Four different community groups in Talbot County, from different areas and focused on different issues, have joined to form a bipartisan political movement committed to electing new leadership to the Talbot County Council this year. Dan Watson, Chair of the organization, explained that “The goal of our Bipartisan Coalition is good government and its sole and immediate objective is to vote out of office Jennifer Williams, the Council President and leader. The campaign has begun.”
Though this effort has just been announced, the Coalition is already publicly endorsed by a large number of prominent individuals of both parties (and independents), all deeply concerned about Ms. William’s harmful leadership on certain actions adverse to citizens’ welfare and the County’s long-term future. Judge John C. North II, the Honorary Chair, said, “The Coalition’s campaign will present fully the background and hard evidence that supports our effort to unseat the current leader of the Council. We will express our viewpoints in a civil and respectful manner.”
Issues which have riled many citizens, including members of the four founding organizations, include failure reasonably to regulate short term vacation rentals and attitudes towards sewers, zoning, and land use, where Ms. Williams has demonstrated actual enmity to the citizens’ long-standing vision that guides planning in Talbot: “a high quality of life…and rural character. Other important issues during Ms. Williams’ tenure involved development density in historic villages and the Councils’ approval of a sharp increase in permitted noise levels, which at one point the Council considered doubling.
Time and again only concerted action by engaged citizens and community groups has staved off the worst proposals. But relying on citizens continuously to play defense is no way to run a local government. The Coalition and its supporters are intent on unseating the Council President in order to open the door for voters to elect new leadership genuinely committed to the wellbeing of Talbot’s residents and their aspirations for Talbot County in the future.
The Bipartisan Coalition For New Council Leadership PAC, is an alliance of these independent groups: Neighborhoods Are For Neighbors, whose focus is on problems caused by the failure to regulate the exploding short term vacation rental (“STR”) industry in Talbot; Citizens For Sustainable Communities, concerned about the impact of excessive noise in the County; Talbot Preservation Alliance, an established entity that for 20 years that has worked to keep Council’s land use decisions true to citizens’ intentions; and Citizens For Managed Growth, a group focusing on historic villages. It was formed in 2015 when Royal Oak was threatened with the specter of a 100-acre farm being legally divided into quarter acre lots.
More information can be found at CountyOverParty.org
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