Wicomico County councilman Bill McCain (D-At Large) must be the most arrogant elected official in Wicomico County, perhaps the whole Delmarva Peninsula. It’s obvious that he answers to his special interest pals, not the people who elected him.
For the last several council meetings, members of the local chapter of Americans for Prosperity have been showing up at council meetings and asking that the Wicomico County Council begin holding at least half of their meetings in the evening. While only a few of us actually went to the podium to comment, as many as 15 – 20 AFP members would show up at a meeting to show their support for evening meetings. The idea behind this is simple. Most taxpayers work during the day. In order to give these citizens an opportunity to see their government in action, evening meetings would be necessary.
Admittedly, this is an issue dear to my heart. I’ve been advocating for this since the current council took office in 2006. Councilman Joe Holloway (R-5) has been leading the charge on this attempt to bring county government closer to the people.
Some council members don’t want to hold evening meetings for various reasons. Councilman Dave MacLeod (D-4) argues that evening meetings would prevent seniors from attending. While I don’t agree with his argument, I also don’t doubt that MacLeod is sincere. Other members argue that they have experimented with evening meetings in the past and that attendance did not increase.
I understand this argument. Unfortunately, it doesn’t hold much water. If council would commit to holding all (or half) of their meetings for a period of time (I have suggested one year), then we could really find out if attendance would increase. Holding an evening meeting every once in a while certainly won’t tell us anything.
Back to Bill McCain …
While I may disagree with other council members who argue against evening meetings, it is McCain who shows utter contempt for the voters of Wicomico County. He is interested in keeping his real estate and developer clients happy while also courting favor with the local enviros (admittedly, no easy feat). Making sure that the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) gets to waste plenty of money is number one on McCain’s list of priorities. McCain doesn’t want average citizens to see how he votes and behaves on the council. He can’t do his job for his REAL constituents – WET, CBF, developers, and the teachers’ union – if too many voters are watching him do it.
Therefore, when average citizens ask for a simple change in meeting time to accommodate the hard working taxpayers of Wicomico County, here is what McCain has to say:
"One person comes up here and wants a change and we're supposed to change what we've been doing for years?" McCain said.
First of all Bill, more than one person came to a council meeting and asked. Sure, I’ve asked (off and on) for almost three years. However, Julie Brewington, Joe Collins, Sally Rogers (and possibly others) have also gotten up before council and asked. Besides those that actually spoke before council, many others came to show their support for the concept.
You Can Fight Back
Show Bill McCain that there is more than “one person” who believes that our county government should be more responsive to its citizens.
Email Bill McCain (wmccain@wicomicocounty.org) and tell him that you want to see county council meet in the evenings as well.
cc Joe Holloway (jholloway@wicomicocounty.org). Let him know as well. Besides, if Holloway doesn’t get a copy, 1,000 people could email Bill McCain and he would still probably claim only “one person” wants evening council meetings.
CLICK HERE TO EMAIL MCCAIN AND CC HOLLOWAY
SHOW BILL MCCAIN THAT HE REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE OF WICOMICO COUNTY, NOT A BUNCH OF SPECIAL INTERESTS
He the BOE to get as much money as possible because his wife works for them.
ReplyDeleteHis behavior in the Council's untelevised "worksessions" is much worse than when he's on TV.
ReplyDeleteYou all obviously found time to attend the daytime meeting. Maybe you just need to prioritize?
ReplyDeleteI've dealt with Bill Professionally and personally and find him to be a good guy. I'd deal with his business before I would deal with Trice who sleeps with the help.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that about Trice I think the initials of the other person is H.H.
ReplyDelete10:31 Anon
ReplyDeleteThat is a ridiculous comment. For some, perhaps many, it's not a matter of "finding time". It sometimes is a matter of working a full time job and not being "able" to take off from work.
My JOB is my priority! Obviously you either don't work or you are the one who isn't prioritizing?
Hey Joe just because Bill McCain doesn't give you time of day and you can't pull his strings like you do Prettyman and that other ugly council lady wouldn't have anything to do with you always bashing him would it? Bill McCain is a good end of story.
ReplyDeleteanonymous 1:09, that's funny, I didn't write this Post. Nice try though.
ReplyDeleteI dated Joe Holloway back in the early 80s, and I can assure you he does his best work at nights
ReplyDeleteRemember me Joe
The redheaded nurse
from Delmar
I don't care whether the meetings are held in the day or night but I have one statement to make on this post. I totally agree that McCain is the most arrogant elected official on the whole Eastern Shore. I voted for him and I sincerely hope I have the opportunity to vote against him the next time around. I am appalled at his unwillingness to listen to the citizens, IF, their opinion differs from his. He is a huge disappointment.
ReplyDeleteMy bad, you got me on that one. 1:09
ReplyDelete1:24, that's interesting. No wonder his long term relationship went down the tubes. I don't think she counted on you being in the picture.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame.
I agree, I'm the typical day worker and would be able to attend them at night. I also agree, I ahve dealt with McCain and you can see when he does not want to hear what you are saying anymore, he does not appear to be open and listen. I can't wait to vote him off.
ReplyDeleteYou expect the council to listen to the citizens. 70% of the citizens voted for the WCSO to get a better disability/retirement. they have done one thing to improve it, not one thing. WCSO is still begging for help in this area.
The council does as it wishes, not the citizens, that is obvious.
Can't wait until election time.
Joe Hollaway kicks AZZ! Bill McCain not so much
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I voted for him and we would like to take our votes back. He's a Democrat and his teacher/wife is Republican. I guess there's nothing wrong with that until you're in some sort of political office. How convenient for them. They can play both sides of the fence and attached themselves to both sides of the "good old boy & girl" network.
ReplyDeleteWe're on to you now and are so disenchanted with your approach. Watch him change his listening skills at the next meeting.
McCain, I bet you went to the "big" party for the Maryland Association of Counties, right?
The idea of county council meetings in the evening would bring in more participation from the public, but one thing to think about is the huge amount of overtime pay or comp-time that will be accured by a few select County department heads who believe they must attend every county council meeting. Rick Pollitt's favorites like Ted Shea, Pat Peterson, Jim Finrin, Fred Harris, Sharon Morris. These are department heads you see at every council meeting and if the county council moves their meetings to the evening, these people will begin to collect comp-time at a rate that would exceed there accured day a month annual leave. The only way Rick Pollitt could stop this is if he requires those department heads to work only 4 hours at their jobs during the day that a county council meeting is scheduled and then require them to be present for 4 hours in the evening during the twice a month county council meetings.
ReplyDeletethat is the problem. As a part of management, they should not be getting comp time. They should be getting paid a salary for their services period regardless of hours worked. The County handbook needs to be rewritten by someone who does not enjoy personal gain from the defined rules. The public should ask to see all the comp time accrued for these people. Can you see golden parachute?
ReplyDeleteBill McCain is of the liberal mindset and acts accordingly.
ReplyDeleteHis wife is a teacher for Wicomico County School System, the minimum he should do is so disclose and at the maximum recuse himself from BOE budget votes. However, once again he is of the liberal mindset.
Integrity and accoutability would dictate that those serving in the government that is the closest to the people would surely want meetings to be scheduled so as to allow for maximum participation. This surely would be late afternoon or early evening.
Honestly, I agree with the author and the Americans for Prosperity that meetings should be held in the evening. They're difficult to attend and strain family life, but that's frankly better than asking people to leave work to attend. That just isn't fair to the people of Wicomico County.
ReplyDeleteBut, to make this about liberal versus conservative, or even to make this about the man - Bill McCain, is really ridiculous. I'm sure McCain has his reasons for arguing against this. While I would say he's wrong, he's still a capable and honest member of the Council. To say anything less just proves that you aren't paying attention when you attend these meetings.