BREAKING NEWS! HOLY COW, GET A LOAD OF THIS!

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.

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