1998 - BARRIE BOUNCES BOB EATON AS SALISBURY'S CITY ATTORNEY

It was just weeks after Barrie P. Tilghman was initially elected in what was probably the dirtiest campaign ever by a candidate for that office - although her susbsequent campaign against Duke Shannahan is a close second. She suspended then police chief Coulbourn Dykes, who later resigned, for matters involving his conduct in that position and -- because he was friendly with Dykes -- then City Attorney Robert Eaton.

She tried to replace Mr. Eaton with Robin Cockey, who had been her campaign manager, but the City Council -- which then included Jim Ireton, who also was elected in 1998 -- objected. In early June the Council unanimously voted to reinstate Mr. Eaton, who continued in that position until Paul Wilber became the City Attorney several months later.

At about that time occurred one of the most bizarre episodes during Tilghman's reign of terror. After Cockey presented the City with a bill for services performed at Barrie's request but without the Council's prior knowledge or approval and threatened to sue the City, Barrie caused the bill to be paid, again without Council prior knowledge or approval.

And the saga doesn't end there. After she canned Chief Dykes, Ed Guthrie served as acting police chief until, following a search that involved interviewing numerous candidates from elsewhere, Barrie nominated and the Council confirmed Allan Webster, then with the Baltimore County police force, and the rest, sadly, is history.

You may recall that during his mayoral campaign several years ago, Ireton said that upon being elected he would promptly remove both Webster and Wilber from their positions. That, too, is part of the Salisbury saga.

Viewed in perspective, the pending demotion of Paul Wilber by the City Council does not seem extraordinary. By the way, Cockey recently wrote a letter, published in the Daily Times, bemoaning the Council's decision, in which he says that "Paul Wilber and the citizens of Salisbury alike deserve better treatment than this." And how about Bob Eaton, Mr. Cockey?