(April 28, 2016) Small town politics came into play during Gov. Larry Hogan’s visit to Snow Hill, likely unbeknownst to the governor himself, as a downtown business owner took to social media decrying Mayor Charlie Dorman for allegedly leading Hogan past her shop.
Ann Coates, owner of downtown anchor Bishop’s Stock Art Gallery, wasn’t shy about the perceived cold shoulder.
The governor’s walking tour of Snow Hill was by no means exhaustive, as the schedule left very little wiggle room, and most of the downtown shops along Snow Hill Road were skipped. But along Green Street, where Coates’ shop is located, most of the stores were visited by the Hogans’ entourage. Those stops included Harvest Moon and the American Legion, which bookend Bishop’s Stock.
“The mayor took the visitors to every other business but seemed to snub Bishop’s Stock. Guess we have no value to the town,” she posted, in part, on Facebook. A flurry of support in the form of likes and comments ensued.
First Lady Yumi Hogan did visit Bishop’s Stock and stood for a photo with Coates during the visit. Dorman was dismissive of Coates’ complaints, and said it was part of an ongoing disagreement.
While this situation played out behind the scenes, at the forefront was Gov. Hogan, who stopped to talk and take photos with passersby and shop owners. In downtown Snow Hill, Hogan was flanked by numerous other elected officials, including Sen. Jim Mathias, Delegates Mary Beth Carozza and Charles Otto, the town’s mayor and council but neither of the town’s representatives on the county commissioners.
Commissioner Diana Purnell attended the governor’s visit to Ocean City Elementary School and a lunch meeting in the north end of the county earlier in the day, but said she was unable to make the events scheduled in her district.
Commissioner Ted Elder, whose district also includes portions of the town, said he was unable to attend because of his responsibilities developing the county budget and his job as a school bus driver.
Commissioners Jim Bunting, Chip Bertino, Joe Mitrecic, Bud Church and Merrill Lockfaw had no such encumbrances and did attend.
While Gov. Hogan was conducting man-on-the-street interviews, it was the first lady who made purchases and visited stores away from the noise and bustle of the tour.
Other business owners visited by governor were supportive of the visit and the politician.
“To have Trump here a couple of days ago and the governor here now is bringing more exposure to our town. The potential to grow is there,” Suzanne Timmons, owner of Sassy Girl Boutique, said.
Rick Smith, owner of the Corner Shoppe, agreed.
“Snow Hill is a sleepy little town, but when you see the money we spend on schools and buildings you can see so much potential for growth. The governor’s visit helps a lot,” Smith said.
Gary Weber, owner of the Blue Dog Café, appreciated the visit but also had loftier goals for the meeting.
“Hopefully he’ll get on board with the train, and it can bring Snow Hill, Pocomoke City and Berlin together. We need something like that to get us back on track,” Weber said. “We don’t want to be a bedroom community for Salisbury, we want to be the most important thing along Route 113.”
If the mayor did have ulterior motives, it was to show the Hogans to the town’s train station, now used as a meeting hall, to press the town’s interest in bringing an excursion train to town.
“The governor told me he wants to see the status of the train, and he was going to talk to [Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth] Holt. I think it’ll happen sooner or later — things move slowly,” Dorman said.
After the whirlwind tour of the downtown, the mayor and governor spirited away to visit the train station.
Afterwards, Dorman gave his impressions of the governor’s visit.
“He was very impressed with our little town. It was very positive. He told the downtown business owners ‘help is on the way,’” Dorman said. “Know he knows where Snow Hill is, and I think it’s good. At least it put us on the map.”
Ann Coates, owner of downtown anchor Bishop’s Stock Art Gallery, wasn’t shy about the perceived cold shoulder.
The governor’s walking tour of Snow Hill was by no means exhaustive, as the schedule left very little wiggle room, and most of the downtown shops along Snow Hill Road were skipped. But along Green Street, where Coates’ shop is located, most of the stores were visited by the Hogans’ entourage. Those stops included Harvest Moon and the American Legion, which bookend Bishop’s Stock.
“The mayor took the visitors to every other business but seemed to snub Bishop’s Stock. Guess we have no value to the town,” she posted, in part, on Facebook. A flurry of support in the form of likes and comments ensued.
First Lady Yumi Hogan did visit Bishop’s Stock and stood for a photo with Coates during the visit. Dorman was dismissive of Coates’ complaints, and said it was part of an ongoing disagreement.
While this situation played out behind the scenes, at the forefront was Gov. Hogan, who stopped to talk and take photos with passersby and shop owners. In downtown Snow Hill, Hogan was flanked by numerous other elected officials, including Sen. Jim Mathias, Delegates Mary Beth Carozza and Charles Otto, the town’s mayor and council but neither of the town’s representatives on the county commissioners.
Commissioner Diana Purnell attended the governor’s visit to Ocean City Elementary School and a lunch meeting in the north end of the county earlier in the day, but said she was unable to make the events scheduled in her district.
Commissioner Ted Elder, whose district also includes portions of the town, said he was unable to attend because of his responsibilities developing the county budget and his job as a school bus driver.
Commissioners Jim Bunting, Chip Bertino, Joe Mitrecic, Bud Church and Merrill Lockfaw had no such encumbrances and did attend.
While Gov. Hogan was conducting man-on-the-street interviews, it was the first lady who made purchases and visited stores away from the noise and bustle of the tour.
Other business owners visited by governor were supportive of the visit and the politician.
“To have Trump here a couple of days ago and the governor here now is bringing more exposure to our town. The potential to grow is there,” Suzanne Timmons, owner of Sassy Girl Boutique, said.
Rick Smith, owner of the Corner Shoppe, agreed.
“Snow Hill is a sleepy little town, but when you see the money we spend on schools and buildings you can see so much potential for growth. The governor’s visit helps a lot,” Smith said.
Gary Weber, owner of the Blue Dog Café, appreciated the visit but also had loftier goals for the meeting.
“Hopefully he’ll get on board with the train, and it can bring Snow Hill, Pocomoke City and Berlin together. We need something like that to get us back on track,” Weber said. “We don’t want to be a bedroom community for Salisbury, we want to be the most important thing along Route 113.”
If the mayor did have ulterior motives, it was to show the Hogans to the town’s train station, now used as a meeting hall, to press the town’s interest in bringing an excursion train to town.
“The governor told me he wants to see the status of the train, and he was going to talk to [Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth] Holt. I think it’ll happen sooner or later — things move slowly,” Dorman said.
After the whirlwind tour of the downtown, the mayor and governor spirited away to visit the train station.
Afterwards, Dorman gave his impressions of the governor’s visit.
“He was very impressed with our little town. It was very positive. He told the downtown business owners ‘help is on the way,’” Dorman said. “Know he knows where Snow Hill is, and I think it’s good. At least it put us on the map.”