Of the People, By the People, With the People
Commissioner Is Out and About

By Philip Rucker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 12, 2007

Samuel N. Graves Jr. is not one to turn down an invitation.

In the eight months since taking office as a Charles County commissioner, the Democrat from La Plata has been making the rounds. In a typical week, Graves said he attends as many as eight public events.

Graves has shown up at Eagle Scout award ceremonies, amateur radio club meetings, ribbon-cuttings and grand openings. He has been hosting town hall meetings throughout his far-reaching, mostly rural district. In a coat and tie, he regularly hobnobs at business lunches, networking mixers and gala dinners. He even was the guest of honor at a resident's 100th birthday party.

"I like getting out and seeing people -- because I love people," Graves said. "Plus, you get to see a pretty good cross section of Charles County by going to those events."

Attending so many public events connects him to the "will of the people," Graves said.

"By being out there and talking to them, I think I'm better plugged into what the issues truly are to the majority of the people in the county," he said.

Although there is no official tally, it seems Graves attends more public events than his fellow county commissioners. When asked how many events Graves has attended, George E. Clarkson, the commissioners' press secretary, said, "Oh, gosh, I think I'm losing count."

"As it happens, Graves travels more, so I spend a lot of time with him," Clarkson said. "I think I've been out more with him than just about everybody."

One night last month, Graves hosted a town hall meeting at the Hughesville firehouse. The meeting stretched on for four hours as Graves stayed until 11 p.m. answering questions from constituents -- and Clarkson stood by his side until the end.

"What I've seen is that it doesn't seem grueling to him," Clarkson said. "He's just a very personable guy and seems to be very interested in what the people of Charles County want."

After some of Graves's appearances, Clarkson distributes news releases and photographs. One was titled "Cobb Island Festival Brings Out the Kid in Commissioner Graves." The release for Graves's lengthy town hall meeting was titled "Hughesville Gets Up Close and Personal With County Commissioner Graves."

The five commissioners receive many invitations for events, and usually at least one commissioner tries to attend, commissioners President Wayne Cooper (D-At Large) said.

"We don't go to all the functions, but Sam tries to go to everything," Cooper said. "I don't know why he does that. I think he just really enjoys it."

Graves, 55, retired in 2003 from the Charles County Sheriff's Office. He is the only commissioner besides Cooper not to have a second job, which Graves said allows him to spend more time at public events.

"I have the time to do it," Graves said. "For me, it's a way to connect with the public, to find out what their issues are, to give them a chance to talk to me."

Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II (D-Waldorf) hosts monthly town hall meetings with constituents in his district. Commissioner Edith J. Patterson (D-Pomfret) has organized several events in her western Charles district, including a recent bicycle helmet giveaway in Nanjemoy.

As board president, Cooper often speaks on behalf of the commissioners at many public events. He said some commissioners attend fewer events for fear of burning out.

"Gary Hodge, I don't think, goes to hardly anything," Cooper said. "He doesn't go to a lot of stuff. . . . A lot of commissioners will go, show up, stay a few minutes and leave, but Sam stays the whole time. He enjoys this stuff. He really does."

Hodge, a Democrat whose district is based in St. Charles, could not be reached for comment.

Some elected officials often underestimate the importance of being visible in the community, said Zach P. Messitte, a political science professor at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

"Being there, and particularly showing an understanding of people's joys and concerns, is an important part of local politics," Messitte said. "That doesn't mean you do that to the neglect of your other duties. You still have to be a good commissioner and think of creative ways to introduce important ideas into the process, yet being in the community at ribbon-cuttings and kissing babies and all that stuff is part of the job."

Messitte said community visibility is not only about photo opportunities but also about learning the needs of constituents.

"If it's done appropriately, it's not just about the photograph," he said. "You can stand up on the podium and wave and smile. But if you're also out there talking to people at these events, you're getting the pulse of your community, which helps both at election time but also helps in terms of crafting the plan for the county."