Until recently, our local elections and government business –although not without contentions issues–have been conducted with civility, decorum, and mutual respect. Unfortunately, this is no longer be the case in the Town of Easton, where the actions of some candidates and their supporters have gone far over the line in the ongoing campaign for the presidency of the Easton Town Council.
The first instance was the statement of August 23, “You Should Be Angry Too by Al Silverstein,” which appeared in The Talbot Spy and accuses the Town government while Bob Willey was mayor (and Mr. Silverstein was a council member) of a list of financial abuses: misuse of tax dollars, special (financial) privileges for certain employees, violation of federal law with contract employment, and violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act—causing massive taxpayer losses. Mr. Willey of course referred the list to Sharon VanEmburgh, the town attorney, whose response makes clear that all matters described were entirely legitimate under existing laws and policies.
The other case is a large glossy flyer that came in the mail on September 1, which it says was “Paid for by Scott R. Wagner, although I understand he neither lives in nor is eligible to vote in the Town of Easton. The front of the piece asks, “After 30 years of a politician being in Easton town government… isn’t it time for a new voice?” The back says, “Politician Bob Willey has been in Easton government for OVER 30 YEARS. Willey was just ousted by voters as the Mayor of Easton this past spring … but now he’s running AGAIN for town council president! Easton doesn’t need any more career politicians. After 30 years, Easton NEEDS a new voice.”
On September 6, another scurrilous flyer from Mr. Wagner came in the mail, this one headlined that “Politicians are like diapers. At some point they all need to changed!” It includes an X-ed out photo of Mr. Willey and lists the now-discredited talking points from Al Silverstein’s statement of August 23.
Easton voters should consider these factors when they vote on September 12. The future harmony and effectiveness of Town government, and our continued success as a community, depend on the results. The candidate with an unimpeachable and selfless record of performance in office, and the highest possible ethical standards, is Bob Willey.
Jane Bollman
Easton
David Montgomery says
Well said! I would add a challenge to the other three candidates to denounce these flyers and affirm that they had nothing to do with them.
Bob Wenneson says
Agreed, it is unfortunate to see in this election our local politics have taken on some of the tendencies more commonly seen in higher-office politics. The tackless flyers mailed by a Silverstein supporter were directed toward discouraging votes for Mr. Wiley. But let’s not forget the similar-in-motive presentation in a SPY letter on August 28th (also by a Silverstein supporter) who went out of her way to disparage the suitability of the other candidate, Frank Gonsallus, providing information relating to marijuana convictions stemming from an event 9 years ago. She presented the information as a reflection of the media not doing their job, and rightously provided it as a public service in her self-appointed role of town crier. Encouragingly, the 35! responses to her SPY letter were almost unanimous in their reaction of ‘Don’t care. Irrelevent. Shame On You…’
Will be interesting to see if this two-prong approach to supporting the Silverstein candidacy succeeds in its purpose or if Easton voters are able to rise above (or refuse to be dragged down into) this style of politics.
Gerry Early says
Just today I got two more of those expensive and reprehensible flyers fron the mysterious Mr. Wagner, who is obviously a strong supporter and collaborator of Al Silverstein. I have know and ever worked with Al for probably 20 years, during which time I found him to be a capable and affable person.
But now, seeing his ridiculous and unsupportable financial and management attacks on Bob Willey, and the evidence of his part in the awful and expensive flyers that are flooding the community, I am reminded of a comment from the 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings, which I would paraphrase as follows: “Have you no decency sir? At long last, have you no decency at all?”
Talbot County and the Town of Easton does not need the type of slimeball politics we are seeing for the first time in this election.
Sally Smith says
Well written, Jane! If we could vote, it would be for Bob Willey! He has so much grace and a huge amount of Easton’s political knowledge! Sally and Andy
Tom Ledvina says
The Talbot Spy, Avalon Foundation, and Star Democrat have done a great job providing the electorate with the opportunity to learn about the views of the candidates for President of the Easton Town Council on some of the most important issues facing Easton. They also have allowed the candidates to respond to citizen concerns and questions in a public forum. Now, in classic ambush fashion late in the campaign, Scott Wagner has launched a postcard campaign when response is impossible. This is not the issue-focused, reasoned process that creates a town government that can effectively tackle the challenges that face Easton. Moving to St. Michaels after a brutal Pennsylvania campaign in 2018, perhaps Mr. Wagner is unfamiliar with Easton’s approach to politics and the civility that facilitates small town government. Or perhaps having invested $2 million in developing Poplar Hill, he is upset with the recent changes in that proposed development that respond to concerns of Easton residents. Whether you vote for Bob Willey or, looking at the issues and views of the candidates, you vote for someone else, I hope you agree that both he and future Easton politics deserve better than what we’ve seen emerge in this postcard campaign.
J Bollman says
Two more slick flyers arrived in today’s mail. Will there even more? Why is Mr. Wagner spending so much money to berate Bob Willy and influence Easton’s election?
Deidra A. Lyngard says
Al Silverstein appears to have sufficient experience and knowledge of the role of Town Council to be a strong candidate for TC president without the need for these tactless forays into negative advertising. Put your dog on a leash, Al. You can and should do better if you want to deserve our vote.