I have been a reader of Letters to the Editor of publications in this County since the 1960s.
This year I have found it very sad, and atypically nasty, to read the ongoing negative attacks on our incumbent Congressman and County Council members.
I think it’s to be expected that the revolving group of local letter writing leftists doggedly spin that there Congressional Candidate is an “Eastern Shore” kind of guy. That’s what central committees do. Their attacks against the incumbent are strident and unreasonable. The reality is the challenger is not a good fit for the Shore. He is being sold as a moderate. In fact he will become a member of a caucus that is becoming increasingly more left wing and shrill due to their ranks being swelled by avowed Socialists. They have abandoned civility for tactics of the “Street”. I have spoken to Congressman Harris several times. He is level headed, attentive and, in my opinion is the best Congressman we have had since Rodgers Morton. This registered Democrat intends to put Country over party and vote for Andy Harris.
Even more distressing is the County Council race. We have never had the kind of nasty backbiting negative campaigning that we have seen this year attempting to unseat some incumbent Council members with negative campaigning. I hope voters will use common sense when confronted with this onslaught of urban political baloney. All this angst has been brought forth at the end of the process of updating the Zoning Ordinance. This was a process so long and drawn out it was like watching a car rust. After all the community meetings were held, the completion of the Planning Commission’s work, all the public input was had, ongoing for years, it looked to me like there was little disagreement anywhere compared to previous updates. Some amendments to change the proposed ordinance were introduced at the last minute. Three Council members decided to vote to approve the body of work the process had formulated. Now we are being asked to dismiss these very capable leaders outright because they would not yield to last minute changes. This registered Democrat will put County over party and vote to return Corey Pack, Jennifer Williams and Chuck Callahan to the County Council. Don’t reward “Big City” tactics, money and nastiness in our local election.
Ed Heikes
St Michaels
Robert Haase says
I have to disagree with Ed’s comment that a great portion of Talbots voters are upset because the council would not pass last minute changes, this is not true, Many of us were involved in the Short Term Rentals from the first scheduled work session. The changes that were put forward by amendments at two public hearings received much support from the public, the substance of these amendments were asked for early on in the process but were blocked from the bill by the Counties special interest groups. Even after the Eastern Shore Vacation Rentals owner testified STR’s should not be allowed in certain neighborhoods, the three (no name calling) voting together killed the amendments. I think Ed is confusing the last minute amendment introduced by Williams and supported by Callahan and Pack that removed two key regulations added to the bill by the Planning Commission and the Planning department. They were a Short Term rental cannot be closer to another than 500′. This was removed, now in a neighborhood like Rio Vista you can have Short Term Rentals within 20 ft of each other, the other was the elimination of proof that the short term rental has sufficient insurance. The amendment removing these two key regulations was introduced the last day without a chance for a public hearing shutting out the many voters or were in attendance. This I believe is why the voters are so upset.
Ed Heikes says
Ed is not confused about the amendments or the process. I have been observing the evolution of Talbot County’s Zoning since the 1970s. With regard to the commonly circulated canard that there is an intolerable situation in Rio Vista I would point out the following. Rio Vista is a deed restricted community. I own a home there. Although I am not a resident I have been very familiar with the community for 55 years. If, in fact, vacation rentals are legally considered a commercial and not a residential use, as has been claimed by local opponents of vacation rentals, then they are specifically forbidden under Item 11 of the Rio Vista’s General Restrictions and conditions recorded in the Circuit Court records of Talbot County at liber 312 folio399. Under the new code I do not believe the Short Term Rental Board will ever license another Short Term Rental in a deed restricted community where there is opposition to the license. Even if a license was issued, all the Community would need to do is hire an attorney and take action against the operator. As a homeowner I am willing to pay my share if residents want to enforce the restrictions.
Joan Young says
Ed,
I wrote letters to all the council members suggesting that deed restrictions be considered as a criteria for the granting or denial of a STR license. Even spoke with the county attorney. The position they are all taking is that deed restrictions are a private agreement between the HOA and the property owner so the county is not involved when it happens. If the county grants this license in a neighborhhood (and there are quite a few) where this restriction exists then they are creating the dispute by the granting of the license. It seems like there could be a class action law suite down the road against the county by a group of HOAs banding together. Wish I could feel as confident that they will abide by the deed restrictions as you are. It is shameful that the Board of Realtors is not supporting upholding deed restrictions.
Debbie Leber says
Thank You Ed Heikes, for your well written comments. There are so many positive things that Corey Pack, Jennifer Williams and Chuck Callahan have done for this County. I plan to vote for these candidates, not against any one candidate.
Alan Boisvert says
That’s great Ed, you vote for whoever you want to and I will do the same. I will not vote for anyone who cannot denounce the asshole moron in the White House. This would be nearly every Republican. Republicans put trump over country….that’s just a fact jack.