<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">In response to the Opinion piece Audrey posted, Mayor Ann Ferguson sent the following recollection of that time in our town's history. Fascinating reading! She gave me permission to share this on Town Talk.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;display:inline">Ann Ferguson</div></b><br>Date: Sun, Apr 26, 2015 at 5:30 PM<br>Subject: 1987 election<br>To: <a href="mailto:sarah.wayland@gmail.com">sarah.wayland@gmail.com</a><br><br><br><font color="black" size="2" face="arial">Hi Sarah-
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<div>The "Opinion" piece <div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;display:inline">Audrey</div> found brought back memories of a very sad time in the Town's history. Below is a review:</div>
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<div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>In the May, 1987 election, Moreland Perkins ran for the Mayor's position. He walked every ward in the Town and spoke to every resident he found at home. Guy Tiberio had won six elections for Mayor by then, but they were not continuous as there was a term limit for Mayor that interrupted his terms. (It is of interest to note that when he returned to office after the interruption, one of his first actions was to have that limit removed -- which served me in that I was elected for six terms without interruption).</div>
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<div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Moreland Perkins won the election with 491 votes in 1987. Guy Tiberio received 328 votes. The council seats were won as follows:</div>
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<div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Ward One - Terrence Sheehan</div>
<div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Ward Two - Edna Wade</div>
<div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Ward Three- Ann Ferguson</div>
<div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Ward Four - Thomas Riley</div>
<div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Ward Five - Frank Creegan</div>
<div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Ward Six - Wendall Davil</div>
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<div>From the swearing in of Moreland and me (June 1987), things went downhill at a rapid pace. Examples -- Moreland's office was "jimmied open" and the powder that banks use to mark stacks of money so a thief is marked was sprinkled over his desk and his papers -- (more on that later) -- he did not know what the powder was and it got all over his hands and his glasses and, therefore, his face!! Further, his "Reserved parking - Mayor" sign was removed and hidden somewhere and the "Mayor's office" sign for his door was removed and hidden. He was criticized (as was his wife) for their participation in the annual convention at Ocean City. He made multiple, patient overtures to the councilmembers attempting to reach some point of working together. Instead he was ridiculed. </div>
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<div>The end of the road for Moreland was when Sheehan barged into his office making loud accusations and Moreland asked him to leave. The office secretary (Eulaine Jones) was at her desk in the open area and Sheehan (out of sight of her) began yelling: "stop pushing me, stop hitting me" and he came down the hall as though he was injured. (Moreland had not laid a finger on him). Sheehan immediately went to a commissioner at the County Service Building in Hyattsville and swore out a warrant against Moreland. (Note: Sheehan was a former D.C. Policeman -- he was retired for alleged medical reasons so he knew much about the inner workings of claims of injury, etcetera).</div>
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<div>After the above incident, Moreland sought advice from an attorney. (Moreland was retired from the University of Maryland -- he had taught Philosophy there for almost 30 years -- as some of these happenings hit the local papers, Moreland had a call from a colleague who told him that the standard award to him of the title of Professor <i>emeritus</i> was in question because of these shocking reports that included his name.) The attorney told Moreland how much it would cost for his defense against the charges of assault on Sheehan -- it was significant and Moreland concluded it would only continue and he would be spending money to defend himself against these baseless charges on into the future so he resigned.</div>
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<div>I voted in favor of having Edna Wade appointed to complete the term of Mayor.</div>
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<div>A man named Richard Voight was appointed to complete the Ward 2 (Edna Wade) term. Sheehan and Riley and Creegan resigned and Edna Wade appointed Tiberio to complete the Ward 1 term, Steve Durovic was appointed to complete the Ward 4 term and Delores Gibbs was appointed to complete the Ward 5 term.</div>
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<div>Then the attention was turned in my direction. A letter was mailed to the Town Office (Prangley) with the name of some fictitious organization stating that this group was so impressed with my activities to limit the impact of disabled persons on town services to save tax dollars they had to send their admiration. (I took the letter to the postmaster in Hyattsville as the letter stated a post office box there). The investigation revealed there was no such organization with such a box number, however, the postal inspector said they had insufficient information to do an in-depth search to find the perpetrator. Incidentally, multiple copies of this letter were scattered around the railroad crossing on the sidewalk and parking lot etcetera of today's Town Center.</div>
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<div>Then, a card was put into my box at the Town Hall purporting to be a Santa Claus card with some sleazy, ugly statements and signed with my son, Patrick's name. I requested that our mail boxes be secured with some type of keyed door and was informed there was no reason to spend town dollars on such an effort just to please me.</div>
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<div>They tried to rearrange the way the council members sat at the meeting table. Instead of in order of their ward number, "they" would say where members sat. I told them they would have to physically remove me from my Ward 3 chair every meeting so they gave that one up.</div>
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<div>One meeting night, I appeared with my meeting papers and sat at the table. There was dust/dirt on the table (so I thought) so I brushed it away. In seconds, my hands were brilliant green!! I went into the kitchen behind the auditorium and tried to clean my hands just to learn that it was that bank stuff and it does not wash off -- it has to wear off over time!! I believe the intention was that I would be embarrassed and would not attend the meeting. <i>Au contraire, </i>I stayed at the meeting and when the camera was rolling I announced what had been done to me and showed my hands, etcetera.</div>
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<div>There were other bits of harassment, but it's time to close this saga down.</div>
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<div>Warm regards,</div>
<div>Ann</div>
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