Jim Ireton for Mayor

Contrary to what some critics espouse, those of us at Salisbury News thought long and hard about who should be Salisbury's next mayor.  While several of us know and like Jim Ireton personally the choice was not always clear.  In fact, a final decision was not made until recently.

Salisbury councilman Gary Comegys has much to offer.  He brings six years of experience to the table.  Contrary to the "Bubba" moniker, the man is anything but stupid.  He has superb political instincts and has shown leadership ability; simply look back at how he persuaded councilwoman Louise Smith to break every promise she made in her campaign and how he has been able to quietly serve as Mayor Barrie Tilghman's true regent over a rubber stamp council.  Unfortunately, these same traits also indicate his unfitness to serve as Salisbury's mayor.

Jim Ireton has run an excellent grassroots campaign as evidenced by his 13 point trouncing of Gary Comegys in the primary.  Had it not been for former councilman Bob Caldwell's broken ankle, Comegys would not have even survived the primary.

Jim Ireton has been a strong, passionate advocate for most of the right issues.  While we believe that economic development rather than the Wicomico River should have been a top issue, neither candidate adequately addressed our number two concern after the city's abysmal crime rate.  Neither candidate has been strong on the issue of taxes.  However, Ireton actually voted for a tax cut during his stint on council.  Comegys' record has now given Salisbury taxpayers a higher city tax rate than they pay to Wicomico County.

Ireton understands the need for an INDEPENDENT legislative branch of city government.  Comegys has been Tilghman's leading rubber stamp.  Given his view of city council, we could expect a Mayor Comegys to quickly revert to the Tilghman modus operandi of demanding unthinking fealty to the executive's policies or resorting to the attacks and bullying we have all come to know and NOT love over the last ten years.

Ireton understands that having police working in neighborhoods, rather than merely tooling around town, will help to alleviate a crime rate that is among the worst 10 of US cities with populations of 25,000 - 50,000.  Ireton, along with incumbent councilwoman Debbie Campbell and then candidate (now councilwoman) Terry Cohen, was a driving force behind getting police officers a needed pay raise and bringing the city's force to full strength.  Until these people forced this issue before the public, Tilghman and Comegys only offered platitudes and excuses.  Now Comegys claims credit for the pay raise, and blames an unnecessary tax increase on the need to fund public safety.

While we certainly don't agree with Ireton on every issue, it is clear that he offers some of the change that is clearly needed in Salisbury.  Recently, this has been made doubly clear by the efforts of Comegys, through a group of supporters, to smear Ireton's personal life, interfere with his current employer (the Wicomico Board of Education), and even level personal smears at some prominent Ireton supporters.  While the Tilghman Times has claimed to the contrary, this has been done both openly AND through anonymous mailings, emails, blogs and phone calls.

Comegys supporter Don Cathcart claimed in a recent letter to the editor that Ireton should be judged by his supporters.  If Mr. Cathcart is honest in his statements, recent actions by key Comegys allies lead to the conclusion that Gary Comegys is not only unfit to be Salisbury's next mayor, but is unfit to continue service on the city council.

Jim Ireton should be given the chance to enact the plan he has set before the voters.  IF he slides or fails to show leadership in office we will not hesitate to bring this to the public's attention.  However, Jim Ireton (along with councilwoman Debbie Campbell and council candidate Cynthia Polk) represent the hope and change needed for Salisbury to move forward in a positive way.