Ever since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the nation’s capital, I have become increasingly concerned about extremism in military ranks. At the same time, I believe that our defense structure is superior, serving our country adroitly and competently.

As I watched the disciplined assault on our capital, I saw men and women trained to operate effectively in a deliberately chaotic and dangerous situation. They were no ordinary rioters. They could wreak havoc with great efficiency. And they did, in front of a stunned nation.

Eighty of the 880, or 10 percent criminally charged participants were veterans. Five were active duty, including a Marine Corps officer and four reservists. The numbers are alarming.

The inflamed traitors did not disgrace a military uniform. They stormed our capital on their own time and dressed as civilians, hoping to overturn a legitimate presidential election. However, they dishonored the country that trained them by ignoring their oath to protect and preserve the Constitution and their nation. It mattered not to them; they were angry, feeling betrayed by their country.

The post 9-11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken their toll. Men and women served and fought bravely, losing buddies and arriving home with psychological problems. They also lost faith in our nation because the wars seemingly accomplished nothing.

They returned home to economic distress and spotty care from veterans hospitals. They distrusted their civilian leaders. They noted that not all Americans served our nation, particularly those in the upper classes.

When well-intended Americans would spot a service member in uniform and then thank that person for his or her service, the greeting would be disdained, viewed as empty of any understanding about combat or overseas service. The social distance between the military and the civilian worlds consequently would grow after an authentic gesture of good-hearted gratitude.

The schism is just too wide. Our national divisiveness grows and festers. Alienation mushrooms. Tribalism abounds. Our culture and country suffer.

If the reader thinks that I am justifying the unconscionable attack on our beloved democracy, that perception would be dead wrong. I simply offer a context for the rise of extremism in our military ranks. The danger is real. We face the politicization of our Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. An undercurrent of unrest and distrust propels well-trained troops, still serving or retired, to act in a traitorously illegal way.

How does the defense establishment combat insidious extremism? Serious vetting is one way—that is, being more attuned to potentially un-American behavior on the part of recruits. Being more attentive to comments and prejudice expressed by troops is another way. While not trampling on free speech, officers and senior enlisted must counsel those with aberrant behavior.

Training, one of the military’s best attributes, must focus on hatred and anti-American behavior—while taking care to respect and revere the 1st Amendment. This is tricky. But the military must not become a feeding ground for extremists who use their combat training to destroy democracy. Our armed forces face the very real threat of becoming stigmatized by allegations of extremism. It flourishes only because it is apolitical, retains public support and trains to fight foreign despots.

Extreme thought and bigotry have always existed in our fractious nation. Though ugly and unctuous, it must be tolerated until it endangers American citizens and institutions, such as the U.S. Congress. Then, it must face persecution and condemnation.

I commend Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a retired Army general, for attacking extremism in our ranks, exposing it for its malicious intent. His concern cannot diminish. He must ensure that the chain of command disciplines those who advocate hatred and illegal disruption.

Democracy is too precious to confront destruction from within. The Jan. 6 insurrection must be a one-time civil disaster.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.

 

More than seven-and-a-quarter years ago, I joined a large, all-male club of prostate cancer treatment survivors. I underwent surgery. I thought that any more concern about prostate cancer was unnecessary.

I was wrong. I was too optimistic.

Cancer is persistent and resistant. After seven years of undetectable testing results, my PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)—an indicator of prostate cancer and its recurrence—rose to a level that both my primary care physician and urologist immediately called for an onslaught (bit dramatic) of radiation.

My regiment is eight weeks, Monday through Friday at an appointed time in the early afternoon. My life has changed, beginning last week. According to the oncologist, my treatment will be curative, not palliative. That’s encouraging. It’s still drudgery; often the right things to do are difficult and inconvenient.

The headline for the treatment is “salvage.” Of my life. That’s a sobering thought. My oncologist, skilled and personable, wrote the headline, not me. His terminology is clear and direct. He leaves no doubt that if I follow the regimen, my treatment will be successful. No time for a cavalier attitude.

About the regimen, it is challenging. I must arrive for “table time” (not a joyous invitation) with a full bladder. Hmmm. I should have warned readers that this column should not be shared with children—or those in denial of cancer.

Why is this requirement difficult for me? Because a full bladder necessitates restraint and control. I lack both due to my June 2015 surgical removal of my prostate. I best stop here for the sake of discretion.

The doctor and the attentive technicians are aware of my condition. They offer no magic solution. They are empathetic. The rest is up to me. I spend most of the 20-minute laser beam therapy, provided by a linear accelerator, valued new at $750,000 to $1.5 million, steeling myself and praying for discipline and determination. And a friendly voice announcing completion.

At our weekly confab, my oncologist urged me to view the radiation process as a “team” effort, literally pointing at me as the captain. Now that’s a clever perspective. I leave medical matters and the operation of the large, expensive scanner to him and his crew of capable technicians.

I question my ability to lead as I spend my time lying absolutely still—and being quiet. I feel more like the victim of a medical assault conducted of course with professional (and hopefully precise) care. Maybe my leadership is subtle. Maybe it’s the doctor’s sales pitch; we will help you if you help us.

I question the “team” metaphor. I feel as if I am a medical football serving at the mercy of cancer-killers. Hopefully, the result will justify the inconvenience.

I learned last week that the cancer being radiated is not identifiable, only probable based upon the elevated PSA. No lumps or bumps are there for the zapping, fortunately. Instead, the approach, according to be oncologist, is bio-chemical. The beam radiates the prostate “bed” or cavity, eviscerating any evidence or possibility of cancer. While I anticipate no recurrence, I didn’t seriously consider that the cancer would appear after the robotic surgery conducted so efficiently at Hopkins Hospital.

Dreams rarely come true. I normally discount them. Life is not a Disney movie. Hope is a healthy ingredient.

I am trusting oncological medical advancements. I am trusting a hugely expensive machine operated by skilled technicians. I am trusting a highly regarded doctor. I am trusting that I can “salvage” my life with patience and acquiescence in my role in enhancing the process.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.

The Maryland Department of Environment’s (MDE) decision to control the proposed development of Lakeside by permitting 100,000 gallons per day, instead of 540,000 gallons, is a partial victory for opponents who successfully lobbied MDE to reconsider its initial decision. The proposed 2,500-unit development will proceed more slowly, if not at a smaller scale.

The song goes on. Controversy will continue. The Talbot Integrity Project (TIP), led by Dan Watson, still has an ongoing mission to deter over-development in a county on the cusp of being overrun by an onslaught of housing growth.

Tomorrow’s Talbot County Council election assumes greater import in light of the MDE decision. Should five Democrats win seats on the council, Lakeside will face a more restrictive future than charted by the current council led by Republican Chuck Callahan, a proponent.

Should voters elect Michele Dappert, Keasha Haythe, Phil Jackson, Scott Kane and Pete Lesher, the county council could decide to accept the Planning Commission’s opposition to Lakeside and set a new course against development detrimental to a rural county. Simply, out-of-scale residential communities will not pass muster should the newly elected county council pay greater attention to the Planning Commission and Comprehensive Plan.

As I have previously written, county residents would benefit from Dappert’s enthusiasm and tech know-how; Haythe’s business development experience and grounding in the community; Jackson’s expertise in community activism and information technology; Kane’s proven success as an entrepreneur, civic leader and local government leader (mayor of Chevy Chase) and Lesher’s highly respected reputation throughout the county as the longtime curator at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Easton town councilperson and county council member for the past four years.

A tidal wave of fresh faces (except Lesher) would change county government for the better. That said, I believe that a conservative attitude toward taxes and spending would persist. I do hope, however, that the new council would loosen the stranglehold posed by the harmful tax cap.

While I appreciate that Republicans Lynn Mielke and David Montgomery also oppose the harvesting of homes on productive farmland, I find their political positions on public school education troubling and unhealthy for Talbot County.

The battle over Lakeside is not over. The MDE decision reduces the allowable sewage discharge. It does not halt construction. The developer has spent 20 years and significant money to advance this project. It will not cease its efforts. My guess is that Rocks Engineering, based in Tysons Corner, Va., will seek phased-in sewage discharge permits to achieve its goal of 2,500 units.

Election results are unpredictable. An all-Democratic county council, comprising members who campaigned against Lakeside and growth spurts in other parts of Talbot, will be expected to support the planning commission. While I am not at all skeptical, candidates-turned-elected officials often change their minds under the pressure of governing—and hitherto unknown information.

I dearly hope for the sake of a county under bombardment of growth missiles that the council holds steady. Their voters would expect that.

Readers who have not voted, please do. You have time. Your vote counts. A few votes might separate winners and losers. That frequently happens.

Democracy is always on the ballot. Civic engagement—typically characterized as heavy voter turnout—is a powerful force. We all have that clout. It is too precious to relinquish.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.

I won’t pretend to question the demolition of the mold-infested Chestertown National Guard Armory. I also will not pretend to hide my sadness at the impending loss of this historic structure.

However, the unanimous decision by the Historic District Commission of Chestertown, endorsed unanimously by the Chestertown Town Council, is the right one. Long-ignored environmental degradation negated the possibility of preservation. The cost of ridding the historic building of dangerous mold would have been excessive, if at all successful.

This iconic armory, built in 1931 during the Great Depression, once housed a unit that fought on D-Day, June 6,1944 on the code-named Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. This successful amphibious invasion led to the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. Unit members exemplified citizen-soldiers from throughout Maryland who served in the famed 29th Infantry Division (Blue and Gray). The 29th, mostly comprising units belonging to the Maryland and Virginia National Guard, became celebrated for its hard-earned victories, not only on what had been a beautifully serene Normandy beach, but throughout violent combat in France and Germany.

As a Maryland National Guard officer, I spent time in the white-painted Chestertown Armory. I worked with Lt. Gen. (MD) James F. Fretterd, the adjutant general, to acquire state money to renovate the building. We had hoped that the construction would prolong the life of this waterfront structure. We understood and valued the close ties between the community and the armory and determined to strengthen them.

As I have learned, the future of the four-acre waterfront property could be very bright for Chestertown through the potential construction by a world-renown hotel operator of a hotel and conference center, used principally by Washington College. In researching this possibility, involving area investors, I also learned that the history of the armory and the 29th Division will be incorporated into the hotel/conference center in as-yet an undefined manner. To say I was pleased to hear that a notable military lineage will be  memorialized in a tasteful way, would be an understatement.

If I put aside my Maryland National Guard allegiance, if only briefly, I believe, as do others obviously, that a hospitality structure on the Chester River would be a plus for Chestertown and environs and college as a community center. It would be akin to the appealing Tidewater Inn in Easton, long known as a popular gathering venue for Talbot County residents as well as visitors.

Preservation is always preferable. It retains the past while building a future. When the new is a necessity, as is true with the Chestertown Armory on Quaker Neck Road, the past need not be lost and disregarded. Inclusion of historic artifacts related to the domestic as well as foreign combat missions of units based in the armory, named in 1999 for John H. Newnam, a Chestertown resident who landed on Omaha Beach, would be wholly appropriate.

The decision to demolish the Chestertown National Guard Armory can be a positive outcome. The community and college would benefit. A proud military history would have a visible place. Visitors enjoying the ambience of a well-designed hotel conference center might pause to ponder the significance of a property grounded in the lovely town of Chestertown, while tied to outside national security events. 

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.

After 44 years in Talbot County, I never would have envisioned that ten candidates, five Democratic and five Republicans, would compete for the five county seats. And so it is in 2022.

I keep returning to the same word: “impressive.” Democracy, as defined by civic engagement, is prospering in Talbot County. This self-exile feels proud, confident that residents view the county government as deserving, if not desiring, of their time and energy.

To no surprise, I have my Fab Five based upon my observations of the environment forum that I emceed on Sept. 28 on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the League of Women Voters, and the town hall, sponsored by the Talbot Spy, that I watched for 2-1/4 hours after it was streamed. All nine candidates who participated in person (Wade Strickland communicated through a video recording) were well-prepared, earnest and honest.

People who attended or watched the videos learned a bunch about the candidates, their policy positions as well as their personal idiosyncrasies. It was enlightening.

I endorse Michele Dappert, Keasha Haythe, Phil Jackson, Scott Kane and Pete Lesher. Though all Democrats, I would have selected Republican candidates had one or more risen to the same level of excellence as the five noted.

Dappert is new to political campaigning but polished, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She realizes the extreme need to focus on land use management—and ensure that the county council never interferes with school curriculums as suggested by Candidates David Montgomery and Dave Stepp. Her youthful enthusiasm is contagious.

Haythe well understands the county in which she was raised. She is savvy. Her favorite subject is economic development; she has spent much of her career in this field, a business background that would prove helpful to the county council. She has a gravitas that is appealing. She has been relentless in seeking public office.

Jackson surprised me. I knew nothing about him. He has extensive experience in the high-tech work and community organizing. He brings a fresh outlook to local politics and policymaking. He answered questions forthrightly and clearly.

Kane, an entrepreneur now engaged in solar power, has paid his dues in chairing the Talbot County Democratic Party and delving into issues such as education, health care, land use management, affordable housing and government transparency. He approaches local issues with intelligence and deliberation.

My fifth pick is Lesher, experienced in town and county elected service and the wisest candidate running for the council. He is seeking his second term. Well-known throughout the county as the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum curator, Lesher is steady and thoughtful. During his first term, he has led a lonely life as the sole Democrat. He has emerged as the voice of reason.

I find Chuck Callahan, the current council president and Talbot County native, likable, folksy and sincere. His positions on the Talbot Boys Monument and Lakeside were ones with which I disagreed and consequently viewed him unfavorably.

While Lynn Mielke impressed me with her concerns about future development in the government and her legal background, I found her idea to form an education accountability board to review the education system’s financial decisions particularly objectionable. As one or two other candidates responded, oversight of the Talbot Public School System is the board of education’s responsibility. Would the proposed accountability involve itself in the selection of books?

Montgomery, who too supports sensibly managed growth, frankly gives me pause because of his adamant views about curtailing the teaching of critical race theory. He pulls no punches in railing against what he considers “woke” teaching, as does Stepp. The biggest mistake that a political body could do is interfere with the school system’s curriculum decisions. That possibility scares me.

I will end where I started. The county has drawn 10 vibrant candidates, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. That showing is indeed remarkable. Local elections have consequences. Citizens have ample selection. The differences are evident. So is the commitment to public service. Please vote.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.

 

Tax collector. Member of the Board of Public Works (BPW). Chair or vice-chair of the State Retirement and Pension System. Chair of the Board of Revenue Estimates.

The comptroller’s position is one that primarily affects Maryland citizens in fiscal matters—but also in the spending of public funds for multi-million-dollar contracts related to nearly every facet of state government, including health care, higher education, Port of Baltimore operations, land preservation and so many other areas of public service.

Equally critical is the management and oversight of the state’s $68 billion pension investments on behalf of 412,000 members. This responsibility demands vigilance and prudence.

My choice for state comptroller is Democratic Del. Brooke Lierman, whose opponent is Republican Harford County Executive Barry Glassman. Lierman, an attorney, has been a diligent, effective state delegate representing South Baltimore. She draws praise from her fellow Democrats as well as her Republican colleagues for her doggedness in gaining support and passage of legislation.

Glassman, a former state senator, is a well-respected moderate Republican who has governed a suburban Baltimore County competently without resort to partisan positions to satisfy right-wing extremists. I wish he had chosen to oppose Rep. Andy Harris in the 1st Congressional District Republican primary.

If elected, Lierman would also become the first woman to be Maryland’s state comptroller. Though a major accomplishment, election of Lierman would bring a person with fresh ideas, particularly about procurement, and a willingness to collaborate with the governor and the General Assembly. She would produce less noise and more results than her predecessors.

Lierman has been an energetic campaign throughout the state. She has impressed those who have met and questioned her with an enthusiasm, bolstered by keen intelligence, accessible manner and purposeful style. She is a superb public servant.

For eight years, as deputy treasurer, I observed two comptrollers, William Donald Schaefer, and Peter V.R. Franchot. The former had served as mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland. The latter had served as a state delegate for 20 years before his election as comptroller. Each brought different skillsets and egos to the position as chief tax collector.

If elected, Brooke Lierman would offer a measured, amicable style that will encompass a mixture of innovation and determination. She may be more liberal than Schaefer and Franchot in terms of incorporating environmental sustainability in procurement and investment decision-making. Her pragmatism, however, will underscore her decisions.

Lierman will quickly learn that leading a state agency with 1,100 employees has challenges different than legislating. She will find that satisfying constituents statewide requires a deft touch in catering to their disparate needs. She is accustomed to providing first-rate constituent service, an experience that will accrue to the benefit of all taxpayers.

The powerful BPW, which approves state contracts covering a plethora of subjects, will have two new members: a new governor and a new comptroller. Treasurer Dereck Davis, a Democrat who replaced my former boss, Nancy K. Kopp, at the beginning of 2021, will be the board’s veteran. While I foresee a learning curve for a new governor and comptroller, I suspect that they will respect the process and protect public trust and money.

Glassman has promoted the idea of balance, a Republican comptroller versus a Democratic governor and a Democratic treasurer. Good try. A look at Maryland political history would reveal Democratic comptrollers being thorns in the sides of Democratic governors, as was the case of the late and legendary Louis Goldstein. Comptrollers, elected independently, need to be deferential to governors to a point at the BPW. Their voices and votes are equal.

I urge readers to vote for Brooke Lierman. She will serve as a conscientious and capable comptroller. A new era will commence.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.

 

 

A politically savvy friend here in Anne Arundel County asked me last week if Heather Mizeur had a chance to beat Rep. Andy Harris in the upcoming 1st District Congressional race. I hemmed and hawed.

About this column, I have no hesitation.

We both understood that a redistricting configuration more favorable to Mizeur, overruled by the court, would have provided a more likely road to victory for the energetic Democratic candidate against Harris, a right-wing extremist. Such an advantageously redistricted 1st would possibly have spelled the end of Harris’ ineffective career in the House of Representatives.

Mizeur, a former state delegate, is intelligent, astute, determined and competent. The district needs her common sense and listening skills. She would serve in a way that would reflect responsibly on a district that for too long has tolerated and re-elected six times a person who has accomplished little and continues to support the past president’s insane denial of the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.

The conventional wisdom that Harris cannot lose in the 1st District is only as true as the current election. He has accomplished little for a district yearning for respected leadership.

Mizeur would offer a large dosage of bipartisanship, a willingness to collaborate with her Republican colleagues. Her lack of doctrinaire stridency would invite conversation and compromise. Her instinctive impulse would be to support programs beneficial to the Shore and the district in contrast to Dr. No.

I ask that non-MAGA Republicans, Independents and Democrats turn out and elect a person who knows well the needs of the Eastern Shore and is poised to represent it (as well as parts of Harford, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County) in a fashion that would re-enfranchise thousands of citizens who consider Harris a Republican nut job.

Instead of a congressperson who believes that his conservative supporters will continue to tolerate his political positions and outlandish behavior. Mizeur would serve with a heart and a brain. She would be sufficiently independent to ignore the absurd—and never carry a gun into the U.S. Capitol, nor declare a legitimate election a sham.

Opponents portray Mizeur as a progressive unsuited for the conservative 1st District. Hogwash! She is a level-headed candidate who owns a farm outside Chestertown, supports veterans’ programs and understands complicated health care matters.

As our nation confronts inflation and attacks on our democracy, the 1st needs and deserves a representative in Congress who will imbue her position with passion and persistence. She will behave honorably, studying difficult issues with a thoughtful perspective, not an extreme point of view. She would leave no constituent unrepresented. She would not commend the actions of an anti-Semitic and autocratic leader in Hungary.

My benchmark in judging Harris is former Republican Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, a Vietnam veteran, environmentalist and good person. Harris defeated Gilchrest in a primary in 2009, successfully claiming that Gilchrist was not Republican enough. Hogwash, again! First District Republicans accepted this political sorcery. Gilchrist had the audacity in the minds of many GOPers to oppose the invasion of Iraq by President George W. Bush.

Just imagine. Gilchrist was guilty of principle over party.

Though a New Jersey native, Gilchrist loves the Eastern Shore, settling in Kent County. In retirement, he ran an environmental program on the Sassafras River under the auspices of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy.

Back to the race. I urge 1st District voters to allow Harris, an anesthesiologist, to return full-time to his medical practice. Heather Mizeur would be a reliable, sensible advocate for the Shore and the rest of the sprawling district. She would be an effective advocate for the Shore.

Incumbency can be unhealthy. Dr. Harris has inflicted sufficient pain and discomfort. Mizeur will breathe new life into the 1st Congressional District.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.

It all seems so comfortable. No navigational tool, either real or not, is necessary. Back in the cocoon of friendship and familiarity? Yes, that sums it up. The rhythm is soothing. 

I cannot sever my ties to Talbot County. Two weeks ago, I went “back home” for two vastly different community events and a substantive meeting. Though an outsider now, deeply enmeshed in life in Annapolis, 41 miles away and so culturally disparate, I still felt welcomed.

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s annual fall fundraiser, Party to Preserve, celebrated the organization’s devotion over 32 years to land preservation by using the lovely Duvall Farm, a wildlife preserve owned by Chip and Sally Akridge in Oxford, as its scenic venue. The weather and mood were pleasantly compatible. With folks attending from Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester counties, the event projected the best of this six-county region.

I learned again about the Eastern Shore’s beauty and the commitment by the Akridges and others to enhance its special qualities. I view Oxford Road and its pristine character, unblemished by commercial clutter, a metaphor for the continual battle to preserve what matters—that being a humane quality of life hard to match. I heard, however, disquieting chatter about a 400-unit residential subdivision planned on Peppermill Creek near the eastern terminus of Oxford Road. 

I could think only of the multiple developments in the Annapolis Neck area near our new home at the BayWoods waterfront retirement community and their detrimental effect on Forest Drive. Every time–and far too frequently–that I confront congestion on this major road, I think about Easton and Talbot County and pray it will not be ruined by an overdose of housing and ensuing traffic.

My perspective has changed. Annapolis has become a benchmark that reminds me that life on the Eastern Shore is precious—and threatened by over-development. The battle for a life free of urban misery is ceaseless. While Annapolis, a city of 40,000, is wonderfully livable and enjoyable, it too faces the tension between sanity and senselessness.

Two days after the ESLC party, I attended the Delmarva Boy Scout District Council’s ceremony paying tribute to Derick and Dina Daly for their creation of Building African-American Minds (B.A.A.M.). They received Scouting’s Midshore Distinguished Service Award. I knew little or nothing about this successful program to provide a route for academic and life success for African American children.

Clearly pleased with the award, the Dalys could feel justly proud of their achievement. They also realized that, like the effort to preserve land amid constant development pressure, they must relentlessly encourage and coach young people to seek success and avoid unhealthy choices in their young lives.

Do I yearn for the life that my wife and I savored for 44 years in Easton and Talbot County? Sure, I do. Yet I understand that Annapolis is an appealing place to settle, offering plentiful history, cultural amenities and lovely waterfront. Also, I know of people who departed the Shore after retirement for San Francisco, Austin, Seattle and Winter Park, Fl. to spend their senior years near children. Those moves meant severing ties to the Shore.

Earlier in this essay I exclaimed about the intoxicating quality of life in Talbot County, as defined for me by the lack of urban congestion, the agricultural character, the water and the good people. Invited by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Alan Girard and the League of Women Voters Kathi Bangert to emcee a Talbot County Council candidates’ forum last Wednesday evening at the Eastern Shore Conservation Center in Easton, focused on the environment, I was struck by the anxiety concerning land use and increased development pressure.

Civic engagement undergirds democracy. As I observed first-hand, Talbot County citizens are committed to holding their local elected officials accountable for wise land use management. Land preservation demands public input; democracy provides access to decision-making. 

I traveled home to the Western Shore feeling cautiously optimistic about the future of my former home. 

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.

 

Public service is no picnic. It easily provides a psychic return in enabling a person to feel satisfied that he or she is helping others. It also imposes an ethical straitjacket.

For example, personal investments by members of Congress project a poor image: elected officials often have inside information that can produce profitable transactions.

Perception dogs every public official, as it should. If an action bears even a small scent of impropriety, don’t do it. Lack of trust by the public is a long-lasting punishment. It is difficult to recover approval after an ethical mishap.

When I served as deputy treasurer for Maryland, I sometimes attended high-level investment meetings of the State Retirement and Pension System. The nuggets of information were delectable. Do I use them for my modest portfolio? Would it be unethical to exploit my access to valuable data?

I learned early on in my career: if in doubt, don’t.

If you cannot sleep at night due to a transgression that someone will likely never know, don’t transgress.

My ethical line is super bright. It is a beneficial barrier. It prevents behavior that I will surely regret. It is good for my emotional well-being. It is invaluable. It is the right course.

Some members, jaded from years of service, follow different standards. The thinking goes like this: though a congressional member, I am entitled to invest my money; I cannot stop thinking about my family and its financial well-being; if I learn something particularly appetizing, I would be foolish to disregard it; I had a life prior to elected public service, and I will have one afterwards;  I did not have to take a vow of poverty when I was sworn into the House of Representatives or U.S. Senate.

This thinking leads to decisions, if not unethical, are highly questionable, if not arrogant.

I feel so strongly because I learned of instances when Maryland state legislators betrayed the public trust. It was always about money, of course. The temptation is too great for some.

One legislator, well-liked and well-respected, was working as a consultant for a grocery business that wanted a traffic light. He wrote a letter to the State Highway Administration on his state-senator letterhead. He also chaired a budget committee. The request gained approval. He received a fee for service normally provided by an elected official.

When the news came out, this state senator faced condemnation, a trial and disgrace. To add insult to injury, the senator’s attorney, a former legislator, offered a defense that wreaked of irony and offensiveness: his client was too dumb to pull off the caper for which he was charged.

Selling political influence is a longstanding practice throughout the American political sphere. It never seems to vanish. Its stench is infinite.

Conflict of interest is another prevalent bugaboo. According to an analysis by the New York Times, 97 members of Congress traded stocks related to oversight by House and Senate committees on which they served. Many rebutted any claims of unethical behavior. They were right. They were wrong, however, about optics; their constituents might disagree about the propriety of buying and selling stocks in companies whose inner workings are known by congressional members.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planning to introduce legislation by the end of this month to ban stock trades by congressional members and their members. With elections facing all representatives and some senators in early December, I wonder if the bill will move quickly for political reasons, or be stalled until after the Nov. 8 election, for political reasons.

Though self-righteous, I feel comfortable on my high horse.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.

 

Millions of words have flowed in conventional and social media since Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 on Sept. 8. Her funeral was yesterday at Westminster Abbey.

Coverage of her death and assumption of the crown by King Charles II has seemed smooth, efficient and appropriate. The new king has performed magnificently on the world stage, ever dutiful to memorializing his mother.

For nearly two weeks, I have paid scant attention to inflation, global warming and Russian aggression in Ukraine. I have immersed myself in the unending ceremony, pageantry and substance surrounding the exquisite handoff of the British throne from a monarch who served as a symbol of stability for 70 years to her 73-year-old son, who served his apprenticeship loyally and patiently.

I might have been guilty of seeking an escape from the Washington political muck. In fact, I freely admit it.

I am aware that British royalty is considered archaic. I am aware that a segment of British citizenry views the monarchy a wasteful expense. I realize the Commonwealth ruled by Queen Elizabeth II tolerated horrendous treatment of British subjects throughout the world. The Queen exhibited little emotion in performing her public duties. If the television series, “The Crown,” is even partially true, she was a mother who raised her four children with little warmth and empathy. She ceded parenting to her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Still, I respected the Queen. I found the rigid traditions surrounding her role as the monarch magical. Nearly 11 years ago, when my daughters and I visited London, my oldest daughter arranged a private tour of Buckingham Palace. The Queen and family were spending their winter holiday in Sandringham. To raise money for restoration of Windsor Castle wrecked by a fire, the Queen opened Buckingham Place to small groups of 30 at a hefty price.

My daughters and I loved the privately guided tour. We could envision the Queen’s living space, including a secret door behind a bookcase that enabled her to escape visitors. We saw the room where she bestowed honors and awards. The huge, elaborately furnished palace was a home and workplace at the same time. Her lifestyle was rich in entrenched ritual, exquisite art and incredible wealth.

Despite her love of horses, dogs, hunting and Balmoral Castle in her beloved Scotland, she found her duties endless and consuming as she walked a tightrope of responsibility and sensibility, while quietly enjoying the prerogatives of the rich and famous. Unlike most of us, she rarely could escape the spotlight. She also endured her share of family dysfunction and objectionable behavior, as manifested by her children.

During the past two weeks, British civility has been on full display. For me, it is has been in sharp relief from the United States, where our democracy has faced frontal attacks by election deniers who are systematically trying to corrupt our election process. Media coverage of the Queen’s death and the consequent grieving in the United Kingdom have provided me a two-week mental-well-being vacation, one that I have enjoyed immensely.

Discordant life will return to Britain. Liz Truss, the new prime minister, will generate criticism from her political opponents. British inflation will continue to disrupt the lives of British citizens. And King Charles III will experience missteps as his royal honeymoon will have a short shelf life.

Does royalty matter in modern times? Probably not. But it does matter in Great Britain. It is part of the culture. It is an anchor, a source of tradition, an example of service above self. That works for me.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.