Monday, October 4, 2010
Wow Great Interview
I have to say tonight I had one of the best interviews yet with Mayor Gee Williams that will be airing soon on PAC14 and of course here on my site. Gee is the real deal people and I really enjoyed having him as a guest and a special thank you to him for driving from Berlin all the way to Salisbury and sitting down an hour for this great interview. Thank you Gee
Great Interviews Coming Soon
Mike Calpino Discusses his Wicomico County Plan
When I entered the race for Wicomico County Council, District 2, I did so because I believed that government at all levels, including ours, spends too much and takes too much, regardless of protests to the contrary. I also believe that the philosophy, ideology, expectations and assumptions we have about government needed to be challenged if we are to give our children the same or better opportunities for the American Dream we have had. As I have been meeting voters I am often asked for specifics on what I would do, where I would cut, and how I would maintain acceptable levels of government services while putting more money back in the taxpayer’s pocket. I present to you the "Wicomico Plan" for reducing taxes, encouraging efficiency in government expenditures and making our county economically competitive and fiscally sound.
The first step is to reduce the burden of taxes and regulations on our businesses and individuals. We have one of the highest income tax rates in the state, that needs to come down. We need to remove taxes on inventory and machinery for businesses and any regulations not related to public safety so they are free to concentrate on business and in so doing, create jobs. This drop in revenue will be offset by cuts in the budget, specifically salaries and benefits. Managers and department heads that make more than fifty thousand dollars would receive a ten percent cut and those making over seventy thousand would receive a twenty percent cut, elected offices excluded. Real average incomes in this county have been dropping and it is time government employees shared in this pain, especially considering they make, on average, twenty to fifty percent more than their private sector counterparts. Benefits should also be brought in line with the private sector (i.e. the rest of us) and all pensions should be converted into 401Ks or self directed IRAs (like the rest of us).
Step two is to introduce incentives for efficiency and savings in government expenditures. This is the most important part of the plan and will give those managers and directors an opportunity to make up any lost income. Currently, government departments at any level are given a certain amount of money to spend every year and they know that if that money is not spent, they may not get as much next year. The incentive is to spend it all whether it is needed or not. My proposal is this. Any money a department does not spend during the fiscal year will be placed into two funds. Half the savings will be put into the rainy day fund. The other half will be given to the employees of that department as bonuses, spread equally among all members of the department. For example, if the public works department saves one million dollars, half a million would go into the rainy day fund and the other half would be spread among all the people who work there. If there were fifty employees, each employee, from the guy who cuts the grass to the director, would get a ten thousand dollar bonus. This encourages the department to work efficiently, save money (our money), blow the whistle on thieves, consider privatization of some functions, eliminate unnecessary employees and other forms of waste. Fees would be frozen so no department could raise them to pad their numbers.
Step three comes at the end of the fiscal year. After each department has a full accounting of monies saved, their budgets will be reduced by the amount put into the rainy day fund and the process will start over for the next fiscal year. Once the savings have been realized, the overall budget can be adjusted and both property and income taxes lowered accordingly. After three or four years of this process we will have a county that is operating much more efficiently and costs the taxpayers, you and I, a lot less. It is time to bring new, innovative ideas to government, challenge an unacceptable status quo and make elections about more than tired slogans and platitudes and make them about ideas and policy.
Mike Calpino
Candidate for Wicomico County Council, District 2
Jim Ireton Moved To A Different School?
I received a few comments in reference to Jim Ireton being "persuaded-forced" to go to Glen Avenue to teach after the Principal at his other School had enough of his attitude toward his fellow teachers, students and parents. Jim is now teaching third grade, which is fitting as that is his maturity level. Jim keep up with your little attitude and not only will you not be Mayor but won't be a teacher for long as well.
Get To Know Mike McCready
McCready Bio
- Graduated 1976 – Crisfield High School
- Married Betsy McCready – 3 children (Nichole, Bobby, Aaron)
- 30 years in poultry industry – has a poultry farm as well as employed by the poultry industry
- 8 years as Somerset County Commissioner – now serving as President. Also Tri-County Council President, Board of Directors of ShoreUp, Member of Life Savers with the Blood Bank of Delmarva
- Memberships in Somerset County Farm Bureau, Waterman’s Association, NRA
- Member of Walker Memorial Church of God – presently on the Pastor’s Council, Sunday School Teacher, choir member.
- Member of Delmarva Poultry Industry (DPI)
Who is to Blame for City Drama?
The Daily Times had a very unflattering Editorial regarding the City Council Drama and went over several factors that made both sides look bad, but I want to offer up my opinion.
The Drama that is the Salisbury City Council goes back many many years, and it is a combination of personal vendetta's and personal issues with one another that started the entire episode. I do find it amusing however that people have the nerve to question Gary Comegys and his attendance while dealing with his Chemo and cancer issues, but yet Debbie Campbell has missed massive amounts of time not because of illness, but because her City Council responsibilities came second to her other job and that is fact. If you want to be fair than you don't place blame on a guy fighting a disease to someone who had to be out of town for another job and couldn't be bothered.
It really in my mind started because a bunch of the Camden crowd despised Barrie Tilghman for choices she made and things she did as Mayor and a little subculture of Barrie hating developed in those neighborhoods. They hated anyone that was friendly toward Barrie and anyone that they thought was working with her. Is Barrie Tilghman blameless you may ask? well honestly no but who is? Barrie made choices that people did not like but that is her job and people are never going to like everything you do.
I would like to see how each of you would feel if you were fighting like Gary is and have Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen wanting you to resign and yet Debbie can miss all her time because she is in Silver Beach or off doing another job. Would you be able to sit down and hold a civil conversation? This is what it's like in the inner working of our City. Look up the word agenda and that will tell you exactly what the problems are.
What Is Wrong In Pocomoke
With crime numbers on par with Salisbury the question from everyone is what is going on in Pocomoke? the voices are getting louder and it is unfortunate again it takes the loss of a young mans life to put the spotlight where it belongs and that is on Russ Blake Town Manager and Mayor Mike McDermott.
I do not understand why Russ Blake insists on receving copies of all Police reports which I find to be highly disturbing as a town manager has zero business involving himself in Police investigations. Mike McDermott has completely abandoned the people in Pocomoke as he refuses to acknowledge any crime problem or meet with the citizens regarding the violence in Pocomoke.
The powder keg that is building in Pocomoke of unrest from the citizens at the lack of care shown them by their Government Leaders is ready to ignite and it is time the citizens let their voices be heard by demanding the resignation of Russ Blake and Mike McDermott and spreading the word to all who will listen that Mike McDermott has left them to fend for themselves and yet he expects people to give him more responsibility.
We can not let Pocomoke continue to deteriorate at this rate as it is a beautiful little town that has potential but must have new leadership first. Mike McDermott again refused to listen to Joel Todd's recognized Crime and Drug initiatives and made Pocomoke one of the only municipalities to refuse to be a part and look at Berlin and Snow Hill who have had great success. Mike McDermott and Russ Blake are a disgrace and the citizens need to rise up and demand change immediately from this pair which starts with their resignations.
Would The Legislative Package Had Stopped Any Of The Current Crimes?
I want to show everyone that Jim Ireton's Legislative Package would not have stopped any of the current crime problems. I decided to cross check Md Case Search with the names of the people arrested over the weekend for the drive by shootings and guess what? they are from Pocomoke so Jim's plan would not have helped keep those shootings from happening.
I want people to see that Jim is lying to the public when he says this Legislation needs to be passed to give the City the crime plan it needs to stop the violence. This legislative package would not have stopped a single crime from happening and Jim is using fear to scare people into thinking it would have helped. Jim Ireton needs to learn SAPOA is not the enemy and is not the cause of our crime problem, they are only supplying a necessary service to low income families in the City core. These families are not all thugs like Jim wants you to believe but families simply trying to make their way in these rough times just like everyone else. Shame on you Jim Ireton and again I call on your resignation.
6 Drive By Shootings In A Week
Mike Lewis should join Jim Ireton in the unemployment line as they both are as worthless as can be. I want to do a mix clip with Mike Lewis beat boxing to "we are going to rock the criminals worlds" which he ignorantly claimed was going to happen, look like an idiot now don't you Mikey?
We need to start having public meetings monthly on crime happenings around the City, with no BS stat numbers just real reports to the people and from the people on things happening around them. Until people put politics aside and start dealing with the problem together Salisbury will continue to be on par with Philly and Baltimore.
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