The Daily Times’ Laura D’Alessandro draws a sketch, but refuses to paint a picture, in her piece regarding Salisbury City Council members and their campaign contributors. We are asked if we believe council members such as Louise Smith, Gary Comegys, and Shanie Shields would sell their votes for a mere $250 (the maximum contribution). That would be a valid point, IF that’s what we are talking about. Sadly, it isn’t.
In the cases of Comegys and Shields (and the Re-Elect Louise Smith campaign in 2011, mark my words) we are not talking about a series of $250 contributions. The valid way to think of these individual contributions are as BIG CHECKS from SAPOA, the slumlords’ guild. SAPOA members and their friends financed almost all of Shields’ campaigns. The majority of Comegys’ 2007 re-election effort and his 2009 mayoral campaign came from the coffers of SAPOA members and pals. Most of the balance? Friends and allies of former mayor Barrie Tilghman. In addition to the cash contributions, there is the large amount of “under the table” money expended by SAPOA members - Letter to tenants stating that they will be thrown into the streets if Terry Cohen, Debbie Campbell, or Jim Ireton are elected; mailings by fictitious, anonymous committees that claim all sorts of evil by the non-SAPOA endorsed candidates.
Like most everyone else, I failed that mind reading class in college. Therefore, I can’t say with any certainty that these contributions are bribes or that there is a quid pro quo. Let’s just assume that they aren’t. The only other credible answer is that these council members share a philosophical or policy bond with SAPOA. In other words, they must honestly believe that SAPOA members are above the law, that renters deserve no protection from bad landlords, and that owner-occupants should simply have to but up with crime, blight, declining property values, and general nuisance from a relatively few tenants who simply won’t live like decent, normal citizens.
Everyone has a right to their opinion. Salisbury citizens simply must make Smith, Comegys, and Shields publicly own up to theirs. City elections are next year. Get ready for all sorts of shenanigans from SAPOA. The status quo must be protected. Citizens be damned!
from Delmarva Dealings
18 comments:
This train wreck of political leadership or lack of, has been going downhill for some time. Right when you think it cant get worse it gets 10 times worse. To the point of being unbelievable and an embarrassment. They are worse than five year olds on every issue. Corrupt is being too kind for these clowns. Ignorant and obnoxious would be a good place to start. I will take pride in voting 3 of the 5 out of office soon.
I'm with 10:18.
It can't happen too soon.
SAPOA keeps saying that it can "police its own". How about some proof before we blindly believe?
I have personally looked into the campaign contributions and have discovered not only the landlords, but their companies and employees give the maximum. Now you know not every employee makes enough to throw away $250. More likely, it's the landlord contributing everything and putting the various amounts in employees and relatives names to get by the $250 limit.
Tom Becker is a big-time "friend of Barrie" and Bubba too.
Maybe Lynn Cathcart will make a comeback in the election next year.
And Muir Boda will surely be running again after his strong showing against Debbie Campbell last year.
I would really like to know, how do you fight SOPOA? I do go vote and I believe I am an informed voter but with crap like this going on, it will never end and we can't get the corrupt, oh so very corrupt Smith, Comegys and Shields out of office.
Who are 3 of the 5? The ones up for re-election are Comegys, Smith and Cohen.
Anonymous said...
....And Muir Boda will surely be running again after his strong showing against Debbie Campbell last year.
10:39 AM
This was meant to be a joke, right!! Debbie got more votes in her district than Jim Ireton got city wide for Mayor.
I am a big fan of Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen, but if they vote for an outsider for the police chief and fire chief positions I am done with them. There are two local candidates in both departments who are qualified and live in the city.
12:35... The SPD needs change. Barkley is not bringing change other than the fact he is not Al Webster. He promoted Al Webster's cronies and the department is still the same. New life needs to be breathed into the SPD. I do not know enought about the SFD. I do know Barkley is a good man but he is not nearly qualified to be the head of a police department in a crime riddled city like Salisbury.
1:00 PM
Must be a supporter of Iretons!
Can't figure out a quid pro quo? Look at Comegys' 2009 mayoral bid contribution forms. I can see maximum donations from one person by at least five shell names. And then there's Jon Natelson, the Old Mall property developer, who donated at least $250. Think that Comegys (and Dunn, Cathcart and Shields) wasn't in his pocket when the Old Mall TIF was being "debated"?
And now look at those candidates. Has their standard of living increased more than the council income $10,000 a year would warrant?
1:07...
Actually, I do not support Ireton. At least I don't now. I too was bamboozled by the smoke and mirror campaign he got elected on. Like I said, Barkley is a good man. I am a good man too but I am not qualified to be a chief.
The money is only part of the problem. The agenda is set in the PNC building downtown.
That is where the problem lies.
5:18- Inquiring minds want to know:
What & where is the "PNC Building"?
Powerful good post. Didn't know the Old Mall guy gave Comegies money. That's smelly but probably not illegal. We'll never know.
I find this and the DT article interesting.
Who is Louise Smith most concerned about getting to the table to discuss the mayor's crime package.
S A P O A
Money buys influence, they say.
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