By Megan Greenwell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 5, 2006
The local chapters of the Fraternal Order of Police have endorsed the challengers to the sheriffs in Charles, St. Mary's and Calvert counties for the Nov. 7 general election.
In St. Mary's County, Republican sheriff candidate Tim Cameron won the backing of more than the 60 percent required to receive the official endorsement of the 143 active and retired police officers in the FOP lodge last week. The announcement turned up the heat in what was one of Southern Maryland's most hotly contested county races.
"With the exception of Dyson-McKay, this is the most intense race going on," said St. Mary's College of Maryland political science professor Zach P. Messitte, comparing the state Senate campaign in the district that covers St. Mary's County to the contest between Cameron and Democratic Sheriff David D. Zylak. "People know the issues and are following everything that's going on."
Two days before the St. Mary's FOP vote, the Calvert County Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Democrat Joseph C. McKenny over Republican Sheriff Mike Evans. McKenny has pointed to a 19.6 percent rise in crime in Calvert in 2005 as the main reason to elect a new sheriff.
In Charles County, the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Rex W. Coffey, the Democratic challenger to three-term Sheriff Frederick E. Davis.
St. Mary's FOP President Frank Marquart said Zylak hurt his standing with the rank-and-file officers when he told a packed house in a debate at St. Mary's College that his top priority was accreditation for the department. Cameron answered the same question about his priorities for the agency by focusing on county residents' quality of life.
"If accreditation is your biggest priority, what about the citizens of your county, the people that you lead?" Marquart said. "Cameron takes care of his people first."
Zylak said this week that the focus of his campaign is not on seeking endorsements but on proving himself to ordinary voters. Since narrowly defeating Kevin D. Somerville in the Democratic primary last month, he has concentrated on talking to people in areas of the county where he did not fare well, he said.
"I've been here for four years, I have a record, and I'm proud of that record," he said. "And I have a lot left to offer."
But Cameron, a 25-year veteran of the sheriff's office who is director of the county's Department of Public Safety, said earning the endorsement of his peers shows him that St. Mary's is ready for a new sheriff.
"I can't emphasize enough how important it is to me to know that I have the support from police agencies, them saying, 'This is who we want to guide us,' " he said.
Their views on staff morale also may have separated Zylak and Cameron among FOP members. Marquart said that in candidate interviews, Zylak had said morale is not a problem among officers. In contrast, Cameron said that morale is low and that the culture of the department must change from the top.
"People have to feel like they're respected and listened to, and that's an issue of leadership," Cameron said.
Cameron has also said Zylak has not done enough to stop the county's rising drug trade and gang activity. If he were sheriff, Cameron said, he would take more preventive steps -- such as investing in community policing and collaborating with other law enforcement agencies -- rather than simply responding to crimes that arise.
Zylak countered that the sheriff's office has made major strides in its ability to prevent crime during his four years. He has added 16 deputies and major crimes have decreased 14 percent, he said.
"I do think my record speaks for itself," he said.
In the final month of the campaign, Cameron said his challenge will be to make his face and issues known to as many people as possible so he can overcome the advantage Zylak holds as the incumbent.
"You just have to get in front of as many people as you can, whenever and however," he said.
Voter Rolls Will Close SoonThe deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 7 general election is less than two weeks away.
Eligible residents have until 9 p.m. Oct. 17 to file a voter registration application. The form is available at:
· Motor Vehicle Administration offices.
· Marriage license bureaus.
· State Department of Health offices.
· U.S. post offices.
· Department of Social Services offices.
· Public libraries.
· Offices on Aging.
· State and county boards of elections.
· Division of Rehabilitation Services offices.
· Public colleges and universities.
Citizens may download a voter registration application from the Web site of the State Board of Elections at http://www.elections.state.md.us or may have a voter registration application mailed by calling the state's 24-hour toll-free line at 800-222-VOTE (8683).
The Southern Maryland election offices are:
· Calvert County Board of Elections, County Services Plaza, 150 Main St., Suite 107, P.O. Box 798, Prince Frederick, 20678; 410-535-2214, 301-855-1376, 410-535-1600, Ext. 2215, 301-855-1243, Ext. 2215. http://www.co.cal.md.us/government/elections/default.asp .
· Charles County Board of Elections, 9320 W & W Industrial Rd., P.O. Box 908, La Plata, 20646-0908; 301-934-8972, 301-870-3167. http://www.charlescounty.org/boe/ .
· St. Mary's County Board of Elections, P.O. Box 197, Leonardtown, 20650; 301-475-7844, Ext. 1610 or 1614. Citizens may visit the St. Mary's elections office at 41650 Tudor Hall Rd. in Leonardtown. http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/supervisorofelections/index.asp .
Teachers, NRA Back KullenDel. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) announced several endorsements this week of her candidacy to keep the House of Delegates seat to which she was appointed two years ago.
She is being challenged by Calvert County Commissioners President David F. Hale (R) in District 27B, which includes most of northern Calvert.
Organizations backing Kullen are the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, the Maryland State Teachers Association, the Calvert Education Association, the Maryland Nurses Association, the National Rifle Association, and the Maryland and D.C. AFL-CIO United Healthcare Workers.
Kullen has adopted an issues platform she calls "e-squared" for education and the environment. "I am pleased that my voting record in my two years in office has earned the support of the Maryland and Calvert Teachers associations and the Maryland League of Conservation Voters," she said in a statement announcing the endorsements.
Kelly Sets Town MeetingCharles County Commissioner Candice Quinn Kelly (R-La Plata) has scheduled a town meeting for Commissioner District 1 residents who live in La Plata and the surrounding area on Saturday, at 11 a.m., in the Commissioners' Meeting Room of the Charles County Government Building, 200 Baltimore St., La Plata.
Residents are encouraged to attend and bring their concerns to the meeting. Following a brief welcome, Commissioner Kelly will accept questions or comments from the audience. There will be no agenda or recording of testimony.
Anyone with special needs that must be accommodated to attend should call Public Information Officer Nina Voehl at 301-645-0580, 301-870-3000, or via the Maryland Relay Service TTY/TDD at 711 or 1-800-735-2258, or send e-mail to voehln@charlescounty.org .
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