Living in Talbot County during the six months before the election, one couldn’t help but be aware of Talbot Integrity Project’s community education and candidate endorsement efforts. They single handedly brought the Lakeside development to the fore of the County Council election and Pete Lesher was their poster boy.
I was never involved in TIP and just followed the issue from afar, reading the occasional articles in the Spy. But as someone whose career was in government, I’m familiar with the issues of jurisdiction, permitting, findings of consistency, vested interest, administrative resolutions etc. It’s not rocket science.
As Democrats, we treasure the power of grassroots advocacy efforts. They have a long tradition for improving the quality of our lives and advancing causes of social justice. So we value the efforts of citizens who organize and put effort and resources into important issues. For this reason, I find it particularly embarrassing to have had Pete Lesher as one of our candidates.
For Peter Lesher to pull the rug out from under TIP after the election was breathtaking. Expecting a resolution not to have sufficient votes to pass is never a reason not to introduce it. Of course Pete did that with resolution 313.
Introducing action items gets people on record and builds awareness and momentum for important issues. Claiming the limitations or flaws in a resolution you expect to fail or be ineffectual out of some personal fastidiousness doesn’t overcome the much more likely explanation: Pete Lesher wants it both ways going forward. When he says he doesn’t want to posture, he means he doesn’t want to take a stand.
Hopefully, people will take note of his political style when future elections come around and realize he really can’t be counted on.
Willard T Engelskirchen says
I am missing something. I too am unhappy with how this is coming out. I missed anything in the Spy or Star Democrat. What I want to know is 1) What is Pete’s side of the story? and 2) Is there anything I can do to slow down the Lakeside project with the resolution which I do not understand now off the table?
I have known Pete for over 20 years. I need to understand more about this. I have tried to research it to no avail. Please help me. I do not know anyone who does not want to pause Lakeside.
Editor says
Pete Lesher’s interview with the Spy can be found here:
https://talbotspy.org/the-lakeside-reset-resolution-failure-and-the-future-of-development-a-chat-with-talbot-councilman-pete-lesher/
Alan Boisvert says
Hats off to Mr.Lesher, he will always have my vote.
Margel Highet says
Well said!
William Keppen says
I have only lived in Talbot County for three years, but this Lakeside thing is really disturbing. Easton/Talbot County cannot maintain quality of life standards for current and future residents, if it does not have rational planning for growth. Lakeside, as presently sanctioned, does not. This whole matter reminds me of an old movie, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The people with money make the rules.
Steve Clineburg says
Where is TIP/Dan Watson on this point? I, too, am mystified by Pete Lesher’s position in the matter.
Dan Watson says
on a week’s vacation
Holly Wright says
You more than earned it.