A Washington College Vice President was an advisor to students who actively campaigned against a town councilman who wanted the college to pay more for the purchase of the SFC John H. Newnam Armory. Second Ward incumbent Gibson Anthony (D), who opposed parts of the college’s plans to buy the armory, was defeated by Linda Kuiper (R) by 17 votes.
WC Executive Vice President Joe Holt, who represented the college in talks with the town, is also the advisor to the College Republican Club. Members of the club went door-to-door campaigning for Kuiper on Halloween night.
Anthony expressed dismay at direct involvement of campus Republicans in the local election.
“I have never been aware of Washington College students canvassing in past elections,” Anthony said. “It would be particularly sad for the residents of Chestertown if it turns out that a local election was influenced by ulterior and purely self-serving motives. I hope that isn’t the case.”
Holt explained that the College Republican Club’s support for Kuiper was a good civics lesson for the young Republicans.
Holt, in an email to the Spy, wrote, “I have served as an advisor to the College Republican Club for the 20 years I have worked at Washington College. I enjoy my work with these students. Despite any issues that arose with the town, county, or state during those two decades, I never felt the need to step down from my advisor role. A main objective of the Club is to provide members with the opportunity for practical experience in elections to complement the theoretical knowledge they gain through classroom instruction. This year, the only local campaign was that for Town Council. The members of the College Republican Club welcomed the opportunity to deliver fliers door-to-door for Ms. Kuiper, someone they have come to know through her support of the Club’s activities over the years.”
Dr. David Newell, Professor Emeritus at Washington College and Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute, a leading expert on ethics, said Holt’s involvement has the appearance of conflict of interest.
“It looks to me that Joe Holt in his role as the executive vice president for the College does appear to have a conflict of interest here. Clearly there is nothing illegal, but typically someone would recuse themselves if they are negotiating with the Town Council and, as head of the Kent Republican Party and advisor to young republicans, he is organizing efforts to unseat a current council member,” Newell said.
Anthony supporters questioned if College Republicans should be canvassing for local office seekers–when they normally don’t vote in local elections, and second, whether a senior college officer should be negotiating with a local official he is undermining through a local political process.
It also calls into question whether Holt’s involvement as an advisor to the WC Republican Club during the Kuiper campaign, as well as his role as President of the Kent County Republicans, represents a conflict of interest established in the by-Laws of Washington College.
A response to an email confirmed the WC Republicans’ involvement in Kuiper’s campaign.
“The Washington College Republicans get involved in Republican campaigns at every level, local, state, and federal,” said WC College Republican President Amanda Regan in a response to an email from the Spy. “Linda Kuiper has long been a supporter of the College Republicans at Washington College. In an effort to help her win the election a group of College Republicans went door-to-door on Halloween night, the night before the election, handing out flyers reminding people to vote the following day and encouraging them to vote for Linda. In pairs, these students were given a map with a block highlighted and were told to go to each of the houses on that block to hand out the flyer. The Washington College Republicans were excited to learn that Linda had won the election and are excited to continue to get involved in elections of all sorts.”
The Spy received no response from the WC Republicans to name other Council candidates they had canvassed for in the past.
Holt could not identify a candidate in past elections that received active campaign support, like door-to-door canvassing, but offered an instance where the College Republicans had helped a council candidate.
“I do recall the College Republicans assisting former council member Jim Bristoll during his final reelection effort,” Holt said in an email. “ Mr. Bristoll asked for help with the production of a letter that was mailed to voters in his ward.”
“Our elections have been unaffiliated since I can remember,” said Councilman Marty Stetson, a registered Republican. “And that is the way it should be, we live in a small town and we represent all of the people.” He said he couldn’t recall a past election where the college actively canvassed for a candidate.
Gren Whitman says
At best, a conflict of interest; at worst, jeopardizing WC’s tax-exempt status, leading to his dismissal.
College students electioneering on their own is OK; they should do more.
Students acting with guidance and advice from a college official is not OK.
Executive Vice President Holt is overdue for a session with the WC’s ethics committee.
And thanks, Spy, for tracking this down.
Beryl Kemp says
Interesting but I think perhaps an incomplete article on student political activities at WC. Perhaps it might be best served if we knew if anyone from WC campaigned in the last Presidential election, for either party. One would hope that students at the collegiate level are interested in politics at all levels of government and get involved.
LJ Burges says
Somewhere Lee Atwater is all smiles…
Keith Thompson says
How does a Republican Club drive supporting a candidate for local office differ from the college’s research being used by supporters of the town’s plastic bag ban? I have no issues with either scenario. This seems to be less a conflict of interest issue than it is an issue of whether or not Mr. Holt’s political activity violates the college’s by-laws. The timing here seems interesting in that Mr. Holt’s political activity is suddenly an issue because he appears to be involved in a town election that unseated an incumbent. It seems that if his role as President of the Kent County Republicans violates the school’s by-laws, it should have been an issue far before the election.
Oliver Randall says
I suspect this is a case of growing pains. Fifteen years ago, Joe’s role would have been considered great civic engagement, but as WC grows, and these town-gown issues grow more complex, I hope the College sees the anxiety these relationships cause in the community and form a protective wall.
Susie Baldwin says
I daresay if Mr. Holt were a liberal Democrat and had been advising the Young Democrats of Washington College he would be applauded as an admirable mentor in pursuit of an honorable cause. No surprise here.
Rachel Goss says
when i read the title, i almost decided not to read this…
i do not see a problem – i do not see a conflict – would we even be discussing this if a college Green Party group had campaigned for a candidate- or the Dem Group – Independents…
i understand the election is considered non-partisan, but really…a conflict of interest?
if this group of students, mentored by mr holt – or by anyone else, wants to practice their rights and back a candidate, so be it.
what happens in town effects the students – some of them may want to become town citizens once they graduate – wouldn’t it be great to have new residents who want to be active? who know the players? who know the issues? who seek solutions?
Carla Massoni says
But he is not a liberal Democrat and he was not advising the Young Democrats of Washington College. No surprise here.
Matt Gerstung says
I am providing these excerpts from The Catechism of the Catholic Church :
2237 Political authorities are obliged to respect the fundamental rights of the human person. They will dispense justice humanely by respecting the rights of everyone, especially of families and the disadvantaged. The political rights attached to citizenship can and should be granted according to the requirements of the common good. They cannot be suspended by public authorities without legitimate and proportionate reasons. Political rights are meant to be exercised for the common good of the nation and the human community.
2239 It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one’s country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.
2224 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country.
Joe Holt is a good man and trusted servant to his institution and community.
Susan Newton-Rhodes says
Over my years, i have been involved with many non-profit organizations, both as a Board member and in senior leadership roles. In all of those organizations, and in the consulting work that i do for the federal government, there are conflict of interest statements which must be executed by those in power. These are documents are not taken lightly by any of the organizations i associate with, nor would i want them to; they protect the CHARITABLE nature of the institutions. Those statements are executed to prevent inappropriate and unethical uses of power. They are executed personally and they cast a fairly wide net touching on all areas of personal involvement in political and familial relations and the benefits of those associations. When I align all of the associations of Mr. Holt and his position of power in a charitable organization, i am left scratching my head.
Every day we are all faced with personal decisions which could be measured as right or wrong, sometimes those lines are blurred. So, when you look at individual responsibility to power and position, you mix a political race within a small town when there is an ACTIVE negotiation going on between the governing body and the 50 pound gorilla employer in town, i would be suprised that there are not more than one conflict that may be present here.
For those who are in power, it is important to understand when making decisions that there are NOT conflicts and when there are conflicts, to recuse oneself from the decision making process. The College is one of the largest employers in this town (if not the largest 50 lb gorilla). Those who benefit from employment, pension, spouses with the like ….have conflicts when balancing these types of decisions. Again, we live is a small town, these conflicts MUST exist because of the circumstance, but proper governance enables all individuals with conflicts to recuse from the decision making process and to disclose why.
Power and governance responsibilities are awesome responsibilities. i encourage each of our leaders to remember these responsibilities to your constituency because, truely, only each of you know IF you are conflicted AND if you are upholding your responsiblities to those positions of power that you hold.
Jack Offett says
The College is the Big Deal in Chestertown and it needs a willing partner in town government. How can one criticize President Reiss and Mr. Holt for their decision to transform frustration into action: board members making contributions to Linda’s campaign and students deploying shoe leather to elect a reliable vote? Now that he has a workable pro-College majority on the council, let’s see if President Reiss can close the Armory deal on the College’s terms.
Matthew Weir says
Mr. Anthony and his support group continue to whatever they can to find a way to undue the loss Gibson suffered as a result of his failed politics. Let’s understand that Joe Holt has been a taxpaying member of the Chestertown community for 20 plus years, is an avowed Republican and worked to help someone who’s platform he supports and a candidate supported by the College Republicans. Would Gibson or his supporters be complaining if Joe Holt supported Gibson? Gibson has already complained that I (as someone who does not live in Chestertown) should not have supported a candidate. Why are so many so upset with the Democratic process?
Joe Holt is a man with more integrity than most people I know. He lives as an example that most of us should follow. The baseless accusations made by the Spy and some on this thread are sure to cause him great discomfort. I, for one, stand with Joe Holt in exercising his rights as a citizen and voter. I would urge Gibson to act on his promise to move on and spend more time with his family and friends. Perhaps we should begin to examine the relationship that the author has with Gibson.
Bill Short says
I am certain that if those on the left who are behind trying to discredit who Joe Holt really is which is someone who stands on principal and good character,had thought that the canidate who lost was going to loose then they would have been using those on the other side of the isle to assist in his victory.Linda is a fine person and someone Chestertown should be proud to have representing them and if we do not get more people like her in Chestertown, finacially we will see there own demise because of all the poor representaion thus far of those who follow the Mayor into the begining of no return.Folks wake up money does grow on trees and you the citizens will have to pay for all these adventures.
Cynthia McGinnes says
PLEASE…will anyone bother to give the College Republicans the right to function as individuals and not as automatons for their advisor? I personally think trying to influence a group of young college age students to function as a cohesive unit can be like herding cats! Secondly, it was at a “pizza meeting” in Procolino’s, sponsored by the KC Republican Central Committee, that members of the College Republicans first spoke to Linda about helping her with her campaign. The speaker at the meeting was from the National Republican Campaign Committee, I believe, and his speech was about everyone getting involved at the grass roots level, so it was a natural segue for the college students to see if they could help Linda. Joe Holt was not involved at all!
Also, Gren Whitman needs to be upfront about his campaigning for Gibson Anthony…he went door to door to some 60 houses,I believe. Anthony has been severely critical on the Spy about a DC resident with business and family ties to Chestertown making calls for Linda, suggesting the only help should be from town residents. Gren Whitman is from Rock Hall, yet he was helping Anthony!
Just to “throw the cat in the pool” (an old expression my mother used when one deliberately causes a commotion!),it is my opinion that the Town Council tried to squeeze money out of the “fat cat” college, perhaps thinking that the college had it to spare, or could raise it, and they took a chance and it didn’t work. Unfortunately, there now doesn’t seem to be any way back. I’m sorry for that. However, I do know that Ms. Kuiper has extensive experience managing money and budgets, and that she will do an excellent job in this area for the Council.
We don’t need to start class warfare in our County, and destroy the town’s relationship with the College over political ideology. With all the empty stores in our shopping malls, we need to concentrate on helping the town and county economies, and a good relationship with the college is essential to achieve that goal.
And finally, I thought Ms. Kuiper had 85 votes to Mr. Anthony’s 63..which is a total of 22 more votes, not 17, as stated in the original article?
Andy Vlahos says
I am not sure what Ethics rules anyone is citing here, but calling this a conflict of interest is inaccurate. The college has an interest in Chestertown as they located in the town limits and decisions made by the town council will directly affect them. Any special interest group (non-profit or otherwise) has the right to campaign on behalf of a candidate that supports its specific interests. The students were either campaining on behalf of a candidate that they felt was going to best represent their interests as part of the WC Student community or for the candidate that best matched their political affiliation and ideals. Just because one is not a registered voter of the area, does not neutralize their interest in the outcome of an election if said campaigners have the potential to be affected by the outcome of the election.
In order for a conflict to be present, Mr. Holt would have had to benefit directly and personally in quantifable monitary terms from the candidate’s election or have been a paid campaign worker by Ms. Kuiper’s campaign. Or if the students were compensated or given academic favors in exchange for their time and effort spent campaigning . The latter being an internal ethics issue within the college.
Details that are completely irrelvant to determining if there are any conflicts issues:
– that this particular club has not campaigned for any candidate prior to this election
– prior elections being unaffliated
Further (and again unrelated to the actual conflicts issue), this was a real life experience for the students who campaigned to participate in an election. It is the goal of every student to gain as much real world experience to add to their resumes prior to graduation.
In conclusion, while this may not pass what we call in the legal world “the sniff test”, there is no ethical conflict present. This not to say there aren’t issues with the college’s by-laws, however I am not privy to that information and cannot make an ethical judgement based on information I don’t have.
J.E. Michael says
How ungenteel a personal attack on a long term servant of this community. If you have problems with conflicts of interest I suggest you read the minutes from the first two meetings of the ‘Democratic Club’ of Kent County. Further read the publicly stated reason the Democratic club was formed? It was printed at the time (in the Kent County News) the advent of the Democratic club was in reaction to the highly successful efforts of the Washington College student Republicans during the blessed loss of Al Gore in 2000. If you don’t realize how pitiful this attack on Mr. Holt is and truly feel there is a conflict of interest….. Then you must feel Justice Kagan must recuse herself from sitting on the bench while ‘Obamacare’ is argued in the coming months. I have lot’s of complaints about the college and it’s environmental impact on the river. Joe Holt is not a liability he is an asset.
Kevin Shertz says
This entire issue of the Armory — and its various facets — has really become a toxic cloud within the “bubble” known as Chestertown. Profoundly depressing.
D Lamotte says
My, my. We’ve got the whole “club” in a tizzy…
eliott fuhrman says
as a resident of kent county can not vote for those who have a large control over our economy .If as “plan Md” states need public utilites for growth and development then C-Town is our dna for potential revenue and job growth,When one is 20% in charge was voted in by only 75 total voted, another voted in by 17 voters, I there for have no representation on new development , even if it is great {armory} or bad {plastic bags].How can we turn over these important situations to those that voted for plastic bags, tried to black mail the college{george most be looking down on c-town with a shake of his head}.The college should start a voters rgistration drive for students so they can vote in next election
Sandy Terpeluk says
I find it hard to believe that this article was written, talk about media bias. And even harder to believe some of the liberal comments. What is it with you people? Are we Republicans actually making you nervous this time around? All that hope and change? Oh my gosh – is there a “conservative” in the ivory tower?
The very essence of being a College Republican is to help the Republican Party and become involved in the GOP. And CR’s have been doing just that for over 119 years. There are 51 state federations, 1,500 campus chapters, and 250,000 College Republicans according to Wikipedia. Of course the CR’s are going to campaign for and support Republican candidates – at all levels of government, whether or not there is the “scarlet” “R” behind their name. CR’s are actually smart enough to identify and support candidates who share their own values and beliefs. What do you expect them to do, push restrictive anti-business legislation against plastic bags?
I have three children who have been College Republicans at three different colleges. And I am proud to say they all worked on candidate campaigns. I encouraged it. Frankly, I often wished they had a “Joe Holt” as their College Republican advisor. He has been a valuable mentor and role model to the Washington College Republicans during his years as their advisor.
And let the truth be told! College Republicans and College Democrats have canvassed for candidates in cities and communities all across this nation. I have been the Kent County Chair for an assortment of candidates. In 2010 College Republicans helped me with the Harris, Pipkin, Smigiel, Hershey, Jacobs, Short and Coryell campaigns. In 2008 the College Republicans helped me with both the Harris and McCain campaigns. In 2006 the College Republicans helped me with the Steele and Ehrlich campaigns.
And if the results of this town election make you liberal Democrats nervous, just wait until 2012! At least you won’t have to worry about plastic bags. Thank God, you solved that horrific problem. Can’t wait until we “Occupy the White House”. All is fair in love and war.
Sandra B. Terpeluk
Chairman
Kent County Republican Central Committee
Gren Whitman says
@ C. McGinnes
Though a resident of Rock Hall, it was in my capacity as an elected member of the Kent County Democratic Central Committee that I knocked on “some 60” doors for Mr. Anthony’s re-election campaign. A principal aim of the KCDCC is to — duh! — elect Democrats in Kent County. Ward Two’s election results suggest I should have knocked on more.
Rachel Goss says
I’m really not sure the “Republican” part is the issue – I feel any group in which Mr. Holt was involved would be the target. I wasn’t as clear as I would have liked to have been in my first comment.
I see the Conflict of Interest as a cover for Sour Grapes – and – as Kevin wrote – it is profoundly depressing.
I would like to remind Gibson – a friend and darn-near relative – that this loss may be preparing you for a higher and greater use – let’s look for the positive – let’s give Linda a fair shot. This isn’t forever…
Matt Gerstung says
Mr. Whitman your use of the sound “duh” is frequently used by children to insult some ones level of understanding a concept, imitate the handicapped and by bullies in school. I have six children and a sister who is mentally retarded. She is a member of the Benedictine community in Rigley ,MD. I am asking you to please have consideration when writing in a public forum.
Thanks
Matt Gerstung
Andy Vlahos says
I do get it and will reiterate again – there is no conflict.
For example, per §15-502(b) of the State of Maryland Ethics Law state employees may campaign on behalf of the candidate of their choosing, as long as the campaign position is voluntary. State employees consistently negotiate and lobby elected officials for a variety of things, raises, budgets, all of which directly affect them, yet they are allowed to campaign for the candidate of their choosing while in these types of negotations, as long as they are not a paid campaign worker. The argument can also be made that these negotations are part of the state employee’s job description, just as it is part of Mr. Holt’s respsonsibilties to negotiate on behalf of WC. How is this state employee/campaign volunteer dynamic any different than Mr. Holt’s circumstances?
The presence of a conflict of interest would come into play if the employee was paid by the campaign to stump on behalf of the candidate and those restrictions are cleary defined in the statute. If we were using the State’s Ethics Rules as our guideline, the question the Ethics Committee would use in determing if a conflict of interest is present would be “Was Mr. Holt monitarily compensated by the Kuiper Campaign?”. In this case I believe the answer is no.
Further, business owners often excercise their right to particiapte in the election process to get candidates elected that match their values, ideas and goals. If you own an asphalt company and there is a candidate running for office that heavily supports infrastructure spending, which candidate do you expect that business man to support at election time? I am sure I don’t have to pontificate on this point further.
Lastly, and only because it keeps being brought up, the fact that in the 20 years prior the CR’s didn’t campaign for a town council candidate is completely irrelevant to this issue and in deterniming a conflicts issue. If precedence of prior campaigning was the standard for granting the right to individual or an entity to participate in the election process there wouldn’t be any participation at all.
D Lamotte says
I do know that Joe Holt has always been liked and admired. It is a shame that this has occured and I
would hope that the College and Town can move on to pressing issues…..
I always want to thank Gibson for all he has done for our town. Keep active!!
John Morony says
If Mr. Anthony is bent on blaming someone for his defeat then he needs to take a long hard look in the mirror. I’m not sure what part of WC Republicans is not clear to him but the fact that he just stops short of admitting to being outmaneuvered is telling. Congratulations to the WC Republicans for a successful campaign; they deserve much credit for getting involved and performing a rather thankless duty towards getting Republicans out to vote and for promoting Republican candidates. Losing an election certainly isn’t any fun but it is a possible outcome; one that every candidate should be well aware of when they file for a race.
The dim-witted attempts to toss around ethical concerns merely add to the comic relief. What should the adviser to the WC Republicans have done? Tell them to canvass for Democrats? The WC Republicans is a partisan organization; the race was partisan as well. In short, the club did what it was established to do. A lot of the other comments here are right on the mark: I doubt this article would have even been written had the WC Democrats done their job and helped Mr. Anthony to win. The fact that college is in negotiations with the town is simply noise. The WC Republican Club had nothing to gain or lose with a change in stance on negotiations with the town. They worked to do the job they were established to do — to get Republicans elected.
Congratulations to Mr. Holt and the WC Republicans on a job well done. Mr. Anthony now has plenty of sour grapes to continue on with his whine-making.
John Morony
matthew weir says
Gren Whitman, Did Gibson ask you to not campaign for him, as he did me, and ask you to keep your politics in Rock Hall? He does not seem to like people from outside the town limits to interfere with Chestertown elections.
Gren Whitman says
@ Mr. Gerstung
My use of the word “duh” was in response to Ms. C. McGinnes questioning the appropriateness of me knocking on C’town doors in support of Mr. Anthony’s candidacy, and had absolutely nothing — zero, zilch, nada, nil — to do with you … or your children … or any other member of your family, which even the very dimmest of Spy readers can readily grasp.
@ Mr. Weir
Please direct any question you have about Mr. Anthony’s campaign to Mr. A. himself, and thanks!
Cynthia McGinnes says
@Gren Whitman….I did not know that you are on the KCDCC, so how could I merit the use of the word “duh”? Guess what…I didn’t even know that Gibson Anthony was a Democrat…he could have been a RINO, as I always thought he was pretty much in the middle…..shows what I know.
Which brings another point…the town council elections are supposed to be unaffiliated, and I do not believe either candidate used their party affiliations in their campaigns. I think the negotiations with the College and the Town were decided by the votes of Gatto,Anthony, and Stetson…and isn’t Stetson a registered Republican? So this whole Town/College negotiation can hardly be described as partisan.
I do wonder why liberals feel the need to personally insult those who disagree with them…I really didn’t deserve that “duh”, Gren!!!!! For all I knew you could have been a registered member of the Green Party or even a registered Socialist like the Senator from Vermont:-) All I knew from your posts is that you have very progressive views.
Gren Whitman says
@Cynthia McGinnes: C’mon, let’s be real.
Ms. McG. knew that (1) I live in Rock Hall, knew that (2) I knocked on “some 60” doors in C’town, and knew that (3) I was campaigning for Mr. Anthony — pretty detailed knowledge! — but now claims she didn’t know that I am a local, albeit minor, Democratic Party official?
Come, come, Ms. McG! Objective observers are likely to agree that deserves a heartfelt “duh” (Mr. Gerstung’s extended family notwithstanding).
Be that as it may, this minor Dem official is not the issue, nor is “duh.”
The issue is whether (1) it’s unethical, or (2) a conflict of interest, or even (3) a violation of tax laws for a paid employee — a well-paid and important employee — of a non-profit, tax-exempt educational institution to have anything — anything — to do with partisan electioneering. The issue has nothing to do with me — I am spozed to engage in partisan politics!
The issue has everything to do with Washington College’s Executive Vice President, and his potential little dance with the IRS. He’s not spozed to engage in partisan politics, and will probably have some splainin’ to do to the IRS, or at least to the college’s board of trustees, you betcha!
Warrior Bob Kramer says
Eliott says: The college should start a voters rgistration drive for students so they can vote in next election
The best comment of the thread… which has produced almost as many comments as the election in question produced voters.
It’s pretty obvious that the voters of the second ward got what they deserved… an abysmal turnout and a winner who got less than half of the meager votes cast.
John Moag Jr. says
Joe Holt is one of the most modest, humble, and dedicated people I know; I admire the man. He happens to be of a different political persuasion than I– a flaw that i tolerate– but I admire and respect his long-standing and principled involvement in politics. Since Joe is not a federal government employee, there is no restriction on his political involvement, nor do I see a conflict between Joe’s employment and his political involvement.
But I really just join this debate to relate a story. As an 18 year old, politically energized freshman entering Washington College from the suburbs of Baltimore, I wanted to do what I could to elect George McGovern President or, maybe more importantly, un-elect Richard Nixon. Believe it or not, there was a McGovern headquarters on High Street where the children’s store currently resides. It was manned by Vince Raimond, Chairman of the Kent County Citizens for McGovern-Shriver. Vince welcomed my interest and, on the spot, said I would be campaign manager. I was quicker at 18 than I am now and I immediately recognized this campaign was doomed; at least in Kent County.
But Vince was, and is, very persuasive. He offered me use of his car to take the unpaid job. The car was a very late model Mercedes with cracking leather. But, it WAS a Mercedes. Second of all, the car had…..now remember it’s 1972……a car phone! I took the job, the car, and immediately called my parents in the City who had never heard of a car phone. As a result, My social life was fabulous during that fall of 1972 and I will forever be in debt to Vince, George McGovern, and the Democratic party!
The crux of my strategy as Campaign Manager was to focus on the college faculty and the African American community believing everything else was hopeless. That strategy came to a head one evening in the Concrete Club, the epicenter of the black community, at the corner of College and Calvert. During that meeting I was told 1) the great majority of their community is Republican and, 2) That they would take their political guidance from Mayor Brooks and not from a freshman from Washington College. However, I was offered a glass of whiskey, thanked, and then shown to the door. McGovern was massacred in Kent County.
What a great lesson and great fun. I hope it continues to play on.
Tony Weir says
I must say I find it hard to understand Mr. Anthony’s point of view regarding Joe Holt and the activities of young Republicans in the recent election.
Mr. Anthony is quoted as saying, “It would be particularly sad for the residents of Chestertown if it turns out that a local election was influenced by ulterior and purely self-serving motives.”
This makes me question whether Mr. Anthony has ever attempted to understand the political process in our country.
Candidates at every level of almost every election have sought out professional help, often compensated. A significant number of those recruited have come from without the election district in question. As far as I know, there is no law or ordinance against such involvement. Why would there be in what we celebrate as an open Democracy in which we are all privileged to live?
Further, does Mr. Anthony genuinely (and naively) believe that those involved in an election, whether as candidates or supporters, are ever acting for anything less than “self-serving motives”? Mr. Webster defines “self-serving” as “serving one’s own interests”. Isn’t that what every election is about, voting for what we believe is best for us and against what we think is not? Is it possible that Mr. Anthony cannot grasp this?
As for Joe Holt, I have known him and worked with him on college committees for some years now, and have nothing but the highest respect for him. Would that we had more of his caliber in this (and every) community.
But then perhaps I should not express this opinion. After all, while I did send one son to Washington College, and serve on committees at the college, and did live part-time in Chestertown for nine years, by Mr. Anthony’s standards I am indeed an outsider.
Tony Weir
Gibson says
Quote from the story:
“Dr. David Newell, Professor Emeritus at Washington College and Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute, a leading expert on ethics, said Holt’s involvement has the appearance of conflict of interest.
“It looks to me that Joe Holt in his role as the executive vice president for the College does appear to have a conflict of interest here. Clearly there is nothing illegal, but typically someone would recuse themselves if they are negotiating with the Town Council and, as head of the Kent Republican Party and advisor to young republicans, he is organizing efforts to unseat a current council member,” Newell said.”
Matt Gerstung says
Nathaniel Herrschoff one of Americas great yacht designers and boat builders said of ” experts” that ” X is the variable and spurt is the leak in the hose under pressure.