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WCBC’s 2018 Most Compelling People of the Year

December 28th, 2018 by WCBC Radio

The annual WCBC Most Compelling People of the Year list has been created…

Ray Morriss:  Up until a year ago, Ray Morriss was a chief cog in the operations of CSX in Cumberland.  He's retired from that now, and in 2019 will become Mayor of Cumberland.  Morriss defeated incumbent Brian Grim in November, and says he wants to hit the ground running, and is committed to a better relationship with Allegany County.

Dave Caporale:  After winning election to Cumberland City Council twice, Dave Caporale decided that he would seek office as an Allegany County Commissioner.  His victory in the June Republican primary virtually assured he would achieve that goal, and is another indicator that relations between the city and county will be better in coming years.

Brandon Butler:  When David Eberly announced he would be stepping down as Allegany County Administrator, the county commissioners acted quickly to secure the services of Brandon Butler for the position.  Although a young man, Butler has experience with the local legislative delegation and the Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation.

Paul Kelly:  The Cumberland Economic Development Corporation took further strides in 2018 to move the needle in the local economy.  Executive Director Paul Kelly has background as a lawyer, and his calm demeanor has brought a steadiness as the CEDC pushes the Cumberland Gateway project in Rolling Mill, and Downtown Development.

Robin Quillon:  During the past year, the presses at the Cumberland Times News went quiet, as printers, pressmen, and even delivery staff were laid off as the printing of the local paper was moved to Johnstown.  Robin Quillon is the publisher who is headquartered in Johnstown.  What happens to the Time News from here?  The ball is in his court.

Lynn Nelson:  Lynn Nelson has been the judge in Mineral County for the past ten years, and received national attention recently when he was identified as the only judge in West Virginia who refuses to marry same sex couples.  Judge Nelson says it's against his religious beliefs, and will settle the matter by not presiding over any marriages regardless of orientation.

Deb Frank:  In an election dominated by accusations and sensational issues, Deb Frank wound up as the leading vote getter among four gaining election to the Allegany County Board of Education.  Not aligned with any particular group, she told our candidate forums she is willing to work with anyone, while having differences with other board members.

DeLane Fitzgerald:  Over the years, there have been many more bad seasons than good seasons for the Frostburg State University football team.  But now, the Bobcats are among the best teams in the nation.  The reason starts at the top, with head coach DeLane Fitzgerald, who has turned FSU into a national powerhouse ready to move up to Division II.

Laurie Marchini:  Laurie Marchini decided not to run for reelection to the Allegany County Board of Education this year, but remained in the news as the board voted to recommend the removal of Wayne Foote from the board.  Marchini also threw her hat into the ring as a potential member of Cumberland City Council, indicating that she's not retiring from politics.

Todd Appel:  When you win five of six Maryland 1A Football Championships, your coach is going to get a lot of attention.  Todd Appel has been head coach at Fort Hill for that great run at one of the nation's storied football programs.  And with Ty Johnson excelling at the University of Maryland, the potential NFL draft pick will bring even more attention to Appel and his record.

Michael Joy:  We all got tired of the stories about the Footer Dye Works building and the various hurdles it would have to overcome to become viable.  Navigating those tough waters was developer Michael Joy.  As 2018 concludes, the luxury apartments in hte Footer Building are full, and Dig Deep Brewery is poised for an early 2019 opening.

Wayne Foote:  Upon election to the Allegany County Board of Education, Wayne Foote described himself as "the flea".  Foote saw his role as not to fall in line, but to be one who questioned administration and board policies.  As such, he irritated fellow board members enough that they recommended the state remove him for inappropriate conduct.

3 Responses to “WCBC’s 2018 Most Compelling People of the Year”

  1. December 28, 2018 at 12:34 pm, kevin said:

    Foote did more that “irritate” fellow board members. For the board to vote for his removal serious violations had to occur. While we don’t know exactly what they are at this point, beyond gossip the characterization is superficial and demeaning to people who did what they felt was legally and ethically correct. That point is fair to discuss and debate, but the issue should not be trivialized – which is what the summary offered by WCBC is trying to do. Shame on you.

    Reply

  2. December 28, 2018 at 12:36 pm, kevin said:

    Lynn Nelson is a hack who fails to understand the rule of law. There is nothing compelling there – just bigotry and ignorance. He knows better.

    Reply

  3. December 28, 2018 at 12:55 pm, John said:

    I recommend that Laurie Marchini be asked about her concern about Wayne Foote and if the answer is not the right one then Mayor Morriss and the city council should not move her to the next step.

    Reply

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