The following email was sent on June 2 by the Director of the St. Mary’s County Libraries Kathleen Reif to St. Mary’s County Administrator Rebecca Bridgett regarding an incident involving Republican House of Delegates District 20-A candidate Matt Morgan:

On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., candidate Matt Morgan parked his pick-up truck in the first spot as you drive into the lot. He had a sandwhich board with his name, etc. on the flatbed of the truck. He sat on the back end of the truck. His purpose in being there was to collect signatures for the “bathroom bill”:

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/29/petition-drive-to-challenge-marylands-bathroom-bill/

I am sharing these details in case you hear any feedback from the Amish or Matt:

  • Noah, an Amish vendor who attended our meeting, went into library and told staff that he was disrupting the parking lot and taking up too much space.

     

  • Our staff went out to Matt and told him that the Library Board has a No Solicitation Police and he needed to move on.
  • Matt said that it was a public parking lot and he had a right to be there.
  • She called her supervisor who very wisely instructed her not to get into a “No you can’t. Yes, I can” exchange. Thus, she let him stay there.
  • I was on my way back from Balto when staff got through to me. I drove by at about 2 and stopped to talk with Matt

     

  • He took up only one parking spot and was not approaching people to sign the petition. There were about 10 parking spots available when I got there and when I left.
  • I asked if he planned to be back every week-end and he said absolutely not…he was very bored and eager to leave.
  • I informed him about the concern we had with safety on this parking lot and I gave him one of our flyers

     

  • I also informed him that the Library Board did have a No Solicitation policy and if someone wants to petition customers they need to get the permission of the Library Director.
  • He told me that I was wrong because he had been through this with St. Mary’s College in the past and it was determined that parking lots of public agencies cannot be restricted. I didn’t bother to debate the issue with him. I told him that in the future, we would appreciate being given a heads up. I told him that I wouldn’t force the issue this time but please don’t go up to customers. He said that he wouldn’t think of doing that!

Hopefully, his presence is not the start of a trend of the other candidates this sumer. When I was there, absolutely no one came up to him and it didn’t look like he had gathered many signatures.

Ya gotta’ love what a dynamic piece of real estate this if for our county.

 

Kathleen Reif, Director

 

St. Mary’s County Library

23250 Hollywood Road

Leonardtown, MD 20650

 

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