Sam Graves is seeking re-election for Commissioner, District 1—running “on his record.” Good luck with that.

Which record is he running on? The history of sexual harassment or the fact the CCC have screwed every county employee?

Are you talking about his “wonderful” record of how he screwed his very own constituents over in Hughesville?  That record?

Yes, any of those records. He certainly does not have a very good record, now that I look at it!

Graves stands on county record
Wednesday, April 14, 2010

By MEREDITH SOMERS
Staff writer

Five months before the primary election, incumbent Charles County Commissioner Samuel N. Graves Jr. (D) chose to let the accomplishments of his board do most of the talking during his speech before the 4th and 5th Districts Democratic Club at Shymansky’s Restaurant in Cobb Island on Monday night.

But with work sessions on the county’s general fund operating budget getting under way this week, Graves also spoke of the cautious optimism he and his fellow commissioners will be exercising when it comes to balancing the books.

“A government’s job is managing what we have,” Graves said.

“We have the best set of county employees who provide the services we enjoy every day.”

The county has enabled a soft reduction of forces by up to 100 employees but Graves said he was not sure what else could be done should Annapolis deal more blows across the state, and that’s just in-house.

Education and safe communities are at the head of most residents’ lists of concerns since the heated debates last year over the commissioners’ decisions about fully funding the county school system and waffling on the budget of the sheriff’s office.

“Schools and public safety are our two big stakeholders and our two top priorities,” Graves said. “We’re working with them, they’re working with us so we can resolve this issue and come out on top when the economy turns around.”

Graves also spent time applauding the AAA bond rating given to the county by one of its bond rating agencies — the highest possible rank — which allowed the county to receive a low interest rate for its bond sales. The rating, given by bond rater Fitch, is the result of a “recalibration” and does not indicate a change in the county’s status from last year.

The commissioner highlighted the progress of development around the county including the Indian Head Rail Trail, St. Charles Parkway, the upcoming environmental summit and the many bright minds in Charles County classrooms.

During a time for questions and answers, Graves spoke on the two sewage overflows in the Swan Point area in January and March.

“There were human errors and there were mechanical failures. When both are involved you need redundancies. Our goal is to have no leaks,” Graves said.

He advised residents to sign up for the county’s citizen notification system which would keep members up to date on any breaking news or updates depending on the category of information they wanted to know about.

As for campaign stumping, Graves reminded the crowd he had been a public servant for more than 30 years and asked for voters’ support.

Graves is being challenged by Swan Point resident Ken Robinson for the District 1 commissioner seat.

“We have the best set of county employees who provide the services we enjoy every day.”

Right!  Did ole Sam have the cojones to buck Paul Comfort when he was throwing county employees out of the county lunchroom?  NOPE!  As a Commissioner he could’ve and he should’ve, but he didn’t. 

“Schools and public safety are our two big stakeholders and our two top priorities,” Graves said. “We’re working with them, they’re working with us so we can resolve this issue and come out on top when the economy turns around.”

Heh, you’re working with the Sheriff’s Department and the BOE ONLY because the local citizenry forced you and the other 4 to.

Our goal is to have no leaks,” Graves said.

Dude, an overflow is NOT a leak.  A bathroom faucet can have a leak—a sewage plant with issues has overflows.  Big difference there.  Use the proper terminology and don’t try and make something seem like nothing.  But sorry to rag on ya’, ole Sam, how would you know if there was a “leak” or an overflow seein’ as how you didn’t exactly rush down there when it happened.  Swan Point IS District ONE, correct?  Yeah, I already know the answer to that.

Graves reminded the crowd he had been a public servant for more than 30 years and asked for voters’ support.

Nope, that won’t cut it.  Voters want to see fresh, forward thinking ideas and candidates who can articulate themselves to where they don’t sound like a 3 year old sound bite.

Are you guys so “delusional” that you think Paul Comfort was promoting his own agenda.  Hello!  Hello!  I’m no fan of his, but a little critical thinking and analysis will reveal that he was clearly working the agenda of his bosses who started their bull over 3.5 years ago.  Remember “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” and guess who the voters gave the power to?  The five morons not their administrator.  Sam is the worst of all.  His decision making and leadership skills are somewhere below those of an earthworm.  Worst of all he stands for nothing so he falls for anything.  Sort of like a revolving door mounted on the proverbial fencepost.  Wake up and vote these morons out of office in 2010.

He stands for something; long legs, skirts and playing with female employees hair.

Isn’t this perfect?  Sam Graves is handing out Kit-Kat bars with his mug wrapped around it.  Ken Robinson is giving away reusable grocery bags.

He was at the grand opening of the Taco Bell stuffing his face today. He was bragging about how the Taco Bell was going to help the local economy. I guess if you want a job in retail or fast-food, you are set for life. Just what we needed, another fast food business. The only thing that would have been better would be another pharmacy in LaPlata.

As he claims to be a veteran of the U.S. Army, perhaps it would have been more appropriate for him to attend the Memorial Day service in Indian Head.  I guess they were not serving food.

It was a very nice ceremony and for the record, they DID serve food.

- dinner at Silver Skewers with the missus: $50 and change.
- two tickets to the Blue Crabs game, popcorn, ice cream and some bottled waters: about $40
- sitting behind Sheriff and Mrs. Coffey and watching them turn to each other and giggle with each other like school children after the stadium played a video of Sam Graves begging for votes (and reminding us he voted for the stadium—-as if we could ever forget): priceless

this was my first time visiting. i figured that it is ours after all and wanted to see what exactly we were getting for our money. the Crabs do have some pretty impressive players. i’ll say that.

Sheriff and Mrs. Coffey and watching them turn to each other and giggle with each other like school children

Gotta’ love a Sheriff with a sense of humor

Yup, Sam Graves is proud of his spend thrift ways. I’ve only heard him speak once. He opened his time by telling how what a great steward of tax payer dollars he is. Then went on to say what a great thing the stadium was…then during Q&A time he said he couldn’t support driver’s ed in the schools because, and I quote, “its too expensive”.

Think about that before you consider voting for him or any of the current commissioners. 100% taxpayer funded stadium…bailout of the Capital Clubhouse and continued dollars going in are fine way to expand our dollars. But the safety and education of new drivers? Nah…that’s too expensive.

How does one’s brain work to make that logic work?

How does one’s brain work to make that logic work?

Key word here is logic.

xcitor and seahorse   Yep we were there and it was my first time too. And we did have a laugh but not at what you thought. It was an inside joke. The advertising people from the stadium have been trying to get me to place an ad for Rex. And when we saw Sam on the screen I told him so that is what they were talking about. Rex says to me I’m not putting my big head up on that screen. And he said something else but I not saying it here. Our conversation had nothing to do with Sam. I didn’t even hear what he said. And yes seahorse he does have a sense of humor . I have been laughing at him since I was 15 years old. We had a good time that night, it was fun just to relax and watch baseball Rex loves baseball. Did you see him go speak to the first base coach. Rex and Joe played ball together back in their college days.

lol, Cindy. thanks for replying.

i certainly didn’t mean to suggest anything sinister was being uttered, nor was i fishing for full-disclosure as to what was said.

but the fact you responded in good humor is just awesome. Sheriff Coffey is the only incumbent in any public office in Charles County who has earned his right to be re-elected by the citizens. in my opinion…

he does have a sense of humor

Hi, Cindy, LOL, understandable why Rex wouldn’t want to see his head enlarged 20 times on a movie screen!  Thanks for setting us straight

xcitor   I understand where you are coming from and Thanks

seahorse     Don’t I know, his head is big enough as it is.

Maryland Independent

Don’t make choice based solely on frustrations with incumbents

During the 2006 election there was an “anti-Republican” movement. As we approach the primary on Sept. 14 all the talk is “anti-incumbent.” To be anti any group bothers me. I don’t like it when statements are made targeting sex, race, religion, size, hair color, height etc.

I have read weekly the letters stating what Sam Graves has done wrong. Not one letter was positive. Does this mean that Commissioner Graves does everything wrong? Is Sam Graves the only commissioner doing anything? I think neither of these is true. No one person can be “all wrong” or “all right.” When a vote is taken, all commissioners have the right to vote (and most do). What I think, is that one of Sam’s opponents is doing a good job at encouraging people to write “anti-Sam” letters.

Voters have to vote not just against someone, but also for someone. The voter’s choice should not be based solely on frustration with incumbents.

Today’s letter to the editor in support of Sam Graves is actually sad.  It is written (by his campaign manager) as though it was an obituary.  I guess it is at least a political one.  It just tells what he is interested in, not what he has accomplished.  It really does unintentionally define him and why he needs to be voted out.

I agree, Julia, it is indeed a sad letter.  A plea to honor Ole Sam with another 4 years of being a commissioner when he did so poorly his first 4.  Another consideration not mentioned but talked about Monday night by some in the audience is his health.  He doesn’t look as if he’s capable of handling stress that a commissioner will face if he/she is doing the job they were voted to do.

Commissioner Graves, unfortunately, is my Commissioner. He started out with my support. However he soon gave himself, and his vote, over to the pro-developer leadership of Wayne Cooper, to which Edith Patterson owes her candidacy as well.

He says nothing, reminding me of no one more than Sgt. Schultz of Hogan’s Heroes. However, we could laugh at Sgt. Schultz because he did us no harm. Mr Graves has hurt his district and the County. He has consistently voted with the developers and failed to keep us informed of the issues in play before they get decided by the Commission. He does nothing about the water and sewer problems. He is all warm and fuzzy looking, but that only goes so far (I hope!)

He is a major part of the problem and must be shown the door.

Easy with the “warm and fuzzy” comments. We all know about his past!