Cecil County Exec-elect Moore Changes Party from GOP to Unaffiliated; Move Blocks Smipkins from Filling her Council Seat

November 29, 2012
By

In a bold move to launch her administration as County Executive without the partisan warfare that has stymied Cecil County government for the past two years, Tari Moore changed her political party affiliation on Thursday from Republican to Unaffiliated—a move that will block the Smipkin political faction from controlling who will fill her soon to be vacated seat on the new County Council.

Additionally, the step makes it highly unlikely that Commissioner/Council member Diana Broomell (R-4) would get enough votes to become President of the new County Council.

Moore walked into the county’s Board of Elections office in the county administration building in Elkton shortly after noon Thursday and filled out the paperwork to change her political party affiliation, sources said. That means that when she officially resigns her council seat on Monday 12/3/12, so as to be sworn in as the county’s first-ever County Executive, her council seat is not aligned with any political party.

[UPDATE: In a brief email to Cecil Times Thursday night, Moore confirmed her shift to “unaffiliated” and said: “I have done so only after long and careful consideration, and because I believe that the best interests of all Cecil County citizens should outweigh my own personal preferences in this matter.” She declined to elaborate on her rationale for the move until she is sworn into office on Monday.]

As a result, the county’s Republican Central Committee—which is controlled by a political group aligned with state Del. Michael Smigiel and E.J. Pipkin, both R-36– will be cut out of the process to hand-pick Moore’s successor on the Council. And in practical terms, it means that Moore will ultimately get to make her own choice of a successor without being forced to select someone from a list of three names submitted by the Smipkin group.

Behind-the-scenes pressure had been building on Moore for several weeks to take the “unaffiliated” step, on a temporary basis. (She could change her party affiliation back to Republican in the future.) On 11/15/12, Cecil Times published a detailed scenario on how the unaffiliated option would play out and how it would bring to an end the reign of the “Three Amigos” faction on the current five-member Board of Commissioners.

[SEE previous Cecil Times Analysis here:
http://ceciltimes.com/2012/11/a-modest-cecil-county-proposal-moore-could-unaffiliate-from-gop-briefly-to-spare-us-smipkin-pick-of-new-county-council-member/

The new Charter form of government approved overwhelmingly by county voters in 2010 specifies the procedures for filling the vacancy in the District 2 seat currently held by Moore. Since she was registered as a Republican, the local Republican Central Committee had already begun its role in the process and was slated to interview candidates before producing a list of 3 names to be sent to the County Council.

Under the Charter, the Council would have had to pick a name from that list. But the political reality was that the Council would have likely deadlocked, with Councilman Robert Hodge (R-5) and new member Alan McCarthy (R-1) on one side and holdover Two Amigos Broomell (R-4) and Michael Dunn (R-3) on the other. In the event of a deadlock in the Council, the new Executive would make the choice—but the Charter would have limited her to a selection from the list of nominees picked by the GOP Central Committee.

Any list of nominees compiled by the Smipkin-dominated Central Committee would no doubt have pledged full allegiance to their mentors and as a result a new version of the Three Amigos would have emerged, with a new member replacing defeated Commissioner James Mullin (R-1). The Three Amigos domination of the Board of Commissioners has tied up the panel in knots for nearly two years, with Moore and Hodge usually on the losing side in 3-2 votes on many issues.

A highlight of the “unaffiliated” scenario is that it also makes it improbable that Broomell would win the necessary three votes to become President of the new County Council. Broomell often controlled the Commissioners agenda, with Mullin as a willing partner. Broomell, who lost the GOP primary for County Executive to Moore, would have no doubt been a foil and roadblock for the new County Executive’s legislative and administrative agenda.

But the “unaffiliated” route puts Hodge into the forefront as the potential permanent President of the new Council. The President is selected by fellow Council members. Hodge recently won re-election to his 5th District seat and would be the longest-serving, most experienced member of the new Council. Once Moore’s seat is filled, a three-member majority could install the new President.

However, even before Moore’s seat is filled there is the possibility of selection of an interim or acting President of the Council.

Meanwhile, under the “unaffiliated” playbook, the Council would propose an appointee to fill Moore’s vacated Council seat. In political reality, the 2-2 lineup would likely fail to reach agreement on an appointee.

That would free Moore to fill the seat, as long as the candidate resides in the 2nd District. The Charter does not mandate that the Executive has to choose anyone whose name might have been tossed into the ring during the Council’s deliberations under the “unaffiliated” seat state of play.

One possible sidelight is that the GOP Central Committee might go ahead and offer its own list of names, even though they would have no authority under the Charter to do so once Moore’s seat is officially vacant and “unaffiliated.” But Moore would not be obligated to consider that panel’s choices.

A leading candidate, both for nomination by Hodge and McCarthy as well as consideration by Moore, is Joyce Bowlsbey, who headed the citizens’ panel that wrote the Charter that voters overwhelmingly approved. Bowlsbey, a Republican who supported Moore’s election as County Executive, is a longtime community volunteer and activist and serves as the government relations committee chair for the Chamber of Commerce. She has attended most commissioner worksessions and is up to speed on many key issues facing the county government.

Former Republican County Commissioner Rebecca Demmler—who held the District 2 seat before Moore—has previously declared her interest as well. Both Bowlsbey and Demmler are said to be interested only in serving out the remaining two years of Moore’s term and would not be candidates for re-election in 2014, sources said.

Cecil Times reached out to Moore with several phone messages and email seeking comment on her strategy and rationale for the switch. (She and her husband, Steve, were celebrating their wedding anniversary on Thursday.) We will update this report upon her response.

[UPDATE: The following is the text of an emailed statement from Moore to Cecil Times Thursday night:

“Today I filed with the County Board of Elections to change my voter affiliation to one who is unaffiliated with any political party.

“I have done so only after long and careful consideration, and because I believe that the best interests of all Cecil County citizens should outweigh my own personal preferences in this matter.

“I will discuss this decision during my remarks to the citizens of Cecil County on Monday afternoon at 12:00 noon (December 3rd), when I take the oath of office as the county’s first County Executive.

I believe that it is appropriate to provide a full explanation of the matter at that time, and hope that you will attend and listen to what I have to say then.

“This concludes my comments on this matter until Monday afternoon.”]

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

69 Responses to Cecil County Exec-elect Moore Changes Party from GOP to Unaffiliated; Move Blocks Smipkins from Filling her Council Seat

  1. Ron Lobos on November 29, 2012 at 9:22 pm

    Good for you Tari. I knew you’d make the right decision. Now lets get to work and straighten out this mess made by Broomell, Dunn, Mullin and Broomell. Oh yea, did I mention Broomell?

  2. John u on November 29, 2012 at 9:44 pm

    Well charter is starting off on the wrong foot. This is dishonest at its heart irregardless of the outcome. I am sure some Democrats and independents would like their vote back.

    • Ron Lobos on November 30, 2012 at 8:12 am

      John, you’ve never been more wrong. Two years ago the people of Cecil County elected Tari because of the type of person she is. As County Executive, if she stayedRepublican, she would be forced to appoint a person to her vacated position that would be appointed by the Republican central committee that is dominated by Smigiel and Pipken puppets. That RCC person likely would be nothing like what the citizens of Cecil County voted for 2 years ago.

      Regardless of whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, it was the right thing to do in order to be true and honest to the people of Cecil County.

    • JD on November 30, 2012 at 8:16 am

      Did you intend to use a double negative as a sarcastic, but never the less supportive, endorsement of the Executive’s decision?

      Note: ‘ir’ means not and ‘less’ means without.

  3. Bill De Freitas on November 29, 2012 at 10:17 pm

    What can anyone say but Tari Moore is a class individual putting aside her personal feelings for the best of her County and the citizens. I’ve known Tari for at least four years and worked with her at the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce, she cares about Cecil County and its citizens. Great job and you haven’t taken the oath of office yet. Good luck and this is a great beginning for Charter government.

  4. john Murray on November 29, 2012 at 10:42 pm

    What A Great move !
    Now we can help fix the county.

  5. J.D. on November 29, 2012 at 11:26 pm

    I think the sun is finally shining over Cecil county. Thank you for doing the honorable thing. Let’s hope that this is the view forward for Cecil from now on.

  6. Russ on November 30, 2012 at 7:29 am

    Smart move Tari. Thank you!

  7. Stephen Stiles on November 30, 2012 at 8:13 am

    Thank you Tari! Now this county can finally move. I’m sure this wasn’t an easy decision to make and nor will many in the future be. This bold move shows that you willing to “think outside of the box” that has so long imprisoned Cecil County. The future is definitely brighter.

  8. Al Reasin on November 30, 2012 at 8:27 am

    Thank you Tari for doing what is right regardless of the personal attacks I anticipate will be coming your way.

  9. concernedcitizen on November 30, 2012 at 9:40 am

    Kudos to Ms. Moore!
    Let’s hope for a more productive and more honest and ethical county government.

  10. 1Citizen on November 30, 2012 at 10:08 am

    What ye Reap ye shall Sow.

    Americans are fed up with the divisive government wrought by Tea Party Republicans. Even if we agree with some of their positions, the incivility and demonization of their opponents, in this case members of their own party, was shameful, unprofessional, and detrimental to our county’s image and reputation.

    Power reveals, and it showed Broomell cannot be trusted with it, but it was also Mullin’s fecklessness and Dunn’s immaturity that forced Moore’s hand. By 2014, the remaining amigos will likely be “mullin” over what went wrong after Cecil is finally “dunn” with them.

    • Stephen England on December 1, 2012 at 7:28 am

      What exactly, pray tell, does the TEA Party have to do with the matters of which you speak? Neither Mullin nor Dunn were a TEA Party candidate–and Broomell has found her primary opposition over the last two years in the TEA Party group.

      • Ron Lobos on December 2, 2012 at 7:26 am

        I have to agree with Stephen. The Tea Party organization was the one group that consistently stood up against the special interests of Broomell, Mullin and Dunn. My best guess has it that the Tea Party group of Cecil County will work hard to make sure Broomell and Dunn never hold office again. They both proved to be a disgrace to Cecil County.

        • 1Citizen on December 2, 2012 at 10:45 am

          Messrs. England and Lobos,
          Thanks for pointing out that even the Tea Party has factions. Broomell was a promiment Tea Party advocate, and as I recall Dunn and Mullin were endorsed by the Smipkin-backed Tea Party slate of candidates in ads run in 2010.

          I commend you for your subsequent efforts, but who elected them in the first place? Broomell was a better choice than Dr. Roberts? Michael Dunn?? Geez, next time compare resumes!

          • Ron Lobos on December 2, 2012 at 4:33 pm

            Broomell and Dunn were never endorsed by the Cecil County Tea Party. Some members of the CCTea Party worked on Broomell’s campaign, but many would have nothing to do with her and that included me.

            She was an original organizer but fell off the wagon. When asked to turn over the e-mail addresses that were collected to aid future tea party’s, she refused to do so. Your guess was as good as mine as to what she did or did not do with them.

            I never felt her to be trustworthy. I voted for both Dr. Roberts and Brian Lockhart, so I did compare resumes, thank you.

  11. RuKidding on November 30, 2012 at 10:12 am

    Good for you Tari! Nevermind the critics, you are doing the right thing for the county and it’s citizens.

  12. Betty on November 30, 2012 at 10:35 am

    Even though the current standing commissioners may not be liked by everyone, they were voted in and the system should NOT be manipulated as such. I do not see this as courageous at all but DISHONEST to us, the voters.

    • Bill De Freitas on November 30, 2012 at 5:30 pm

      Three of the standing commissioners were voted in by many citizens who they turned on, not following through on their promises. They pledged smaller government, transparency in government and a fair playing field for all, they have done none of that.

      They have breached county contracts, turned Animal Control into a circus side show, spear-headed by Commissioner Broomell and then today as they voted 3 (Mullin-Broomell-Dunn) to 2 (Moore-Hodge) –imagine that. The [majority] awarded an Animal Control Contract to an organization which has no empolyees, no kennel equipment, no trucks of their own (the county is buying the trucks for the organization with your tax dollars) and the contract doesn’t even mention who the principals are?

      Again Commissioner Broomell just happens to know a few of the people closely. I also have to mention that Commissioner Broomell appointed to the Ethics Committee’s two top positions, again, people she knows.

      I can go on and on so if you want to talk about manipulating the system that is just what they have done for the past 2 years!

      • Betty on December 1, 2012 at 6:34 pm

        Then Bill, let the “voters” vote them out. Does the end justify the means? Manipulation is Manipulation. It does not make it right just because it is Tari doing it. Yes, it is being dishonest. Tari did not run as an independent candidate, she is a Republican candidate. This action is going to cause more problems for our county.

    • Russ on December 1, 2012 at 8:43 am

      This is not about removing an existing Commissioner who has been voted in. It’s about filling a vacant spot. Dishonest you say? Really? Seriously?

      • John Ulrich on December 2, 2012 at 1:35 pm

        What don’t you understand about the dishonesty here?
        She just changed her party to work around the system. Seriously, everyone should be held accountable by the same rules.

        • Valerie on December 2, 2012 at 2:42 pm

          Then why haven’t Broomell, Dunn and Mullin been held accountable for their actions?

          • John Ulrich on December 2, 2012 at 8:29 pm

            Oh, so two wrongs make a right?

  13. I know the truth on November 30, 2012 at 11:09 am

    Finally, someone else is seeing the corruption that has been spewing over Cecil County. But will it be enough, I guess we’ll have to stay tuned? I think the local news stations need to be brought into this, so the guilty parties are shamed in front of everyone and justice can prevail, just a thought.

  14. Chuck on November 30, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    I see these comments about her doing the right/classy/honorable thing. The honorable thing would have been to switch her affiliation before the election. This smacks of same-old, same-old in Cecil & MD. As an independent myself, I think this it the epitome of shadiness in appearance, regardless of how it turns out eventually.

  15. tina sharp on November 30, 2012 at 1:16 pm

    Leaders must lead!

    • John u on December 1, 2012 at 12:45 pm

      This is not leadership. Leadership is following the will of the voters and leading from there, not some cheap political trick. Remember the Republican central was elected by Republicans. If this is allowed to stand the Democratic Central Committee WILL be irreparably harmed.

      In the last election this was a Republican seat and regardless of Moore’s current affiliation it is the Republican Central Committee’s seat to advise the council on.

  16. John on November 30, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    Intellectually dishonest to say the least. Running as a Republican in a majority Republican county, accepting endorsements of Republican elected officials, benefitting from the Maryland Republican Party and Cecil County Republican Central Committee, but then renouncing the party after she was elected.

    She stole money from Republicans, lied that she was a Republican, and now switches her party status to unaffiliated? This is nothing but political expediency. She should resign and give the money back. What a total lack of integrity.

    • Bill De Freitas on November 30, 2012 at 5:38 pm

      It is always interesting to me that people who have strong words and feelings about a person or subject on the social media can’t put their full names? They choose to hide behind the electronic media rather than stand up and be counted on one side or the other. I challenge everyone else with replys to put there full names. That is intellectually honest!

    • cats on November 30, 2012 at 7:36 pm

      After all the dishonesty and corruption by Broomell, Mullin and Dunn–WOW and you are judging? Tari can change back to Republican after her seat is filled. This just makes sure we don’t have another Three Amigos controlling things again. If you thought they ran things honestly then we already know how ethical you must be!

  17. Patrick Tuer on November 30, 2012 at 5:16 pm

    This move has saved the county from the Smipkin machine. No law was broken, 2 years of deadlock has been saved. This was a bold decision, but the right one.

  18. Donna on November 30, 2012 at 6:20 pm

    For the past couple of years, we have seen the 3 amigos tear this county apart. We have also seen they haven’t acted like republicans so in my opinion, it doesn’t matter whether Tari has a A, G or a Q next to her name. The voters voted for Tari. What she did was legal and she will be addressing this issue next week; however, if she switches back to the “R” will that make the naysayers happy? She’s still Tari Moore. Maybe now this county can move “Forward”. If you want to talk about dishonesty, you might want visit the President, however, you might not find him, I hear he’s leaving for Hawaii for 3 weeks!

    • 1Citizen on December 27, 2012 at 10:41 am

      3 weeks huh? Turned out to be 3 days. This is 2012 not 2001, when a certain president was on vacation 7 weeks before 9/11, which forced him to pay attention to his job (not that it did any good).

      But then there is always a double standard for Democrats, and they had the nerve to nominate one of mixed race (the horror!). This is the 4th year in a row Pres. Obama was forced to curtail his Christmas break, and he is after all a father of young children. So I guess you all don’t really mean that family values stuff.

  19. Jackie Gregory on November 30, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    As someone who is interested in principle over party, I commend Executive Moore on her bold decision.

  20. Lynn Wayne on December 1, 2012 at 2:35 am

    I think John and Betty (Ulrich) are still a bit sore that their democrat candidate Pam Howard was not elected. Tari didn’t do the easy thing, but she did the right thing. Cecil county cannot afford two more years of Broomells shenanigans. Tari did what had to be done.

    Failing to realize that shows political arrogance regardless of party. And members of the DCC should not be disguising themselves as concerned republicans in this matter. Thank you for your comments, but it sounds like sour grapes to me.

  21. Rob Alt on December 1, 2012 at 8:22 am

    I have lived in Cecil County for all of my 51 years. It has been difficult to hold my head high and tell people that I’m from Cecil County the past several years. This was a move that had to be done!

    I have served on Republican boards, and I have served on Democratic boards. It should not be about the party; its about the people!
    My hat is off to Tari Moore! Congrats!

  22. Tom Kenny on December 1, 2012 at 8:29 am

    I would also like to commend Tari Moore for her courage and personal integrity. Having known her and worked on her campaign team, she is exactly what she appears to be: an intelligent, highly motivated professional with highly developed ethical standards. She has made, after careful and lengthy consideration, the decision that is in the best interest of the citizens of Cecil County.

    I would also like to commend the commentators who have the courage and integrity to use their full names when leaving a reply. Those who do not, reveal serious flaws in their character and integrity.

  23. Mike Done on December 1, 2012 at 11:35 am

    Personally, I think this was a disgraceful move, as I have outlined in my own blog post on the topic, here:
    http://dunne4cecil.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/traitors-trash-and-tearful-goodbyes/

    [Editor’s Note: the above link is to a satirical website, not any official authorized site.]

    • John Cole on December 2, 2012 at 4:45 am

      Your blog is not satirical, it is a vehicle for personal attacks, and demonstrates an immaturity beyond credence. The only satire is saw was when you stated Broomell was “hot”.

      I think it was a terrible mistake to publish this link; you come off as an ignorant, arrogant and irresponsible person who should not be in any position to make decisions on behalf of any community. Stay with the World of Warcraft, you will do less damage.

  24. Betty Ulrich on December 1, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    How stupid to attack people because they did not leave their full names. I am sorry that Pam Howard did not win, because THIS would not even be an issue. SHE would have been able to work with all the council.

    Again, Tari’s move has just caused MORE problems for our county. Tari was voted in as a republican candidate , so the republican central committee should be able to replace her with a republican party member.

    I think it is funny, someone had to take this opportunity to attack OUR STANDING PRESIDENT. He won and I could not be happier- no sour grapes here.

  25. Charles C on December 1, 2012 at 6:53 pm

    Had Mrs. Moore run in the primaries as an unaffiliated candidate she certainly would not have been elected.

    • concernedcitizen on December 5, 2012 at 11:34 am

      who knows? Maybe she would have garnered even more votes. Quite a few voters voted for Pam Howard solely to fight off 2 more years of three amigo disaster shoved down our throats.

  26. Keith Baynes on December 1, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    Amen

    • Rick O'Shea on December 2, 2012 at 11:17 am

      Amen to what?

  27. Fred McDonald on December 1, 2012 at 8:53 pm

    I was confident that I was voting for a good person when I voted for Tari Moore. She has confirmed that by her actions. I am looking forward to four years of the strong leadership she has already exhibited.

  28. Steve Christian on December 2, 2012 at 9:44 am

    I ran across this “blog” a couple of months back and have read with astonishment the vitriolic opinions of the blogger(s) who masquerade as writer(s). It is not a news source or even a local newsworthy website; cats v dogs, amigos v friends, give me a break.

    Anyway, what we have here is a failure to communicate. Tari ran as a Republican and I think she knew full well the situation of filling her vacated seat, but that did not prevent her from accepting Republican monies and votes.

    I have known Senator Pipkin since I met him on the side of the road behind his truck during his first run for the Senate. I have had discussions with him in Annapolis, on the phone and through email.

    I have also known Delegate Smigel for about the same length of time. As with EJ, I have had communications with Mike and even attended a Sunday hunt with him for Farmers Feeding the Hungry.

    Both men have been capable of communicating with the public and may not always agree with some positions, but they have always been willing to listen.

    Therein lays my disappointment with Tari’s decision to change her Party affiliation. Had she had the integrity to communicate with EJ, Mike and the Central Committee, instead of fearing the vitriol from this blogsite, this change of Party affiliation would not have been necessary.

    I voted for Tari because of EJ, Mike and the Republican Party and feel that she does not now represent what I voted for.

    Tari, I look forward to hearing your reason(s) for not being truthful or at least forthcoming in starting your new position as County Executive in such a “non-partisan” manner.

  29. John Ulrich on December 2, 2012 at 10:23 am

    I wanted to clarify my postion on this. I don’t care about Republican Party disputes, I don’t care that Tari Moore won, the voters put her there. I have been saying for a year that this would happen and Tari Moore said that I was misinformed. I wasn’t, she was.

    I don’t care who the Republican central committee would want to appoint and I don’t care who Tari Moore would appoint. My ONLY concern is protecting future Democratic central committees from these cheap political tricks. This will set a precedent, and just because some politician doesn’t like the make up of a central committee should be immaterial.

    There are protections in the State Constitution to protect parties and rightful organizations from this type of abuse. If this precendent is allowed to stand, an entire portion of Charter, the right of central committees to advise on appointments, will have been destroyed. This is not the way that charter should begin. All of these people, including the Republican central comittee, were voted into office by the voters, and Tari Moore and everybody who is agreeing with this sneaky move, want to throw out the votes of everybody who voted opposite of the Moore/Hodge wing of the party.

    The ends do not justify the means and if you begin destroying part of charter, it won’t be long before other parts are ignored and the rule of law that Republicans profess to be so fond of, will have no real impact on Cecil County Government. If you want good government, the first step is to follow the State Constitution and Charter, not the outcome you would want to see.

    [Editor’s Note: Mr. Ulrich is chairman of the Cecil County Democratic Central Committee.]

    • 1Citizen on December 2, 2012 at 7:28 pm

      Mr. Ulrich is right that this sets a terrible precedent – the first official act of the first County Executive – but blame the Smipkin cabal, not Tari Moore. They forced her hand, she acted in the best interests of the county. It is sad that this is how the inception of Charter government goes down in Cecil County history, but maybe, just maybe, it is the beginning of the end of the pathetic power plays of Pipkin and Co.

      Pipkin and Smigiel corrupted county govt. by having undue influence over the Three Amigos, to the point of two state elected officials dictating appointments to prominent county positions…

      Sen. Pipkin has time and again revealed himself to be a small and petty individual (I hesitate to say “man”). For Moore, it was a profile in courage, although such acts are sometimes tainted by the grim realities and devil’s bargains brought about by unscrupulous, arrogant, small-minded politicians.

      I don’t know how Pipkin can even show his face in our county. Does he ever think of his legacy? … Or just his money, ambition and ego?

  30. Joe C on December 2, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    Any wonder that voter turnout is going down in the last three elections? Voters are getting sick and tried of the lack of principles and integrity of those running for office. This is a prime example.

    Tari knew what the political landscape was before starting this campaign but she chose to run as a REPUBLICAN, to accept large quantities of funding to get elected, including a huge mailer from the State party. Then as a little child she wants to rewrite the rules of the game after it is well underway.

    This is a shameful display and reflects a total lack of leadership. One only knows what other “changes” will be thrown on the back of unsuspecting citizens of Cecil County.

    How can she say she does not like the names, when the Republican Central Committee has not even met the develop a list. The Central Committee will be meeting to forward three names to the council. It is shameful that the start of a new government has to be tainted by such a scandal!

    • Valerie on December 2, 2012 at 6:39 pm

      Tainted by scandal– have you been watching what Broomell, Dunn and Mullin have been doing? They have been nothing but unethical, untruthful, sneaky, underhanded and corrupt. Oh and integrity– those three really had that!!

      Tari is just trying to do what is right by the people of Cecil County that are sick and tried of the actions of the three named above and the last thing we need is a new three Amigos with Broomell at the head of the table !!!

      • Joe C on December 3, 2012 at 7:45 pm

        Just remember this situation could happen to anyone or party. Someday the shoe may be on the other foot! What has been done was not the intent of the language in the charter. It is a gross manipulation to achieve total control of the county.

  31. concernedcitizen on December 2, 2012 at 6:15 pm

    Seems like for some people it is more important to advance their respective parties than care about what’s good for this county. Anybody voting by party affiliation alone is naive at best – foolish at worst.

    We can clearly see that the Three Amigos do not speak well for their party, nor do they seem to care what’s good for the county. Yet party is more important? Really??

    Ms. Moore made it very clear that she puts the county first. That’s a good start in my book. We’ll see what follows.

  32. Michael Burns on December 2, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    Seems we’re forgetting that Tari could still choose a RCC nominee, but since she is no longer bound to, it gives them the incentive to nominate candidates they think can get 3 votes.

    That may be the ideal outcome, and prevent Charter from starting on such a bad foot i.e. controversial precedent.

    • Scott Aro on December 5, 2012 at 1:30 am

      Good point – it will be interesting to see just who the RCC nominates.

  33. Joe C on December 2, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    If party is not important then run for office as an unaffiliated and return party money and support. Here is what is good for the county and the country: less taxes, less regulation and smaller government. Please explain how charter is going to do that? How much is the renovation to the County Building costing?? This is just the beginning of big government and big TAXES!! Millions more will be spent on big government, mark my words.

    • Ron Lobos on December 3, 2012 at 10:55 am

      Joe, I believe that party is important in that it defines an ideology or general belief in the way things should be done in government. Not everyone vets out the people they are voting for the way they should, nor is it realistic to think that will ever happen. However, the party was not elected here, the person was.

      The odds are pretty good that Tari will appoint someone from the Republican party to assume her vacated position. The majority of members of the Rep. Central Committee do not reflect the sentiments of the party. Most of them reflect the will of Smigiel and Pipkin.

      As we all know, Pipkin was instrumental in employing dirty politics in a failed effort to thwart Moore and Hodge. Do you really think that the Pipkin puppets would give Moore an opportunity to choose someone like herself who is in all actuality what the people voted for 2 years ago?

      • Joe C on December 5, 2012 at 12:27 am

        Ron,
        She jumped the gun. The committee has not even met yet to interview candidates so how could she know it was going to be an all Smipkin slate. It looks to me that she wanted to hand select her own person and did not like the rules so she manipulated them to her own liking. Should be an interesting four years of higher taxes judging by her initial speech. All talk no cash except from the taxpayers pockets. Question, will you be up at the council meetings protesting when she starts raising taxes, fees and getting us deeper in debt?? Or will this be deemed “moving the county forward” by the local TEA Party?? I will be watching!

    • concernedcitizen on December 5, 2012 at 11:29 am

      unlike big government as we have seen thanks to the three amigos?

  34. Diane on December 3, 2012 at 7:18 am

    While I did not vote for Tari because I felt Pam Howard brought more the table in respect to her long history of fiscal accountability, fiscal conservancy, integrity, and trustworthiness, I accepted that Tari was the voter’s choice.

    I was completely disheartened to learn that Tari switched to unaffiliated in order to avoid the process set in place to name her replacement simply because she did not like other Republicans. Tari took the joy out of what should have been a joyous occasion for the Republican party and all who supported her on election day.
    Tari Moore has shown her true colors and I feel highly vindicated that the abuse and ridicule I received from Moore supporters over the course of the campaign was completely worth it. Sadly, it is the Republicans that trusted and elected Tari who are the real losers in Moore’s strategy [and] long-planned game plan to use the Republican brand and money to get elected and then shaft those who supported her.

  35. Diana Broomell on December 3, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    If you do not agree with my voting record, that’s fine but don’t accuse me of being corrupt. I have not waivered from the platform I ran on and I, unlike the group which calls themselves the Cecil County Patriots, have supported tea party princples (transparency, fiscal responsibility, and accountability).

    • Valerie on December 4, 2012 at 8:37 am

      Diana,
      Are you honestly saying what happened with animal control was honest???? Oh,my do we see different shades of color here. I have never seen such a corrupt, unethical and sneaky use of power in all my life.

      You should be ashamed of how you went behind the backs of the people of Cecil County. What you did was unethical at the most. You had Dr Carletti single handedly write the laws and now she will be the vet for ABFL This is such a conflict of interest and you know it. She will control all that Buddy does and I am assuming that is exactly what you wanted!! And yes you and your buddies should be held accountable and you will be come next election!!

    • Jackie on December 8, 2012 at 2:30 am

      Diana, you can say it as often and as loudly as you’d like. You might even convince yourself it’s true, but like the boy who cried wolf, most people stopped believing you a long time ago. I have a legal bill from your secret and unauthorized consultations with Kramer and Connelly, which we the taxpayers paid, which shows just how “transparent” you are. When I was out doorknocking on Republican doors before the election, you couldn’t imagine how many folks asked “How much longer do we have to put up with her until she can be voted out?”

    • Topcat on December 8, 2012 at 11:29 pm

      Ms Broomell states in her previous post “I feel highly vindicated that the abuse and ridicule I received from Moore supporters over the course of the campaign was completely worth it.”

      I wonder if …the CCSPCA feels the same relief after all the harassment [they] received over that back room animal control deal you hosted under the guise of transparency. You are truly void of any core beliefs or a modicum of decency and to try and brand Tari Moore as some sort of buzz kill is bordering on a whole page listing in the DSM IV manual (The Psychiatric Disorders manual for doctors)with your name on it under newly discovered political disorder. Maybe you can get your friend Carletti to prescribe something for you.

      Who was the one that didn’t show up for the swearing in? You scream transparency but when Hodge asked for the proposal from Buddy you denied that to him a council member. How is that transparent? What else have you hidden from us the citizens in your quest for transparency and now victim hood.

      That “R” besides your name can only stand for RINO since I as a tea party person can’t seem to find anything that you stand for that remotely comes close to any Tea Party platform or Republican platform I am familiar with. Please refresh me on where you have been transparent in any recent proposals or proceedings for Cecil county especially in the 2 year animal control debacle.

      The only transparency I can see is that now the citizens of Cecil county can see right through you. Now that’s transparency. I hope that upcoming court cases will finally show what really went on behind closed doors in those smoke free rooms As they say I’ll see you in court.

  36. tina sharp on December 3, 2012 at 8:45 pm

    How can one trust a central committee that cannot properly report financial reports, keeps no records on meetings, or give straight answers. So all that being said how could you trust such … actions (not all members– Joe and Ted are not part of that group) to nominate quality candidates?

    • Joe C on December 5, 2012 at 12:34 am

      Tina,
      What bothers me is that she did not know who was going to apply and made the decision prior to us interviewing anyone. She accepted party money and support and knew what the playing field looked like before she ran. Now she is trying to sell that her decision transcends party politics?? Nothing has changed since before the election started, except Tari’s party!

      • Ron Lobos on December 9, 2012 at 8:57 am

        Joe,
        Can you tell me how much party money was accepted by Tari? Does this party money make her beholden to the party? I think that the amount of Republican party money contributed to Tari Moore’s campaign was very nominal and should be given the same amount of consideration.

        But more importantly, the amount of time given by volunteers to help get Tari elected was vastly greater than any amount of money that supposedly was contributed by the Republican Party. So please don’t keep throwing in my face that Tari took money from the Republican party. I believe that Tari realizes this and knows that her campaign workers and followers are not concerned with what a small faction of the party wants. Let’s all just give Tari a chance to do the job we elected her to do.

  37. Scott Aro on December 5, 2012 at 1:37 am

    Kudos to Tari Moore – thank you!

  38. Stupid Intolerant on December 7, 2012 at 11:40 pm

    What kind of biosphere can dianna broomell be in?If it weren’t for her idiocracy none of this would have been necessary.May I mention Aston point,York Building Products,Artesian,Professional Clinics,Lowell McCoy,SPCA,Rolling Mill…please make me stop!Her legacy will be she was a temporary commissioner who did permanent damage.

Leave a Reply to Joe C Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENTS

Fine Maryland Wines
Proudly made in Cecil County

www.dovevalleywine.com