Jimmy Bailey's Political Punditry and Prognostications

To the Editor:

I have concocted, and I am ready to share my somewhat foolproof method for voting this November. I am a resident of District 29A, however, I am willing to share my theory and apply it to your District’s roster as well.

Before I present my findings, I‘m proud to say, I am a Yellow Dog Democrat (of the rabid variety). For those of you not familiar with this particular breed, I will elaborate by quoting: http://www.yellowdogdemocrat.com/history.htm.

“The term, Yellow Dog Democrat, blossomed during all of the Hoopla which surrounded the 1928 elections, when Al Smith ran for President against Herbert Hoover. During that campaign, Senator Tom Heflin, of Alabama, declined to back his fellow Democrat, Al Smith the Governor of NY. In fact it was much worse than that, Senator Heflin decided to back Herbert Hoover, who would then go on to become President- a Republican President no less. Heflin's controversial actions were considered heresy, especially in the South. As you can imagine, quite a large number of Alabamans vehemently disagreed with Senator Heflin's decision to cross his "Party Lines". Hence, the popular saying, "I'd vote for a yellow dog if he ran on the Democratic ticket" was born! It was adopted as the proud slogan of the staunch party loyalist.”

The reason I highlight my slant/angle/bias/prejudice and occasional ignorance is simple: I want to save you the time and trouble of reading between the lines and listening for words that are simultaneously spewing from both sides of my mouth.

In my quest for the truth, I found the following to be factual. In this cycle there were/are no less than 4 candidates claiming the surname Mattingly (and a 5^th Mattingly by marriage- David Zylak). There were/are 3 Wood’s. Two of which will be highly recommended in short order.

Being a Roman Catholic who attended parochial school (even if only 3 elementary grades), I was somewhat surprised to find that Ryken High School has launched quite a few politicians. So many in fact, that currently Ryken Knights hold 4 out of 5, St. Mary’s Commissioner seats. The only dissenting member is Mr. Kenny Dement, who is a Great Mills Hornet. That’s 4-1 not 5-0!

Allow me to present my “slate.”

State Senator District 29: Senator Roy Dyson wins on all accounts. We need a Hornet on our team- and who better to be our captain. He works hard on our behalf with only our best interest in mind and for this reason, I am grateful. No axes to grind, no ladder wishes he to climb. He’s served us well and I’m not about to betray or trade him. Sir Thomas McKay is benched. Publicly aligning himself with outgoing Gov. Robert Ehrlich was less than noble. I’m doubtful a rookie would be able to recover from this costly error and work with Gov. O‘Malley‘s team. However, we haven’t heard the last from the Ryken Knights.

House of Delegates District 29A: Del. Johnny Wood is a graduate of Charlotte Hall Military Academy. For those of you who lived the glory days of the Washington & Stonewall Society, I need not tell you of our friend Del. Wood. You already know how long and hard he has worked for our beloved county. If you don’t know Mr. Johnny Wood, I’ll gladly introduce your next true friend.

House of Delegates District 29B: Toss-up! Noel Temple “Tim” Wood doesn’t list a high school but he has a college in every port. Amongst them, The United States Naval Academy, in Annapolis, MD. No learning curve for this Middie. He knows his way up Route 2 to West Street. Plus, if they come to take Pax River, I’m certain Tim will know who to salute- and who to fight! Del. John L. Bohanan is a real Democrat and another Ryken Knight.

House of Delegates District 29C: I don’t live “in the sliver,” but I’m aware that Anthony J. O’Donnell is so far to the right, he’s been mistaken for a Blue Heron on the banks of the eastern shore. Slightly more to the center, please. Norma Powers wins by default.

Commissioner President: I found no high school listed for either hopeful, so I must assume both

skipped it and went straight to college. No choice have I, but to side with the Democrat Jack Russell not only for the cool sailboats, but he seems to genuinely care for our children and the environment we leave them.

Commissioner District 1: How do you top someone like Ms. Elfreda Talbert Mathis who graduated Valedictorian from George Washington Carver High School in Jarboesville? Sorry, Mr. Dement, you are a great sportsman, but, we already have a mighty Hornet (Sen. Dyson) and Ms. Mathis is a brilliant Democrat.

Commissioner District 2: Commissioner District 2: Thomas Mattingly maintains his position by virtue
of his reputation for fairness and honesty. Ryken pulls up another seat.
 

Commissioner District 3: Commisioner Jarboe is chosen as our Ryken Rep despite his Republican affiliation (subject to change), reason being: I watch the County Meetings on TV, and he consistently stands up for the Amish, our rural character and me- the little guy. In addition, he realizes that 10,000 dump truck trips across State Route 236 is absurd and moronic. Frankly- so do I. Nice work Commissioner Jarboe. Top notch for 3 Notch.

Commissioner District 4: Mr. Raley wins by default. Ryken draws another bye.

Sheriff: Mr. Kevin Somerville was my choice in the primary. We really needed a voice from the Leonardtown Raiders. However, close it was, we are left with another decision. Who is most likely to safeguard our children? Latrobe, PA. High School Graduate David Zylak, or lifelong county resident Lt. Tim Cameron (Ret.): no known mascot. Four years ago, Zylak eliminated D.A.R.E. before the dust settled on the Fire House floor. Thanks to former Sheriff Richard Voohaar and D.A.R.E, my children’s first introduction to drugs (and hopefully last) was in a classroom by a real uniformed police officer concerned with their well-being, rather than from a pusher/thug lurking on the schoolyard. I must go with Lt. Tim Cameron, and then, to wash all this Republican off my hands!

Board of Education: Timothy P. Twigg wins District 3. You gotta love those yellow buses! His opponent Bill Mattingly is another Ryken Knight.

Congrats, Hon. Judge Michael Stamm (Non-partisan-Ha.).

Everything else is either a slam-dunk, unopposed or in my estimation should be a fulltime-regular- classified union position within the County Government.

Perhaps, in the future we will benefit from King’s Christian Academy, Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy and Victory Baptist Academy graduates. I am forced to sneak into Charles County to vote for Democratic Commissioner Candidate Sam Graves- a proud Chopticon Brave for sure- just like me.

Be true to your school and your county. Vote early and vote often!

Jimmy Bailey

Leonardtown MD