The Avalon Foundation and the Talbot Spy have announced they will host a community Town Hall meeting for candidates running for Easton Council President on August 29th (Tuesday) at 6 pm at the Avalon main theatre to discuss the future of the Easton community and each candidate’s platform.

Spy Columnist Craig Fuller has agreed to host the evening’s program. Mr. Fuller has been a resident of Easton for the last seven years. Prior to his arrival, he served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. He later was the CEO of public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., before his retirement.

The program is anticipated to last 60 minutes. It will be live streamed on Mid-Shore Community Television and the Spy’s Facebook channel. Attendance at the Avalon will be on a first-come basis, and there will be no charge for admission. 

This special election will take place on September 12th.

Avalon Foundation  and The Talbot Spy Present A Town Hall Meeting with Easton Council President Candidates with Spy Columnist Craig Fuller 

August 29, 2023 6 pm
Avalon Theatre
40 East Dover Street, Easton MD 21601

 

The Hon. Stephen H. Kehoe, Circuit Court judge for Talbot County, made good on his promise to move swiftly in the case of Bartlett et al. vs. Talbot County last Friday. Kehoe’s ruling validated the appointment of James Corson to replace Lisa Ghezzi on the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission for a five-year term.

The plaintiffs in the case had made the argument that the outgoing County Council did not have the authority to appoint Mr. Corson since Ms. Ghezzi’s term of office ended after its own legislative session was completed.

The County responded by stating that the outgoing Council did in fact have the power to appoint Mr. Corson by citing Bryan v. Makosky (2004) when the lame duck Talbot County Council in 2002 appointed James Bryan to succeed Linda Makosky.

The Supreme Court of Maryland determined that the lame duck Council did not have the right to appoint Mr. Bryan because Ms. Makosky’s seat would not be vacant until after the newly elected council took office.

The legal arguments made by the plaintiffs and Talbot County’s legal team rested on when, by Charter, the Ghezzi term ended.

In the end, Judge Kehoe noted his reading of Bryan v. Makosky and concluded:

“The Talbot County Council that was sitting on November 22, 2022 served until noon on December 5, 2002. The County Council sitting on November 22, 2022 was within its rights to appoint a member of the Planning Commission for the term that expired on December 2, 2022.

The date of the five-year terms was set by the original appointment of the members of the Planning Commission on December 3, 1974. Id. The duration of these terms of office are clear and unambiguous under the terms of the Talbot County Charter and require no aid in interpretation. Therefore, the County Council validly appointed James Corson to replace Lisa Ghezzi.

Accordingly, the Court will deny the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, deny Ms. Ghezzi’s Motion for Summary Judgment, deny the County’s Motion to Dismiss, grant the County’s Motion for Summary Judgment and declare that James Corson was lawfully appointed to the Talbot County Planning Commission.”

It is not known at this time if the decision would be appealed.

The Spy commented on this unique case last week in our Editor’s Daybook column.

 

 

As the Board of Election continues its long process of counting mail-in ballots in Talbot County, the latest figures released last night show a dramatic rise of Democrat Pete Lesher to the top vote-getting position. Over the last two days, Lesher moved from 6,786 to almost 8,000, but with some 1,300 ballots remain to be counted.

The remaining votes had been expected to be completed by next Friday (November 18) but the State Board of Elections has approved Talbot proceeding with the count next Wednesday. It is likely that a final tally will be available that evening.

 

 

 

With 12 out of 12 election day precincts reporting, the Republicans could be heading for a local victory with all five GOP candidates in the lead but its quite possible all of this could change as mail-in ballots continue to be counted.

There are unconfirmed reports that almost 2,000  mail-in ballots remain uncounted.

 

 

The League of Women Voters of Kent and Queen Anne’s County sponsored the last forum between Republican Rep. Andy Harris and Democratic nominee Heather Mizeur on Thursday evening. Held at the Kent Island High School, the program lasted 90 minutes using the well-known LVW format of candidates having two minutes to answer questions submitted by the League and audience members. Kent County’s former Chamber of Commerce director Sam Shoage serviced as moderator.

The Spy was there to record the entire program.

This video is approximately 90 minutes in length.