Worcester County Opts Out On Sprinkler Systems

SNOW HILL -- Worcester County has opted out of a Maryland state law that would have required all new one- and two-family dwellings in unincorporated areas to contain residential sprinkler systems.

In a 5-2 vote, Commissioners Virgil Shockley, James Purnell, Bud Church, Merrill Lockfaw Jr. and Jim Bunting Jr. voted to opt out, while Louise Gulyas and Judy Boggs voted to retain the sprinkler requirement.

Several of the commissioners who voted to opt out said phone calls and e-mails from constituents expressing concern about the price of the sprinkler systems had convinced them opting out was the right choice.

"The majority of my constituents are in favor of the county opting out, and the main reason is economics," Lockfaw said.

He later said the Pocomoke City Fire Department is not in favor of mandating residential fire sprinklers either.

"There is mandate after mandate after mandate," Purnell said. "There are too many mandates."

At a Sept. 21 public hearing, commissioners listened to arguments for adopting the law from Worcester County Fire Marshal Jeff McMahon and the National Fallen Firefighter's Foundation. Real estate agents, developers and some residents spoke against letting the rule go into effect.

After attempts to get a consensus, commissioners were unable to reach a vote on opting out or amending the mandate. The legislation would have taken effect Jan. 1 if commissioners had not voted.

Boggs, who voted against the measure, said it is the responsibility of the government to protect citizens.

"I have been thinking back to the public hearing," Boggs said. "The welfare of residents and life safety would be better served by mandating."

Church said he had brought the item back up because several commissioners asked him to, noting Lockfaw and Bunting were not commissioners during the previous vote. Those two should have the opportunity to vote on the legislation, Church said, because they will represent their constituents when it takes effect.

Even though commissioners have opted the unincorporated areas of Worcester County out of the mandate, new homes with four or more stories, as well as new modular homes, will still be required to install the sprinklers.

In addition to Worcester County, Pocomoke City has opted out of requiring residents to install residential fire sprinklers; Ocean City has let the legislation stand; Berlin has opted out for one-family dwellings; and Snow Hill is scheduled to hold a vote Dec. 28.

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Wo. Co. Commissioners Get To Work After Swearing-In Ceremony

SNOW HILL -- The first matter at the Worcester County Commissioners meeting was the swearing-in ceremony for new and seasoned commissioners. Some, such as James Purnell, took the oath for a fifth time and others, like Jim Bunting Jr. and Merrill Lockfaw Jr., were sworn in for their first terms.

"Ladies and gentlemen, are you prepared to take the oath of office for which you were elected," began Stephen Hales, clerk of the court, just before administering the oath to all seven commissioners.

After being sworn in, the commissioners adjourned for a brief recess to take pictures with family and friends, as well as mingle with colleagues and snack, before returning to business as usual.

Following up on a letter sent to commissioners by Lockfaw while he was still a commissioner-elect, members approved a measure to install a truck route in Pocomoke City by a 6-1 vote, with Virgil Shockley voting against it.

Specifically, no through truck traffic of 15,000 pounds or greater gross vehicle weight shall be allowed on Cypress Road, New Bridge Road, Hillman Road, Dun Swamp Road or Tulls Corner Road.

Shockley voiced opposition to the language in the bill, saying there is no way sheriff's deputies will be able to tell a 15,000-pound truck from a 18,000-pound truck from a 12,000-pound truck. He went on to say it would be easier to regulate based on the number of axles a truck has.

"The first ticket they write and someone challenges will end up in court," Shockley said.

County Attorney Sonny Bloxom responded to Shockley's concerns by noting that if the regulations become a problem, commissioners can revisit the bill and amend it as necessary.

The letter, originally sent to commissioners on Oct. 27 by Lockfaw, who served as road superintendent for the county for 19 years, expressed concern about potential damage to local roads and bridges due to trucks hauling from Vulcan materials.

In the letter, he said that if the usage of the roads went unaddressed, it could cost the county $92,000 for bridge repairs or replacement.

Although the agenda for the Dec. 21 meeting has not yet been set, Lockfaw and Bunting said they wish to revisit the possibility of opting Worcester County out of a Maryland law that would require all new homes built after Jan. 1 to contain a residential sprinkler system.
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Worcester County Commissioner Seat - District 1

It must have been a difficult decision for Bobby Cowger to opt out for reelection this year. Lots of Worcestor County citizens hate to see him go.

We truly thank him for being so devoted and wish Bobby the best.

Here is the man that will and can fill his shoes! Merrill W. Lockfaw, Jr.
Just like Bobby, Merrill Lockfaw, is a man you can trust and believe in. He is a man that will work for the citizens and the communities.

Merill has a wonderful family, is a devoted person to his community, his church, fire department and country.

CONGRATULATIONS MERRILL !!

And good luck!

Two In The Running For District 1 Seat

POCOMOKE CITY -- Two men whose backgrounds share military service, but little else, are contending to represent District 1, Worcester's southernmost region, as a Worcester County Commissioner.

Merrill Lockfaw Jr., a Republican, won his primary against three other contenders while Jimmy Schoolfield, a Democrat, advanced to the general election unopposed.

The seat represents Pocomoke City and surrounding areas. It is currently held by Bobby Cowger, who did not seek re-election.

Both Lockfaw and Schoolfield have served in the armed forces. Lockfaw spent four years in the Air Force, while Schoolfield spent six years in the Army.

Lockfaw worked for Worcester County government as a road superintendent for 19 years, retiring in June.

"I thought with my business experience as well as working with large budgets and county government would make me a good candidate," said Lockfaw.

Schoolfield has been a minister at Georgetown Baptist Church in Pocomoke for the past 14 years, in addition to being vice president of the NAACP for Worcester County. He resigned his NAACP role when he decided to run for the County Commission seat.

His life path wasn't a smooth one. In the early 1990s, between the ages of 29 and 32, Schoolfield was charged with 12 separate crimes in Maryland courts, including assault, theft and malicious destruction of property.

"A lot of those extended from when I was out in the world drinking," said Schoolfield. "I watched what alcohol and drugs did to me, and that has given me a lot of things I can talk with youth about.

"I can say from experience there are other things we can do besides hanging on the street and drink."

He has not been charged with a crime since 1995, although he does have three active cases in the civil court system, including one in which his wages were ordered to be garnished by $13,622. Schoolfield said he and his wife took out a loan to start a fashion store, before she had to undergo heart surgery. As a result, they closed the store and incurred the debt.

He was also taken to court for a $632 bill owed to Sharp Energy, which he says was an outstanding energy bill for his daughter's house that she was unable to pay.

If elected, Lockfaw says he wants to be able to provide citizens with the services they need, such as police officers and firefighters.

"While protecting ourselves, we can't over-regulate ourselves to the point it would drive businesses away," said Lockfaw.

Schoolfield says he wants to focus on ways to improve the housing situation, build the community and reach out to youth.

"I want to be a force for the lower district," says Schoolfield. "I would like to work with the youth and on education issues. Crime is also an important issue, especially in downtown Pocomoke."

When asked about legislation requiring all homes built after Jan. 1 to contain residential sprinkler systems, both men said they would like to tweak the law as it would apply to Worcester.

Lockfaw says he opposes mandating them, while Schoolfield would be satisfied with an amendment restricting the requirement to homes on a municipal water supply.

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Two New Names In The Running For Worcester County Commissioner

POCOMOKE CITY -- Two men whose backgrounds share military service but little else are contending to represent District 1, Worcester's southernmost region, as a Worcester County Commissioner.

Merrill Lockfaw Jr., a Republican, won his primary against three other contenders, while Jimmy Schoolfield, a Democrat, advanced to the general election unopposed.

The seat represents Pocomoke City and surrounding areas. It is currently held by Bobby Cowger, who did not seek re-election.

Lockfaw and Schoolfield have served in the armed forces. Lockfaw spent four years in the Air Force, while Schoolfield spent six years in the Army.

Lockfaw worked for Worcester County government as a road superintendent for 19 years, retiring in June.

"I thought with my business experience as well as working with large budgets and county government would make me a good candidate," Lockfaw said.

Schoolfield has been a minister at Georgetown Baptist Church in Pocomoke for 14 years, in addition to being vice president of the NAACP for Worcester County. He resigned his NAACP role when he decided to run for the County Commissioners seat.

His life path wasn't a smooth one. In the early 1990s, between the ages of 29 and 32, Schoolfield was charged with 12 separate crimes in Maryland courts, including assault, theft and malicious destruction of property.

"A lot of those extended from when I was out in the world drinking," Schoolfield said. "I watched what alcohol and drugs did to me, and that has given me a lot of things I can talk with youth about. I can say from experience there are other things we can do besides hanging on the street and drink."

He has not been charged with a crime since 1995, although he has three active cases in the civil court system, including one in which his wages were ordered to be garnished by $13,622. Schoolfield said he and his wife took out a loan to start a fashion store shortly before she had to undergo heart surgery. As a result, they closed the store and incurred the debt.

If elected, Lockfaw said he wants to be able to provide citizens with the services they need, such as police officers and firefighters.

"While protecting ourselves, we can't overregulate ourselves to the point it would drive businesses away," Lockfaw said.

Schoolfield said he wants to focus on ways to improve the housing situation, build the community and reach out to youth.

"I want to be a force for the lower district," Schoolfield said. "I would like to work with the youth and on education issues. Crime is also an important issue, especially in downtown Pocomoke."

When asked about legislation requiring all homes built after Jan. 1 to contain residential sprinkler systems, both men said they would like to tweak the law as it would apply to Worcester.

Lockfaw said he opposes mandating sprinklers, while Schoolfield would be satisfied with an amendment restricting the requirement to homes on a municipal water supply.

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~Worcester County~18 Seek County Commissioner Seats-

SNOW HILL – Eighteen candidates filed to compete for the seven Worcester County Commissioner seats by the July 6 deadline.

The most competition has appeared in District 1, with five candidates emerging to contest for Commissioner Bobby Cowger’s seat.

Democrat Jimmy Schoolfield is ensured of competing in the general election, but the other four District 1 candidates must jockey with each other in the September primary for the Republican nomination.

Republicans Jerre Clauss, Merill W. Lockfaw, Jr., Bill McDermott and Larry Ward will fight for the party nomination.

In District 2, incumbent Commissioner Jim Purnell will face Ed Lee in the September primary election for the Democratic nomination. At this point, there is no Republican candidate in District 2.

Currently, Republican Commissioner Bud Church is unchallenged in District 3.

Longtime District 4 Commissioner Virgil Shockley, a Democrat, will face fellow Democrat Tommy Tucker in the September primary. The winner of that contest will go on to face Republican Ted Elder, who lost to Shockley in 2006, taking 38 percent of the vote.

In 2006, District 5 Commissioner Judy Boggs ran unopposed, but in 2010, she must surpass Republican challenger Bob Thompson in the primary. The victor will go on to face Democrat John Bodnar.

In District 6, Commissioner Linda Busick will face fellow Republican Jim Bunting in the September primary.

District 7 Commissioner Louise Gulyas, a Republican, nearly ran unopposed for re-election, until her 2006 opponent, Democrat Ellie Diegelmann, filed at the last minute. In 2006, Gulyas defeated Diegelmann with 65 percent of the vote.

The surprise of the election season so far is the numerous candidates for the District 1 commissioner race.

“People tend to think incumbents have a little bit of an edge and it seems when an incumbent steps out more people file for that office,” said Elections Board Supervisor Patti Jackson.

In 2006, when then District 1 Commissioner Sonny Bloxom decided not to run for re-election to his commissioner seat to run for state office, three contenders emerged for the District 1 seat.

“Everyone has their own idea about government,” said District 1 candidate Ward, when asked why so many candidates chose to run for the seat.

Another change from 2006 is the District 5 race. Four years ago, Boggs ran unopposed. Now she faces two opponents, and almost faced three, but early filer Ray Unger withdrew his candidacy.

“I assume other people have an interest in being county commissioner, and that’s democracy,” Boggs said.

Bodnar said he decided to run because of his concerns about jobs in the county, not because he has anything against Boggs.

“I’ve always wanted to run for that seat,” Bodnar said, who added the time was not right for him personally in previous elections.

While many thought Diegelmann would once again run against Gulyas, her decision to hold off on committing until the last minute had some thinking Gulyas would run unopposed.

“I just figured that someone would file. Why should I have a free ride?” Gulyas said after the late filing. “I thought from the beginning that she would file.”

Diegelmann was the last candidate in Worcester County to file, said Jackson.

“I waited ‘til the very last minute literally because I was hoping someone else would file,” Diegelman said. “I wanted to encourage other people to file.”

Diegelmann said she is a “hopeful optimist” and thought she had a chance to unseat Gulyas, saying that a lot of things change in four years.

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