Candidate is using negativity to spread misinformation

Democrats need to stick with the high road, in this era of Trump. Fighting for our causes based on the facts. Treating one another with respect. That’s what voters need from their elected officials. Too many politicians take the low road, twisting facts, saying things they know aren’t true. We get enough of that in our national politics — dividing us, making voters cynical.

I take pride in how I’ve conducted myself in office and how I treat people. I fight for what I believe in but always keep an opened door to my constituents. I look at the facts and listen to those on both sides on an issue — whether they supported me or not. Working together, we can make progress on jobs, education, the environment, and transportation — all the things people care about.

Unfortunately, my opponent has chosen the low road. Saying things that are false and outrageous in campaign events and most recently in an ad in the Maryland Independent. Every day, it seems like something new. He suggests I haven’t awarded college scholarships because I am indifferent — when actually I turned my scholarship funds over to state higher education professionals to distribute in the county based on need, rather than politics. He posts an article to attack me — written years before I arrived in Annapolis. And on and on.

One particularly offensive example — he says I “used my power… to single handedly kill the slave law repeal bill.” In campaign events, he makes it out like I oppose scrubbing away old slavery laws still on the books, which would be offensive for the state government to keep in its laws. Sounds sinister and hateful. But it is turning the truth on its head.

This deals with a law passed in 2009 which required insurance companies to own up to their past history in insuring slaves. The report was completed and is available for public review. Now, there was a bill to repeal that provision from the code, because it is not needed anymore.

The bill came before my committee. I posted the video of the legislative hearing on my Facebook page, so it is all there to see. Nothing sinister. I’m reading the bill, listening to the testimony, asking questions. Then the representative from the NAACP testifies that he needed more time to study the bill, because it might have unintended consequences going forward. So we didn’t vote it out this session. If the NAACP’s representative is not comfortable with the way a bill dealing with slavery is drafted, it seems appropriate to work with them to get it right. I work closely with the NAACP and all groups that come to Annapolis for help from the legislature. That’s what a legislator should do. Twisting this into something else for political gain is wrong.

The politics Mr. Ellis is practicing is unfortunately not unique to him. Perhaps he has a campaign consultant that is telling him “you need to go negative to win — you can spin this or that into something to hurt your opponent.” That’s been far too prevalent on both sides of the aisles. Negative campaigning may give a candidate short-term gains, but it creates a toxic political environment. People have had enough.

In the long run, we are all better off when politicians take the high road. I will stick with my beliefs and values: fight for Charles County, focus on the issues, listen, be fair. I’m willing to defend my record — I’m proud of what I do to help Charles County. Let’s debate the real issues. Let’s stay on the highroad.

Thomas “Mac” Middleton, Waldorf

The writer is a state senator for Charles County’s District 28.