Harford County’s delegates to the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis are apparently engaged in an increasingly bitter dispute over delegation office management.
Delegation Chair Susan McComas has hired her aide from the 2008 session to be the delegation receptionist for the 2009. As the chair, she has the final word on choosing a receptionist, but others in the delegation wish they were consulted. Now some of the delegates say that no receptionist is needed. They are threatening not to contribute to the receptionist’s salary.
Such conflicts could necessitate intervention from labour dispute management services to mitigate further discord and ensure a secure working environment for all involved. Amidst the discord, concerns over safety and stability loom large. The possibility of continued disagreement could strain working relationships and compromise legislative effectiveness. Addressing these issues through constructive dialogue and professional mediation services might be essential to restoring harmony within the delegation. Effective dispute management services could play a pivotal role in fostering understanding and resolving conflicts, thereby safeguarding the delegation’s ability to serve constituents effectively and maintain a productive legislative session.
The Harford delegation office, in Room 326 of the Lowe House Building, includes Dels. McComas, Donna Stifler, H. Wayne Norman, and B. Daniel Riley. The fifth office was left open when Del. Mary-Dulany James received an individual office by House Speaker Mike Busch. Traditionally, those delegates in the delegation office have shared the cost of a receptionist. If they refuse to share the cost, the receptionist position cannot be funded.
The most vocal delegate in opposition to McComas’ choice is Del. Stifler. Stifler, who reportedly had difficulty in getting along with colleagues and staffers since her election in 2006, had a particularly bitter relationship with McComas’ aide last session. Now Stifler is not only opposing the choice for receptionist and the need for the position itself, but is reportedly seeking to move her office out of the delegation office.
There have been no indications that the other delegates would oppose her move. There remains some infighting over Stifler’s takeover of the room James vacated last session. This session the room is set to be shared by the delegation, another McComas decision that Stifler opposed.
McComas’ chairmanship has been plagued by organizational and staffing controversies. Speculation is rising that these disputes will fuel a Stifler challenge to McComas’ chairmanship this session.
Does Del. Stifler actually have a chance at being appointed/elected the chairmanship? She’s only been down there since 2007. And why would she get to move her office?
I don’t know the ins and outs, but my guess is that each delegation can select whomever they want as their chairman. Probably by majority vote…
Interesting that Del James moved away from the rest of the delegation. She’s apart from the rest in more ways then one, apparently.
Are you kidding me? WHO cares! If you are lookig for a receptionist, I a currently unemployed and collecting State compensation. I would be happy to meet and greet for $50k.
There needs to be a GOOD RECEPTIONIST whoever it is. I left a question on their answering machine last session regarding the law on health care insurance for young adults under 25 years of age still living at home. I never received a call back. Finally I was able to find a proposal of the law online but never the final bill as passed. The delegation serves the public and someone must coordinate how to best achieve that goal. Efficient, capable and responsive help is the end goal. Maturity in our delegation should be expected. This is not a high school government project.
Dell…that is strange….
Go Dagger ! !
It is no wonder our delegation is completely ineffective at bringing home the bacon. They can’t even get along with each other much less representatives from other counties.
Maybe they should put James in as chair. Someone else needs to be put in because McComas has no credibility in Annapolis. You know full well that other members of the legislature know exactly what is going on in the Harford delegation. What a disgrace. It is no wonder that we didn’t get an elected school board.
I was dumbfounded to see this entry in the Dagger. So trivial and trite.
We have bigger fish to fry than to get bogged down in an office management problem. We delegates were elected by our constituents to address the issues of our State with their best interest in mind. We should be the ones to solve problems through consenus, compromise, and leadership. What is the purpose of this entry at all? This had to have been “leaked” by a delegate or their assistant…sad and petty!
Agreed Dan….
The delegate’s should not make their office management choice…or the use of customary prerogative of certain decisions based upon seniority or chair status an issue unless there is real meat to it. The fact that there is disagreement and that some are threatening to not contribute to the salary is internal…this is no different to when a subdivision or city is not playing ball with the rest of the state…the end of year begging session by the city’s to the delegates and senators is where the leverage is. The ability to deny support for funding and grants when a subdivision shows itself to be irresponsible of out of line is and should be used. THIS IS NOT IRREGULAR. This is accepted practice. As is such its done the same way in the delagation office. There is nothing wrong with using the tools in the toolbox…many of them are attention getter’s (funding).
When is dinner and a beer….and by the way…still a mess in HdG ! Is November near ?
Go Dagger ! !
Please note all that Dan Riley was dumbfounded by this article. The dumbfounding is that the article appeared. They have been able to keep this petty crap out of the press and continue to buffalo the tax payers. Sorry Dan, but yo should have seen this coming. Were you too busy eating and drinking at some Annapolis watering hole to really see? If so, who was picking up the tab for your excesses this time?
This is an example of why we in Harford County get the scraps, if anything. Our Delegates can’t even play nice in private. Come on 2010, so we can toss this batch out.
Sorry Daddyrabbit your accusations are totally false. Anyone who has been in Annapolis during the session will attest to my work habits. Please do not associate all of us with your friend Chuck Boutin.
The reason for being “dumbfounded” I believed the situation should have been handled by the involved parties. It would be more honest of you to name the delegates “who can’t play nice in private”.
On the subject of honesty, what watering holes do I frequent.
By the way Daddyrabbit when I am not in Annapolis and on my own time I do enjoy having a beer or two and sometimes Jack and Coke. If I do partake it is usually at the American Legion, VFW, or Winters Run. Let me know if you care to join me.
Here Here…..who lives with the illusion that our Senators and Delagates are not men and women.
Daddy…please dont go all wine and cheesy on us !
I like Jack and Coke.
Go Dagger !
Actually Dan I was thinking along the same lines. By the way, how many bills did you get credit for authoring, which also passed? What do we have in Harford County that we can thank you for? Were you the guy who got the State backing for Ripken Stadium, for example?
I really don’t care what you drink, on or off duty. Nor do I care how many of them you drink. That’s your business. When it’s with a lobbyist, however, I get really pissed. That barb is not directly at you but at each and every one of the folk who go to Annapolis and sell their soul.
DaddyRabbit, Let me take one of your points a little further. Watt did the Whole delegation do frot he county when Ehrlich was governor. Ehrlich always said Harford County was his second home. Well the Republications in the delegation did nothing to secure funds for any projects. Many other jurisdictions that were Democratic strongholds received much more that we did.
As far as the who spoke about the spat in the delegation I would point there finger at Stifler,