Remember the last election for Queen Anne’s County Commissioners?  The five electees ran on the issue of growth, citing the poor performances of the three predecessors in office on this issue.  A quintet of voices promised good planning, managed growth that would not outpace our infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, and curtailment of sprawl.  Well, the quintet has been reduced to a duet—Commissioners Gene Ransom and Mike Koval – regarding their promises on growth to county citizens.  County bonded debt has ballooned, large-scale residential developments outside assessments, fees, or what ever you want to call them are going through the roof. 

Recently, Commissioners Joe Cupani, Ben Cassell and Dick Smith –the trio I call the “growth at any cost cartel” –voted to remove Commissioner Ransom from the Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission.  I find his removal despicable, shades of the Ethics Commission debacle.  Gene Ransom has always acted as an honest broker who puts citizens’ interests first.  Cupani, Cassell and Smith called his removal a “regular rotation.”  My question to them is, why do some commissioners rotate while others do not? 

Commissioner Joe Cupani shed further lights on their decision.  He claimed that Ransom might have “influence” over the Planning Commission if he stayed on too long.  Frankly, if the Planning Commission and the three County Commissioners started listening to some of Ransom’s dissents, both boards would perform much better for our citizenry.  Cupani’s argument is akin to a last place team firing their star player for fear he might “influence” them to win. 

Douglas G. Anderson 
Centreville

The“growth at any cost cartel” may now be removed from any sane consideration for office I believe. 

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