The
holiday weekend seemed to generally meet expectations around the Ocean City
area. Some businesses were thrilled with bookings and sales, while others said
it did not measure up to previous 4th of July weekends. From a crowd
standpoint, the town’s demoflush population estimates indicate it was slightly
down from last year with an average of 318,368 reported on Saturday and Sunday.
However, for Sunday alone, Communications Manager Donna Abbott said the Sunday
crowds were measured at 332,547. Here’s a look at the holiday weekend averages
for the last 10 years:
2010:
318,368
2009:
321,920
2008:
326,249
2007:
300,333
2006:
308,158
2005:
322,308
2004:
328,413
2003:
342.952
2002:
324,695
2001:
306,715
Although
it’s been in full swing for months now, election season officially got underway
this week with the passing of the official filing deadline on Tuesday night.
There’s lots of compelling races on the local and state front. Here’s some
thoughts:
—-
Perhaps
the most high-profile of the local seats up for grabs is the State Senate post
long occupied by Senator Lowell Stoltzfus. Signed up to run are Republican
Michael James, Democrats Jim Mathias and Charles Mickey Lehrer and unaffiliated
Rick Carey, whose name will only appear on the General Election ballot. It had
long been predicted the seat would come down to Mathias and James, and nothing
changed on filing day to alter that assumption. However, Carey’s entrance in
the race could pose a bit of a curve ball because he could siphon off some
votes from both James and Mathias, making what’s expected to be a tight race
even closer. It’s going to be interesting to see whether Carey serves as the
“Perot” factor in this battle
——
Barring
something unforeseen at this point, County Commissioner Bud Church has essentially
been re-elected to his third term. The West Ocean City resident and real estate
company owner is unopposed, but this was the same situation four years ago when
the Democratic Central Committee put forward Kathy Phillips to challenge Church
after the deadline had passed.
——-
A
much-anticipated rematch for the county’s top prosecutor post is on tap.
State’s Attorney Joel Todd, who has held the post since 1995 and was deputy
state’s attorney for 10 years prior, will be challenged once again by Beau
Oglesby, currently a prosecutor in Caroline County who lives in Ocean Pines.
Only 14 votes separated the two in 2006, and it will be great theater to watch
these campaigns as they move toward the November election. It’s no secret the
campaigns turned toward the negative four years ago, and more of that will
likely take place this summer and fall. At a recent campaign kickoff, Oglesby
supporters were given buttons reading, "14 + 1, Help Beau Run", referring to his
losing deficit four years ago.
——-
For
the first time since they were both elected in 1998, Clerk of Court Steve Hales
and Register of Wills Charlotte Cathell will face opposition. Democrat Hales
will be challenged by Ocean Pines resident Mary Burgess, a Republican, and
Cathell, a Democrat, will face off against former Orphans Court Judge George
Colburn, a Republican.
——-
Pocomoke
County Commissioner Bobby Cowger’s decision to not seek another term surprised
some, but the number of candidates vying to replace him has to be even more of
a shocker. Four Republicans, Jerre Clauss, Merrill Lockfaw, Bill McDermott and
Larry Ward, will do battle in September primary with the winner facing Democrat
Jimmy Schoolfield.
