Thank You Kathy Smith

Kathy Smith faces personal problems that take precedence over the political. Three members of her family have cancer and our prayers should be with her. Normally, giving up an elected office is self defeating, but not in this case.

I can't thank her enough for her role in SAVING our town from bankruptcy. Had she not stood alone (very Churchill like) our already staggering financial meltdown would have been fatal. Can you imagine what would have happened if the town manager's pick would have beaten her in the '08 election? (They deny it now, but please remember who was out and about campaigning for the town manager party that year when you pay your outrageous water bills. Those folks deserve to dwell in the political wilderness forever!)

Although she can't be replaced, and we will all miss Kathy, I hope that the commissioners will appoint someone of her calibre to finish out her term. Thank you Kathy!

Town Meeting Report -- Commissioner Smith Resigns

Commissioner Kathy Smith has resigned her position as commissioner of Ridgely. There have been growing disagreements between her and the other commissioners. Although resigning my own planning and zoning commission position has tempted me, I do feel that elected officials should not resign and disregard all the supporters who put them in office -- sorry Sarah Palin. I know what a pain the job is. My late father in law, Paul Satterfield, advised against having anything to do with planning and zoning or town politics in general, observing that it's the best way to make enemies here....words of wisdom.

The scoop on Kathy will come in the Times Record interview due out Wednesday. In the meantime...the long awaited Ridgely Comprehensive Plan that protects our small town way of life was passed by both the planning commissioners and the commissioners. It took five years to craft this guideline for our town's future.

An all out shouting match then broke out between an irate citizen and the commissioners over the 30% waste water sewer rate in town. He was right! Unfortunately, the commission that is now in place didn't make the mess and is stuck with resolving an incredibly AWFUL fiscal problem. There can be no more layoffs to save money or the town will completely shut down. The only solution is for you and me to pony up and pay...sorry for this overall depressing news folks.

Dale Mumford Wins With Unprecedented Turnout

Commissioner Kathy Smith congratulates the new Commissioner.

Dale Mumford won 83 of the 92 votes cast in Today's election. It's unprecedented for so many to turn out for an uncontested election. The write ins were divided among many and no effort to deliver a last minute write in campaign materialized.

God bless Dale as he joins Commissioner Smith to restore sanity to town.

Real Change Comes To Town

Dale Mumford is running unopposed for Ridgely town commissioner. The deadline for anyone else to register passed at 4:30 Friday and this talented and capable man will fill the empty commission seat in two weeks. Congratulations and thank you for taking on such a task during these tough times for our town.

Also, thank you Kathy Smith for standing up for our town. The cavalry has arrived, and I'm sure that together, you and Dale are going to put things in Ridgely House back in order. With the the town financial crisis (which preceded the global crisis) looming, this change couldn't have come any sooner.

Another change is coming to town too. For the past week, our town manager has been under consideration for the position of town manager of Onancock, VA. Delmarvanow.com, a news blog, has been following the story for over a week now. Yesterday, the town picked someone else for the position but our town manager was on the right track with such a move.

"The times they are a changing" and Ridgely is once again back in the hands of its citizens.