Commisoner President Race

[tipsy mcgee]

But I don't think the word would spread enough to get the votes to elect Rocky. While I like the idea and would love another option at this point, a write-in vote coming in this late may just be a waste. Then I still have to decide which one of the two people I like least I like best. Is that a Yogi Berra statement or what?

I could vote for Randall based on the fact that Tommy's history is unclear and he won't clear it up for us or vote for Tommy based on Randall's not-so-good four years and write-off Tommy's family history, neither of which I am at all comfortable with at this point.

[Delilah903]

I suppose the thing that bothers me about a write-in vote for Rocky, is the potential that this might split the vote. But then since I really don't care which of the two evil ones is elected I guess it shouldn't matter.

[MDindef]

Originally posted by Ken King
There is still hope that Rocky Rowland will do the write in campaign, he has until October 30 to file.

DRAFT ROCKY, DRAFT ROCKY

Rocky won't do that...for better or for worse, he doesn't want to split the republican vote.

[Ken King (Premo)]

What do you mean not get the word out in time? If a write in candidate started today it would cause such a huff with the local media (Emptyprize and Skank Mary's Today) that every person in the county would know. With such a low voter turnout in the primary the pool of available ballots hasn't even begun to be tapped.

Since there is no viable choice (lesser of two evils) why wouldn't he say "What the heck" and throw his hat back into the mix? That is if he still thinks that he can do a better job then these two selected candidates. The same goes for Pappy Wade. I would vote for him over either of the two choices we currently have.

[Kain99]

Originally posted by MDindef


Rocky won't do that...for better or for worse, he doesn't want to split the republican vote.

If only I could be this noble......

[Ken King (Premo)]

Originally posted by MDindef


Rocky won't do that...for better or for worse, he doesn't want to split the republican vote.

How ridiculous is that concept. The winner will represent us all, not just one party or the other. It is obvious that many want change as Julie Randall didn't walk away with a landslide in her primary and Rocky was only beat out by a few votes in the other primary. Now you have all the others that weren't eligible to vote and the choices are so pitiful that most will probably just stay home. What a boost for democracy.

The result will be either four more years of very little other then spending or the chance of getting an even less likable candidate in the office. A person with the ability of Rocky, that seems to be the best for the job, won’t run because it might split the vote. Totally unreal and what I would say is somewhat self-serving. Maybe I should rethink my support for Rocky as someone with the right attributes to help this county and succumb to the fact that no one really cares about what happens to the people or the county.

[Terp Fan]

In the past, for non-presidential elections, the number of voters in the primary is pretty much equal to the number of votes in the general.
In the primary, this is what the votes were for the Commissioner President race:

Julie - 4191
Wade - 3180
McKay - 3158
Rowland - 2675

More than likely, Julie will get her 4191 votes again and McKay will get his 3158 votes again.

Let's say that Rowland gets 2675 votes. I really don't think this is possible because there are many die hard Republicans that will be offended that Rowland is doing a write in and won't vote for him. But I'll go with 2675.

Now for the rest of the votes..

Let's say 2/3 of the Wade voters say "Julie sucks, I'm going republican" (and I think that is very generous to the republican party). That means the Republican party will get 2120 out of 3180.

Well, if we split that vote in half, half going to McKay and half to Rowland, we get....
Randal - 5251
McKay - 4218
Rowland - 3735

Even if we give all of Wade's vote to Rowland we get ...
Randal - 5251
McKay - 3158
Rowland - 4795

Of course I am pulling all of this out of my ***. But I believe it makes sense.

[Terp Fan]

Originally posted by Ken King


A person with the ability of Rocky, that seems to be the best for the job, won’t run because it might split the vote. Totally unreal and what I would say is somewhat self-serving. Maybe I should rethink my support for Rocky as someone with the right attributes to help this county and succumb to the fact that no one really cares about what happens to the people or the county.

There is no reason to get pissed off at Rocky. We have a system in place for elections (Primaries and then the General Election). That is not Rocky's fault. He followed the rules. If every candidate decided to do a write in campaign because they did not like the results of an election, the primaries would not serve any purpose at all!

[Ken King (Premo)]

Originally posted by Terp Fan
Of course I am pulling all of this out of my ***. But I believe it makes sense.

I'll agree you are pulling it. What doesn't make sense is that there are quite a few undeclared and independents that could vote for Rocky that aren't considered in your summation. In the 1998 Gubernatorial Election St. Mary’s County had 22.094 votes cast. In this primary election there were only 13,204 votes cast based on your numbers. This leaves a difference of 8,890 votes that are available plus any new voters that have moved into the area. The potential exists for a write-in candidate to win and win big. All they need to do is get out there and make their case. The wirte-in candidate would have another advantage in my mind, that being the stir it would cause in the local news and the short term memory of most folk. They could be popular overnight and could "steal" the election. A person has 19 days to make this decision and declare.

[Ken King (Premo)]

Originally posted by Terp Fan


There is no reason to get pissed off at Rocky. We have a system in place for elections (Primaries and then the General Election). That is not Rocky's fault. He followed the rules. If every candidate decided to do a write in campaign because they did not like the results of an election, the primaries would not serve any purpose at all!

So, rethinking support equates to pissed off for you? Interesting. Wrong but definately interesting. I would think that a person that knows they are the right one for the job wouldn't let the process stop them from achieving it or that what they said during their campaign was nothing but hogwash.

The write-in candidate is within the rules also for instances just like this where there is support for a candidate that didn't get his message out to everyone or something new comes to light to make people rethink their position.

Will you be happy if McKay wins? I know I won't. I also know that I have had enough of the Randall regime and want positive changes in this county not just more of the same old crap. I thought Rocky could do it and still do. That is why I would like to see him declare and get back into it.