Subscribe
Community
(Breaking news) Patterson files to run for commissioners' president seat
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by GRETCHEN PHILLIPS
Charles County commissioners' Vice President Edith J. Patterson, left, stands with commissioners' President F. Wayne. Cooper and Joan Jones, a member of Patterson's campaign committee, after Patterson announced Wednesday morning that she will run for the president's position, one day after Cooper announced he would not be running for re-election.
|
E-Mail This Article
Posted at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday
Charles County commissioners' Vice President Edith J. Patterson (D) filed this morning as a 2010 candidate for the commissioners' president seat.
The action comes less than 24 hours after Charles County commissioners' President F. Wayne Cooper (D) announced he would not seek re-election in the fall, a decision that startled the county political establishment, prompting Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II (D) to call it a "bombshell" in remarks during the Tuesday commissioners' meeting at which Cooper made his announcement.
A public servant since 1982, Patterson said it was very important for her to continue the work that has been done by the current board of commissioners, which took office in January 2007.
"Serving as the president of the county commissioners is the best way to do that," Patterson said. "I'm very proud of the leadership of President Cooper. I've served as his vice president for four years, and I've worked very closely with the other board members."
Cooper was by Patterson's side at the Charles County Board of Elections this morning and said Patterson had called him earlier that morning to ask if he would join her.
"I'm pleased to see her stepping up," Cooper said. "Commissioner Patterson is known for her honesty and integrity. I think she's going to do an outstanding job. She's more than qualified: She's ready for the budget, she handles people well and she's got a lot of experience."
Patterson said her focus has been on providing opportunities for all residents of Charles County and her efforts would continue to provide good quality of life at all levels.
"President Cooper laid a foundation and I would like to continue in that vein," Patterson said.
Patterson is employed as the director of Educational Talent for the College of Southern Maryland La Plata campus. She was elected to the board in 2006 and has served as its vice president for four years.
In 2005, she was appointed to the board of commissioners and prior to that she served for five years as the chairwoman of the Charles County Democratic Central Committee. During her 12 years with the Charles County Board of Education she served as a member, vice chairwoman and chairwoman.
La Plata resident Democrat Candice Quinn Kelly, who was appointed to a commissioner seat in 2005 and ran unsuccessfully in 2006 and Republican Jim Thompson of Waldorf, a former grocery store manager, have both filed for the president's seat.
