Final Videos: LWV Candidate Forums for St. Mary's: Sheriff, Delegate, Judges

[David]

The final videos from the League of Women Voters Candidate Forums that were held this wednesday and thursday at the Lexington Park library are now on-line.

From Wednesday, Sheriff Zylak (D) and Kevin Somerville (D) squared off.

http://images.somd.com/news/2006_ele...08-23/sheriff/

From Thursday, the Democratic candidates for the Maryland House of Delegates spoke. Clare Whitbeck and John Wood, Jr. from District 29A, and John Bohanan and James P. Cusick, Sr. from District 29B, attended.

http://images.somd.com/news/2006_ele...-24/delegates/

From Thursday, candidates for Judge of the Circuit Court, District 7 spoke. Shane Mattingly, George R. Sparling, and Michael Stamm participated.

http://images.somd.com/news/2006_ele...-08-24/judges/

Note: Due to technical difficulties, we lost the last few seconds of Q4, all of Q5 and the closing remarks. My apologies to the candidates.

Note: If you are using a slow ISP connection and would like the videos, we will be happy to mail you a disk. First be sure that your PC meets these requirements:

- You'll need a DVD player in your computer so you can read the disk. There is too much data to fit on a CD, so we will use a DVD. These can not be played in a Video DVD player.

- Make sure you have the DIVX video player installed. You can download a free copy at http://divx.com/

Then, just open a support ticket at http://help.somd.com/index.php?action=ticket_submit&d=5 and give us your name and mailing address. Please mention that you are requesting the "LWV Candidate Forum DVD."

Videos are also scheduled to air on Channel 10 sometime next week. Check with the LWV for the exact date and time.

[David]

Q1: The current roster of deputies is not very diverse, but the county is very diverse. What is your vision for providing St. Mary's County with a diverse Sheriff's office? How do you plan to recruit for a diversified office and maintain those persons once hired? What incentives do you envision offering in order to get those officers?

Q2: How will you solve the steadily increasing drug problem?

Q3: In the event of an emergency situation where an evacuation was necessary, how would you handle it?

Q4: How will accreditation accomplish what you say it will? What direct benefits will acrue to the citizens of the county?

Q5: Directed to K. Somerville only: What things would you differently as Sheriff were you elected?

Q6: In the absence of a generator powered commercial radio, how will you notify citizens when an evacuation becomes necessary during a power failure.

Q7: Directed to K. Somerville only: Would you want a "union" in the Sheriff's department?

Q8: Can there be something done about overcrowding at the detention center? What is your position on the building of a new jail? Would you include space for treatment of substance abuse persons?

Q9: There is alot of mistrust between citizens and the Sheriff's office. Mistrust seems to stem from drug activity and officer response to citizens in different areas. How do you envision regaining citizen's trust?

Background: St. Mary's County boasts the oldest Sheriff's Office in Maryland and possibly the oldest in the nation. The Sheriff serves a four-year term.

Note: The questions were submitted by members of the audience and selected by the LWV staff. In some cases, more than one question was consolidated into a single topic for the candidates. Since the questions are framed by the audience, some things may be implied that are not necessarily true.

[David]

Q1: Last night we heard about gang violence being on the rise. How do you plan to help law officials control gangs in the county?

Q2: The county detention center is overcrowded. What would you do from the bench to help reduce the overcrowding? What alternatives to incarceration would you consider?

Q3: What is your position on changing the election of judges to non-partisan and giving independent voters a vote in the primary election?

Q4: Do you believe that the process to select Circuit Court judges in the state of Maryland is a proper process? If not, How would you change it? Did you go through the selection process? If not, why didn't you?

Background: A circuit court generally handles more serious criminal cases, major civil cases, including juvenile and other family law cases such divorce, custody and child support and most cases appealed from the District Court, orphans’ courts and certain administrative agencies. Circuit courts also hear domestic violence cases. Each County and the City of Baltimore has a circuit court. Cases may involve juries or sometimes are heard by a judge only. Judge of the Circuit Court candidates are not affiliated with a political party.

Note: The questions were submitted by members of the audience and selected by the LWV staff. In some cases, more than one question was consolidated into a single topic for the candidates. Since the questions are framed by the audience, some things may be implied that are not necessarily true.

[David]

Q1: What can be done to improve water quality?

Q2: To stop growth, would you have to take away property owner rights?

Q3: What is the state doing to improve rural health care services?

Q4: The state has a number of failing schools that are supposed to be taken over by the state. Would you support this action?

Q5: Initiatives even though defeated have a habit of returning. We will see at some point during your term gambling as a state issue. What is your position on gambling?

Q6: What type of affordable housing is in the plans for senior citizens?

Q7: How do you plan to help the traffic problem on Rt 235 -- Specifically in Mechanicsville?

Q8: What steps should the state be taking now to prepare the county for the next BRAC round?

Q9: How can you ensure that the county will continue to get its fair share of school construction funds?

Q10: How do you envision helping to control property taxes?

Background: Delegates are elected by the voters to serve four-year terms. Each legislative district sends three delegates for a total of 141 members of the House. You will vote for one candidate from your district.

Note: The questions were submitted by members of the audience and selected by the LWV staff. In some cases, more than one question was consolidated into a single topic for the candidates. Since the questions are framed by the audience, some things may be implied that are not necessarily true.