Three weeks ago, the most controversial issue in the Easton Council President election race might have been whether or not the city would continue to offer free EV charging stations in the downtown area. With only five days left before the September 12th election, things are decidedly different now.
Over the last week or so, flyers attacking former Easton mayor Bob Willey, now seeking the Town Council president position, have been mailed to every household in town. Clearly marked as being sponsored by Talbot County resident Scott Wagner, some in the community have quickly tied Mr. Wagner’s negative campaign to Al Silverstein, former Easton Council member and also current candidate for Easton Town Council.
Given the general public concern over the flyer campaign, the Spy asked Al Silverstein to come by the Spy Studio today to respond to questions related to his relationship with Mr. Wagner directly.
This video is approximately four minutes in length.
Dorothy Whitcomb says
Al, I’m glad you did this interview. The mailings about Bob Wiley were an incorrigible smear campaign all too reminiscent of the sorry state of our national politics. Because they pulled in some of your very valid talking points, there are people wondering if you were connected to it. My response has been, “That’s not the Al that I know.” Thanks for setting the record straight.
Thomas Alspach says
Mr. Wheelan does not ask the right questions here and therefore gets Al’s doubletalk in response.
All of the false and misleading accusations in Scott Wagner’s sordid mailings come directly, essentially verbatim, from the “I’m Angry” commentary Silverstein published in the Spy two weeks ago. And now he wants us to believe he has no responsibility for what Wagner is putting out there? In the Star today Silverstein claims that “I do not approve of this type of rhetoric.” BUT IT’S HIS OWN RHETORIC! Shameless, hypocritical and very telling. Easton deserves better than this fellow.
Carol Voyles says
You must have proof of this?
Please do us all a favor and provide it.
Yes, this whole thing is sordid. The claims wrong?
Lets talk about it. Using a person’s language just isn’t enough for me, and I can’t imagine its enough for you.
Tom Alspach says
What is “this” that needs proof?
Carol Voyles says
This?
Proof: of Al’s approval/participation in Wagner mailers.
Quote: (video) “What Scott Wagner’s doing. I don’t agree with that. I don’i agree with that kind of stuff.”
Tom Alspach says
So he “doesn’t agree with” the slanders in Wagner’s postcards that he himself, Silverstein, wrote in his August “I’m Angry” commentary? Hmmm … .
Mark Pellerin says
So .. what is Wagner’s motivation to produce this trash — if it is NOT to smear Willey and thus aid Silverstein who admits that he has helped Wagner with building permits?
Wagner puts his name on Airport Day. Could anyone else wonder why?
Carol Voyles says
That probably was/is Wagner’s motivation, to smear Willey, and possibly to aid Silverstein in that process.
But Al says he had no part in these efforts, and to date there is no evidence suggesting otherwise.
Silverstein responds to constituents’ requests, and he arranged a meeting for Wagner with Mayor Willey to discuss his constituent’s plans (for a technology park) and to my knowledge, no one has disputed that, or the following:
Al assisted with Wagner’s request for a public street sweeping in area of construction, but has had no regular contact/relationship or campaign contributions from Wagner, and no part in this hideous mailing.
Suggestions of Wagner’s possible fall-out with Mayor Willey are also unconfirmed (to my knowledge) at this point.
I didn’t appreciate Al’s bold suggestions, but do appreciate his frustration. (For example, he was upset that wife did not receive supplemental medical coverage under the same circumstances (when no longer in office).
I also believe Al would admit being wrong when proven wrong.
Maureen Ryan Fogarty says
If Silverstein represented A constituent like Wagner intending to build a $50M commercial space in an area he represented, wouldnt it have made sense to approach Wagner to explore his support for Council President?
Did this “seasoned leader” really not know if Wagner supported him? A fish that big?
Also in your interview he says he never approached Wagner about help (which makes no sense). He does not say in your interview if Wagner approached him. #notbuyingit
And building the new hospital (at or near the land Wagner owns ) – and Silverstein represented himself as the guy who could get the new hospital started for our community – he never talked to Wagner about this?
That would almost be a dereliction of duty. Not adding up.
The land also just happens to be for sale in case anyone wants to buy it for say….a new hospital.
Carol Voyles says
Speaking of adding up (and moving in a positive direction, hopefully) we have to wonder why anyone would simply assume Al must have done something wrong when only suppositions are offered. I would not appreciate being in that position.
He’s a good neighbor who’s faced several surgeries, including a kidney transplant, He seems to live modestly and doesn’t have a fancy car, and Campaign records are public record. Take a look.
And I would recommend watching the debate video, if you haven’t seen it.
I might have voted for Mr. Gunsallus, had his reaction to questions regarding his mistake been one I would expect of a candidate.
Regarding suggestions of a possible misunderstanding of government assistance. That should be easy enough to rectify. The fact that it is mentioned suggests someone may have knowledge of such assistance. Why wouldn’t a Town employee simply share their knowledge of a benefit that must have been offered to all employees?
Please share.
Noah matten says
Ms. Voyles,
I’m curios as to the question you’re referring to in Frank’s repose. Or are you just stating you do not feel his discloser publicly of a past mistake of which arguably he has more than paid his debt to society is not adequate for you ?
I can’t comprehend how you are unable to draw the connection between Al’s opinion piece “ you should be angry too” and Scott’s use of these points to attack bob willey. If Al was running a noble campaign his leadership would just be that, leading our citizens to make solution oriented change not creating strife. Furthermore if he was not connected to the Wagner mailings,without his ammunition form the statements in his opinion piece it would be a moot issue.
I’m not sure why Al is being defended. He may not have pulled the trigger but he certainly left a loaded gun for anyone willing to use it.
Gerald G Newell says
What does our new Mayor think of the issues brought up by Mr. Siverstein
Also, does she have any thoughts or comments regarding the flyers that were sent to the voters by Mr. Wagner.
Paul Callahan says
I know Al Silverstein and am positive that he had nothing to do with this negative ad campaign against Mr. Willey. This campaign is an example of how our Eastern Shore values are rapidly changing. Our traditional values were that we highly respect our elders, particularly those who have contributed so much to our town and county. Even grown men would refer to someone as distinguished as Mr. Willey as “Mr. Bob” or “Mr. Willey.” Whether you will vote for Mr. Willey or not, the fact is that for 30 years he has served our community with distinction and should be given great credit for the incredible town that Easton is today. He should be honored for his service and not referred to as a “used diaper” that needs to be thrown out.
Mr. Wagner is not from the Shore and has brought to us, from his home state of Pennsylvania, a total disrespect for our citizens which I am sure will carry over as a full disrespect for all other values we hold dear with his desire to develop Talbot county for his profit. A google search of Scott Wagner reveals an “eye opening” list that should concern all of us in the county. This includes a laundry list of EPA violations in regard to his waste disposal company. I do not believe that Mr. Wagner is conducting this nasty campaign as a concerned citizen, rather I am sure there is a motive that involves lots of profit in his coffers at the expense of the citizens of Talbot County and all the values we hold dear.
Reed Fawell 3 says
I agree.
Let us now refocus on how we are going to address our three greatest local problems –
1. How do will insure that future growth will, to the fullest extent possible, be traffic neutral growth that serves all of our residents? And that Never Again allows, or encourages, projects like Poplar Hill or Lakeside, or other large single uses.
2. How do with bring first class health care to all our citizens, and all their health needs, including prompt and affordable health care, lead by a cadre of fine primarily care physicians, and a first class hospital that promptly, efficiently, and with empathy, serves its patients.
3. How do we make sure all of our citizens and their leaders understand these past failures, and that we, as citizens of Talbot County, and all of its towns, deserve that these chronic longstanding problems is addressed and fixed in an open way starting as of right now?
Deidra A. Lyngard says
Dave, thanks for pursuing this and getting some clarity on Silverstein’s role (or non-role) in these anti-Willey postcard mailings. Wagner should leave his negative advertising in Pennsylvania. We would prefer not to have this virus infect Easton politics.
Marshall Weingarden says
When builders in Easton Village failed to follow the rules of the P.U.D. (Planned Unit Development) that protects the quality of our community and the developer did not enforce the rules, a group of home owners asked Mayor Bob Willey for help. He came through for us and the builders were forced to conform to the rules to which the deveoper had agreed when permission had been granted to create our community. Bob came through for us.
A few yer ago, I managed a campaign to get residents of the county to register their telephone numbers with the Emergency Services Department for the telephone event warning system.. Al Siverstein was the director of the Chamber of Commerce. I asked him for assstance in the distribution of the posters that advised residents to register. Al did mount a poster in his office, but he did not get one member of his organization to mount a poster for either its customers or employees. Posters that could save lives!
Bruce Wakefield says
WHO IS SCOTT WAGNER
There certainly seems to be a lot of Outrage expressed lately in the Star Democrat, Letters to the Editor section concerning a political mailer sent to Easton Residences focusing on former Mayor Bob Willey.
On the back of the mailer it says “paid for by Scott R. Wagner.” I am confused why there is so much negativity and outrage focused at Mr. Wagner. Has Mr. Wagner violated some law or social boundary by opining what he believes has taken place under Mayor Willey’s tenure?
Mr. Wagner, at his own expense, is exercising His 1st Amendment Right under the US and Maryland Constitution, Free Speech! Mr. Wagner is doing so a Citizen, not a candidate or rival of the former Mayor and hopeful candidate for president of the Easton Town Council. Mr. Willey is asking for the Easton Residences Trust once again. Mr. Wagner has opined that several actions by Mr. Willey when mayor, raises the question for the Easton Electorates consideration, Does Mr. Willey deserve OUR trust?
Frankly, I find the actions cited in these mailers to be very serious if indeed they were performed by or under the previous mayor. My taxes may have been Misused! I find that very Disturbing!
I call on the The Town of Easton to perform a substantive investigation into these allegations.
As for Mr. Willey, I consider him innocent until proven guilty, As Our Constitution Provides. However, I now question whether I can trust Bob Willey again!
Bruce Wakefield
14 Downing St. Easton, md 21601
Donna Creese says
Well stated!
Maureen Ryan Fogarty says
I believe it was the reference to a dirty diaper on the mailer that distinguished Mr. Wagner from first amendment right exerciser to just being a slimeball.
He may possess extensive financial resources, but you cant buy class as he more than demonstarted last week.