Both Pollitt's and Culver's ceremonial beginnings, although vastly different, were appropriate in that they reflected the personal styles of each man.
Wicomico County's government is working exactly as it was intended — the person occupying the office of county executive is accountable to voters. I was privileged to witness the establishment of the office itself in the wake of a referendum approving the new structure, the tenure of Rick Pollitt, Wicomico's first-ever county executive, and now the swearing-in of its second, Bob Culver.
A majority of those who voted in 2014 were apparently seeking change — and that is precisely what they are getting. Although both are Wicomico County natives and members of the same generation, the stark contrast between Culver and his predecessor became apparent immediately upon walking into the Guerreri Hall auditorium at Wor-Wic Community College Tuesday morning.
In December 2006, Pollitt took his oath of office — the first ever for what was a newly created office — during a gathering in the ceremonial courtroom of the old Wicomico County Courthouse, a location that's steeped in history both for the community and for Pollitt's family. In the room hung a portrait of Pollitt's father, the late Court of Special Appeals Judge Richard M. Pollitt. Music was provided by a choir of children and two pastors were on the program – his own from Asbury United Methodist Church in Allen and Gloria Ortiz from the Fruitland City Council. Pollitt had most recently served as city manager in Fruitland.
Pollitt took office in a courtroom; Culver, on stage in Guerreri Hall auditorium at Wor-Wic Community College The room was larger and it was packed. The dignitaries included Gov.-elect Larry Hogan as well as state, county and local officials and leaders.
Among those on the stage were Culver, the Rev. George Patterson, Culver's pastor from Trinity United Methodist Church, Hogan and Wor-Wic President Ray Hoy. SU professor John Wesley Wright sang several numbers for the occasion, accompanied by Bill Folger, chairman of SU's music department. The Sheriff's Office provided a color guard for the occasion.
One chose the historic county courthouse where the public life of Wicomico County has been carried out in the form of marriages, property transactions, deed recordings and more. The other was sworn in on stage in a building that is relatively new but distinctly grounded in Wicomico County.
Pollitt's speech was full of optimism and hope, coming as it did before the Great Recession arrived, Culver spoke less than five minutes. He is a man of few words who, as we now know, will oversee a very different sort of administration.
Culver, a lifetime entrepreneur and businessman, is a man of action.
Culver said in an interview just moments after stepping off the stage that the first thing he would do — that day, he said adamantly — was to stop giving county employees their birthdays off with pay and to look for ways to cut back on the use of take-home county vehicles.
In the immediacy of that moment, Culver placed his stamp firmly on the office of county executive by wiping out of existence a gesture of appreciation to county employees that was one of Pollitt's first actions upon taking office.
Pollitt, whose career took the very different path of public service rather than private sector business, established the birthday holiday during his first couple of months in office, contrasted with Culver's announcement before he had left the room where he was sworn in.
Culver's clear priorities and assertive manner were also obvious Tuesday evening at the first County Council meeting under his tenure. Our new county executive withdrew three projects from the bond sale proposal, catching the immediate — and not necessarily favorable — attention of county residents: the initial phase of construction of a new West Salisbury Elementary School, the next phase of the Westside Collector Road and planned renovations at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.
Those issues will play out in the days and weeks ahead. It appears voters — at least, those who took the time to cast a ballot — will not need to wait long to see their desire for change come to fruition. Whether that change will return Wicomico County to prosperity or bring about a different outcome may take time, perhaps years.
We might know a lot more about the role of a county executive than we did eight years ago, but we are nonetheless setting out into uncharted territory with a new occupant in that office whose style and intentions are quite different. Whether we enthusiastically support Culver's early decisions or feel nervous about the contrast, however, we all should hope for the best possible outcomes, for the sake of our community.
Susan Parker is community conversations editor for The Daily Times.
Editor's Note: This column has been updated to correct its description of Rick Pollitt's swearing-in ceremony. The original version described the incorrect ceremony.