Gov.-elect Larry Hogan pick a team http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2015/01/watching-gov-elect-larry-hogan-pick-team.html

For some balance, find a January 15, 2015 letter to the editor in the Carroll County Times by Scott Hollenbeck here: “Frazier uniquely qualified for Senate seathttp://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/opinion/ph-cc-hollenbeck-letter-01172015-20150117,0,4211336.story

And many more here…. It is a regular lollapalooza… http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/

Related: Robin Bartlett Frazier nominated to State Senate seat - by Carroll County Times staff writer Jacob deNobel http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2015/01/robin-bartlett-frazier-nominated-to.html January 10, 2015 http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/ph-cc-rcc-frazier-20150110,0,151714.story

Carroll County Republican Central Committee Selects Robin Bartlett Frazier to Fill Opening District 5 Senate Seat http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/01/carroll-county-republican-central.html

Del. Justin Ready, R-District 5 is the clear choice for Carroll Co. Md. Senate vacancy http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2015/01/del-justin-ready-r-district-5-is-clear.html By Kevin E. Dayhoff January 11, 2015 By Kevin E. Dayhoff January 11, 2015

Or – food for thought; if Carroll County Delegate Susan Krebs had applied with the central committee, she would be the appropriate choice because she is the ranking senior member of the Carroll County Delegation to Annapolis. That said, the word is that she did not throw her name in the hat…


Del. Justin Ready, R-District 5 is the clear choice for the Carroll County Republican Central Committee to fill the vacancy in the Maryland State Senate left by outgoing Senator Joe Getty

Last Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, the Carroll County Republican Central Committee chose former Carroll County commissioner Robin Frazier as its recommendation to fill the vacancy in the Maryland State Senate left by outgoing Senator Joe Getty. http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2015/01/del-justin-ready-r-district-5-is-clear.html

Hogan wants more openness, more names in filling legislative seats - Maryland Reporter: By Len Lazarick http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2015/01/maryland-reporterby-len-lazarick-hogan.html

According to an article in Maryland Report by veteran political reporter Len Lazarick on Thursday, January 15, 2015, “In filling the three legislative vacancies he has created in building his new administration, Gov.-elect Larry Hogan said he’d like to see a more open nominating process used by the Republican central committees and more candidate names for him to fill the seats…”

[…]

It is a must-read article for anyone who has followed the controversies “In Frederick and Carroll counties, [where] the small Republican Central Committees have already named one person for each seat, creating controversy in both counties…” http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2015/01/maryland-reporterby-len-lazarick-hogan.html


Michelle Jefferson: Committee wanted to right a wrong


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“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” FRIEDRICH WILHELM NIETZSCHE 1844-1900

Kevin Dayhoff, a slave to the masters of the page - the little soldiers in my life – words


People who do not understand your silence will never understand your words.
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See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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