On Salisbury Primary Election Day, March 3rd, Gary Comegys' campaign signs filled the front yard of a home on East Chestnut Street , directly across the street from the election polling place at Wicomico Presbyterian Church. Comegys told onlookers that he had “rented the yard for the day for $20” for his exclusive use.
What he didn't tell them was that he shouldn't have.
The property is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt drug and alcohol recovery transitional group home. It's operated by a long and deeply respected local organization, an organization that as a matter of policy is neither connected to nor supportive of any political entities. Comegys didn't talk with the home's staff to get permission, the permission that he likely knew wouldn't be given. Instead, he made a quick agreement with a resident under treatment there. He did an end run around the rules and those who enforce them to get what he wanted.
The residents in this home and others like it are members of a very vulnerable population. Choosing to recover from catastrophic life changes and devastating events, they work to put their lives in order, to once again become fully productive members of society, to live clean, sober and rewarding lives. It's an uphill climb for all of them. There are very limited numbers of opportunities to succeed. Without outside help, there are often too many opportunities for failure. They are provided shelter in a well-managed, protected environment as a part of a program that gives them a better chance to succeed. They don't deserve to be manipulated or preyed upon.
Comegys took it upon himself to be both predator and manipulator. He knew who owned the home and what it's used for. He took advantage, a most unfair advantage, of not only this naive group home resident and the charitable organization providing his care, treatment and safe place to live, but also of the very city and people he wants to lead as mayor. He potentially put a major social program in jeopardy for nothing but to further his personal agenda. Comegys knew what he was doing and where he was doing it. He was reckless and didn't care that he was.
This is not the first time that he has betrayed the public in a very similar manner. Nor is it the first time that he was caught in the act doing it. This time, though, he's gone way over the top: preying on the vulnerable; cavalierly putting at risk the reputation of an outstanding organization with a decades long history of doing only good for the City and its people, and; again putting himself first over everything and everyone. He is neither apologetic nor contrite.
He is Gary Comegys.
He wants to be your next mayor.
38 comments:
That's just plain foul. Dirty, dirty, dirty.
...not to mention the temptation a recovering addict has when someone slips him $20 no one else knows about. How about you put some devil horns on the next picture you post of him?
Gary has no standards--his doing this jeopardizes their standing as charitable organization. Gary could care less.
Lets exploit the Students,elderly and the addicts to vote for Shanie and Gary!!! Making Richard Insley proud, he taught them well.
Has this violated any laws, I don't think so. Politics is tough and I am sure Jim Ireton will do what he has to do to get elected to be within the laww
From the back of curb to 4ft back or the back of side walk is normally city property even thought the city doesnt maintain it. Looks to me like Garys signs are on city property. Is it possible he rented the property from the city at a bargin price.
I worked for this community a long time and know which one residences are the rentals and the comegys signs you saw were mainly in front of rental properties.
This man has absolutely no intergrity what so ever. I
used to blame the Mayor for
his downright arrogance. He
does a good enough job on his
own. I wish Bob Caldwell could
run against his council seat.
In my opinion,Salisbury politics as is are in the sewer.
9:54 If all you are going to do is complain about Salisbury. Why don't you just move somewhere else
anon 9:37
ever heard of ethics?
How many people have been influenced to vote for Comegys by the Comegys signs in front of unoccupied rentals and places, like this one, where they shouldn't be at all? If it's more than about 30, then Comegys shouldn't be in the running at all.
Gary took other signs down, claiming he had rented the spot, so it wasn't that he just put his signs on city property. He physically removed other candidates' signs. Nice guy.
959, Because it's OUR towm and WE want it back.
9:54 I have nevered complained about Salisbury in the 62 years
I've lived here. I will voice
my opinion when I believe there
is a foul committed by whomever.
Futhermore, I have volunteered and contributed a great amount for this community. This nation has
been asleep to long and its time to wake up and take back what many of my friends died for.
What a sleazeball!
What's next, canvassing for votes at the AA meetings? Oh, sorry, didn't mean to give you any good ideas, Gary.
When I think about how many people and families this organization has helped (like thousands), and how they could be hurt by something as stupid as this, I just want to puke.
Comegys, I thought you pretty much sucked before, but now I know for sure. You really suck.
What's he so happy about in the picture? Is that his "I just got over on you" smile?
sure is alot of trash in that picture.
Two years can't come soon enough. It's when he'll be completely gone from Salisbury politics.
I'm with 10:36.
I hope that Comegys's stupidity and low regard for others doesn't hurt this organization. I personally know several people who have been in the programs there (including two professionals). They are back in the world because of this place and the caring people who work there.
Boooo to you, Comegys. You DO suck!
9:37-
And Nixon was not a crook, right?
How did we ever get a bozo like this in office, "representing" us, anyway?
Oh, right. I forgot. Bamboozled us the first time and cheated us the second time.
Good thing we're getting smarter, isn't it?
9:38-
Let's not lose focus by dwelling on the trivial. It's traditional for candidates and their boosters to have signs and stand in the public sidewalk and verge along streets -- they all did it last week, with the exception of the gent who is an invalid.
The offense here is using/renting space for his signs in an inappropriate way. To put it plainly, Bubba Comegys is trash.
9:59-
Here's one for you -- why don't you get lost, Barrie?
Joe:
Wanna bet he got a legal opinion on doing that -- from T. J. Baloney?
9:37:
What are you trying to say here? I can't figure it out.
As for violating laws, it did violate the regulations of the organization that runs the group homes. On top of that we have a pretty serious ethics violation here. Candidate knowingly used charitable organization in a way that he knew wasn't proper, and in a way that he knew might negatively affect the community resource. Reckless disregard for community. Candidate knowingly and directly used the vulnerability and neediness of an addict under protective treatment to further his own political career. Reckless disregard for persons.
A lawyer I'm not, but I'd say that this is something that needs to come up before the Elections Board and certainly the City's Ethics Commission. He is, after all, a sitting member of the local government, and his words and actions are always those of a representative when in the public eye.
I'd say the same about Tilghman and her flagrantly obvious campaign efforts for Comegys on WICO and elsewhere, and her efforts to keep Comegys in office in 2007. How can these not be violations?
Yes, politics are tough. And the smartest and toughest players are the ones who can do it hard and at the same time play by the rules. The bullies and wimps either can't or don't, and resort to being cheats and liars. Need I say more?
9:37, from everything I've seen, Jim Ireton is running a Class Act Campaign that doesn't skirt the edge of the law or ethical standards.
This post makes me sick.
I don't want someone as my mayor who chuckles to himself about what he got away with.
How can Gary form an agreement with someone to rent yard space if the person doesn't own the property? Being a resident of a treatment facility does not count as being in a position to rent out its yard or any part of it.
I agree with that last one....how can you make an arrangement with someone who is A) NOT the property owner and B)NOT a leaseholder but merely a patient/resident ? I would watch this guy,he will be downtown under the bridges giving out 40's and half-pints for votes......Ethics indeed.
Barrie & Gary = Acorn
Hey Gary,
I'm doing what you told me to do, "Compare Jim Ireton's record to yours". Well Gary I have, and you're SCUM.
ALL:
At the next City Council meeting -- let's have lots of persons asking lots of questions during the public comment -- make Louweasel tell Gary "don't answer that" like she did when Joe asked about the blogs! And when she does, say to her, "And why should he not tell us the truth, madam president" (stating the title is to assuage her vanity).
LET'S DO IT (our future is at stake on April 7).
If you residents of Salisbury don't stand up and get this man on this issue at the next meeting, I personally do not want to hear one more complaint about this guy.
It's one thing to come onto this blog and complain, or should I say whine, but when it comes right down to it, you are for the most part cowards, in my opinion.
You say things like "take our city back" but you don't show up when given the opportunity to do just that.
You've got him with this one....now DO SOMETHING WITH IT, or shut up!
To:4:43pm
I agree , you guys need to go to the council meetings and state your case. If you don't go and complain , stop the crying.
Anonymous said...
If you residents of Salisbury don't stand up and get this man on this issue at the next meeting, I personally do not want to hear one more complaint about this guy.
It's one thing to come onto this blog and complain, or should I say whine, but when it comes right down to it, you are for the most part cowards, in my opinion.
You say things like "take our city back" but you don't show up when given the opportunity to do just that.
You've got him with this one....now DO SOMETHING WITH IT, or shut up!
4:43 PM
==========================
I agree. The Salisbury residents seem to be all talk but no action. Bitch and moan and ask Joe to look into things for you. Time for you people to get off yout butts and do something! Get to meetings and dont sit on your hands waiting for soeone else to speak up. Use your VOICE and your VOTE!
Joe,
That is some good writing!
If it were'nt for the county people speaking up there would only be Mr. Holland, Mr. Trader, Bob Caldwell, Jim Ireton and Bob Taylor standing up as city residents. That's 5 out of about 28,000 people. Are the rest of the residents in the city deaf, dumb and blind?
When we do show up at the meetings, La Femme Fuhrer, AKA Louweasal, gavels and shuts us down and interrupts to enforce her time limits. I guess she turns into a pumpkin after 8:00. What a freaking joke how the constituents are treated by her, the mare, and the stonewalling "we'll get back to you on that." She, Shanie,and Gary contribute very little to nothing, in my opinion. Mr. Comegys ethics and or judgement would appear to be questionable on many levels if things mentioned on blogs are true such as parking his work vehicle in the cemetary when he should be working, parking in handicap areas, schilling for the fire company when he stands to benefit, bankruptcy and fiscal irresponsibility just for openers.
If it weren't for the 2 letters UH...he and his mentor mare would not be able to speak. Sure makes me proud to have people like that representing us and accountable for a large budget.
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