Annapolis Capital Punishment

(CP NOTES: The subject of this analysis, Democratic Chairman Nick Berry was given adequate time to review and respond to this post before it was published. He chose not to respond.)

In the past week, local Democratic Chair Nick Berry, a man known for being rather low key and soft spoken, has suddenly gone on the defensive for his party as well he should, albeit in a consistent manner. As readers recall, Berry was slow to take action when the notorious campaign literature appeared in Ward Three to benefit a Democrat by attacking a Republican. Even on election day, CP had to convince Berry that simply talking to the victim, Republican Scott Bowling, was nowhere near enough for the local Democratic leader. Later that day, yes on election day, he reacted but he had nothing to say publicly when Hoyle blamed Bowling for the flyers! Before that he said nothing when Alderwoman Hoyle compared bloggers to the KKK and hoses (as in firehoses). He did nothing when Democrat Trudy McFall was being smeared in various ways.


He did speak out on some of the outrages of the notorious Chuck Weikel, but only after he was repeatedly urged to do so and now he has to contend with Weikel on the central committee. As far as most observers can tell, he and his committee did nothing to vet candidates Kenny Kirby or Zina Pierre. When Kirby refused to answer any of my inquiries about his background and instead sent them on to Berry, he actually contacted me to suggest that I must tread very carefully in so doing, as if I needed such a "suggestion". In other words, it was not appropriate for him to research a candidate's background (well documented here in previous posts) but it was appropriate for him to "suggest" that I be very careful in publishing such information. He got suddenly interested in vetting the candidate.

Berry said nothing when Moyer posted a blog that attacked and libeled yours truly (a former Democratic candidate) along with another leading Democratic activist, Dennis Conti, who supported and helped elect many Democrats, including Josh Cohen and Ross Arnett. The blog also attacked a Republican. He said nothing when Moyer attacked Democratic Alderman Dick Israel for sponsoring council-manager legislation by accusing him of an "assault on representative government."

Berry, you will recall, also said that Alderman Sam Shropshire, upon being convicted of sexual assault, had a "sterling" political record. Has anyone else noted his sterling record? See my previous post at

Now Berry defends the disastrous Moyer administration in The Capital, juxtaposed with his Republican counterpart Mike Dye. Among Berry's many defenses of Moyer, he has the temerity to claim that much of the disdain directed toward her is because she is a woman!!! Ahhh--playing the gender card we see. How come he did not defend the victimized Trudy McFall in the same manner!

In so doing, he pats himself on the back and takes a similar jab at her critics:

Moyer has complained to me that I, as chair of the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee, and the party itself, have been far too quiet in extolling the values of Democrats. Aside from police and fire protection and low taxes, these anti-government people, Moyer believes, miss the important values local government can promote. She's right. Her strong will on behalf of numerous projects reveals an admirable set of her community values.

An admirable set of community values? Did he mean letting crime run rampant and arguing with Nick's and Ellen's own neighbors who brought their concerns about it to City Council so she could call us "rhetorical bombthrowers" while gunfire went off every night and people died--mainly young Black men? It's easy to say that someone who criticizes Moyer is anti-government, but it's a facile argument at best. Plenty of her critics, CP included, believe in activist government. We just don't happen to believe in an aggressive, arrogant, autocratic, crony regime of irresponsible tax-and-spenders. I could go on, but let's see what else Berry has to say:

Moyer sees public safety as a top priority, raising the pay and training of police and fire, hiring a new police chief and redoing the Police Station (which may come in on budget after proceeds from lawsuits).

Right. See above. So what if the renovation "may come in on budget"? It was her administration that awarded a contract to a sub-standard builder and then let them wreck the building for years before anyone spoke up. It was clear to anyone who saw it what a mess it was--except apparently  her police chief or her other appointee Mike Malinoff, who supposedly oversees inspections and permits. Does Berry suppose that might have been kept quiet because of fears it would damage her re-election efforts? Remember how she kept Chief Johnson on and on and on while people were being shot and killed and Johnson refused to listen to citizen outcry and openly argued with Moyer and HACA Director Eric Brown? Johnson refused to deploy additional resources to crime hotspots. Was that a top priority?

Berry concludes:

What remains of her legacy will be permanent and will prove of benefit to Annapolis.
And yes, she is an Iron Lady - tough, forthright and assertive, but would she have accomplished as much if she had been more stereotypically "womanly?" I think not.

I am used to hearing many arguments from feminists, accomplished female politicians and their supporters that it is often their ability to listen, empathize and act more "womanly" that often gives them their power and their edge in a traditionally male world. They often use that to bolster their campaigns--and rightly so. Just look at the long and venerable  tradition of successful and powerful women in Maryland politics and consider how many of them are equally tough and forthright but how hardly any of them have the anger, disappointment and frustration directed toward them as does Ellen. Why is that? You can call her "tough, forthright and assertive" but this type of personality is usually described differently. There is a big difference between those character elements and mean, nasty, aggressive, arrogant, spiteful and I could go on, but you get the point.

However, and I believe I speak for many other Democrats when I say I would sure like for Nick Berry to be more tough, forthright and assertive whether that's womanly or manly but to be so in a consistent manner. Remember what our state motto reads: "manly deeds, womanly words" or "strong deeds, gentle words".

For Berry's complete piece see:
www.hometownannapolis.com/news/opn/2009/12/04-22/Guest-Column-A-Democrats-view.html

In what was a much more reasoned, honest and fair assessment of Moyer, this is what Republican Chair Mike Dye wrote:

In the end, the effect of the Moyer years may finally be a recognition that true leadership is essential to good governance, that priorities must be set for the betterment of all, that tough choices are unavoidable if one is to lead and that engagement of all citizens in finding solutions is more than mere rhetoric or symbolism but an ongoing process to get us through the tough times.

www.hometownannapolis.com/news/opn/2009/12/04-42/Guest-Column-A-Republicans-view.html

Berry focused on partisanship. Dye focused on leadership. I'll take the second approach every time, and that may be why Berry will be in a minority when we start seriously discussing ending partisan local elections. On the other hand, Dye might be as well.


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