Taylor: Consider Wicomico County’s form of government – ballot question “A”

A recent op-ed (“Vote No on Question A …”) urging folks to vote against rescinding the elected county executive position in Wicomico County’s government contains assertions that warrant scrutiny. Let’s begin with the rest of the title, which argues that, if the position is terminated, the County’s voters would “never get a chance again” to reestablish it. This misstatement is repeated in the op-ed’s text. Just as occurred when the position was established by referendum in the 2004 election, it could be placed on the ballot in a future election by resolution of the County Council; a petition is not required, nor was it then.

The author of that op-ed, Tom Taylor (unrelated to the undersigned), portrays the current resolution as a “power grab” by the County Council, which is nonsense. The Council has simply put the elected executive position on the ballot for a referendum vote. He contradicts that assertion by suggesting that the county administrator (sometimes called the “county manager”) would have unfettered power – be “unanswerable to the people” - which is further fiction. The Council would have the power to hire and fire the administrator as well as ultimate executive authority.

Mr. Taylor posits points that make manifest his misunderstanding. For example, he suggests that the sole basis for those who seek to return to the “Council-Manager” form of government is that the elected executive system is too expensive. Many, including me, would favor that substantial and constantly increasing expense if it were worthwhile. But, after three different elected executives, beginning in 2006, that clearly is not the case. And there would be some cost reduction – such as the executives’ salary (currently $107,000) and benefits - and enough to hire a competent county administrator.

He also plays the “checks and balances” card. Mr. Taylor may not know that most counties in Maryland and elsewhere do not have an elected executive. This is local, not state or national government. He may also be blissfully and totally unaware of the turmoil that our elected executives have caused, such as trying to hire Daniel “Pence is a traitor” Cox after he was trumped (no pun intended) in the last gubernatorial election. In his bluster, Mr. Taylor even manages to castigate Sheriff Lewis.

Not mentioned in his op-ed is that the County Council must, with certain exceptions specified in the Open Meetings Act, conduct its business and make decisions in public meetings, but such transparency does not apply to the executive. We have learned that this can be abused by secrecy. For example, the effort (fortunately unsuccessful) by a former county executive for the County to operate a drug treatment center in a closed state prison facility and, more recently, the off-road jeep event on County property and disclosure of encrypted radio messages of the sheriff’s office and local police departments. The record is replete with similar occurrences.

Thus, we now have more than enough (18 years) experience with the elected executive system to conclude beyond doubt that it is and has been a mistake for Wicomico County that should be corrected. To do so, VOTE “FOR” QUESTION A on the election ballot.

Robert Taylor
Salisbury resident
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.