From left to right, Calvert County Commissioner Steve Weems and Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford.
Huntingtown, MD – The Calvert County Republican Central Committee’s annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner, held Thursday, May 11 at the Hall of Huntingtown, had a definite Maryland theme to it. It wasn’t just the crab balls, stuffed ham and fried chicken served for supper, either. An optimistic feeling that the GOP is thwarting Democrats’ super majority in Annapolis was truly the subtext of almost every speaker’s speech. While a cardboard cutout of President Donald Trump was placed at the hall’s entrance, the new chief executive’s name wasn’t mentioned once during the program. There were also no barbs about Former President Barack Obama or vanquished Democratic 2016 standard-bearer Hilary Clinton. Instead, many speakers chose to direct their critical comments at Maryland Senate President Mike Miller, a Calvert County resident.
“It was so unusually cold today Senator Miller had his hands in his own pockets,” quipped District 27C Delegate Mark N. Fisher. It was Fisher who was given credit for goading Miller into reversing his stance on a “state sanctuary” bill benefitting illegal immigrants. Fisher reiterated his previous declaration that the measure “put politics over public safety.” The bill died a quick death shortly after Fisher launched a social media campaign and got thousands of citizens to voice their objections.
There was effusive praise for Governor Larry Hogan and his administration throughout the evening. Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford was the event’s keynote speaker. He agreed with Fisher and other speakers that Maryland Democrats in Annapolis “did try to push a far-left agenda.”
Noting that the Hogan Administration’s primary mission has been “to grow the private sector,” Rutherford drew applause when he stated that 2016 “was Maryland’s best year for business in three years.” The state’s unemployment rate has been reduced to below the national average and Rutherford said Maryland is currently number one in the Mid-Atlantic region in “private sector job growth. It’s an exciting economic resurgence that’s taking place in Maryland.” The lieutenant governor hailed passage of Hogan’s “More Jobs for Marylanders Act” on the final day of the 2017 session. Hogan stated after the measure passed that it would “incentivize and encourage manufacturers to create thousands of jobs in the areas of the state that need them the most.” The legislation takes effect June 1. More applause came when Rutherford noted that the Hogan Administration continues to implement better customer service policies within state agencies, reduce taxes and tolls, and budgeting money for the fight against opioid abuse and long-languishing transportation projects. “There’s a feeling that Maryland is moving in the right direction,” said Rutherford, who warned fellow Republicans that Annapolis Democrats will go back to pushing for tax increases if they succeed in ousting Hogan in the 2018 election.
Regarding the opioid crisis, Rutherford told TheBayNet.com following the event that while it is difficult to establish a yardstick for measuring adequate success in the initiative, decreasing overdoses, especially fatal overdoses, would represent progress. “We’re not there yet,” said Rutherford. He added the focus of the effort needs to be on prevention by cutting off the pipeline of substances such as heroin for “new users” and getting the medical profession on board with reforms in pain management.
In his introduction of Rutherford, District 29 Senator Steve Waugh told the audience that Rutherford is “someone who shares your vision.”
Locally, District 29C Delegate Jerry Clark noted that the region’s delegation was successful in getting the county commissioners’ request for an additional $17 million in bonding authority through the session. Clark also expressed satisfaction that “the Road Kill Bill was killed, so we’re going to see some projects.” One of those projects that could get a boost is the much-clamored for replacement of the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge. Clark also spent a brief portion of his time at the podium to remember former county commissioner Linda Kelley, who died back in February. Clark and Kelley served together for eight years on the board of county commissioners. Clark said when he arrived at the banquet hall he parked his vehicle in the space Kelley always used. The delegate said he felt Kelley spirit was present in the room.
Arguably the most emotional moment of the banquet came when County Commissioner Steve Weems was announced as recipient the Calvert Republican Edward T. Hall Man of the Year Award. The honor was bestowed one week after Weems proposed a property tax rate decrease for the upcoming fiscal year. His was the lone vote favoring the reduction. While he admitted he was initially overwhelmed, as he usually does, Weems used the moment to provide the event with a bit of comic relief. He serenaded his mother and former county commissioner Susan Shaw with a few lines of Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender.”
The Margaret Shields King Republican Woman of the Year Award was presented to Carolyn Gill. Gill’s husband, Bobby, received the committee’s “Unsung Hero Award.”
Calvert Republicans’ next big event will be a noon luncheon June 9 in Prince Frederick to celebrate the Republican Women of Calvert County’s 59th anniversary.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
