It is my pleasure and privilege to endorse Frank Gunsallus for the position of President of the Easton Town Council. He is the right person at the right time to continue the work he has started to address major issues facing this historic and beautiful Town.
Affordable housing, financial challenges caused by the State’s looming deficit, and planning and zoning projects (including cannabis regulations) will all benefit from his knowledge, energy, and commitment to excellence.
He is a passionate leader who cares deeply about Easton, is involved in various charitable works and local organizations, and believes wholeheartedly in the future of this town.
Tom Mitchell
Talbot County
Rick Hughes says
I am voting Don Abattiello for his experience, service and demeanor. I live in Ward 2 and received two mailers from Gunsallus, yesterday, that were filled with misinformation, deflection and name calling. That’s not what Easton needs. That is not good leadership. That is not the civility and respect that Gunsallus promised at the Election Town Hall earlier in the week.
Michael Pullen says
Maryland Judicial Case Search https://casesearch.mdcourts.gov/casesearch/ shows that on Dec. 2, 2014, Frank Lewis Gunsallus, IV (DOB 07/27/1988) was charged with Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and other offenses, (Case No. 5I00097200) and the District Court Judge set his bail at $500,000. This is an extraordinary amount of bail and reflects the Court’s view of the seriousness of the charges, flight risk, danger to the community and other factors. Generally, bail is set at the least onerous amount to secure the defendants’ appearance in Court and protect the public safety.
Mr. Gunsallus’s case was transferred to the Circuit Court (Case No. 23-K-15-000026) because he was charged with a felony, where he pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute and was given a sentence of 5 years, 3 of which were suspended with 2 years to serve.
One may say a marijuana charge, particularly now that recreational use of marijuana is legal in Maryland, doesn’t reflect on a person’s character and that may well be true in many cases. But a $500,000 bail is serious, and reflects a serious charge, as does a 5-year sentence with 2 years to serve.
But what does reflect on a person’s character is a deliberate choice to make money by breaking the law, to believe the money is worth it, apparently a lot of money judging by the Court’s setting bail at $500,000.
Values are learned early. Money is not more valuable than integrity, or honesty, or respect. Grasping for what you want, whether it is money or power, and being willing to do whatever it takes to get it, including breaking the law, or lying, or treating others with disrespect is more than just a poor personal choice or a mistake. Easton deserves better leaders than that.