Today’s adjectives of the average American Citizen have reached an all-time low. Steny Hoyer has referred to those who support the Tea Parties as “Un-American.”  Citizens who raise outcries against unfair and over taxation have been referred to as “Tea Bagger’s” by Nancy Pelosi and others. Tuesday climbed the charts for Charles County Residents with a new phrase that summarizes the statements of County Commissioner Gary Hodge. Apparently, if you are not an incumbent and seek to represent county residents, you are now an EXPLOITER of the process with an “agenda” that is somehow, in his estimation, something other than representing the residents of Charles County.

In his remarks in Tuesday’s Commissioner Work session regarding the pay increases for County Commissioner’s, Gary Hodge reminded the board – and those he bored – of the Hearing held on January 13 that only eleven attendees spoke and four of those were political candidates seeking office who according to Hodge “…had their own agenda’s.”  He further stated that he “was not elected to run from controversy or make decisions based on emotional public hearing.”

The only agenda at the January 13^th public hearing was to squelch the exploitation of the process for the political gain of those sitting behind the polished oak desk in a million dollar auditorium intended for the public but stripped away by the self-serving desires of Government officials who have done everything but “hear” from its public.

Shouldn’t we be commending our Commissioner’s for doing the honorable thing as they suggest in their “sacrificial” screed? Categorically NO! Commendation would have come had the Commissioner’s read the Compensation Committee’s report, thanked them for a job well done, and stated “this isn’t the time or the economy for anyone to receive a raise” on the day the report came out. That is what a Representative would have done considering all things in this economic crisis. The State Legislature was certainly capable of doing just that. Had that scenario occurred, an honorable mention would have been note-worthy. What did occur was – unanimously – each commissioner voted to draft an ordinance. Edith Patterson called this a “wait and see approach” according to the Maryland Independent (11/20/09). Wayne Cooper openly stated he wanted and would “accept the raise” in the same article.

Interestingly enough, during this two month long “deliberate process” [MI 1-15-10] Hodge could either not be reached or did not return calls for comment for Independent articles on 11-20-09 and 12-2-09, he was “outraged” at the Maryland Independent on 12-18-09 and bullied his way into favorable press by threatening to pull Commissioner Ad’s.  All the rhetoric, but never offered any rational justification for considering himself a raise – just that his actions were “legal.” I suppose he was too busy “not run [ning] from controversy” to offer his thoughts when it matter’s the most to those he was elected to represent. Need he be reminded that he too is a candidate? I guess he doesn’t have an agenda.

It wasn’t until after the public “rage” through opinion letter’s, statements at hearings, DC Television Reporter’s, letter’s to and by our local editor that the Commissioner’s took pause in their direction toward voting for salary increases while furloughing those who support them. I noticed Hodge avoided the ABC News Camera as well – but he doesn’t run from controversy?

Day’s after the initial announcement of the Compensation Committee’s Report last November, Political speculations began circulating that these Commissioner’s would let this boil throughout the county – as is their modus operandi  – keeping the county in disunity and disarray (as opposed to creating a viable community).  At the end of the “wait and see approach” of Ms. Patterson, they would vote down the salary increase and come out touting their accomplishment. Tuesday – the saga ended just as predicted.

As one “exploiting” candidate stated today after the Work session: “The Voters in Charles County are not dumb. They will see through today’s decision. Let the Commissioner’s make of it what they will.”

Vote Smart: Vote out the incumbents in November.

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