After carefully vetting candidates concerning Talbot County land use matters, and after hearing from candidates regarding the call to “Reset Lakeside,” The Talbot Integrity Project today endorsed the following seven for the Talbot County Council:
In alphabetical order, they are:
- Michele Dappert
- Keasha Haythe
- Phil Jackson
- Pete Lesher
- Scott Kane
- Lynn Mielke
- David Montgomery
At a public forum on Wednesday evening sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the League Of Women’s Voters, all seven of these candidates recognized the authority of the Planning Commission to determine Lakeside’s consistency with the County Comprehensive Plan, and indicated support for the idea of bringing that massive project back to the County for reconsideration. (A video of that forum will be available on-line soon.)
Over the past month TIP’s bipartisan committee (five volunteers from each party plus an independent) invited all candidates to meet in person for discussion, and they reviewed available information from various sources and answers to a candidate questionnaire.
It is important to note that, as promised at the outset, the panel’s recommendations were made based solely on the single issue of “LAND USE,” including candidates’ attitudes towards the County Comprehensive Plan, development pressures, and recognition of the powers state law grants to the Planning Commission. Both TIP and individual members of its ad-hoc panel recognize that there are many other important issues every voter will want to consider, along with “land use,” when determining for whom to vote.
Candidate Assessment Panel
Talbot Integrity Project
Dirck Bartlett
Wayne Bell
Dennis DeShields
Dorothy Fenwick
Brice Gamber
Kirke Harper
Steve Harris
Carla Howell
John Kaestner
Liz Koprowski
Monica Otte
Anne Stalfort says
I would not vote for a candidate for County Council who favored keeping the racist Confederate monument on the Courthouse grounds.
Dirck Bartlett says
We have recommended 7 and you have only 5 votes for county council. We realize there are other issues other than growth that will sway the electorate. We still support all those who we have vetted and spoken to regarding sensible growth.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Wow, even those with racist views.
Not good
Dirck Bartlett says
…. the slander of Mr. Montgomery is inexcusable but unfortunately typical.