Thank you Julie Brewington. After lobbying for the Wicomico County Council to move its meeting times from 10AM to the evening, the issue is finally getting some traction thanks to the co-chair of the Lower Shore chapter of Americans for Prosperity.
Ever since December of 2006, when the current council was sworn in, I have lobbied for evening meetings. Councilman Joe Holloway (R-5) has been attempting to get a majority of his colleagues to agree. Thanks to Brewington’s statements at last week’s council meeting, the issue has received multiple mentions in the Daily Times.
The argument given against moving the meeting time, which would allow more working citizens to participate in their local government, is that citizens don’t turn up WHEN meetings are scheduled at night (except for controversial public hearings). Fair enough, EXCEPT …
Holding the occasional meeting in the evening simply won’t help. If all of the meetings, or even half, were moved to the evening AND done so consistently for about a year, the public would then get used to the fact and hopefully start attending. Salisbury council meetings, though poorly attended, still tend to outdraw county council meetings.
Another argument is that requiring department heads to attend evening meetings would cost the taxpayer more. Sorry. Department heads are on salary and shouldn’t be paid more for doing part of their job.
Thanks again Julie. Hopefully, you’ll be more successful than I have been.
25 comments:
Julie needs to run for an office now. She helped a lot with the Tea Parties and Chris i runnign for office, now Julie needs to run and all the career politicians need to go now....
There are a lot of rumors of Tea Party people running for office. Does anyone know the truth, who is running and for what?
If the WCC changes the time of the meetings, won't they be sayong they currently have the time in the morning so people will not attend? Will they not be digging their own graves. I do hope some of these people do run, Julie and the guy from the tea party........people need to wake up, come together, now, for our freedoms.
Who is running from the tea party? if the county council changes their time, will they all not be declaring their defeat? Will they cave in and change the time? Do they really care?
4:22
Chris Lewis is running against kratovil, as an independent. He must get signatures first so he can get on the ballot. I believe he did so in the late 90's in wicomico county as well. Good luck to those willing t take the heat to make a difference. Good luck to Julie.
While I believe EVERYONE has the right to run for Office, Chris Lewis doesn't have a chance to run against Kratovil and couldn't raise enough money to last more than two weeks campaigning.
Get Real people.
Is our local and state media so bad we must get most of our information from sbynews? Have things gotten that bad? If so, who will interview the new American patriots? Who will put the word out for those who will at least try to save our republic?
Will sbynews take over the eastern Shore as far as intelligent reporting at all levels?
Joe:
If that is true, will we ever have anyone good run, or will they all give up because people have the mindset anyone outside the realm cannot win. Will it take money, or ideas? Do we give up, give support, or just sit back and let our future die?
I think people like Chris and Julie have more backing than anyone thinks. They have already stepped out and tried to do something on their own. Most poeple just complain and do nothing. We should get behind people like this, all over the country. We need more people fighting for their rights, not sitting on their butts and just complaing all day.
I may lose, but I must try. I wil do what I have to in order to fight for the future of my children. I will go to my grave knowing I did all i can for my childrens future, and the future of America. I will not lie on my deathbed, looking my kids in the eyes, wishing I did more. To do nothing, in my opinion, is failing as a son, father, Christian and an American. Someone must stand up, fight for what America stands for. that is all I am trying to do, succeed or fail, I must try and give it my all.
Money is a big problem, but it can be overcome. Grassroots organizations can do a lot. people can win office, people can make a diference, but they must believe and never give up.
joe
is it all about money?
Maybe the good people will lose out to the drones voting for more welfare and the downfall of America, but if we do not help the good ones, we will just get more bad people in office.
Good luck to those who have no chance. Our futures depend on them.
Do we not vote for these popel who reprsent us, or will Kratovil and Harris take the spot again? Will Julie run, she has made a difference. Will we not vote for her because she does not have money? Do we give up?
Thanks G.A., thanks Julie, thank you tea party people!
Does the county council care what the citizens think or want?
Is the council really worht anything? Is Kratovil a real man, or Harris for that matter. Who do we trust, if anyone?
Chris, I applaud your energy and desire but let me share a little something with you I hope will change your mind.
I had been asked a few months ago why I'm not on the County Council, City Council and or Mayor or County Executive.
Of course I immediately replied that I wasn't a resident of Maryland or Wicomico County, but that could change in 24 hours if I wanted it to.
However, I said that IF I wanted to move to Maryland for political gain I'd be making a HUGE mistake. The long and short of it is, I now have more power with this Blog than any one of the above mentioned positions.
You should be doing the same Chris. You see how the Blogs work. If you put time and energy into spreading how you think things should be, it would place additional pressure in positions making the most difference.
In the very least you'd be creating a platform to show people your political interests and down the road you could announce you want to run for Office. I do not believe you attend City or County Council Meetings. I do not see you heading to Annapolis to gain experience of what that kind of job would require. The shock to Kratovil's system has proven to be overwhelming.
That being said, what about your children. The demand on your time would leave them without a Father most of the year. Running around on a crotch rocket motorcycle louder than a Harley doesn't show me any signs you're ready to jump into any position of such responsibility.
Mind you, I'm being critical, I know. However, your life would be exposed and turned upside down. I do not believe you nor your Family are anywhere near ready for such changes, nor do I feel you'd have the support. I would recommend you stand behind a Candidate that has spent their life being a Politician as I have with Andy Harris.
There's my two cents anyway.
Having evening meetings for the County Council is a "no brainer". Of course you need to have need meetings. It allows the community to be involved. Why do we spend so much time discussing something that is a no brainer.
Obama was elected to the Presidency without any experience, Franken won with nothing on his resume. Maybe we do not need more politicians who have been such all their lives. Maybe we just need some regular people running. Kratovil stands for nothing just like most of our county council. Something must happen, and someone must pave the way for real change.
I've asked about evening meetings so I could attend and was told "this is the way it's always been done." I thought we voted for change?
Where's the transparency? By the time you watch the rerun on PAC-14 it's a done deal and no chance to ask questions or opine.
Thank you Joe and everyone. I appreciate the help in getting the information out to people. I hope many will come with me this Tuesday, July 28th at 10am to once again ask the County Council if they would kindly consider moving the meeting times to non-traditional work hours, so that we may have transparency and the ability to participate in our local government.
As for running for office, If the opportunity presents itself to serve and try to help this mess we find ourselves in, I'd certainly would take it. We shall see, in the meantime, I'm just doing what I know to be right; holding elected leaders accountable, working for transparency, low taxes, and smaller government. It's more than enough to keep me busy.
Julie
Correction!! The next meeting is THIS Tuesday, July 21st at 10am. Please mark your Calendar and join me.
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