February 6, 2012
The Bank is Broke; Stop the Mega-Library madness
St. Mary's Commissioner candidate Richard Johnson at the joint legislative hearing on proposed new laws held on Nov. 3, 2009.
Rich Johnson, left and St. Mary's Commissioner Larry Jarboe on Town Hall Alliance float in the St. Mary's County Fair Parade on Sept. 26, 2009.
This past Tuesday evening, we had a joint public hearing with the legislators to listen to the public about their views on proposed legislation. The custom at these hearings has been for delegates, the Senator and the commissioners to listen to the public and to ask questions. It was unusual for Commissioner Mattingly and Delegate Bohanan to debate Rich Johnson over his view that the bond authority not be increased so the county could build the proposed luxury library outside of Leonardtown on the Hayden Farm.
The Democrats decided to attack Rich over his statement and the next day I was contacted by a reporter who told me that Commissioner Mattingly complained that candidates should not offer their views at a public hearing.
On the contrary, I am very much in favor of candidates expressing their views so the public has a clear understanding of why a person is offering themselves for elected positions.
Commissioner Mattingly doesn't like public forums, it has been like pulling teeth to get this Board to hold them from time to time and the only public hearing on the Hayden Farm deal came on Christmas Eve, hardly a time for a public presentation of a deal that stinks so bad, one would think it was all a big bushel of rotten crabs.
Help me elect a team of candidates who believe in open and honest government. Thank you.
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While Tommy Mattingly was working for the phone company, Randy Guy was serving his nation in the Viet Nam War in the Air Force. Mattingly gets his say all the time, surely Randy Guy has as much right as anyone in America to attend a public meeting and have his turn at the microphone. It looks like Mattingly just doesn't like the message to hold the line on taxes and stop reckless spending.
Last I looked, I was a Citizen, in addition to County Commissioner Candidate. Does being a Candidate deny one from talking in a public forum. If Commissioner Mattingly had his way, I guess this would be so. Folks, this lack of open government is exactly what we are talking about. We want government to work for you, not against. The County government desire to spend an additional $25 million in Bond Authority when we are in very poor economic times is not a smart thing to do. In fact this desire of $25 Million additional Bond Authority lacks fiscal responsibility. And who will pay for this and the interist? The Taxpayer, that is who.
County Commissioner Candidate
Rich Johnson, for District 1
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