The world keeps turning. I have from time to time lamented the collapse of local newspapers. My first experience with this phenomenon was back in Springfield, Missouri. The local paper, the News and Leader, was bought by Gannett, and before long, I saw way more USA Today articles than ones written about local goings on by local journalists.
And quite recently, I wrote a column entitled Local, Local, Local and recounted experiences I had with local news and its importance in Breckenridge, Colorado. Relatedly, I praised The Spy, and I now should add its founder, Dave Wheelan, who brought local news and information to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and beyond.
All this brings me around to yesterday and watching a 20-minute interview with Norm Bell, who is running for the Oxford Commission. As a new citizen of Oxford I was not just watching Norm, but learning about some of the issues facing Oxford. By the way, I do not know Norm Bell.
As informative as the interview was, the refusal to be interviewed by the other candidate, Josh Coder, was maybe even more informative. Dave Wheelan, who conducts most of The Spy’s interviews, is not a headhunter. He probes, but does so in an objective and gentlemanly (can this word still be used) manner. He is after information, not somebody else’s head.
While realizing the election is in less than a week away, there is still time for Josh Coder to make the time to be interviewed. Local news is important, and a candidate’s stands on issues are often determinative. But, in many ways, in a representative democracy, the most important value is transparency.
Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.
John Dean says
I share your reaction to Mr. Coder declining the opportunity to be interviewed by The Spy. I agree that this decision says a lot about him.
For Oxford residents to be able to make a choice based on something other than Coder’s cleaver yard signs, they need to see and hear from Coder. I suspect there is a reason Coder doesn’t want to directly face the public.
I watched the interview with Bell. I also don’t know him, but after watching the interview was convinced he cares about Oxford, knows the community, is invested in the community (through his work with the Oxford Community Center and elsewhere), and has the experience to do a good job.
Art Murr says
Thank you Al. You are expressing the sentiments of many Oxford residents.
Transparency is not just a word to be thrown around. It has meaning.
While your commentary may influence candidate Coder to relent and be interviewed it does not erase the simple fact he has refused multiple times to do so on his own.
Voters must be asking why?
There is a choice, and that choice is made clearer by the day.
Edwin Miller says
I agree with the comments by Al Sikes and John Dean. I know Norm Bell. I served with him on the Oxford Planning and Zoning Commission. He was always prepared for each meeting. Norm Bell was ready to face the Oxford voters at the candidate forum. Candidate Coder declined to take part in the candidate forum.
William Keppen says
Hello Al, we are Easton residents who frequently visit Oxford. On the last couple visits we were confronted by vote for Josh Coder signs, which added little to the charm of Oxford and told you noting about his qualifications or vision for the future of Oxford. Seems like an interview would be the least the people of Oxford are due, since I understand he turned down the opportunity to debate.
Steve Goldman says
I know Norm Bell well and as a long time former Oxford, MD resident (2012- 2123) I would highly recommend him for commissioner. One has to wonder why Josh Coder (who I have heard of only through his “Burma Shave”-type advertising signs) refused to debate in the League of women Voters forum or be interviewed by the Talbot Spy or the Star Democrat. Coder being transparent? I don’t think so !! A vote for Norm Bell is a vote for a first class act for Oxford commissioner.
Damiene Pedlow Nelson says
Al, Josh Coder has 2-3 gatherings a week. He talks about issues, concerns and hot topics to Oxford folks. You might not realize it, but I do, that the Star News is controlled by the rich, local people. I noticed this last year when the crash on Bailey’s Neck wasn’t in the paper and the real facts of the incident weren’t published. Yep, rich, influential people controlling the paper. Well, the same thing is happening in Oxford. If you want to know more about Josh Coder, come to a meeting!
Mickey Terrone says
Damiene, you must know that Josh’s “gatherings” willfully exclude residents known to favor Norm Bell. You must know Josh’s private “gatherings” are limited to softball questions and he’s insulated by his handlers. One of our neighbors here in Jacks Point asked if she could attend and was told no. That should concern you.
Do you know the answers to the questions I posed in my previous comments about Josh’s priorities in this thread? I’ll ask again: “This sounds good on the surface, but where would he cut spending? I’d like to ask him what he would have cut from the new 2024 budget. I’d also ask why his priority is an annexation referendum when the Oxford Planning Commission has already virtually eliminated annexation growth for the town. The town has been acting on flooding for quite some time now and has just recently approved more mitigation projects for the upcoming year. What other project(s) does Josh think should be prioritized? And how would that be paid for without grant funding if his priority is to reduce spending?
What would an “Arts District” entail for the town, which already is heavily involved in area arts projects and activities. What immediate area is his priority for the district itself and how does that benefit all our residents?”
If you know, please pass that information along. If not, you should find out. I wonder if Josh’s priorities weren’t handed to him. Did you hear Josh express his concerns about annexation or an Arts District before the campaign started? If not, don’t you think these are the “priorities” handed to him as a price for all the support to get elected? Who are we electing here, Josh or his handlers? Is this “transparency”? These things should concern you greatly.
BTW, I had to quickly put my cup of coffee on the table when I read your protest that the StarDem is “controlled by the rich, local people”. “Yep, rich, influential people controlling the paper. Well, the same thing is happening in Oxford”. Are you suggesting that Josh’s controllers aren’t among the wealthier or wealthiest residents in Oxford? Should you be asking why these people are so fervently supportive of a candidate whose credentials barely begin to match Norm Bell’s record of dedication to Oxford? Do you really think the Star Dem is a locally owned newspaper where the rich owners even know who Norm and Josh are?
Do you really think its a plot by wealthy Oxfordians to get Norm elected? Is that what you mean by “Well, the same thing is happening in Oxford”? This begins to sound like QAnon material. I suppose this kind of conspiracy theory thinking has become pervasive aspect of our society nationally and now, it appears to be infesting Oxford. Sorry, I’m truly disappointed in your political acumen. As a newcomer to Oxford, I doubt you are listening to both sides in this campaign.
Rebecca Ellison says
Oxford candidate for Commissioner, Josh Coder, may not be well known outside of Oxford at this time, but, now, days before the election, it is enough that he is well known, well qualified and well liked by the Oxford residents who will be doing the voting for the Oxford Commissioner position next Tuesday.
To learn more about him and his campaign, please take a look at his website … http://joshforoxford.com. And, while at the website, please consider subscribing to his weekly newsletter or viewing his video all of which set forth his highly qualifying background and outline his concerns about Oxford and his goals as a Commissioner.
Josh is a breath of fresh air and his candidacy is truly based on full transparency and meaningful resident participation. A good example of that is his position on annexation … Josh feels that any future annexation should be considered, debated and ultimately decided directly by Oxford residents, not simply by a vote of the Commissioners as has always been the case in the past. Oxford residents know that annexation is still a very open issue … and they welcome Josh’s desire to represent them and include them in that and other important decisions.
Perhaps if more of us read about Josh’s qualifications and goals on his website, video and newsletters it will be clearer why so many in Oxford will be gladly voting for him … he is far and away the best choice.
Mickey Terrone says
Phineas T. Barnum could not have promoted Josh Coder’s candidacy any more disingenuously than you did. Transparency is more than a word on a yard sign. Oxford is getting a bill of goods from Josh and his handlers. Oxford is small enough that one has to work hard to avoid the opportunity to meet with the constituents you hope to represent. Josh and the handlers who I understand paid for all his signage, placed most all of his yard signs and I believe have their own private agenda that Josh appears willing to execute.
“Cut spending” is a no brainer priority, but they are just 2 empty words on a sign unless a candidate explains the details of where he’d cut. The annexation issue is a nothingburger because the town has virtually eliminated the possibility of future annexation. Josh’s web site asks “I am tired of waiting for action, are you”? If Josh is so tired of waiting for action why hadn’t he bothered to shown up for any town meetings until he decided (or was talked in) to run? Besides, the town has taken considerable action to mitigate the flooding issues we face. Norm Bell has been a leader in this effort.
I suppose if yard signs could vote, Josh would be an easy winner. Hopefully enough Oxford residents can see through this sham campaign and vote for the candidate with the experience, proven commitment to the town and who is retired and not working a 40-hour, 5-day work week 40 miles away from Oxford.
Sorry, I know Josh is a nice person and Ceci is a wonderful lady. But I believe he is being manipulated by our local Oxford versions of P.T. Barnum and Cecil B. DeMille.
Rebecca Ellison says
And for sure, please watch this lovely video of how Oxford feels about Josh Coder. Note that most of his signs also state a piece of his platform/concerns.
ENJOY …. https://youtu.be/2d2x1CCfRxk?si=Y7Y-LF-xwwSn2sHM or https://youtu.be/2d2x1CCfRxk?si=Y7Y-LF-xwwSn2sHM
Rebecca Ellison says
You say ‘The annexation issue is a nothingburger because the town has virtually eliminated the possibility of future annexation’ … yet you don’t tell us your source for such an assertion/guarantee. Surely that cannot be taken to be true based only on your declaration here in the Spy, especially since you have no actual town governance position. Also, you say ‘future’ … what are you not telling us?
A dedicated resident who has been researching the various annexation issue(s)/scenarios for many months has dug deep into his sources and sent the following summary to the Easton Gazette … which kindly published it only a few days ago. Please take the time to click on his links to maps etc. … and don’t forget that the County also has a role the matter.
Perhaps you are simply being coy in your use of the words ‘future’ annexations. Everyone knows the Rodney Spring property has been an annexation issue for decades, up to and including litigation. it appears on many maps. Ditto with possible annexation of the Bradley property or pieces thereof.
https://eastongazette.com/2024/06/13/oxford-growth-annexation-and-the-strand-project/
You say ‘The town has taken considerable action to mitigate the flooding issues we face’. Here is a video submitted by a resident Oxford homeowner with severe flooding who would disagree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sv4szGoSlM
Perhaps it’s a small issue but you repeat the claim that Josh Coder isn’t often seen at town meetings … you may have forgotten that Commissioner meetings are live streamed and the videos are immediately archived. Many of us watch the meetings live from our home or from archived copies. Did you ask Josh if he also takes advantage of the video streaming convenience? I didn’t think so.
Mickey Terrone says
In August, 2023, the Oxford Commissioners adopted the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation not to annex any property unless the water and sewage fails at their homes. This was accepted by the county. Thus, the Rodney Spring property is not part of the future plan of the town. Period. Look it up.
I suppose you are unaware of the actions taken by the town to mitigate the flooding issue. Perhaps you don’t differentiate between “mitigate” and “solve”. Oxford’s leadership is working to lessen or moderate the damage done by the now frequent water incursions. We have experienced several historical high water flooding incidents in the past year. Oxford, like many vulnerable areas of the Chesapeake Bay is only a few feet above sea level in many vulnerable areas. Any charlatan can make video of that flooding and claim and claim the town is failing to act. That is a disgusting misrepresentation of reality. The source you use is a campaign tool for Josh. Josh hasn’t lifted a finger to participate in the work of planning. Norm Bell has been a hard working leader in the town’s effort. The author of your reference, a lifelong Oxford resident, also hasn’t lifted a finger to be involved in working to find solutions. I’ve known her and see her as one-person complaint department, always negative but never providing any proactive leadership.
In fact, she stood up in a town meeting recently as if she was utterly shocked that the Strand Project had changed the traditional view of the town beach, as if it had been happened unannounced. That project was in the works for several years and I recall looking at drawings and descriptions of that project that the town manager successfully brought in several millions of dollars to try to mitigate the impact of flooding in that low area of the town. Frankly, I have my doubts about the accuracy of any of her commentaries. My first recollection of her was several years ago when she referred to several Talbot County School Board candidates as a Marxist takeover of Talbot County. Worse yet was her recent comment that she (and her close friend) support Donald Trump’s refusal to support Ukraine because, are you ready, Zelenkyy is completely corrupt. Good Lord! So, your source of “information” has such a low appeciation of the value of democratic republics that she’d allow Trump to hand Ukraine to that horrendous assassin Putin.
So, I admonish you not to use this lady as your source of facts. She and her publication are little more than an unofficial Complaint Department for angry and/or deluded residents. Rather that get off her seat and participate proactively in the volunteer work of the town, she sits back and whines and howls at the people doing the work. I’ve lived here for 9.5 years and have gotten involved in most volunteer groups. I have rarely, if ever seen her participate. IMHO, she is a big part of what is wrong with this town and county. I provide you with the attached, detailed explanation of Oxford’s annexation nothingburger, courtesy of Norm Bell. I’m happy to respond to your letter as a concerned citizen. Maybe if you moved to Oxford, you’ll be able to vote in elections here.
STATEMENT FROM THE NORM BELL CAMPAIGN
ANNEXATION – The Non-Issue
“Annexation” is a word that around Oxford raises antennae – visions of the Lakeside development in Trappe and the original proposal to annex Morgan’s Point. Signs around town would lead you to believe that large scale development through annexation is a threat to Oxford.
Josh Coder recently sent out a “newsletter…On Annexation” followed up by his “Annexation Pledge.” It included an out-of-date map from November 13, 2012. In a desperate attempt to salvage one of his key “issues”, he raised the specter of the Lakeside development in Trappe. Misleading at best.
Let me be clear. I am against annexation, except for very limited cases (discussed below).
So, without getting too far into the weeds, why don’t we educate ourselves a bit about the issue rather than relying on a single word on a yard sign and out-of-date information.
Annexation is governed by Chapter 14 of the Oxford Town Code.
Section 14.1 Principles. The following principles shall govern any proposed annexation:
E. “……the proposed uses of the land to be annexed must be consistent with the applicable provisions of Oxford’s Comprehensive Plan,…..”
Section 14.2 Applicable Law. The requirements of this Chapter are in addition to any other provision of this Code, the Town Charter and of the Annotated Code of Maryland which govern annexation.
Section 14.8 Required Findings. To act favorably upon a petition, the Town Commissioners must find:
B. The annexation is in conformance with the Oxford and Talbot County Comprehensive Plans.
You will note that any annexation requires that it be in conformance with the Oxford Comprehensive Plan. Why is this important? Because last year, Chairman Norm Bell and the Oxford Planning Commission began the required review of the Oxford Comprehensive Plan. The initial focus was on designation of Future Growth Areas for extension of Water and Sewer Services through Annexation.
The Oxford Planning Commission met during the Spring of 2023 and developed 4 separate maps. In May 2023, the Planning Commission held an open house to present the 4 maps and their recommended option to the public and solicit public comment. The public overwhelmingly approved what was known as Map 4 (See Below), the Planning Commission’s preferred option. This option provides for no annexation, except for existing homes along Langs Landing and the tip of Bachelors Point that may seek annexation due to failed or failing septic systems. On June 29th the Planning Commission held a public workshop to consider the public comments, approved Map 4, and forwarded it to the town Commissioners for approval. I do not believe Mr. Coder participated in the public workshop. The Oxford Commissioners unanimously approved the Oxford Water and Sewer Tier Map as part of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan.
Under Norm Bell’s leadership the Oxford Planning Commission proposed and the Town Commissioners approved a change to the Oxford Comprehensive Plan to prohibit any annexation of property into Oxford. The only exception is for the few existing homes, and then only upon application of the individual homeowner and approval by the Commissioners.
Annexation is a non issue.
At the Oxford Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, May 28, the Commissioners unanimously confirmed that annexation is not an issue in Oxford because of the clear provisions of the Oxford Comprehensive Plan and the new Water and Sewer Tier Map.
The sad truth is, the League of Women Voters live candidate Forum was declined by Mr. Coder. This would have been an opportunity for each candidate to answer the questions of Oxford citizens regarding all kinds of issues, including things like annexation.
Ma’am, you are now informed.