Here we go again: “Cheseldine said. “I bring a no-nonsense approach. I want to reduce taxes, improve schools and [fix] the transportation mess.”
What’s new—don’t all politicians say the same thing? It’s just like a record that is played over and over again. Everyone of them is for the same thing because it just sounds good. Unfortunately it signifies nothing because their idea of attempting to improve schools and fix the transportation mess always requires more taxes which, in this case, Cheseldine says he wants to reduce. I wonder what voters these candidates think they are impressing with such stupid and vacuous statements. It’s almost an insult to the voter’s intelligence. If this is the best that Cheseldine can come up with, put him on your list of candidates not to vote for.
I suppose then that we should vote for the candidate that says, “I want to raise your taxes until it hurts, heap rewards on the useless slugs of society and try hard during my term to get in good with a developer so that I can retire in comfort (preferably somewhere far away from you idiots).” ;-)
Every one of those issues can be done without raising your taxes. All it takes is using the money that the county brings in wisely. It means not spending money just to spend it. I am sure everyone one of us here could identify one item the county has spent money on when it shouldn’t have. Any budget works the same be it your own personal household budget or something greater such as a county budget. You trim the items that are really not that important and use the money in another area of greater importance. Instead of buying that new car, put money away for your child’s education. It comes down to responsible choices.
There a few new candidates that have entered races recently. Instead of prejudging them based off of the short amount of information supplied by the paper, take the time to seek them out and make an educated decision by looking at literature, websites, and talking to them personally. If you do not, you have already prejudged them which is no better than voting for a person just because of party. Personally, I thought I already had my mind made up for who I would vote for. Now that Jack has entered the race and I have had at least one chance to talk to him, my choice is not so clear. I look forward to hearing what he has to say and what ideas he may bring to the table beofre I make a final decision.
The one major issue we have had with the county that I constantly here is the commissioners making decisions without talking to anyone they affect. That includes the school board, the county employees, we the voters, everyone. We as a public have not been afforded the opportunity to give input on the issues and we have all seen where that has led. If we fail as voters to give each of the individuals running for office a fair opportunity to give us input, not only do we fail the county and each other, we are no better than the current administration. Give each of them a chance, and then make a choice. At least it will be educated and not from a 200 word article about someone’s background.
All that I am saying is that the voters have been exposed to candidates making campaign promises that never materialize. We hear candidates say that they are for improving traffic and traffic only gets worse. They say they are for better education and education never gets better. They say they want to reduce taxes and taxes keep going up. As soon as someone asks the question of how are you going to do any of these things we get an answer like, ‘I’m going to take a common sense approach to problems’. Well, I like common sense but if I am going to have a heart bypass I want my surgeon to have some training and experience in that field to go along with his common sense. Everything is just too important today and specifically in Charles County, for candidates to just make ‘feel good, warm and fuzzy’ statements without backing them up with some substance that the voters can cling too.
This ain’t heart surgery! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist either. It takes someone who can think on his/her feet, use common sense, listen to his/her constituency, communicate effectively, and someone who will act in the best interest of the county and her residents. I don’t care if that person is a construction laborer, bank teller, doctor, baker or Indian Chief.
What a pompous, bitter little man you must be. To measure a man’s capacity for leadership and intelligence by his job title is pure arrogance. We’ve seen just how effective it is to have a Ph.D. and a J.D. at the helm of Charles County, I’m pretty sure we can’t do worse regardless of from where our next commissioners have matriculated.
Well, I guess you will be going around and stealing his signs next. I don’t care for Mr. Robinson either but go around stealing his signs doesn’t say much for you. I happen to know Jack and have all my life, since living near him back in his St. Charles days. I have never seen a man be as honest as he has. Jack is a good man who only wants to see this county move in a direction which is smart and careful with tax payer money. Jack you have my vote!
I’ve never stolen a sign—you have the wrong person. As for a candidate being a ‘nice guy’, that’s important but I doubt that all of the thousands of ‘nice guys’ in Charles County would make good political leaders. We need someone who is a ‘nice guy, a smart guy, and an experienced guy or gal to get elected to government. Your favorite candidate may be that person—I don’t know him personally and only took exception to his initial rote reasons as to why he was running for office. It is now time for him to get into the details of how he plans on accomplishing what he said he is going to do. Until he makes himself clear and I believe his approach is valid, I will not make a voting decision just because he is a ‘nice guy’.
Simply demeaning someones level of intelligence based on their prior employment is simply irresponsible. Being a “manager” of a liquor store does not at all incline that you are anyless intelligent thananyone else. That being said Mr. Cheseldine was not just a manager, he was part OWNER. As im sure many people will attest, when he owned this store superior quality of customer service, wine selection and overall knowlege regarding liquor sales was matched by none.
I myself am a landscaper, does this mean im uneducated or incapable of running for for office and actually having enough “common sense” to solve the problems within the county. Does it mean as a landscaper it makes me 2nd class, or does it immediatly make you think i higher illegal immagrants or dont pay taxes. You can assume whatever you’d like but i challenge you to actually become a responsible, reasonable, intelligent human being and not judge anyone or anything before you have actually met them face to face and had a quality conversation.
Im 20 years old and if anyone demeans my ability to accomplish anything based on my age or prior employment history, i will glady proove you otherwise.
Someone here said that you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be a good Commissioner. I commented that being a manager of a liquor store would therefore qualify that person as being a good candidate in the mind of that poster. If agreeeing with that poster makes me wrong then I guess that poster is wrong also. I’m sure any 20 year old landscaper would understand that.
(this is my own personal question) I have one confusion in the things Mr Cheseldine has said. I dont know whether he is confused or I am. He says he supports a western bypass to alleviate traffic and move it around Waldorf- he says business owners disagree cause they would lose customers. Okay so far. Then he says he has gone up thru PG where it has already been done and the parking lots are full of cars. Well, that is an upgrade with overpasses (the way towards beltway thru Clinton)- that is not a bypass. That is what lots of us have been advocating to have for years. So WHICH is it that he supports?
I traveled that route for many years on the way to work. It was constantly under construction and most of what they originally did to improve the traffic flow was then re-configured a few years later. It was a horrible trip year after year. Finally, they did the over-passes and it was wonderful. That is what Waldorf needs but it will cost a lot of money and inconvenience travelers for years while it is under construction. It may be worth it but be aware of the pain it will cause while it is being built.
true- but I just wonder if Mr Cheseldine knows the difference between the two. As a President Candidate I would hope he is aware and knowledgeable of ALL the issues.
There is no guarantee that a well-educated, highly experienced candidate in a field or fields that lend themselves to governance of a County will result in an office holder being effective in a positive way. On the other hand, I really believe that the likelihood of someone who has less education and experience in a field or fields that lend themselves to governance of a County are much less that they will be effective in a positive way. Not intending to be smug but, such education and experience usually brings with it the increased ability to analyze complex problems never before encountered, understand options and alternatives, work constructively with others, understand the merits of compromising to achieve goals and have a measure of confidence in their approach to matters that is derived from a history of education and experience to be a forceful leader and not one who, without that education and experience, would tend to let others lead the way. Let me mention Murray Levi as an example of a highly educated elected official. When he first came to Charles County, this County was basically run by good old boys who were endowed by their Creator with a place in Charles County’s government by virtue of birth—irrespective of any ability. Murray was an accountant and became Treasurer and then moved to elective office. I did not agree with all of his decisions but I always felt confident that most of them would be smart decisions and I believe they were. I attended many meetings of Commissioners over the years and at each one of them—even though the makeup of Commissioners changed, when Murray was one of them, he was always in charge and in command of the facts. Charles County is too big now to have a bunch of bumpkins running the show. Vote the odds for better governance and elect smart, educated and experienced people and most likely you will be better off than if you elect someone who has common sense and little else to offer.
I agree Iman- and there are a couple running that are as you describe. Creative, thinking, educated leaders, 3 I know are already savvy in the way our Govt works-....this we need.
CQK was given a pass on the Capital Clubhouse. I am suspecting if she had won last time, we’d be calling for her ousting as well as the other commissioners….
WOW! Iamangttia, you are bitter!!! Jack is a great guy and what’s wrong with owning a liquor store? I am sure you like to throw one back. The man was a police officer, has coached baseball to kids for years, worked in D.C. on transportation and is making a very difficult decision to run for an office….what have you done! I doubt half the stuff that he has. Why not focus on what he wants for Charles County? Sure he wants the same stuff as everyone else but aren’t roads, schools, taxes, etc what you DO care about. It’s not like CQK is promising us the world here, she’s doing same stuff. And she’s no more qualifed for the position than Jack. Plus Jack is the little guy! Come on CQK is worth tons! Her husband is too! They live in manison, a historic one and I heard she has a place on Cobb Island and a homme in Aspin, CO and other stuff. Who’s she really looking out for? Her kids drive expensive cars, went to private schools, she doesn’t know what we need. Come on you think she looking out for us or the building companies her husband was “in bed” with.
I hope people see the “REAL” people here, not the hype that the pape puts out or that these candidates camapagins put out. Anyone can buy an ad in the newspaper and anyone one can run for office and that’s what I love about living in America. But take the sunglasses off and really look at these people! For years Jack has been under the radar working, teaching kids, etc. Candice has just recently been doing stuff in the public and it seems like she always has a photographer with her! I mean come on, it’s like she’s in the paper everytime you turn around. I am all for her doing good but do you have to throw it in our faces! I get it you want to win.
Look she’s worked hard and so has her husband and they have every right to live where they like and buy what that want but I just question how much she has the county’s best Interest at heart. I have lived here all my life and love Charles County and I just want to see it get on the right track. So before you jump all over me which I am sure you will, (I have been a long time reader, first time writer) I say to you look at everything, step back, see the bigger picture. Thank you!
OK, Jack is a nice guy and everyone loves him—Great. We need people to run this County that are not only swell guys or gals but that have a good educational background, lots of experience other than passing a bottle of liquor over the counter and being handed a few bucks for the effort. I applaud Jack for wanting to do the right thing and I would like to be a brain surgeon but would not apply for that job with the training that I have and Jack should not be running for a political office that requires a much broader background in spite of how great a guy he is.
the ‘photographer is a private citizen and a friend of many of us. he likes going out and taking pictures. Wherever he is he takes pictures. He even sends good ones to other Candidates who may want them.
just like me, an amateur photographer, who likes to get out. He is a little shy and being behind a camera can help in these situations.
you make it sound like she has a paid photographer following her around. That’s just not the case.
as to money - lok at her campaign finances. not out of line with others- and in fact way less then many of the current commissioner spent.
WOW! Iamangttia, you are bitter!!! Jack is a great guy and what’s wrong with owning a liquor store? I am sure you like to throw one back. The man was a police officer, has coached baseball to kids for years, worked in D.C. on transportation and is making a very difficult decision to run for an office….what have you done! I doubt half the stuff that he has. Why not focus on what he wants for Charles County? Sure he wants the same stuff as everyone else but aren’t roads, schools, taxes, etc what you DO care about. It’s not like CQK is promising us the world here, she’s doing same stuff. And she’s no more qualifed for the position than Jack. Plus Jack is the little guy! Come on CQK is worth tons! Her husband is too! They live in manison, a historic one and I heard she has a place on Cobb Island and a homme in Aspin, CO and other stuff. Who’s she really looking out for? Her kids drive expensive cars, went to private schools, she doesn’t know what we need. Come on you think she looking out for us or the building companies her husband was “in bed” with.
I hope people see the “REAL” people here, not the hype that the pape puts out or that these candidates camapagins put out. Anyone can buy an ad in the newspaper and anyone one can run for office and that’s what I love about living in America. But take the sunglasses off and really look at these people! For years Jack has been under the radar working, teaching kids, etc. Candice has just recently been doing stuff in the public and it seems like she always has a photographer with her! I mean come on, it’s like she’s in the paper everytime you turn around. I am all for her doing good but do you have to throw it in our faces! I get it you want to win.
Look she’s worked hard and so has her husband and they have every right to live where they like and buy what that want but I just question how much she has the county’s best Interest at heart. I have lived here all my life and love Charles County and I just want to see it get on the right track. So before you jump all over me which I am sure you will, (I have been a long time reader, first time writer) I say to you look at everything, step back, see the bigger picture. Thank you!
i agree with you here. CQK strikes me as part of the elitist gentry class.
she also dropped the ball on the ice rink, and never answered adequately to my mind. she also .... ah, never mind. voting in a few hours. i suspect everyone has their minds made up already.
i know i do. i won’t be voting in the commission president race, or maybe i’ll do a write-in because neither candidate will do. i’m sure Jack Cheseldine is a fine man, but that just won’t do for me. we have to demand more.
