“Our message was well-received; put community first,” said Jack Russell, speaking to students about his large margin in the primaries.

Russell was a recent guest speaker at a Zach Messitte’s political science class at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

“If I had to do it all again I would have structured the secretary, treasurer, and campaign members differently. I lost one of the staff early on,” Russell recalled. “I would have done more meet and greets at a cheaper price,” he added. “That’s one thing I learned from Sommerville [who lost the democratic primary for sheriff by a narrow margin]. He did held meet and greets and made them accessible. I think it showed in the polls. Exposure is the name of the game.”

“Were you surprised by the large margin, and what do you think contributed to it?” one student asked. “Yes I was,” Russell replied. “People accepted my message.”

“People want the same things: safe communities, good schools, not to be overburdened with taxes,” Russell explained to the students. “You’ve got to be fiscally responsible.”

“Anyone on the other side of the fence would like to cast me as a liberal and an environmentalist who will break the back of every businessman,” said Russell. “But we don’t have to fertilize our lawns every week. They don’t necessarily have to be as green as the Jones’. We can have some part of our cake and eat it. We just have to be smart about it,” he told the class.

When asked about transportation for the county, Russell said the biggest stumbling blocks on all transportation plans continue to be the dollar signs. “They’ve been debating FDR Boulevard for 15 years. They’re also talking about extending Pegg Road down to 249 to alleviate some of the congestion on Great Mills Road. These are things I think we need to settle,” Russell said.

“I think light-rail is coming whether you like it or not because our roads are going to be choked up,” he added. “Light-rail is going to be a very viable thing in the future of St. Mary’s County.”

One bold student quoted some unflattering descriptions of the visiting candidate, and asked for his opinion. “You’ve got to take this stuff lightly,” returned Russell, unfazed. “I know I talk funny, and other things. I’m very quotable and I have to be careful about that because sometimes you can be too quotable,” he advised the students of poli-sci.

“I’m very lucky. I have two daughters. My wife still loves me….as far as I know,” he joked. “Do I need this job? No. Do I have time for this job? Well, it’s not the part-time job they say it is.”

Jack Russell (D) is running for president of the St. Mary’s County Commissioners.