Get To Know Washington County Commissioner Candidate, Robin Wivell

It was March 23, 1775 when my ancestor, Patrick Henry stood amongst the Virginia House of Burgesses and is credited with swinging that House to pass a resolution delivering the VA troops to the Revolutionary War against Great Britain in his now-famous “give me liberty or give me death” speech.  While it was certainly a different time and much different circumstances in 1775, Patrick Henry also spoke of the importance of standing up for your beliefs when he also stated during that speech “should I keep back my opinion at such a time, through fear of giving offense?”

It is this same fight within me today that drives me to seek the office of Washington County Commissioner for I truly believe that one must stand up for their beliefs and do what is right for their constituents. If you find me worthy of your vote and I am elected as a Commissioner to represent you in local government, I promise that I will speak the truth, adhere to that which is right, fair and just, and be an independent voice for the citizens of Washington County.

Elect Robin Lynne (Henry) Wivell to the Board of County Commissioners!

If elected, ROBIN LYNNE WIVELL will:

Advocate for Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability

• Work to keep government “affordable”
• Control spending and differentiate from needs versus wants
• Improve efficiencies, where possible

• Advocate at the State and Federal levels for a fair distribution of funds while being cautious that their deficits are not passed on to our local government
• Oppose income and property tax rate increases

• Protect and adopt, where necessary, strong financial policies
• Support and protect cash reserves
• Support pay-go funding of capital projects, while opposing excessive borrowing

ROBIN LYNNE WIVELL also loves our quality of life here in Washington County, and believes:

• In the protection of private property rights, and will work to safeguard those rights
  • The rural character of Washington County is best protected through the purchase of permanent easements or other programs and not through takings from “down-zoning” or other non-compensated easements.
• Growth can be managed through the County’s Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance ( APFO) uniformly applied to all
• The agricultural industry can prosper through protections and programs that provide for its viability

• We should continue to search for alternative approaches to resolving environmental issues, including the adaptation of new technologies in our sewer treatment facilities and addressing landfill capacity by researching alternatives such as partnerships with recyclers, waste stream separators, and waste-to-energy plant proposals

In regards to tax policy and economic development, Robin Lynne Wivell

• Believes in the free market and supports a local tax policy that spurs private investment and enhances economic development.

–          supports temporary stimulus programs that will create jobs paying above-average wages and create investment in the community

–          supports a re-evaluation within the Economic Development Commission to create incentive programs directly benefiting new and existing businesses;

–          Education plays a vital role in the success of our economic development programs and the County must continue to improve upon the good work that has already begun in this area

• K-12 magnet and specialized programs
• HCC incubator and bio-tech labs

Background

• 20-year resident of Washington County

• Mother of four daughters
• Married to William Joseph Wivell
• Member, St. Rita’s Roman Catholic Church, currently serving on Parish Council
• Facilities Coordinator and store manager at a private school
• Attended Northern Virginia Community College, Hagerstown Community College, and Shepherd University, majoring in Chemistry/Biology

I’m a Washington County advocate that believes that one person can make a positive difference, and, in the words of Patrick Henry “We must fight” for our beliefs!

Please contact me with your issues and concerns, or if you are able to help with my campaign.

• Email – robinwivell@gmail.com
• Mailing address: P. O. Box 273, Smithsburg, MD  21783
• Phone- 301-824-3369

Remember – it’s the votes that count!

Exercise Your Right!

Please Vote

September 03, 2010 – Early voting begins

September 14, 2010 –Primary

November 02, 2010 – General Election

Elect

Robin Lynne WIVELL

County

Commissioner

Authority: Friends of Robin Lynne Wivell

Senator Don Munson Refuses To Debate Delegate Chris Shank – Cecil Calvert calls on WHAG NBC NEWS 25 to Step in

Subject: Senator Don Munson Refuses To Debate Delegate Chris Shank – Cecil Calvert calls on WHAG NBC NEWS 25 to Step in
To: "pbickford" <pbickford>, Mark Kraham <mkraham>

Dear NBC News 25,
Many of us here in District 2 want a debate between long time Senator Don Munson and House Minority Whip, Delegate Chris Shank for District 2 State Senate Seat. Senator Munson continues to duck the constituents of District 2 by not allowing us to question him on his voting record over the past few years and his votes to increase Taxes and give money to Casa De Maryland who blatantly flaunts the breaking of the law with it’s assistance to harbor and abet illegal aliens in Maryland. Senator Munson also voted in 2003 which allowed Illegal Aliens to either retain or receive driver’s licenses in Maryland by skewing the language of the bill as far as to requirements to obtain such driver’s license. Senator Munson has no problem crying to the Herald Mail, stating Delegate Shank has a terrible terrible record, but the fact is, Senator Munson does not want to embarrass his Political Career by doing what the people of District 2 want, that is a debate. If Delegate Shank has such a Terrible Record as the kind Senator Suggests, then why not debate him on the issues instead of running from them. We, in District 2 have grown tired of Senator Munson’s ducking of the issues and are demanding that he come forward and debate Delegate Chris Shank and prove his assertions. It is not uncommon for two, vying for the same seat in the same party to not have a debate to show the differences between the 2 candidates to give a clear and viable choice for our District 2 Senator for the next 4 years. I am calling on WHAG to demand a debate between Delegate Chris Shank and Senator Munson and let’s get this done and taken care of for District 2. Below is an open letter to Senator Munson from Delegate Chris Shank asking for the Senator to come forward and debate.

August 30, 2010

The Honorable Donald F. Munson

Senator

28 Church Street

Hagerstown MD, 21740

Dear Senator Munson-

I was concerned to learn of your refusal to participate in a debate of the issues important to the citizens of Washington County. I am writing to ask that you reconsider your position.

As I have said from the beginning of this campaign, I respect your service to the people. I know that you believe as I do that service in the General Assembly is an honor that must be earned.

We both want to represent Washington County in the State Senate for the next four years. We both have very different voting records and very different philosophies of the role of government. We have a duty and obligation to talk to the citizens about how we would represent them.

The citizens of Washington County need to hear directly from both of us. They need to hear our explanation of our past votes and positions, as well as what we will do about the pressing problems like high taxes, overspending, and the 10% rate of unemployment in our county.

This campaign is not about one individual – it is not about you or me. This campaign is about the citizens of Washington County and the type of representation they want in Annapolis. We owe them an honest exchange of ideas – unfiltered by media or any other entity. They deserve an opportunity to ask questions directly of us and hold us accountable for our past actions and votes.

A government accountable to the people is what our founding fathers envisioned all those years ago. Thomas Jefferson himself once said “educate and inform the whole mass of the people…they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty”.

I sincerely believe that a debate would be the best way to discuss the issues with the citizens of Washington County. Let us appear before the citizens and have a free and unfiltered discussion of the issues of the day.

You and I spend a lot of time campaigning for this seat; I think it would be a tremendous investment of that time to offer our constituents with this opportunity to question us. As you know, since the proposal was made, several individuals and entities have stepped forward and agreed to host and/or moderate a debate if you would agree to it. I would be happy to meet any time to discuss the best way to facilitate this exchange of ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Christopher B. Shank

Thank you for your time.

Maryland’s Revenue’s Hit All Time Low – Comptroller releases annual MD revenue report – Think OWE Malley will Cut and not Grow if Re Elected? Think Again

Comptroller releases annual MD revenue report

Maryland pulled in less revenue than almost any time in four decades — but outperformed its bleak financial forecast, state Comptroller Peter Franchot reported this morning.

The state’s revenue collections, which include sales and property taxes and various fees, amounted to $12.6 billion in the fiscal year that ended June 30, representing a year-over-year decline of 3.7 percent, Franchot said.

But because financial analysts had predicted an even more dramatic decline, the state actually ended the year with $183.7 million more than projected. The state ended the year with a fund balance of $344 million (the unexpected money plus planned transfers), which, by law, goes into the state’s rainy day fund.

Franchot summarized the report this morning at the Board of Public Works, a three-member panel of Democrats that also includes Gov. Martin O’Malley and Treasurer Nancy Kopp.

It was a striking contrast from last year, when lower-than-anticipated revenues prompted the board to slash spending to bring the state budget into balance.

Still, Franchot maintained a gloomy tone, saying only that the state had "outperformed its catastrophic projections."

"That’s great," O’Malley said.

"It’s not just great, it’s a great sense of relief," Franchot said. He went on to say that the national recession has taken its toll on Maryland, even though it is doing better than other states.

To get back to where state revenue stood before the recession, Maryland would have to see 14 percent growth each year for the next four years. State revenue is projected to grow by 3.6 percent this year.

"Anyone who thinks we can grow our way out of this is mistaken," Franchot said. "We simply have to face reality."

He said the state would need to continue its belt-tightening in "this new age of austerity."

O’Malley focused on the positive signs, pointing to five months of job growth, lower unemployment claims in recent months and Forbes Magazine’s prediction that Maryland would be one of just three states to see revenue growth this year.

"We’ll just have to keep up the cutting and the tough choices that we’ve shown ourselves capable of," the governor said.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2010/09/maryland_comptroller_releases.html

An Open Letter to Senator Munson regarding proposed Debate – By Chris Shank

August 30, 2010

The Honorable Donald F. Munson

Senator

28 Church Street

Hagerstown MD, 21740

Dear Senator Munson-

I was concerned to learn of your refusal to participate in a debate of the issues important to the citizens of Washington County. I am writing to ask that you reconsider your position.

As I have said from the beginning of this campaign, I respect your service to the people.  I know that you believe as I do that service in the General Assembly is an honor that must be earned.

We both want to represent Washington County in the State Senate for the next four years.  We both have very different voting records and very different philosophies of the role of government.  We have a duty and obligation to talk to the citizens about how we would represent them.

The citizens of Washington County need to hear directly from both of us.  They need to hear our explanation of our past votes and positions, as well as what we will do about the pressing problems like high taxes, overspending, and the 10% rate of unemployment in our county.

This campaign is not about one individual – it is not about you or me.  This campaign is about the citizens of Washington County and the type of representation they want in Annapolis.  We owe them an honest exchange of ideas – unfiltered by media or any other entity.  They deserve an opportunity to ask questions directly of us and hold us accountable for our past actions and votes.

A government accountable to the people is what our founding fathers envisioned all those years ago.  Thomas Jefferson himself once said “educate and inform the whole mass of the people…they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty”.

I sincerely believe that a debate would be the best way to discuss the issues with the citizens of Washington County.  Let us appear before the citizens and have a free and unfiltered discussion of the issues of the day.

You and I spend a lot of time campaigning for this seat; I think it would be a tremendous investment of that time to offer our constituents with this opportunity to question us.  As you know, since the proposal was made, several individuals and entities have stepped forward and agreed to host and/or moderate a debate if you would agree to it.  I would be happy to meet any time to discuss the best way to facilitate this exchange of ideas.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Christopher B.  Shank