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April 1, 2023

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

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Cambridge Mayor Takes Leave of Absence from Post

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Cambridge Mayor Andrew Bradshaw has taken a leave of absence from his post, according to the city’s website.

According to the post:

“… Mayor Bradshaw is currently on an indefinite, voluntary, and unpaid leave of absence. During this temporary vacancy, all rights, powers, and duties of the mayor shall be assumed by Commission President Lajan Cephas in accordance with Sec. 3-21A of the City Charter.

“As previously stated, the City’s council-manager form of municipal government ensures that the business of the City will remain unaffected during the mayor’s unpaid leave of absence.

“It remains the sincerest hope of all of the commissioners that the mayor will do what is best for the City of Cambridge and its citizens and tender his resignation. Should he fail to do so, then the commissioners are prepared to pursue all available options under Maryland Law and the City Charter.”

Bradshaw was charged in mid-November with 50 counts of distributing revenge porn, the state prosecutor’s office said in a news release.

Bradshaw is charged with posting nude photographs of a former romantic partner to various forums on Reddit without her knowledge or consent and with the intent to harm her, according to the release.

A day after Bradshaw was charged, the Cambridge commissioners voted unanimously to have the city attorney draft a letter asking him for his resignation.

The vote came following an emergency meeting that went into closed session for consultations with the city attorney and city manager.

Section 3-35 of the city’s charter sets forth the procedure for removals from office:

“The commissioners may remove from office, or discharge from employment, the city manager, the chief bailiff and any other officer or employee that may be elected or appointed under the authority of the charter, or any ordinance or order of the commissioner (whether be the term of service under which he holds his office or employment), for neglect of duty, for incompetence, or for any other misconduct, which, in the judgment of the commissioners, constitute reasonable and sufficient ground for removing him from office, or depriving him of employment.

“In all cases, where the official or employee has any fixed or definite term of service, a charge or complaint, in writing, shall be presented to him, and evidence as to the facts alleged in such charge or complaint, shall be taken before the commissioners if he denies the correctness or truth of same.”

If Bradshaw were to resign or be removed, the commission president would assume “all rights, powers and duties of the mayor,” according to the charter, and the commissioners would need to schedule a special election to fill the mayoral vacancy.

Bradshaw was charged about three months after an Aug. 4 police search of his home and the mayor’s office at city hall.

Checking In with Easton Mayor Robert Willey

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Easton Mayor Robert Willey sat down Thursday morning with The Spy to discuss ongoing and upcoming projects around town, including a new section of Rails-to-Trails, one approved and one proposed residential development, and distribution of American Rescue Plan Act funds. The mayor also highlighted last month’s successful 50th anniversary Waterfowl Festival and Saturday night’s Christmas parade, which has more than 60 units participating.

This video is about 16 minutes long.

Easton Councilman Al Silverstein to Run for Mayor in 2023

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Town Councilman Al Silverstein will run for mayor of Easton in the May 2023 election.

Silverstein announced his mayoral campaign in a Friday news release.

In his statement, Silverstein said:

“Twenty-one years ago, my wife Karen and I moved to Easton after I accepted a job with the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce as its president and CEO. We fell in love with this community and decided to make it our home.

“Over the course of the past twenty years, I have served this community in leadership positions such as the United Fund of Talbot County, Talbot Family Network, Mid-Shore Regional Council, Talbot County Economic Development Commission, Talbot County Office of Tourism, Upper
Shore Transportation Advisory Group, Eastern Shore Heritage Inc., Talbot Historical Society and as an Easton Town Councilmember representing Ward 1 since 2015.

“The four areas that I will stress in my campaign will be:

“1) Engaging citizens to express their wants, needs, concerns and solutions for the betterment of our community.

“2) Enhancing the lifestyle and quality of life for our citizens through the expansion of recreational and cultural activities in our community.

“3) An intentional Economic &amp; Community Development strategy to attract, retain and expand businesses that can contribute to the economic wellbeing of our community and its citizens. Provide career and professional employment opportunities to attract a new generation of community contributors.

“4) Developing new programs within the Easton Police Department to reimagine community policing and to build a safer community.

“I pledge to you that if I am elected mayor, I will dedicate my efforts to maintain the high standards of service we provide to our citizens while working with town staff to find ways to do an even better job of serving our community.”

Cambridge Commissioners Ask Mayor to Resign Following ‘Revenge Porn’ Charges

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The Cambridge commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to have the city attorney draft a letter asking Mayor Andrew Bradshaw for his resignation.

The vote came following a Tuesday night emergency meeting that went into closed session for consultations with the city attorney and city manager.

“It is the sincerest hope of all of the Commissioners that the Mayor will do what is best for the City of Cambridge and its citizens and tender his resignation,” the commissioners said in a joint statement. “Should he fail to do so, then the Commissioners are prepared to pursue all available options under Maryland Law and the City Charter.”

The joint statement from Commission President Lajan Cephas (Ward 2) and Commissioners Brian Roche (Ward 1), Jameson Harrington (Ward 3), Sputty Cephas (Ward 4), and Chad Malkus (Ward 5) was posted on the city’s website.

Section 3-35 of the city’s charter sets forth the procedure for removals from office:

“The commissioners may remove from office, or discharge from employment, the city manager, the chief bailiff and any other officer or employee that may be elected or appointed under the authority of the charter, or any ordinance or order of the commissioner (whether be the term of service under which he holds his office or employment), for neglect of duty, for incompetence, or for any other misconduct, which, in the judgment of the commissioners, constitute reasonable and sufficient ground for removing him from office, or depriving him of employment.

“In all cases, where the official or employee has any fixed or definite term of service, a charge or complaint, in writing, shall be presented to him, and evidence as to the facts alleged in such charge or complaint, shall be taken before the commissioners if he denies the correctness or truth of same.”

If Bradshaw were to resign or be removed, the commission president would assume “all rights, powers and duties of the mayor,” according to the charter, and the commissioners would need to schedule a special election to fill the mayoral vacancy.

In a previous statement, the city noted that Cambridge has a council-manager form of government with the appointed city manager, not the mayor, serving as the city’s chief executive officer and heading its administrative branch.

Bradshaw, 32, was charged Monday with 50 counts of “revenge porn,” accused of creating multiple Reddit accounts with usernames that were permutations of a former romantic partner’s name and birthdate and posting intimate photos of her that were “captioned with racial slurs and sexually explicit language, on those Reddit accounts and various Subreddit forums that were related to sexual activity, humiliation, degradation, race, and other topics,” according to the state prosecutor’s office.

“Maryland’s Revenge Porn Statute, Maryland Criminal Law Article § 3-809, prohibits the nonconsensual distribution of a private visual representation of another which exposes their intimate body parts or displays them engaged in sexual activity, with the intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten or coerce the person depicted,” the Office of the State Prosecutor said in a press release.

Bradshaw was released Monday without having to post bond.

According to charging papers:

• The photos were posted in April and May.

• The woman contacted police in mid-May to say she had learned nude photos of her had been posted on Reddit. She told police that the photos were posted without her knowledge or consent and had only been sent to Bradshaw.

• She said the photos were sent when she and Bradshaw were in an intimate relationship, she did not give him consent to re-distribute the photos, and she is no longer romantically involved with Bradshaw.

• The accounts used to post the photos were from an IP address that provided internet service to Bradshaw’s Cambridge home.

• The photos were posted to subreddits named RacePlay, “with racial slurs in several of the posting titles,” and HumiliatingComments, among others. Charging papers allege that nine posts were made to the RacePlay subreddit and there were racial slurs in seven of the titles or captions.

Bradshaw’s home and the mayor’s office at city hall were searched by police on Aug. 4.

 

 

 

Cambridge Mayor Charged with 50 Counts of Distributing Revenge Porn

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Cambridge Mayor Andrew Bradshaw has been charged with 50 counts of distributing revenge porn, the state prosecutor’s office said in a news release.

Bradshaw is charged with posting nude photographs of a former romantic partner to various forums on Reddit without her knowledge or consent and with the intent to harm her, according to the release.

The criminal information filed Monday in Dorchester County Circuit Court alleges Bradshaw made multiple Reddit accounts with public usernames that consisted of permutations of the name and birthdate of the woman, and then posted the photos, “captioned with racial slurs and sexually explicit language, on those ‘Reddit’ accounts and various ‘subreddit’ forums that were related to sexual activity, humiliation, degradation, race, and other topics,” according to the press release.

“Using someone’s private images without their consent is a serious breach of trust and invasion of privacy, and the power and breadth of the internet makes such a violation even more egregious,” State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III said in the news release. “Our office is committed to protecting victims from those who abuse their positions of power and trust.”

Maryland’s Revenge Porn Statute, Maryland Criminal Law Article § 3-809, prohibits the nonconsensual distribution of a private visual representation of another which exposes their intimate body parts or displays them engaged in sexual activity, with the intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten or coerce the person depicted. If convicted, Mr. Bradshaw would face a maximum penalty of two years’ incarceration and a $5,000 fine for each count.

According to charging papers:

• The woman contacted police in mid-May to say she had learned nude photos of her had been posted on Reddit. She told police that the photos were posted without her knowledge or consent and had only been sent to Bradshaw.

• She said the photos were sent when she and Bradshaw were in an intimate relationship, she did not give him consent to re-distribute the photos, and she is no longer romantically involved with Bradshaw.

• The accounts used to post the photos were from an IP address that provided internet service to Bradshaw’s Cambridge home.

• The photos were posted to subreddits named RacePlay, “with racial slurs in several of the posting titles,” and HumiliatingComments, among others.

Charging papers allege that nine posts were made to the RacePlay subreddit and there were racial slurs in seven of the titles or captions.

Bradshaw’s home and the mayor’s office at city hall were searched by police on Aug. 4.

City officials, in a notice posted on the city’s website, said: “The City is aware of the matter involving the Mayor. The City is currently gathering information and will cooperate fully with the Maryland State Police and the Office of the State Prosecutor.

“As the City has a Council-Manager form of municipal government whereby the City Manager serves as the chief executive officer of the City and the head of its administrative branch, the business of the City is unaffected.

“As this is an active legal matter, no further comments will be made at this time.”

City commissioners were scheduled to meet Monday night for a work session to discuss the composition of the board of the Cambridge Waterfront Development Inc. but that meeting was cancelled Monday afternoon.

The commissioners are now scheduled to meet Tuesday night in a closed session.

Maryland State Police and the Easton Police Department assisted the Office of the State Prosecutor with the investigation.

Spy Check-in with Easton Mayor Robert Willey

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Easton Mayor Robert Willey speaks Tuesday morning with The Talbot Spy to discuss:

  • ARPA funding for new fire trucks, a firefighter training center, and broadband;
  • the efforts to retain and recruit officers for the Easton Police Department, including a cadet program;
  • ongoing infrastructure and paving projects;
  • continued rehabilitation of several houses on the Hill;
  • the upcoming Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast and 50th Waterfowl Festival;
  • and the town’s need for a human resources staffer.

This video is about 12 minutes long.

Cambridge City Manager Will Not Seek Contract Renewal

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City Manager Patrick Comiskey has declined to seek renewal of his employment contract following the current contract’s expiration on July 31.

Comiskey, who was hired following a search in 2018, is Cambridge’s second city manager, having served in that role for
three years. Comiskey’s time as city manager has seen many transitions for Cambridge, with development and growth occurring across the city, according to a press release from the city.

“I wish Patrick, his wife Jane, and their beautiful dog Weaver all the best in the next phase of Patrick’s career,” Cambridge Mayor Andrew Bradshaw said in the statement. “The care they all have shown for the City of Cambridge, and their work to make this city a better place to call home cannot be overstated. Patrick’s good-heartedness and genuine love for others makes him the kind of public servant that is an asset anywhere he goes.”

According to the press release, city commissioners issued the following statements about Comiskey’s decision:

Ward 1 Commissioner Brian Roche — “I’ve appreciated Mr. Comiskey’s service and assistance while Cambridge continues to go through inevitable growing pains of the early stages of our professionally managed form of government.”

Commission President Lajan Cephas (Ward 2) — “We must remember that at the completion of each lap, the city commission did not run the race alone. Mr. Comiskey, thank you for the contributions you and your wife Jane has provided to the city of Cambridge.”

Ward 3 Commissioner Jameson Harrington — “It was always a pleasure to see Mr. Comiskey out at the many local events and businesses in Cambridge. It was nice to have a city manager involved with the local community.”

Ward 4 Commissioner Sputty Cephas — “Mr. Comiskey, thank you for time and commitment to the City of Cambridge. Best wishes on your future endeavors. Continue to share your knowledge and skillsets.”

Ward 5 Commissioner Chad Malkus — “I want to wish Patrick all the best in his future endeavors and to thank him for the great work he did over the past few years. I look forward to the hiring process for a new city manager, and my hope is that we can hire someone with equally extensive municipal experience and knowledge of strong fiscal governance.”

The Mayor and Commissioners of Cambridge will discuss the city manager vacancy at an upcoming meeting in July.

A review of requirements will occur with regard to naming an interim city manager, as well as requirements for search committee members for the hiring of a permanent city manager.

Easton Council OKs Mail-in Ballots for Town Elections

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The town council voted unanimously Monday night to allow mail-in ballots for town elections.

Ordinance 758 amends the town’s code to allow any qualified town voter to vote by absentee ballot rather than in person. The current code limits absentee ballots to those who may be absent for any reason from the town on any election day, or who may be unable to vote due to illness, disability, or emergency reason.

All five members of the Easton town council voted in favor of the ordinance after a March 15 public hearing. Easton Mayor Robert Willey signed the ordinance that night and it becomes effective April 4, in time for the town’s regular May election.

The new law requires an application for an absentee ballot to be submitted to the town clerk no later than the Tuesday preceding a town election.

Completed absentee ballots must be received by the town by mail or in person by 8 p.m. on election day in order to be counted.

Regular town elections are held every two years on the first Monday in May. This year’s election will be for council president and for council members for the second and fourth wards.

Easton Ordinance 758 Absentee Ballots

Bradshaw Earns Decisive Victory in Cambridge Mayoral Runoff as City Votes for Change

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The City of Cambridge likely will have an entirely new elected government as voters chose a new mayor and the challenger leads the remaining incumbent in Ward 2.

Andrew Bradshaw handily defeated longtime Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley in Tuesday’s runoff election.

Bradshaw won by nearly 15 percentage points, earning 1,643 votes (57.41%) to 1,219 (42.59%) for Jackson-Stanley.

The two were the top vote-getters in the city’s Oct. 17 mayoral election, but neither topped the required 50%+1 and so faced each other in the Dec. 1 runoff.

Jackson-Stanley’s support in the runoff was largely unchanged from the initial round of voting six weeks ago, while Bradshaw appears to have picked up most of the votes of the other two mayoral challengers.

On Oct. 17, the incumbent mayor got 40.62% of the vote (1,197 votes), Bradshaw had 27.79%, La-Shon Banks Foster had 19.27%, and Robert S. Larimer had 12.32%.

Only a handful of votes separate the candidates in the two city commissioner races that also required runoff elections.

It was unclear at presstime Wednesday whether there were any provisional ballots remaining to be counted. During the Oct. 17 election, there were only four provisional ballots counted in Ward 2 and three in Ward 3.

Incumbent Ward 2 Commissioner Donald Sydnor is down by five votes to challenger Lajan Natasha Cephas.

Cephas has 223 votes (50.57%) to 218 (49.43%) for Sydnor.

Lajan Cephas, in an interview before the election, said Cambridge has “can do better” and she wanted to be part of the solution to do so.

The Oct. 17 results had Sydnor with 38.84% to 30.28% for Lajan Cephas (30.28%). Paul F. Baiers Jr. had 16.93% of the vote and Tyzann Meekins had 13.94%.

In Ward 3, Jameson Harrington is leading Gary T. Gordy by six votes.

Harrington had 216 votes (50.7%) to 210 (49.3%) for Gordy.

Harrington, in an interview before the election, said he wanted to help the city grow “and take advantage of all the great potential we have here in Cambridge.”

Gordy had 39.24% of the vote on Oct. 17 to 30.59% for Harrington, who barely edged out Duane Farrow (30.17%) by two votes to go on to the runoff election.

Lajan Cephas and Harrington will join Brian Roche (Ward 1), Sputty Cephas (Ward 4), and Chad Malkus (Ward 5) on the city commission.

During the Oct. 17 election, Roche garnered 61.59% of the vote in Ward 1, defeating two other candidates; Sputty Cephas defeated Ward 4 incumbent Dave Cannon by 13 votes (51.14% to 48.86%); and Malkus was unopposed in Ward 5.

Incumbent Ward 3 Commissioner La-Shon Foster ran for mayor rather than seeking re-election. Ward 1 Commissioner Stephen Rideout and Ward 5 Commssioner Robert Hanson did not seek re-election.

Mayor, Ward 2, and Ward 3 Races in Cambridge Head to Dec. 1 Run-Off Elections

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Roche earns Ward 1 seat, Cephas wins in Ward 4, Malkus unopposed in Ward 5

Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley will face Andrew Bradshaw in a Dec. 1 run-off election.

The incumbent mayor got 40.62% of the vote on Oct. 17, Bradshaw had 27.79%, La-Shon Banks Foster had 19.27%, and Robert S. Larimer had 12.32%.

Since no mayoral candidate won 50%+1 of the vote in the first round, the two candidates with the highest vote counts move on to the run-off election. The same process occurred in Wards 2 and 3.

In Ward 2, incumbent Commissioner Donald Sydnor (38.84%) will face Lajan Natasha Cephas (30.28%) in the run-off election. Paul F. Baiers Jr. had 16.93% of the vote and Tyzann Meekins had 13.94%.

In Ward 3, Gary T. Gordy (39.24%) and Jameson Harrington (30.59%) move on to the run-off election. Harrington barely edged out Duane Farrow, who had 30.17% of the vote. Harrington had 144 votes to 142 for Farrow.

Brian Roche, with 61.59% of the vote, was elected commissioner in Ward 1. Sharon B. Smith had 26.81% and Tom Bradley had 11.59%.

With only two candidates in Ward 4, Sputty Cephas (51.14%) narrowly defeated incumbent Dave Cannon (48.86%).

Chad Malkus was unopposed in Ward 5.

Election officials verified the results of the Saturday election on Monday, beginning the process at 10 a.m.

The Dec. 1 run-off election will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Chesapeake College center in downtown Cambridge. It will be a mail-in election, with all previously registered voters being mailed a ballot during the first week of November. Voted ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off on Dec. 1 at Chesapeake College.

City Manager Patrick Comiskey will discuss the election at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. View the program here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTChlDYAnxg