Judge Stephen Rideout (ret.)
swrideout@aol.com
Dear Readers:
We continue our efforts to collect signatures on the two attached petitions to provide the opportunity to place them on the Ballot for vote. They offer changes to the County Charter that will provide greater transparency for all of us in the County Council meetings (Article 6) and a more effective management of the County staff by the County Manager (Articles 405-406). We thank all of you that have signed these petitions and all of you that have helped to collect signatures.
This email and request are aimed at those of you who are registered voters and your friends, family, and neighbors here in Dorchester County that have not yet signed the petitions. We have tried to get to everyone with many different efforts, events, etc. but understand that Dorchester County is so spread out in where people live that we have not been able to get to everyone.
You have probably heard that virtually all of the candidates for election support this effort so some might think that with the elections in November, these will be put in place. While County Council can implement these changes, the next County Council can change them unless they are part of the Charter. That is why we are not resting our hopes on the outcome of the November elections.
If you come into Cambridge during the week, the best and easiest place to sign the petitions is at the Chamber of Commerce at 306 High Street during normal business hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on most days.
If you have a printer at your home, you can print off the signature page and the back of it that details the language that we are proposing (Article 6) or explains it (Article 405-406). Copying the document so that it is printed on the front and back of the document is required. You and your spouse, friends, relatives, and neighbors can then fill in the required information on the signature form on the right lines and then sign them in front of you. You can then fill in the certification form completely and sign it with the date that the last person placed on the form.
You do not need to fill in all 5 signature places on the form. If you have one or more empty, you can strike through them. When the signing process is complete, you can bring them to my office at 311 High Street and put them in the mail slot to the right of the front door. You can drop them off at the Chamber of Commerce. You can mail them to me at 311 High Street in Cambridge.
If you have the opportunity over this upcoming Holiday weekend to collect signatures from neighbors, that would be a big help to our effort.
Our goal is 5,000 signatures by the end of July in order to have the Board of Elections place these petitions on the ballot in November and our time is running short, so any help you can provide will be appreciated.
Thanks for considering this request. If you have questions, my cell is 703-655-6149.
Steve