Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media:
I sent this correspondence late this afternoon to Salisbury City Clerk Brenda Colegrove.
Tim Chaney
March 2, 2009
Dear Members of the City Ethics Commission and
of the City and County Boards of Elections:
I am writing to request an investigation by you into potentially unfair election practices involving the development/management company of the Cottages at River House in the municipal District 1 of the city of Salisbury. I am concerned that the vulnerable population of residents in this affordable housing development, who are primarily senior citizens in a minority district, may have had unequal access to all candidates in tomorrow’s primary municipal election.
Attached is the letter sent to residents by the owner of the management company, Schuster Management. In the letter, he endorses two candidates, a councilman running for mayor who has three opponents and the incumbent for the District 1 seat for which two others and I are also candidates.
This facility receives public funding, federal funding, I believe. It is my understanding that institutions funded in this way must not be partisan or give support to just one candidate in a race. My understanding is that candidate forums or “meet and greets” may be held if all candidates are invited, which does not appear to be the case here.
Based on this letter, it appears use of the facilities and resources of this development appear were offered solely to these two candidates, who are believed to have accepted the offer and may have attended, although I cannot confirm this at this time. I did not receive any invitation to be part of an event at this development. I have heard that other mayoral candidates requested to have access to the facility or the meeting, but were denied.
Mr. Schuster’s letter seems to imply that support for these candidates may be in return for favored votes for the facility or in hope for favored votes in the future. In the letter, he says, “I am supporting Mr. Comegys for his bid for Mayor. Mr. Comegys has been a supporter of affordable housing in Salisbury and for the construction of The Cottages.”
Residents receiving this letter may feel an implied pressure to vote for a particular candidate to protect their homes. They may not complain about the letter for fear it would lead to the loss of their residency. The facility’s shuttle may be used to transport residents who received this letter.
I cannot say for sure whether Mr. Schuster’s letter and luncheon event and the actions by the candidates constitute some form of wrongdoing or conflict of interest, but I am asking that you investigate what the case is. Taxpayer money is involved, decisions by council members are involved, and the integrity of our election process in Salisbury is at stake. Elected officials should always act to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest or taking unfair advantage and to act with full disclosure.
Given that District 1 had only 49 people turn out to vote in the last primary election in 2005 and this development has about 60 registered voters, these circumstances could play a decisive role in this election.
Most important, I want to know that the constituents I hope to serve are being treated fairly, with full access to all candidates and election information as required by law, without any sense of coercion – overt or covert. With the poverty and crime that already plague the people of my district, it is especially important that they be treated with openness and fairness.
Please advise me of what actions and findings your board will engage in concerning this matter. Thank you in advance for addressing my concern. My personal address, telephone and email information are under my electronic signature below.
Tim Chaney
March 2, 2009
Dear Members of the City Ethics Commission and
of the City and County Boards of Elections:
I am writing to request an investigation by you into potentially unfair election practices involving the development/management company of the Cottages at River House in the municipal District 1 of the city of Salisbury. I am concerned that the vulnerable population of residents in this affordable housing development, who are primarily senior citizens in a minority district, may have had unequal access to all candidates in tomorrow’s primary municipal election.
Attached is the letter sent to residents by the owner of the management company, Schuster Management. In the letter, he endorses two candidates, a councilman running for mayor who has three opponents and the incumbent for the District 1 seat for which two others and I are also candidates.
This facility receives public funding, federal funding, I believe. It is my understanding that institutions funded in this way must not be partisan or give support to just one candidate in a race. My understanding is that candidate forums or “meet and greets” may be held if all candidates are invited, which does not appear to be the case here.
Based on this letter, it appears use of the facilities and resources of this development appear were offered solely to these two candidates, who are believed to have accepted the offer and may have attended, although I cannot confirm this at this time. I did not receive any invitation to be part of an event at this development. I have heard that other mayoral candidates requested to have access to the facility or the meeting, but were denied.
Mr. Schuster’s letter seems to imply that support for these candidates may be in return for favored votes for the facility or in hope for favored votes in the future. In the letter, he says, “I am supporting Mr. Comegys for his bid for Mayor. Mr. Comegys has been a supporter of affordable housing in Salisbury and for the construction of The Cottages.”
Residents receiving this letter may feel an implied pressure to vote for a particular candidate to protect their homes. They may not complain about the letter for fear it would lead to the loss of their residency. The facility’s shuttle may be used to transport residents who received this letter.
I cannot say for sure whether Mr. Schuster’s letter and luncheon event and the actions by the candidates constitute some form of wrongdoing or conflict of interest, but I am asking that you investigate what the case is. Taxpayer money is involved, decisions by council members are involved, and the integrity of our election process in Salisbury is at stake. Elected officials should always act to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest or taking unfair advantage and to act with full disclosure.
Given that District 1 had only 49 people turn out to vote in the last primary election in 2005 and this development has about 60 registered voters, these circumstances could play a decisive role in this election.
Most important, I want to know that the constituents I hope to serve are being treated fairly, with full access to all candidates and election information as required by law, without any sense of coercion – overt or covert. With the poverty and crime that already plague the people of my district, it is especially important that they be treated with openness and fairness.
Please advise me of what actions and findings your board will engage in concerning this matter. Thank you in advance for addressing my concern. My personal address, telephone and email information are under my electronic signature below.
Sincerely,
John Timothy “Tim” Chaney
Candidate, Salisbury City Council, District 1
Authority: Tim Chaney for District One – Shirley M. Dashiell, Treasurer
425 Franklin Ave.
Salisbury, MD 21804
410-860-1687
johnchaney425@comcast.net
John Timothy “Tim” Chaney
Candidate, Salisbury City Council, District 1
Authority: Tim Chaney for District One – Shirley M. Dashiell, Treasurer
425 Franklin Ave.
Salisbury, MD 21804
410-860-1687
johnchaney425@comcast.net
18 comments:
Way to go, Tim! This is definitely a concern, and worth the question. Please keep us posted as to the answer you receive.
Tim:
Please take a deep breath or three, pal. Mr. Schuster has “seen the light” thanks to the mayoral candidates other than Bubba Comegys – they held a sign waving event at the site yesterday (where were you-?) and read him the riot act. Schuster may be misguided – he supported Maryland’s all-American boy governor, the one and only Bobby Ehrlich – but he does not seem to be a dedicated Barrie-Bubba benefactor.
The real crime is that committed by WICO in allowing Barrie and Bubba a free 25 minute campaign ad in her “Monday Morning With the Mayor” show. The agency to contact is the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) so let ‘er rip!
You go Tim.
This is why Salisbury needs you in the District 1 seat.
Salisbury is such a mess, and they just keep themselves the butt of the joke - it's disgusting. I can't wait until I can sell my house and move - I am tired of living somewhere so embarassing.
Sadly, my bet is that nothing much will come of this except complaints on this blog and some promise to investigate that will fade away eventually without any real findings.
I will say this - this candidate has my vote, if for no other reason than he NOTICED something in this Godforesaken town.
anonymous 8:04.
Uh, Oh, someone sounds disgruntled over Tim knocking on doors and actually running his campaign rather than standing outside yesterday trying to make a statement.
Get over yourself Pal.
That is a kick in the good old boy balls. Good job Tim.
Way to go, Tim! Good luck tomorrow.
It's official:
Tim Chaney has been inducted into the "What a Guy!" Club.
Notice his concern for the people and his mention of the other candidates. It's obvious he's not doing it for himself.
Go, Tim!
That's great to know because I'm the President of the What A Guy Club. LOL
8:04, who peed on your wheaties?
Did Schuster throw some doe eyes on you or something?
He endorsed Bubba to a captive audience of old folks in affordable housing.
If you're all pi$$ed off at WICO, let's see YOUR letter to the FCC...
Pal.
To Mr. Chaney, I'm not in your district, but my aunt is in one of those affordable housing type places and if her management company tried to do this to her, I'd haul their a$$es to court.
Joe, I apologize for the language. A guy does something honorable like this, and some jerk gives him a put down for not doing what the jerk thinks he ought to be doing. I can't stand people like that.
8:04, why don't you take a deep breath?
Where was Chaney during your "sign waving event"?
In church with his treasurer. You got a problem with that?
Just sign me,
District 1 "Neighbor"
Yes Tim Chaney actually did something besides grandstand. Tim was sharing fellowship at his campaign treasurer's church, ST. Paul's A.M.E. Zion Church on Delaware Avenue.
Where he already knows quite a few people and has attended the last 3 out of 4 Sundays. He says he likes it there, the gospel music and band they have throw down and Pastor Meekins is right on. He knows the problems that plague his community and is not afraid to say such. He told me you'll never fall asleep in that church.
FIY I don't think he was there for a photo Op.
8:04, tell us more about Mr. Schuster's support of Mr. Ehrlich. Did he send a letter to the residents of his affordable housing development about having lunch with Mr. Ehrlich and how Mr. Ehrlich supported developments such as his?
Is this a pattern with him?
Personally, I like Mr. Chaney's open approach of asking oversight boards to look into it rather than candidates "reading him (the manager) the riot act," which sounds a little coercive in itself.
ROFLMAO the riot act is so sixty's. Wake up old dude it's a new millenium!
Oh now we should trust Schuster? OK bury your head in the snow idiot. Are you seeing a deer in the headlights?
Great letter.
Can't imagine Shanie writing something as readable, or to be as selfless.
Wonder what the other District 1 candidates would have written.
The Schuster thing has the fingerprints of Barrie on it--she no doubt hatched up this Gary appearance. That's how she does things.
Go job, Tim, for stepping up on this.
Yup you can he sure Barrie hatched it and Gary stepped right in it. That crap is sooooo deep he'll never get it off his shoes.
That's like being out in the woods and seeing a bear trap and stepping in it, stupid is as stupid does.
If it wasn't for this blog nobody would have known a thing.
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