Dear neighbors and friends in Wicomico County, I am writing to express my deep concerns about a live video released by the County Executive on her personal Facebook page. I sent the attached letter to the County Executive regarding this live stream today. While the topic of her video touched on the recent County Council meeting, my concern is not with the specific agenda items, but rather with how the message was delivered.
By broadcasting from the government office, during business hours, using the prestige of the position to vilify constituents and the entire legislative branch of our local government—while simultaneously blocking dissenting comments—I believe the Executive is violating the standards set by the Supreme Court in Lindke v. Freed. We cannot have officials using taxpayer resources to attack taxpayers while hiding behind “private” pages to silence the response. Governance requires listening to all voices, not just the ones that agree with you.
The issue here isn’t the topic of the debate (specifically the Lord’s Prayer at council which I will miss and continue to pray personally); the issue is that she is using the weight of her office to silence opposition. She blocked comments from anyone but supporters, creating an echo chamber rather than a dialogue. From my perspective, I believe that neither the Council or the Executive wanted to lose the Lord’s prayer and could have very easily worked together to find a suitable compromise. Perhaps the chamber could open early and prayers could be led by the community prior to the start of the meeting. Perhaps a rotation and sign-up document could have been provided to clergy and religious leaders offering all the chance to pray. As a person of faith, I believe we can stand up for our beliefs without using the power of government to crush those who differ from us. What I am completely sure of is that there is a better path then getting on social media and manufacturing more strife and conflict while disenfranchising much of the community you are sworn to serve.
Read my full letter below. I believe we deserve leadership that seeks to unite all citizens of Wicomico County rather than create chaos, acrimony, and division.
Madam Executive,
I am writing to you to thoroughly protest and denounce the live video that you published to Facebook yesterday. I believe that the content of this live video was an egregious abuse of your prestige of office and violates basic tenets of fair governance and representation of your constituents. Your statements vilify those in your electorate who are engaged and choose to participate in their representative democracy as is their right as tax paying citizens of Wicomico County. These disparaging statements are aimed towards anyone whose opinion differs from your own, stifling free speech and constructive dialogue. Furthermore, you did so from within the County Executive’s office in the Government Office building during routine business hours meaning that you used taxpayer resources to target and malign taxpayers simply for participating in their local government. Rounding out this abuse, you posted this live video to your personal Facebook and limited commenting so that only your supporters could speak up or provide insight or feedback. This violates recent Supreme Court rulings on the use of social media by government officials and you have been notified of this repeatedly and continue to do so.
In your comments, you put a target on the backs of your own constituents who choose to give up their time and energy and quiet enjoyment of their lives to stand up for what they believe in. You tell your followers with all the weight of your office that they are akin to “Jerry Springer,” that they act like bullies- that they gang up to control the Council. This is abhorrent for you to paint them in this light, not to mention extremely hypocritical. During your own disagreements with the County Council, I have witnessed you rally your supporters to the podium to exercise their right to free speech in the exact same way and to the same effect as those who stand against your actions and policies. That is the beauty of representative government, we all have the right to exercise our voice and stand up for what we believe in. So why do you encourage and applaud this behavior in your followers and use your power to silence opposition?
The greatest hypocrisy of all is your own quote on your Facebook page from Margaret Mead` “Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world.” Yet you openly disparage a “small group” of concerned citizens trying to do exactly that. It seems that this quote only matters to you when the citizens agree with you. This is not leadership!
Ironically, you stated that the main thrust of your comments were about the Lord’s prayer being removed and, I for one am saddened that it is no longer there as well. I start my mornings and end my evenings with the Lord’s prayer and when it was not spoken at the most recent meeting, I said it silently to keep the continuity. I am strong enough in my faith to understand that I can do this, that I can practice my faith without insisting that everyone else must as well. I do not see you working to reach compromise or to find creative solutions to bring your constituents together, instead I see you hellbent on crushing anyone who disagrees with you. I do not see you working with diplomacy to end tense and combative situations, I see you fanning the flames. Wicomico deserves better.
Mikele Dahlen
Shadow Hills
Kevin Fallon
Snowhill Rd / Old Fruitland Rd
Read the comments- and I hope her troll blogger sees my comments- my issue with JG / the CE is the unprofessional shots at John Cannon and the “clown show” reference. She is an embarrassment to herself, the republican party, and all of us residents. It’s just not necessary. And I would say this directly to her, her paid shill troll blogger, Barry B and her MAGA sycophants – right to their faces. Just cut it out. Balance of power is vital and should be respected. John Cannon deserves respect.. God what I wouldn’t give to primary her and bring stable levelheaded common sense leadership to our county.
Jennifer Neese
Hebron
You expect decorum from Julie?
I will never vote for julie again
Sadly – she is (mis)using her position to further her personal agenda while limiting criticism!
We recently voted to retain the Executive form of government….now we need to vote to elect a real Republican to the office that will work with the County Council to get positive things done.
Granted, we still need term limits as too many have been around for too long!