Jim Ireton Seeking Government Dole....Again?

By Thornton Crowe

Some professional candidates just don't know when to call it a day...

Through many sources it has come to our attention former Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton is planning to run for the Wicomico County Clerk of the Court position next November when Mark Bowen retires from the position he's held for several years.

It's troubling Ireton, once again, feels the need to continually run for elected offices in this area when he doesn't do a good job once elected. Look at his tenure as Mayor where he made many promises but none were kept adequately.

The big unkept promises were as glaring as a bright red neon light. First, he promised to clean up the Wicomico River around the downtown area but you still cannot stick your toe in much less swim in the pollution infested waters. Second, there's the sewage plant Salisbury residents paid a hefty multi-million dollar price but has never worked correctly.

His reputation well-known throughout the Shore

Furthermore, no one can forget his failed run against a missing-in-action candidate during the Congressional primaries to challenge Dr. Andy Harris, which ended in a disastrous poor showing at the polls. Also, keep in mind, this primary run was after stepping down from his newly elected council position in order to run his failed campaign. Thus, proving Ireton's past is history even folks in Easton have heard about.

Don't forget, folks, it was Ireton who urinated in a ladies' bathroom sink at MoJo's in front of three female patrons. Additionally, his situation in Rehoboth with beach parties which had behavior unbecoming of a mayor for one of Delmarva's largest town.

This kind of infamy is not desirable for such an important county position where the clerk must work with law enforcement, judicial courts and county executive on a daily basis.

Learn from the past so it's not recreated in the future

Judging from his past personal faux pas, bad judgement calls and non-existent legislative achievement record, to say he would be a competent Clerk of the Court is a gross overstatement of his abilities and completely ignoring his past. It is most assured he could never serve our community with the same dignity and integrity we're use to with Mr. Bowen (and we deserve.)

Let's hope someone will challenge him should he actually run for this position because we wouldn't want the same fiasco like the city mayor position which ran unopposed and ending in a subpar nightmare.

Mr. Bowen has served us well and will be missed when he retires in November after the election. We can only hope we find someone with his caliber of professionalism befitting the office. Unfortunately, for Ireton, he doesn't come close to fitting that tall order in any manner.