Endorsements: Democratic Primary, St. Mary's County, House of Delegates
One Crazy Woman

Clare Whitbeck has impressed many of us over the years as being one crazy woman.  Now, in order to prove it, she has taken on incumbent delegate Johnny Wood, a popular guy who is the best friend many business owners and developers ever had.  There is nothing wrong with being pro-business, that is something the wild-eyed left wing Democrats need to understand.   But there is more to being an effective elected official than simply being pro-business.  A legislator needs to be attentive to the needs of all of those in the public, not just business interests.

In the past year, Johnny Wood finished a long slide from his previous post of being an important House of Delegates committee chairman to an assignment of being in charge of doling out parking spaces.  Now having a good parking space might be important but for the many voters in St. Mary’s County who don’t have a parking space and must wing it after driving to work in the metro area, surviving the long commute in backups every day, this great asset of Del. Wood may be of little value.

This year, Wood topped off his journey to being the most ineffective legislator in the region when he, along with Del. Tony O’Donnell, refused to vote to override the Governor’s veto of the bill which overwhelmingly passed the General Assembly which sets up a commission to do a comprehensive study of the region’s transportation needs.

That is the final straw.  Since Delegate Wood has done nothing to alleviate traffic and only acts to bring in more development to the region then it is time indeed to turn to another candidate who supports intelligent management of growth, who supports bringing commuter rail to the region and will use common sense.  Call her crazy, but Clare Whitbeck is right on this issue and Wood couldn’t be more wrong. 

Judge Clare Whitbeck as crazy, as it is crazy to want to drive to Annapolis every day for 90 days.   It is crazy to be swamped with reading on endless topics and to be on the go all the time attending meetings, hearings and being part of community functions every day of the week.    She is one crazy broad and is just crazy enough to do a good job.  

To keep Wood, who opposes commuter rail and who has opposed the key proposal fix our gridlocked transportation would really be crazy.

In the Democratic primary vote for Clare Whitbeck for Delegate in the northern half of St. Mary’s County and in Charles County.

John Bohanan is a Proven and Solid Legislator

In the Democratic Primary on Sept. 12^th, the logical choice is Del. John Bohanan.  Instead of dwelling on the colorful criminal record of his opponent, one needs only to consider the record of accomplishment and effectiveness of Bohanan. 

John Bohanan has been working in public service since graduation from Towson State.  He took a detour after eight years working as a staffer for Congressman Roy Dyson and for five years worked in private industry with a defense contractor.   In 1993, he went back to working as a specialist in defense issues for Congressman Steny Hoyer, where today, when he is not working as a Delegate, still functions as the senior advisor to the Congressman.

Bohanan’s understand of the issues surrounding the Navy has been essential for the BRAC process.   Each day, Bohanan works in ways that bring a meal to the table for St. Mary’s residents while assisting constituents with all manner of problems. 

The Republicans can’t field a serious candidate against Bohanan this year, therefore, readers of this newspaper are encouraged to not only support Bohanan in the Democratic Primary but to vote for him in November as well.  If the Republicans have a campaign against him, they have done a good job of hiding it.  Bringing out another retired Navy lead bottom is a hollow promise designed simply to prop up a faltering political party.  The GOP only has about three good candidates and Capt. Lead Bottom ain’t one of them.