Recently, I was asked why I am running for one of the four open commissioner seats in the upcoming July 13, 2020 election.
Ten years ago, I successfully ran for commissioner and subsequently served with my campaign focusing on the Miles Point development project. This project proposed 350 new townhouses between Perry Cabin and Yacht club road. The town had been in this fight for thirteen years and with an overwhelming majority of residents against it. With some creative “out of the box” thinking, we as a group of determined citizens prevailed in its stoppage. Now that farmland is protected by an agricultural preservation easement forever.
Now as a community, we are facing challenges of a completely different kind. The Covid-19 pandemic has created unprecedented financial hardships and we know that the economy will not return to normal in the near future. There are sacrifices to follow that will need to be shared by all.
Scaling back unnecessary expenses including but not limited to the proposed new 5620 sq. foot St. Michaels town office would be a good start. This is more than double the size of the current office and is projected to cost of 3.1 million dollars. With uncertainty about what the “new normal” will be and many municipalities downsizing office space with some staff working remotely and many meetings taking place via virtual technology, this seems like an exorbitant expense.
I am an advocate of the Historic District and as such, I will support the preservation of the town’s architecture and the connection to the past that represents and contributes immeasurably to its heritage and the vitality of its economy.
I believe in open and transparent government. All elected and appointed officials should hold themselves to a standard far above the current Ethics code. At the slightest hint of a possible conflict, the official involved should recuse him or herself from voting and leave the room until the discussions are complete.
My forty-five years of investing in our town has shown me a few things. Above all, we need to include all voices – not just a few. We all have a stake. It is my goal to band everyone together to share ideas and work on mutually beneficial solutions.
I would appreciate your vote!
T. C. (Tad) duPont
St. Michaels, MD
Tim McCabe says
I have known Tad a long time and worked 2 summers painting houses for him and his brother Ebby’s business Minerva Construction while in school. I’d vote for him in a heart beat. I am an Eastern Shore native and grew up in Easton. I live in Annapolis now. Tad is all heart with a sound business mind and excellent community instincts. He is focused on what is best for St. Michaels. He’s a true gentleman, very approachable, and is interested in everyone’s opinion on matters big and small. He owned and operated Higgins Boatyard for years and enjoys a reputation of fabulous workmanship with customer satisfaction as his guiding principal. I can’t vote in St. Michaels elections, obviously. But he’d have mine any day, any time for any community leadership position. Tad’s character is above reproach and what any community should desire as a commissioner!