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If the past year and a half hasn't been disruptive enough in Oxford, the upcoming June 18th election for Town Commissioner has provided more drama than could have ever been imagined. Incidents of sign stealing/destruction, bullying of businesses to take signs down or risk boycotts, and allegations of ethics violations have damaged the image of Oxford, Maryland as a beautiful, peaceful little town.
This past weekend, one of the candidates, Josh Coder, sent this e-mail request regarding the election:
June 8, 2024
Lyndsey Ryan, Town Attorney, [email protected]
Pam Baker, Election Board Chair, [email protected]
Cheryl Lewis, Town Manager, [email protected]
Katrina Greer, Commissioner, [email protected]
Tom Costigan, Commissioner, [email protected]
Susan Delean Botkin, Commissioner, [email protected]
This letter is to request Election Poll Watchers at the upcoming election on June 18, 2024 for both candidates. I am also requesting that this letter to be read aloud and discussed during the new business portion of the June 11, 2024, Commissioners Meeting.
If it is decided that this request will not be included in the New Business portion of the meeting on June 11th, 2024, I am requesting that this letter be read out loud during the “Letters and Request” portion of the meeting and included in the meeting minutes.
The Oxford Town Charter Article V, “REGISTRATION, NOMINATION AND ELECTIONS”, does not provide for, nor disallow, poll watchers; however, per Section C5-17 of the Town Charter, you, as Commissioners, have the authority to provide guidance and regulation for our Town elections.
Therefore, I am asking you to vote to apply the intent of Maryland State law Section 10-311 of the Election Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland to our upcoming election and allow both candidates to designate Election Poll Watchers.
I would suggest the following requirements for Election Poll Watchers:
1. All Election Poll Watchers must read and agree to the State of Maryland “Instructions and information for Challengers, Watchers and Other Election Observers” guidelines document (https://www.elections.maryland.gov/get_involved/challenger_watcher.html).
2. All Election Poll Watchers must be nominated by their candidate.
3. All nominated Election Poll Watchers must have a signed State of Maryland Challenger & Watcher Certificate https://www.elections.maryland.gov/pdf/Challenger_Certificate.pdf)
4. Candidates may nominate as many Election Poll Watchers as needed to provide poll coverage, but there can be no more than two Poll Watchers per candidate in the polling room at any time, to allow for tag team rotation.
5. The list of nominated Election Poll Watchers from each candidate, along with signed nomination certificates for each nominated watcher should be provided to the Chair of the Board of Elections no later than 5:00pm on Monday, June 17th, 2024.
6. Election Poll Watchers that will be observing pre-opening procedures must arrive at the polling place no later than 30 minutes prior to the polls opening, in order to minimize disruption to election officials.
7. Election Poll Watchers will be allowed to observe all election opening, voting, and closing procedures, canvassing (counting) of ballots, and certification of election results.
Following discussion, and assuming a Yes vote by a majority of the Commissioners, my campaign will be happy to work with our Town Clerk/Treasurer and Chair of the Board of Elections to provide nomination certificates for qualified Election Poll Watchers and we request that the other campaign be afforded the same opportunity.
Thank you for your consideration.
Regards,
“Signed”
Joshua M. Coder
Candidate for Commissioner
The request doesn't seem unreasonable considering the competitive nature of this election.
Well, unless you are Appointed Commissioner Susan Delean Botkin who decided to write what could be described as one of the most unprofessional responses from an elected official to a request from a citizen that we have ever seen. Here is Botkin's response:
As usual, it seems Ms. Botkin has little regard for the concerns of a constituent.
First, she insinuates that Mr. Coder's request is a "political stunt" by asking if the Commissioners have a "political stunt category on the agenda." How offensive and dismissive regarding an honest request by a candidate who is also a citizen of the town.
Second, she indicates that she doesn't think that poll watchers are a "good idea." Nothing like showing your bias regarding an issue without even listening to the thoughts and concerns of others.
But, the most bizarre thing about her response is a mysterious reference to someone named "Mr. Calvert" and the hope that his "internet is not working this weekend." No one is quite sure who Mr. Calvert is and why it is important that his internet not be working over the weekend. Is he some kind of election official? An imaginary friend of Ms. Botkin?
This is not the first time that Ms. Botkin has been rude and dismissive of Oxford citizens. Earlier this year she called citizen Scott Rensberger " a liar" and referred to him as a "part timer." The term "part timer" was not a compliment. She told another citizen of the town that she didn't get questions answered from the town office because the citizen, "has a bad attitude." Here is a link to the story about that meeting:
Continued Demands For Transparency Set Tone Of Oxford Meeting - Easton Gazette
She even called a consultant a liar at a meeting regarding the hiring of a search firm.
Regardless of all that, this response is exceeds her prior rudeness and unprofessionalism to a citizen asking a legitimate question.
Because of that, Candidate Josh Coder has asked for an explanation and apology from the Town and Ms. Botkin as well as a hearing from the town's ethics committee:
It's been clear since she was unethically installed as a Commissioner of Oxford after losing an election by a large margin that Ms. Botkin was selected by a small circle of people to fill the spot in order to assure the will of the citizens of the town would be subverted by the Commissioners of the town and the Town Office. This small circle was about to lose the control they had maintained over Oxford for more than 12 years because of the election of Katrina Greer, a commissioner who would ask questions and demand accountability, and they didn't like it.
It's clear she was not put there to serve the people of the town but to provide a speed bump to those who desire transparency and information about the way Oxford conducts business. The above email was just one example of her actions fulfilling this "duty."
Countless times Botkin has proven her total lack of respect for those citizens who ask questions and demand transparency, and this will be her lasting legacy as an appointed, not elected, commissioner.
The Town of Oxford, via Town Manager Cheryl Lewis, responded to Coder an email about the topic.
Lewis's email was respectful and didn't reference unknown names. Whether the information is accurate is a question that will require an answer.
Candidate Coder's request for poll watchers is not unreasonable and would guarantee that there are no questions about election results from either side. It would go a long way to regain the trust of the citizens of this town. This is much needed.
At any rate, the Town Meeting of June 11th, 2024 will be an important meeting as this will be discussed along with a variety of other issues. CITIZENS SHOULD ATTEND!!! One thing residents should be united on is the right to address their elected and hired officials! Here is the agenda:
COMMISSIONERS OF OXFORD ~ June 11, 2024 AGENDA
REGULAR TOWN MEETING – 6 pm
Approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting on May 28, 2024
Report of Disbursements for the month of May 2024
GUEST
PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE
POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATE
FIRE COMPANY UPDATE
PUBLIC HEARING
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
LETTERS AND REQUEST
ATTORNEY
TOWN MANAGER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS
PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comments are encouraged and can also be emailed to [email protected] by noon on June 11, 2024
CLOSED SESSION – If requested
Adjournment
Tom Costigan, Commission President, Susan Delean-Botkin, Commissioner, Katrina Greer, Commissioner
The Commissioners of Oxford are governed by the Oxford Charter and are guided by Robert’s Rules of Order. The Charter provides that all meetings of the Commissioners shall be open to the public, and the rules of the Commissioners shall provide that residents of the Town shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any meeting in regard to any municipal question. Public Comment is included on all Commissioner regular meeting agendas and affords the public the opportunity to have a voice, and the Commissioners an opportunity to listen.
Public Comment is not a Debate. It is not a question-and-answer session or discussion. If, after a public comment, a Commissioner wishes to clarify a matter, they may do so. With that in mind, the Commissioners thank the public for their interest, welcomes the public to speak, and requests that anyone who would like to speak please state your name and address for the record.
____________________________________________________________________
Botkin has been an embarrassment to this town for years. I was asked to give a Meet and Greet one hour meeting last June for Katrina which I gladly accepted. I attempted several times over that weekend to contact Botkin offering to host a meeting for her as well but all messages were ignored. I finally walked across our street when I saw her and got this “ You betrayed me, never speak to me again, go find someone else to stab in the back !” She has not spoken to me since.