Thursday, April 7, 2011

JUDGEMENTS - Accomack Circuit Court

Nancy Drury Duncan
Staff Writer


ACCOMAC -- Colestino Cruz Aguilar, 39, of Exmore entered a guilty plea in Accomack Circuit Court to leaving the scene of an accident and causing property damage in an amount greater than $1,000.

According to evidence offered by Common- wealth's Attorney Gary Agar, Aguilar was driving in the parking lot of Four Corner Plaza when he struck another car. He continued driving around the area and was quickly apprehended by police. A witness identified the driver and told police.

Aguilar had "obviously been drinking," Agar said.

He was sentenced to three years with all time suspended on condition of good behavior. Aguilar will continue to be held in jail at the commonwealth's request, to await deportation as a result of his felony conviction.

Probation violation

Tyron Grant Sr., 23, of Belle Haven, convicted of burglary and grand larceny and sentenced to three years of probation last October, was back in court for violating the terms of that probation, which included community service and payment of restitution to his victims.

Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Agar detailed what he said were Grant's egregious failures to comply. "His probation officer drove him to the Virginia Employment Commision office because he said he had no transportation," Agar said. "When the probation officer later found out he had not applied for a job while there, he asked why. Grant told him the line was too long and he didn't want to wait."

"This is not New York here," Agar told the court. "There were only two people in line ahead of Grant."

On another occasion, Agar said, Grant was to attend an Employment Commission clinic. He was telephoned and reminded each day for several days leading up to the date of the clinic that he must be there.

He was asked of he needed transportation, said Agar. Grant assured his probation officer he would be there and that he had a ride to get there. When he did not attend, Grant told his probation officer he had no way to get there. Agar told the court that the man had been given bus passes to use to get there if he could not find a ride.

Agar detailed also Grant's lack of fulfillment of his community service requirement.

"He was supposed to do 100 hours of community service," said Agar. "He was supposed to pick up trash on the road. He said he was doing it, but when the bags were checked, they were found to contain only Grant's household trash."

"Mr. Grant has some limited abilities," said defense attorney Theresa Bliss. "He just can't follow through. He needs additional monitoring,"

"I believe we need to wake you up," said Circuit Judge Edward W. Hanson Jr. He ordered Grant to serve 30 days in jail and re-suspended the remainder of the sentence.

Welfare fraud

Cathy Jones, 45, of Onancock was sentenced to 15 years for four counts of welfare fraud and a bad check charge. The time was suspended on condition of her successful completion of Virginia's Detention and Diversion programs. She will be required to pay restitution.

She was originally eligible for food stamps, but failed to inform authorities when her two daughters went to work, which made her ineligible, said defense attorney Patrick Robbins.

"We generally consider these pretty serious cases," said Common- wealth's Attorney Gary Agar. "The system is set up to help people in need. This is not the first time she committed welfare fraud."

Agar told the court that Jones had been incarcerated seven separate times. "There are nine noteworthy crimes in the presentence report," he said. "She needs to stay off drugs."

He said she owed more than $3,500 for these crimes in addition to more than $5,500 already owed to the general district court.
Robbins was able to convince the court delay her incarceration for several days so Jones "could make arrangements for her six-year-old son and put her furniture in storage."

Armed robbery

Sidney Cottman, 34, of Eden, Md., will serve 21 years in a penitentiary for armed robbery and armed burglary in connection with the robberies of three local convenience stores.

Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Agar asked for a long sentence in light of Cottman's past violent history. "He was expelled from school in the 11th grade because he assaulted the superintendent of schools," he said. "He was fired from his last job for threatening the line boss at Tyson Foods."

"There are a lot of armed robberies around here. If you run out of gas on Route 13, my recommendation would be that you leave your car and walk home. Don't go to a convenience store around here."

"What are we going to do with this guy when we are so threatened here in our convenience stores?" asked Agar.

Agar told the court that Cottman was $8,000 in arrears in child support payments and that he had had past probations revoked for drug use.

Defense attorney Garrett Dunham told the court that his client was, "a polite individual" and said Cottman had been cooperative and truthful throughout the investigation.

"I've never seen someone so polite with these charges," Dunham said. He told the court that Cottman took steps to make sure he didn't hurt anyone by taking the pin out of the firearm.

Evidence was presented by the Commonwealth that Cottman held a shotgun on the store clerks as they were robbed.

Malicious maiming

Shakeva Matthews, 23, of Keller, charged with malicious maiming, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of unlawful wounding.

Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Agar described the circumstance to the court. "Everyone was drinking and the defendant was assaulting her twin sister with a serrated butcher knife, according to a witness."

The incident occurred in a residence near Wachapreague, he said.
The stabbing victim, who he said was presently incarcerated as a result of another issue, received one stab wound in the back while trying to pull the twins apart.

Defense attorney Sharri Mapp asked the court to sentence her client on the spot but the judge asked that a presentence report be prepared as Agar described Matthews as having "a positive criminal history."

Indecent liberties

A presentence report was ordered for a 75-year-old man who pleaded guilty to carnal knowledge and indecent liberties with a child who is now a young adult. John Robbins of Onancock was allowed to remain free on bond. The illegal activity occurred during a period of several years and ended in 2009.

Defense attorney Tom Northam made that request, saying that his client worked in a seafood business in Washington, D.C., and that he had a heart condition and breathing issues.

Source; delmarvanow.com http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110406/ESN01/104060341/Accomack-Circuit-Court-hands-down-judgments?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Eastern Shore News|s

Gumboro MudBog

The mudbog scheduled for this Saturday, April 9th has been RESCHEDULED.

First races of the season have been rescheduled for SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2011.

Arrest Made In Murder Case

The Daily Times is reporting this morning that an arrest has been made in the murder of Whitney Bennett

Sharahn D. Boykin
Staff Writer
MANOKIN -- William Alexander Hill, a 23-year-old Fruitland resident, allegedly confessed to the murder of a missing Delaware woman who was recently found dead after a four-month search, according to court documents.

Whitney Lynn Bennett's body was located Friday after an unidentified source contacted Maryland State Police investigators and reported she had been buried on the 29000 block of Pond Run Drive, according to charging documents.

Two other men were charged Saturday with being an accessory after a crime was committed.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

-Press Release - Delegate Mike McDermott

Press Release
Apr. 6th, 2011

Not Even One…
By Delegate Mike McDermott


Today, the House deliberated HB-71, the Capital Bond Budget, which came in with a near billion dollar price tag. This bill contains all of the projects that the state is appropriating money towards during the coming fiscal year. Many are ongoing such as major roads or building construction measured in the tens of millions, while just as many are small projects coming in under $100,000.00. To be sure, most are very worthy of support. Our problem is, we are out of money.


Much of this Capital Budget is being funded on transfers from, so called, “trust” funds and is banking on a very optimistic economic forecast which remains to be seen. The Department of Legislative Services (those charged with providing statistics and crafting legislation for the General Assembly) made it clear that they wanted to see reductions of $100 million from the current proposal of $925 million. This could have been achieved in a variety of ways, but the committee elected to keep the spending higher and send it to the floor.

The Republican Caucus offered several amendments to cut spending on this bill. I offered the first amendment which would have cut overall spending in each budgeted category by 5%. Conversely, it would have maintained all projects at 95% of the funding level which is more than fair. It would have reduced the overall Capital Budget by $45 million. This was rejected on a party line vote.

We then offered an amendment to reduce spending by 3% overall. This would have saved $27 million. Hardly a big deal, but this too was rejected largely along party lines.

Holding our breath and asking for some consideration, we offered our last amendment which would have only reduced spending by 1%. Unbelievably, this too was rejected out of hand as being simply too drastic a measure. The bottom line, a project to build a “dark room” at a Baltimore High School which was funded at $40,000.00 in this budget would have only been reduced by $400.00, and we could not even get them to agree to make this minor cut.

At a time when our General Assembly should be performing triage in determining funding needs, we continue to treat scratches with the same necessity as we do amputations. Reluctant to believe the truth, the crafters and leadership of the ruling party say they are “optimistic” and actually stated that our real estate prices have stabilized in the state. They made this statement despite all evidence to the contrary. The Eastern Shore is wrestling with falling home prices and assessments which are swiftly diminishing the local government coffers, further straining services. In fact, this is happening all over the state, but those calling the shots are not taking heed.

I think it is also note worthy that the Tea Party Caucus (made up of 23 House Republican members) offered an amendment as well which would have simply stripped the $15 million in local bond bills from the Capital Budget. That would amount to about a 1.5% reduction in spending. This particular area of spending was the subject of a resolution made by the Tea Party Caucus and the House Republican Caucus to not accept, or apply for, any of these bond projects. This amendment, and the subsequent vote, represents those making good on this commitment. How can we go home, look our citizens in the eye, and tell them we listened to them last year when they told us to get our fiscal house in order if we did not vote in favor of these reductions?

In any school or college I ever attended, a 99%, 97%, or 95% were all solid “A’s” of which I could be proud. Yet, even offering the ruling party this level of funding for all of these projects was deemed punitive and unfair. What will they say to our citizens when the State Property Tax must be raised to cover their credit card spending? What happens when our revenue estimates fall below projected rates? What will they say?

When it comes to our budget, the sky is not falling; rather, the ground is opening up.

Beheaded bald eagle found in Franklin Parish ditch



Associated Press
WINNSBORO, La. -- State and federal wildlife officials are looking for a person who beheaded a bald eagle in Franklin Parish and left the bird in a ditch.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are offering rewards totaling $2,000 for help in finding whoever did it.

Agents believe the eagle was shot a couple of days before it was found Sunday, on a tip from someone in the area.

"It had an entry and an exit" wound, Capt. Alan Bankston, the state agency's regional enforcement head for the Monroe area, said Tuesday. "We believe that it was in fact shot. But we can't verify that."

It's at least the fifth bald eagle killed this year. Bald eagles shot earlier this year were found Jan. 8 in Letts, Iowa; in late February in Pikeville, Tenn.; March 8 east of Crossville, Tenn.; and in late March in Wise, N.C.

A federal lab will do a necropsy on the eagle to determine cause of death, Bankston said.

"To see any protected animal decapitated in a ditch is disheartening enough, let alone the animal that represents our symbol of freedom," Bankston said.

He said the killing doesn't seem to have been done to sell on the black market because the talons, wing and tail feathers were intact.
Killing or beheading the eagle could be charges under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Felony conviction for breaking either law can bring up to a $250,000 fine and two years in prison.

Anyone with information should call Louisiana's Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-442-2511.
------

Federal Laws that Protect Bald Eagles Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act

 VIA: WWLTV.com

Quote of The Day


I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: 'No good in a bed, but fine against a wall.' 

- Eleanor Roosevelt

~Pocomoke Election Winners~

Maybe the weather had alot to do with the turnout at the polls yesterday in Pocomoke for the election but enough voted to show their support for Bruce Morrison and Don Malloy!

Bruce Morrison won the election with a total of 505 votes.  Lynn Duffy ended the election with  97.

In the race for Councilman in District 3, Don Malloy received a total of  67  votes.  Bobby Brittingham received 47 votes.

No word on how many absentee votes there were, if any.  More information will probably come to us later today.

Congratulations to Mayor elect Bruce Morrison and Councilman elect Donald Malloy.

And to Bobby Brittingham and Lynn Duffy:  I would just like to say that the ideas each of you have for making Pocomoke a better place are wonderful ideas.  It is my truest hope that even though you were defeated you will continue to use those same ideas so that somewhere they may be put to good use if needed.   You may not have a seat on the council or be the next Mayor but you still have voices and ideas that can be presented.

Good luck to both of you.  

And if either of want to send a message to the people of Pocomoke send it to me and I'll get it posted for you.

Congratulations Bruce and Don! 

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Wal*Mart Empty Shelves?

I left the polling place tonight and I needed a few things from Wal*Mart so I headed straight to the store. When I arrived nothing looked unusual in fact the parking lot looked a little skinny.

Well now when I went into the store it was a different story, the first clue was that the deli was closed up tight, they even had lights turned off that normally stay on. Then they didn't have the first item that I was shopping for, then the second, third, forth, wait a minuet... where's all the groceries? The customers were complaining and I heard talk of going to Food Lion from more than one couple.

  Wal*Mart was out of everything, it couldn't be the weather and food stamps don't come out until tomorrow. So I don't know what's going on with Wal*Mart today, if they are clearing shelves for taking inventory or what but if you need anything it's likely you'll not find it at Wal*Mart today and that means that they will be PACKED tomorrow.


POCOMOKE CITY ELECTION RESULTS


UNOFFICIAL POCOMOKE ELECTION RESULTS:

MAYOR* Bruce Morrison — 505
* Lynn Duffy — 97
* Frank Ward — 57



DISTRICT 3 COUNCIL SEAT
* Donald Malloy — 67
* Bobby Brittingham — 47


source; delmarvanow.com http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110405/NEWS01/110405042/POCOMOKE-Morrison-Malloy-win-city-election?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|frontpage

Legislative Updates By Delegate Mike McDermott

Field Notes

Observations and Reflections on Legislative Activities
March 28-April 1, 2011
  • On Monday, the House voted on the following bills for Third Reader:

HB 291, HB 1150, HB 1180, HB 1209, HB 1225, HB 1233, HB 1242, HB 1245, HB 975, HB 1033, HB 1038, HB 1039, HB 1092, HB 1113, HB 1135, HB 1143, HB 364, HB 398, HB 461, HB 520, HB 534, HB 539, HB 604, HB 689, HB 62, HB 115, HB 148, HB 700, HB 858, HB 938, HB 943, HB 954, HB 160, HB 166, HB 170, HB 258, HB 262, HB 270, HB 285, HB 1254

  • On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee reviewed the following senate bills which have crossed over and have identical House Bills which have already been reviewed: SB-172, SB-299, SB-500, SB-511, SB-747. These bills will move quickly to the full House for 2nd and 3rd Reader if the House version has already passed. If the House version was unfavorable in Committee, the same will be applied to the senate bill.

 At the same hearing, the following senate bills were reviewed having no cross filed bill in the House:
1.      SB-61: Would allow greater access by the Department of Juvenile Services to         court related documents such as Charging Documents and Arrest Warrants. It will allow         them to release relevant information to a victim or witness of a crime which the             department may possess.
2.      SB-66: Seeks to repeal the requirement that a public safety agency report to the         state the release of a person who was detained and then released without charges. The         idea behind this bill being to minimize the impact of a person’s detainment if they are         ultimately released without charges.
3.      SB-218: Seeks to extend the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights to sworn         members of the Internal Investigative Unit of the Department of Corrections. Currently,         this group (approximately 24 officers) has not been listed with those officers covered         under the statute.
4.      SB-673: Allows for the payment of attorney’s fees from an estate under certain         circumstances without the need to have the payment approved by the court.
                                    
  • On Wednesday morning, I met with some Republicans involved with the Capital Bond Budget (HB-71) for the purpose of reviewing the myriad of requests which presently total just under a billion dollars. The committee did not make significant cuts in this area and it represents a significant amount of created state debt that our state can ill afford. It appears that we will take the bill up at the beginning of next week. I plan on offering some amendments in an effort to reduce spending in the overall plan.
  • On Wednesday, the House voted on the following bills for Third Reader:

HB 715, HB 807, HB 1005, HB 1181, HB 1304
  • On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee reviewed the following senate bills which have crossed over and have identical House Bills which have already been reviewed: SB-247, SB-327, SB-333, SB-342, SB-362, SB-411, SB-593, SB-652, SB-768, SB-803. These bills will move quickly to the full House for 2nd and 3rd Reader if the House version has already passed. If the House version was unfavorable in Committee, the same will be applied to the senate bill.


    At the same hearing, the following senate bills were reviewed having no cross filed bill in         the House:
1.      SB-62: Which would require a greater degree of cooperation between the             Departments of Education and Juvenile Services as it relates to sharing of information as     required under certain circumstances.
2.      SB-169: Seeks to expand the definition of a debtor’s protected residence under         bankruptcy laws to include a condominium and a shared property such as a duplex.
3.      SB-281: Would change the requirements of an Orphan’s Court Judge in             Baltimore and Prince George’s Counties to include admission in the Maryland State Bar         Association. We heard a bill similar to this previously that was voted down.
4.      SB-599: Would require insurance carriers under certain circumstances to divulge     the amount of insurance coverage limits that exist for a policy holder prior to trial. It is         thought that this may reduce litigation actions.
  • On Wednesday evening, I attended our annual Judiciary Committee dinner. Both Speaker Bush and Governor O’Malley came by to say hello and address the committee. During his comments, it became apparent that the Governor was a little perturbed by some of my recent press articles published on the shore which have been critical of some of his administration policy objectives. He called me out on it and jokingly told Chairman Vallario to “take away Delegate McDermott’s computer”. Working for the Eastern shore, and specifically my district, means I will often take exception to the governor’s proposals. I am currently working with him on a wind proposal that makes sense for rural Maryland, while at the same time opposing his “Big Wind” project as it has been presented. I pay attention to the Governor, and I am glad he is paying attention to the Eastern Shore.


  • On Thursday, the House voted on the following bills for Third Reader:

HB 757, HB 758
  • On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee reviewed the following senate bills which have crossed over and have identical House Bills which have already been reviewed: SB-112, SB-115, SB-174, SB-178, SB-278, SB-457, SB-480, SB-529, SB-531, SB-696. These bills will move quickly to the full House for 2nd and 3rd Reader if the House version has already passed. If the House version was unfavorable in Committee, the same will be applied to the senate bill.


At the same hearing, the following senate bill was reviewed having no cross filed bill in the House:
1.      SB-374: Seeks clarifying language in an existing law dealing with Grand Jury Investigations in Baltimore City. Does not change the substance of the law.
  • On Friday, the House voted on the following bills for Third Reader:

   
  • Next week will be the final push. The billion dollar Capital budget (HB-71) will be challenged and we could see the “Dream Act” (illegal alien in-state tuition), the Governor’s “Big Wind” and “Septic Ban” still find their way to the floor. Pay particular attention this week as the votes fly.


Quote of The Day

Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself, 'Lillian, 

you should have remained a virgin.

Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter) 

I'm with you on this one Mrs. Carter

The Nobel Peace Prize doesn't always go to the most deserving

The world hasn't just become wicked...it' s always been

wicked. The prize doesn't always go to the most

deserving.




Irena Sendler

There recently was a death of a 98 year-old lady named Irena.

During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist.

She had an 'ulterior motive'.

She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews (being German).

Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids).

She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.

The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.

During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. 


She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs,

arms and beat her severely.

Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard.


After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family.

Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.

Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. Who could be more deserving????

She was not selected.

President Obama won, one year before becoming President for his work as a community organizer for ACORN and Al Gore won also--- for a slide show on Global Warming.

63 years later







In MEMORIAM - 63 YEARS LATER

Please read the little cartoon carefully, it's powerful.


Then read the comments at the end.
 


I'm doing my small part by sharing this message.


I hope you'll consider doing the same..



It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended.

This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated!

Now, more than ever, with Iraq , Iran , Afghanistan , Lybia and others, claiming the HOLOCAUST to be 'a myth'.  It's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it around the world..

Thank you.
 


Confirmed by SNOPES

Hat Tip; Mrs. M

Chincoteague Residents Involved In Fatal Accident

Chincoteague residents, once again, are greiving the loss of two residents and await  anxiously for any imformation concerning the driver of the vehicle who is a Chincoteague resident also.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those that have been saddened by this tragedy.  Photos are by Kenneth Lewis.


 CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia State Police said two people died in a head-on collision on the Eastern Shore Monday evening.

The accident occurred in Accomack County onthe  Route 175, Chincoteague Causeway, Virginia State Police Sgt. Michelle Anaya said.

A 2004 Volvo driven by 63-year-old Ivan Klychnik, of California, was traveling westbound when he swerved into the eastbound lanes striking a 1995 Ford Taurus driven by 47-year-old Christina Gallagher, of Chincoteague.
Klychnik was flown to the hospital with minor injuries.
Gallagher was traveling with two other passengers who were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Police said Gallagher's front seat passenger, 67-year-old Robert Cherrix, of 4100 Cherrix Lane in Chincoteague, was not wearing his seat belt and died at the scene.


The rear seat passenger, 62-year-old Laurence Gordon Cherrix, of New Church, Virginia was not wearing his seat belt and also died at the scene, police said.
Gallager was also not wearing her seat belt and was flown to the hospital with major injuries.

Police said alcohol was not a factor in the accident. An investigation into what caused the accident remains ongoing.

Source; wavy.com http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/two-killed-in-head-on-collision
ELECTION DAY
VOTING HOURS:  7 AM  UNTIL  7PM
POCOMOKE CITY LIBRARY

According to City Hall Officials there are 2,773 registered voters  in Pocomoke City.

IN THE RACE
For District 3 Council Seat
Don Malloy - has previously held a council seat
Bobby Brittingham - retired police officer

For Mayor
Bruce Morrison - Councilman for District 3
Lynn Duffy - professional counselor

Each individual in todays race wants the same thing:  To address crime in the city and to revitalize downtown  Pocomoke.  Those are just two of the issues to be tackled.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!
GET OUT AND VOTE!

Monday, April 4, 2011

~Don't Forget To Vote~

When the voting  ends tomorrow evening all the signs will come down and another Pocomoke election will be history.   Don't forget to VOTE !

Pocomoke City Up-Coming Elections

EDITOR: Sorry that this is so late but maybe a few will still see it. This was emailed to me today at quarter till two and I just got around to reading and publishing this. Had I received this at an earlier time and/or date it would have been published at that time.


                On April 5th citizens of Pocomoke will be going to the polls to elect a new Mayor and a new City Councilman for District 3. Sometimes the voters have a question of experience about each candidate. I have known my opponent and his family for many years. The differences between my opponent and I is the direction that we would want to see the City of Pocomoke move towards. 

             I have served as a law enforcement officer for over 25 years and during this time I have been involved in crime prevention which included organizing neighborhood watch programs, community policing and drug prevention. I have served as a big brother and I have also participated in the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington D.C in 2009 in order to raise money for the Saint Judes Children Hospital and again in 2010 to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. I am a member of the Maryland Patriot Guard Motorcycle Club, a member of the Pocomoke Elks, and the American Legion Lodge 0297.


     What I see today is the lack of confidence in our city government, and the lack of information that the city government provides to the people. I have also seen a rise in unsafe and vacant homes and businesses which have become an eye sore and a haven for criminal activity. To help better enforce the city codes to prevent this, I would prefer the housing enforcement code officer to fall under the supervision of the law enforcement. 

      Cypress Park is a visitor’s attraction for the greatest event we have each year. I have seen first hand the erosion of this beautiful park and I would suggest meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers to possible come and assess the erosion problem and to suggest possible solutions. 

      There are many empty buildings on or near Market Street that are unoccupied and I would ask that building owners consider an Amnesty Rent program. This would allow possible small business owners a few months of free rent to establish their business. This program worked very well in alluring to new economic flourish in Dorchester County. 

      I have seen a great program in our city, Save the Youth Program, go unnoticed and underfunded for years. I have seen first hand what this program can do for our city’s youth. I would like to help support this program any way that I can with the city’s help.

                  I also agree to term limits on each elected and appointed position with-in city government. This could be determined by the council as to the length of service. I also believe the Mayor should have the power as all other mayors in the area. This would then change the Chain of Command by starting with the mayor and then city council.  

        My views for change are to focus on saving our youth, saving our parks, enforcing city codes on abandoned buildings, and rebuilding our downtown with new businesses while maintaining our historical charm. I have also heard from citizens that are tired of the old way of government and the lack of things getting done; I now say to them on April 5th please come out and support your candidate of choice. 

Look at your candidates well and cast your vote.  Change is at hand and there is a candidate with good ideas running for this office.

VOTE: Bobby Brittingham City Council District 3