You all been here alot longer then I. I'm sure post this topic will help many people that read this forum. Especially myself. Thank You

for your researching pleasure:
HM Election Guide

Why can't we have a campaign without lies, disinformation, distortion of the truth and chicanery? Today's Herald-Mail has an article in which Carrie Gouff accused the County of raising HER property taxes by $600 yet when the truth comes out--her tax actually went up $221 and she PAYS taxes on ANOTHER property which she will not identify. Since she pays about $7,000 in taxes she must own either the biggest house in Smithsburg or a potload of land. What percentage is that increase. Not 10%, not even 5%. Dan Moeller indicates, after he accused malfeasance by the BOCC in granting $20,000 to Discovery Station and being called on the carpet by that museum's director, that the organization MAY have been added to the list that the Commissioners direct donation list in 2000. MAY? He had the list. Discovery station is listed on that list. Truth was twisted. Enough said, and not the first time for him, either. Then there's the guy that's running for Commissioner, managing aother candidate's campaign and is in competition with his own brother-in-law! What a world.

Carrie's point is still valid: That the day after she received a refund check, she got a tax bill that included an increase that was greater than the amount of her refund check. That's just evidence of our current leaders' foolishness.

They should've just applied the refund to everyone's next tax bill, and saved the cost of printing and mailing all of those checks, and saved us all the cost and trouble of taking them to the bank to deposit them, and reduced the amount our mortgage payments are going to go up next year to cover the escrow used to pay our RE taxes. Just that tiny bit of common sense would've been better for everyone - government and homeowners alike.

As of today I would be voting for Wivell, Forrest, Moeller,Baker, and Aleshire. But there is plenty of time left for someone to do something stupid and change my mind

Thank you all for taking time out of your busy day.

For some of us here that just moved here or only been here for a few years. We don't know the who's who's of Hagerstown.
I like to know what their really like. Are they really for the resident of Hagerstown?
You have 24 people on that list for County Commissioner. That's alot of people.
I and many others would like to know what the old timers think. Nothing wrong with that.
It's better to be well inform, then to not be inform at all. That's where you get people that don't give a hoot.

Like my mother use to say, " If you want to know something, you have to ask questions."

On a side note: I'm a part of this town now. And I have a caring heart. So I want to know all I can.

Question Here, Don't The Candidates, Get Out And Campaign ??

All there is, Are a few tid bits in the paper about the Candidates.
What's The Heck Is That? Don't Mean Nothing in my Book.

So far, from what I have heard and read, most all of the candidates have a
talent for stating the obvious........ FOR Controlled Growth, FOR Better Education,
FOR Tax relief for Seniors, FOR Controlled Spending.........

So, It sounds like if telling every voter exactly what they want to hear is an important
trait in a candidate you would vote for, then at present you could just close your eyes
and pick a candidate at random, and you would hit the mark.
Whether they actually would follow thru on their statements is the key, and
unfortunately you won't know the answer to that one until after they are elected.

Yea, makes it hard when there all singing the same tune. Some might even lie to get elected.

I'm looking at, Who has what experiences. What's their background is.

I did attend a forum last week before leaving town for a few days and while I've had some "issues" with Alshire I must say he was undoubtedly the most knowledgeable and impressive candidate present. Without gloating or taking credit due him, he put several others to shame - and this from someone who thought he NEVER vote for the kid! Still can't say he's my first choice but I appreciate the depth of his knowledge and the fact that he's still young enough to suffer from TB (true believerism) an ailment some of us more advanced in age have become too soured by bad experiences to catch again.
Good luck kid, your gonna need it... especially if you're elected!

Forgive me for the drive-by self-promotion, but if you want to learn a little more about the BOCC candidates, check out their responses to a recent CPR questionnaire:

(For those who can't link, the URL is http://www.washcocpr.org/cprpac/surveymainpage.html)

If you are going to provide the drive by, could you explain to those interested who the CPR is, its membership, its headquarters, number of members, agenda, etc...

Why didn't you respond Kid?

Website has some who, what, why answers about CPR.
http://www.washcocpr.org/

Seen a person running for Sheriff on the Dual Highway today near where the Weis is. Sign waving, it was good to see that.

Wonder if any other candidates do this?

OH YEA THEY WILL DO IT

Wait till it gets closer to the election. Dual Highway and Downtown was filled with these folks waving and smiling. For me that is not what I am looking for, if I wanted a circus clown I would go to the circus. I am looking for someone to knock on my door and tell me what s/he is going to do for me, my friends, my family, my neighbors ect....

Been wondering that myself...

Thats what will get my vote too. someone willing to sit down and adress concerns not someone waving on the side of the road like an idiot

Fat chance of that happening anytime soon.
Someone knocking on the door that is.

Ah, good idea.

Click here for information about what CPR is, its membership, agenda, etc.

Tfirey- who do I have to do to get on the "Sterling committee"

This isnt some amway pyramid scam is it

just kidding. Seems like a good idea. if someone doesn't watch out for the citizens rights the local politicos here will run roughshod over everyone. I might even sign up if normal Joes are allowed

Do you really want politicians knocking on your door?

I’ve often thought about that, if they came to my door I could ask the questions I want answers for and get to hear the response face to face, might be able to get a better read that way.

Yes I want them to knock on my door, sit down with me and have a cold beer or ice tea and discuss some issues. I don't want some clown all dressed up handing ballons out or waving or reading notes through a forum or eating Mexican food (like they are doing tonight at El Paso on the Dual). I want a real discussion. I would like a town hall discussion. Real questions from real people. I realize this is not possible for everyone but in a perfect world this is what I would want.

I would trade the rigid 270 second response forums based on predicated questions where every candidate whether they know how to or not, throw out catch phrases like control growth more times a minute than I can count, for some real debate on the issues. If it is not evident, this process has been to some degree increasingly frustrating for me to have to sit by while candidates put forth plans with little if any detail or ability of working and especially so for statements that are just plain inaccurate or without merit.

Normal Joes? In Washington County???

hagopinion,I see where your coming from. For me, it's very hard to really know, who to vote for. What they had on T.V. was great Even though I miss some of it. I do believe that a little more effort on a campaign would be helpfull. Not just for the people who's lived here for years, but especially for the new comers. That's don't know who's who's. I read the paper, write the all the names down. Still I just don't know.

YOU BET!

Like someone else said, come to my house and talk WITH me, not TO me or rattling off some pre-scripted sound bite. This is possible. In the mid-seventies a very intelligent and civic minded man named Dick Ford ran for Sheriff (and won). I was washing my car when he came walking by. I wasn't even old enough to vote in that election and told him so but he took the time to speak WITH me just the same.

By contrast I was astonished at the woman running for BOE who went as far as to bring props to the HCC forum for use in her obviously prepared statements - although she was challenged to find the right insertion points for her litany!

No you can't meet every resident and it does take an enormous effort spanning months but local candidates can at least walk each small town and development as well as major residential city streets. At least giving the constituents the chance to meet you face to face, one on one, person to person. It takes a lot to do, but sure shows commitment! I've known others who've done this as well. I think most serious voters and a lot of potential ones would appreciate such a demonstration of commitment.