Education Association of St. Mary’s County President Anna Laughlin huddles with school board candidate John Alonzo Gaskin
Lexington Park, MD — It was billed as a Free Fish Fry sponsored by three Democratic candidates. But when it came time to make speeches, a number of other candidates stood to be recognized and to say a few words.
The Fish Fry was put on Sunday by Delegate John Bohanan, Commissioner President Francis “Jack” Russell and Board of Education candidate John Alonzo Gaskin at the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall. The Redskins game on a big screen competed for attention with political talk from table to table.
At halftime the candidates spoke quickly so as not to interfere with the second-half kick-off. Several pushed the Get Out to Vote message and asked anyone in the room who wasn’t registered to do so before they left.
Bohanan implored, “We need your help. Get out and vote.”
Gaskin said of his grassroots campaign, “This is all family and friends who have gotten me here today.” Gaskin urged everyone to bend down and pick someone up. “We need to bend over so someone can stand tall.” He said of the school system, “We cannot even afford to step backward.
Russell, picking up of the voting theme, urged everyone in the room to find someone who wasn’t registered, assist them and get them to the polls.
Sen. Roy Dyson blasted the Republican effort to require an ID at the polls as an effort to disenfranchise voters. He said Maryland has an “election system that is totally fraud free” and doesn’t require fixing. He noted he voted for an extension of the Lyndon Johnson Voting Rights Act when he (Dyson) was in Congress.
Also speaking briefly were State’s Attorney candidate Shane Mattingly, House of Delegates 29-C candidate Len Zuza, county commissioner candidates Bob Schaller, Tony Joe St. Clair and Merl Evans, school board candidate Karin Bailey and Judge of the Orphan’s Court Linda Dean.
Former Redskins Running Back Larry Brown was scheduled to attend but he had to cancel because of a family emergency.
Although the food (fried fish, hot dogs, etc.) was free, attendees were urged to bring a dessert for sharing which led to a bountiful dessert table for everyone to enjoy.
