HAS RICK POLLITT KILLED THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD IN WICOMICO COUNTY?

Like the avowed Democrats in Salisbury City Government (Ireton, Mitchell and Shields), the Republican members of the Wicomico County Council want to have a non-binding referendum – in the latter case on the method for selection of the County’s school board. It seems that most, possibly all members of the County Council, with the exception of Ms. Hughes, of course, prefer an elected school board, rather than the current system (appointed by the Governor).

So back in October Gail Bartkovich wrote to Delegate Rudolph (“Rudy”) Cane asking that the Wicomico County Delegation sponsor legislation in the upcoming session of the General Assembly to authorize a non-binding referendum. Knowing that would not sit well in his Democrat majority district and could jeopardize his status as an O’Malley puppet in Annapolis, Mr. Cane has responded – apparently without polling the other members of the Delegation – stating that HE would submit the legislation only if it was “endorsed by the Wicomico County Executive.”

Ms. Bartkovich also asked Rick Pollitt to support the referendum legislation, and he has responded in a magnum opus to justify his decision “not to join this effort,” in which he states the he has “long shied away from simplistic actions to address complicated issues.”

But the substantive basis stated by Mr. Pollitt for his refusal is his belief that those who want an elected school board should use the available petition process that is available to put something to a referendum. Both he and a majority of the Salisbury City Council who have rejected the Ireton-Mitchell-Shields scam to have a non-binding referendum should be applauded for taking that position.

Let’s play by the rules, not revise or disregard them to placate certain special interest groups, either liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican.