Extra Extras, City Election, Nov. 3
UPDATED: Nov 4, 9:22 a.m., See below
UPDATED: Nov. 3, 3:45 p.m. See below
Reactions to Chaney's Admission to Signing Daughter's Signature
A candidate in Frederick city’s 2017 election said the fallout from signing his daughter's name on an application for an absentee ballot has been mostly positive, with some exceptions.
Chaney, a last-minute substitution candidate for city alderman, signed his daughter’s name on the application and turned it into the Board of Elections last Friday. He said he wasn’t notified by anyone from the city about the problem, but found out when he received a call from a reporter on Tuesday.
He quickly took to his favorite media platform and posted a video of himself on social media, explaining what led him to sign his daughter’s name in order to get her an absentee ballot in time for the Nov. 7 election. His daughter, a college freshman, goes to school in West Virginia.
He said in the video to voters, published Tuesday afternoon, that they would likely read about his predicament “in the paper” and wanted them to hear it from him first.
“I am getting hammered with positive comments,” Republican Bryan Chaney said. “People like that I admitted I had made a mistake, because not a lot of people would admit to it.”
When Election Director Stuart Harvey discovered the false signature on Saturday, he notified the city Monday, who immediately issued a press release about a Tuesday meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Elections.
The three-member board, along with City Attorney Saundra Nickols and Legislative Clerk Phyllis Hane, rejected the application. Since then, Chaney said his daughter had received the required document, signed and returned it electronically in time to cast an absentee vote.
The board will investigate further after the Nov. 7 election to determine whether to take legal or other action. According to the last line of the absentee ballot application, available on the city’s website, “Falsely applying for an absentee ballot is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.”
Not everyone he heard from following the news was giving him props, Chaney said. He heard from one voter who told him his conduct was unacceptable and demanded he step out of the race. Election Director Stuart Harvey acknowledged that he, too, received a similar call from an outraged voter.
That voter, whom Chaney did not name, isn’t alone in condemning Chaney’s actions and subsequent response. Democrat Ben MacShane, also running for one of five aldermanic seats, called Chaney’s explanations surrounding the action “ridiculous.”
“My feeling is his explanation that he didn’t realize it was wrong was ridiculous. … if he had said, it’s not a big deal or I don’t care, it would have been more honest than saying he thought it would be okay to forge his daughter’s signature on a legal document,” MacShane said.
Fellow Democrat and candidate for alderman, Derek Shackelford, was “disappointed” about the incident, he said, because “the directions are clear on the application about what you need to do.”
“I am also upset,” Shackelford said, “because of the sacrifices my ancestors and elders made for the voting process. That process should always be clean.”
Even though he was not a candidate until Sept. 19, Chaney’s run a splashy, active campaign. Because only five Republicans entered the aldermanic race, they were not on the ballot for the Sept. 12 primary, in accordance with city election law. When candidate Bruce Blatchley dropped out on Sept. 18, the local Republican Central Committee nominated Chaney as a substitute.
UPDATED: Darren Wigfield, chair of the Republican Central Committee, said the error can be attributed to Chaney "being new to politics." He added that "a lot of folks like candidates who are new to politics."
Ten Democratic candidates were narrowed to five after the primary election. All 10 candidates, including two incumbents, are vying for five seats.
Democratic Central Committee Chair Myrna Whitworth thinks Chaney’s actions should disqualify him as a candidate, even if it was, as Chaney described “an error in judgement.”
“Even it wasn’t deliberate fraud and only an error in judgement, I think it suggests how Mr. Chaney would legislate as an alderman in City Hall, and this, too, should give the citizens of Frederick pause,” Whitworth said.
She called on the city’s Board of Elections to continue to investigate.
UPDATE: Wigfield disagrees and believes voters have a choice on Tuesday. "If the voters care about it, they can decide how to vote. There's no reason he shouldnt be on the ballot," he said. "I think it is a stretch to call it voter fraud when the application was requesting a ballot sent to his daughter's school, not an application to go to his address so he could vote for her. There's no way anyone could think that is voter fraud."
Early voting took place Friday and Saturday, with 4.1 percent of the city’s 42,917 registered voters. On election day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, and to find your polling place, visit the city’s election page here.
County Releases Ethics Opinion on Candidate Wilson
The Frederick County Ethics Commission advised an aldermanic candidate for Frederick city to come up with a plan to avoid potential conflicts of interest between a role in city government, and his job at the county. Roger Wilson, a Democrat, was also advised to steer clear of any involvement financial matters pertinent to the city and county. He serves as the county’s government affairs and public policy director.
The County’s Ethics Commission released its advisory opinion this week after Wilson requested guidance from both the city and county, should he be elected as city alderman on Nov. 7. Wilson, who said in interview that he is an “open book,” sought the opinions for the sake of transparency.
Both opinions acknowledge that Wilson is legally allowed to run for city office and keep his appointed position at the county, but pointed out some potential pitfalls and recommended ways to avoid them.
From the Oct. 30 Frederick County Ethics Commission’s advisory opinion: “Based on the information provided to the Ethics Commission, it is likely that potential conflicts of interest will arise as the candidate navigates the dual responsibilities imposed by his County and City positions. Those conflicts of interest can be addressed and managed through the development of a process that can be used to identify and avoid those conflicts that can be anticipated and by the candidate’s recusal when a conflict of interest cannot otherwise be avoided.”
The county’s ethics advice also echoed some of the concerns expressed in the city’s ethics commission’s report.
The city’s ethics opinion also acknowledged “a clear conflict of interest” between Wilson’s position and a seat on the board of aldermen. “The Commission further determined the conflict of interest provisions of the City Code prohibit the Candidate, should he be elected as Alderman, from participating in any matter in which Frederick County Government is a party.”
Wilson is advised by the county’s ethics commission to recuse himself from “involvement in the development and implementation of County government policies or legislative initiatives having a financial impact on the City.” It also indicated that his job responsibilities at the county, which involves managing governmental affairs for the County Executive, and serving as liaison to municipalities, including Frederick city, the county’s state delegation and the county council, may need to be modified.
“I’m glad that both opinions came back with clear instructions on the way forward,” Wilson said.
Wilson came in third in the Sept. 12 primary, behind incumbents Kelly Russell and Donna Kuzemchak, with 13.57 percent, or 1,652 votes.
Debate Transcription for Deaf Community
The recent candidate debate at Frederick Community College was transcribed, and later posted by Republican candidate for alderman, Bryan Chaney. Chaney, whose neighbors are deaf, has made the community a focus of his campaign proposals.
Attempts to provide an interpreter for the evening’s debate fell short, so 930 AM WFMD provided audio for transcription, which Chaney paid for out of his campaign funds. Candidates Derek Shackelford and Nate Power also contributed to the cost, according to Chaney. UPDATE: Democratic candidate Donna Kuzemchak has also offered to donate to the cost of the transcription.
The full transcription is available here.
Last Words
Aldermanic candidates Donna Kuzemchak and Derek Shackelford responded to The Frederick Extra's offer to candidates who were burning to address specific topics, but didn't get the chance at the Oct. 23 candidate debate at FCC. Here's their responses:
Donna Kuzemchak
1. Affordable living is worth fighting for. I ask for your vote because working and middle income families deserve a City of Frederick where they can raise their children, build a life and live out their dreams without feeling financially squeezed; because, as a working mother, I can empathize with our working and middle income individuals and families – and know that this town is OUR home too.
I am proud to stand for the providing of incentives to local businesses that choose to place a focus on hiring city residents; I am proud to lead on the expansion of building affordable homes (Sinclair Way, North Market Street, etc.) and believe that we should hold those accountable who back out of agreements to do so; I am also proud to lead efforts to reduce city residents taxes through a major comprehensive Cost of Community Services study. At City Hall, I have been and will always be a voice for affordable living and working families.
2. Westside Regional Park is worth fighting for. It was great to see that every candidate for Alderman - Republican and Democrat - believed that funding this initiative is a worthy cause. Just like how Carroll Creek Linear Park elevated the spirit of downtown, Westside Park is the kind of bold initiative that will revitalize our west side.
Residents will benefit as property values rise. Businesses will prosper with increased activity. Kids will stay safe by keeping sports local – as opposed to the constant commute out of town. The City of Frederick will experience a renewed Golden Mile. I ask for your vote, as well, because I am proud to lead on this fight for the future of Frederick.
I take these positions, in addition to a passionate advocacy for public education, kids and equality because this, my friends, is the fight for what’s right.
Derek Shackelford
The City can lead on the issue of homelessness by coordinating collaboration efforts and partnering with advocates, non-profit organizations, the faith-based community and service providers.
An initiative such as Institute Housing First, Services Second. There have been effective models across the country that have collaboratively strategized to solve the homeless situation. Statistics have shown that it is more expensive to pay for services that affect the homeless population than housing would.
This would also require agencies, partners and residents working together. Substance abuse, mental health services and job training programs need to be also be part of the overall plan as well.
