Senator Colburn Announces 10th Annual Colburn Crab Feast

On Sunday, May 4, 2014, the Citizens for Colburn Committee will be hosting the 10th Annual Crab Feast at the Cambridge American Legion Post #91 (adjacent to the Choptank River/Malkus Bridge) from 1:30-3:30 pm. 

A Crab Feast in the spring? Yes, you heard it correctly! I am proud to announce that the crabs will be hot, the beer cold, and the Eastern Shore chicken delicious. I want to break the grip of the season’s cold weather and provide an unseasonable respite from the otherwise drab days of mid-spring. I also want to honor two of the greatest and oldest industries of Maryland, seafood and agriculture. I have spent many years in the Maryland General Assembly fighting for the well-being of our citizens, farmers, watermen, and businesses, and against regulations imposed by the government that negatively impact them.

While the event is indeed a “fundraiser,” you can be sure we won’t forget the “FUN”! Our friends Byrd Dog and the Road Kings will be providing the musical entertainment and playing everyone’s favorites!

There will also be a silent auction on the agenda. I am seeking items for this event and am hoping that you or your business would donate an item, gift certificate, or a certificate of service, etc. Proceeds from the donated items would go towards the Citizens for Colburn Committee and my 2014 campaign. If you would like to make a donation, please include your business card as well as the value of the item and a suggested opening bid. If you are donating a gift certificate please mail it to 5939 Horns Point Road, Cambridge, Md. 21613, otherwise please contact 410-310-6009 to arrange for pick up of the item. I would be grateful for any donation made.

Take an early summer vacation and bring the whole family to their first 2014 crab feast! Don’t forget to bring your knives and crab mallets! Tickets are $50 per person with special discounts for sponsors. To reserve your tickets today, please send your check made payable to Citizens for Colburn Committee, PO Box 1237, Cambridge, MD 21613.

See you there!

PS- The State Fire Marshall has informed us that this year we must cut-off ticket sales at 300 people. As this is always a well-attended event, we ask everyone to please RSVP by April 28th!

Senator Colburn Receives John Shaw Award

Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MSRG), a statewide nonpartisan organization, honored Senator Richard F. Colburn for his exemplary track record of supporting pro-business legislation in 2013. He received the prestigious John Shaw Award at a ceremony in Annapolis on February 5.

Senator Colburn stated, “It is truly an honor for me to once again receive this prestigious award by fighting for our Eastern Shore businesses which are the backbone of Delmarva’s economy."

Throughout the year, MBRG’s 20-member State Advisory Council selects recorded votes from the most recent General Assembly session that have practical or philosophical importance to the widest possible range of Maryland businesses, trade associations, and chambers of commerce.  MBRG identifies the selected bills in a publication, Roll Call, and analyzes the votes to produce a score for each legislator. For the 2013 analysis, Roll Call, analyzed ten Senate votes and twelve House votes, including SB 683 (Labor and Employment Maryland Wage and Hour Law –Payment of Wages) and HB 226 (Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013).  Senator Colburn was chosen based on the scorecard standards set by MBRG; he achieved a cumulative score of 84 percent over 28 Sessions by voting in favor of pro-business positions on important legislation.

“It’s truly an honor to recognize those elected officials – both Republican and Democrat – who are consistently working to improve the climate for business owners in Maryland, and therefore, our state economy,” said President MBRG, Duane Carey.

In recognition of his pro-business voting record, Senator Colburn received a certificate, a lapel pin, support materials for his campaign, and special recognition in Roll Call.

The award is named for John Shaw, an exemplary citizen and legislator who served his country more than 200 years ago when Annapolis was the nation’s capital. He is best known for creating a distinctive American flag with an eight-pointed star, which flew over Annapolis during the Revolutionary War and is the inspiration for the lapel pins awarded to the honorees.

Senator Colburn Receives MML Award

Senator Richard F. Colburn (R-Eastern Shore) received a 2014 Maryland Municipal League (MML) award for his contributions on behalf of all of Maryland’s cities and towns during the 2013 session at the recent annual MML Eastern Shore Chapter dinner meeting in Grasonville. 

Senator Colburn, a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee, advocated strongly in favor of retaining the additional $15.2 million in municipal highway user revenue (HUR) grant monies in the fiscal year 2014 budget when it was being debated in his subcommittee.  As a result, the monies were retained in the budget and will be dispersed to the municipalities.

Senator Colburn stated, “Because of my role as Town Manager of Federalsburg and because I represent 23 municipalities, I know firsthand the significance of these HUR monies to our Maryland towns and cities.  It’s not just the importance of salting and plowing snow covered roads and fixing pot holes.  These very monies allow our town governments to have a 5/10/15 year street maintenance plan.  And therefore, it is essential that HUR funding be maintained.”

In the delivery of the award, it was stated, “We know we can count on Senator Colburn to help us again when our additional $16 million in municipal HUR grant monies is discussed in his budget subcommittee this session.”  

The MML is a voluntary, nonprofit, nonpartisan association controlled and maintained by city and town governments.  They work to strengthen the role and capacity of municipal government through research, legislation, technical assistance, training and the dissemination of information for its members.

Senator Colburn Announces 20th Annual Colburn Brunch

Another year is quickly coming to a close.  With the busy holiday season fast approaching, please take the time to mark on your calendar the date of Saturday, January 4, 2014.  I hope you can join me at my 20^th Annual Brunch at the Salisbury Holiday Inn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Our guest speaker this year will be Delegate Addie Eckardt.  Delegate Eckardt serves in the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 37B, which includes parts of Dorchester, Caroline, Talbot and Wicomico Counties. She was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2010.

Addie is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where she is a ranking Republican member, and is a member of the Joint Committee of Children, Youth and Families. Addie also serves as the Chair of the Eastern Shore Delegation. 

 Together we will be discussing the important and controversial issues that we will be facing in the upcoming General Assembly Session that begins on January 8, 2014.  It will be the opportune time to share with Delegate Eckardt and myself the issues that concern you the most.  We will be able to best represent your views by knowing how you feel! 

 The deadline to RSVP is December 28, 2013.  The cost of the brunch is $25 per person or five seats for $100.00.  To reserve your seat please mail payable to Citizens for Colburn Committee, PO Box 1237, Cambridge MD 21613.  Please R.S.V.P. early as this event always sells out. 

Thank you for your continued support as we work to promote the interests of the Eastern Shore in the Maryland State Senate. I look forward to seeing you on January 4^th.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hearing Date Set Before the AELR Committee

CAMBRIDGE – State Senator Richard F. Colburn (R-Eastern Shore) announced today that a hearing date has been set for the Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) Committee to hear concerns about the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s proposed PMT regulations.  The hearing will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 2 pm in the Joint Hearing Room in the Department of Legislative Services Building in Annapolis. 

Senator Colburn stated, “We have been successful in having a hearing scheduled before the AELR committee to share and discuss the numerous concerns the agriculture community has with these regulations.  It is my belief these regulations are detrimental to the agricultural industry, the number one industry in Maryland. During two public information meetings in October, close to 800 people including crop farmers, chicken growers, and others in the agricultural community attended to learn more about these proposed regulations and to share their concerns about them. I have not seen this level of angst among the agricultural community in years. This is a regulation that threatens the entire agricultural community in Maryland so it is my hope that there will be a strong showing of members from the Maryland agriculture community at the hearing.” 

Senator Richard F. Colburn Files for Re-election

CAMBRIDGE – State Senator Richard F. Colburn (R-Eastern Shore) has announced that he has filed for re-election for the 37^th District seat, which includes Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico Counties.

Senator Colburn stated, “I have and will continue to fight for the Eastern Shore’s two most important industries- the seafood and agriculture industries.  My father was a waterman who made his living from the Chesapeake Bay; therefore, I understand the plight of Maryland’s Watermen.  Shore farmers are facing tougher regulations and a continued threat of possible law suits. 

The Hudson family and Perdue recently lost their case to try to get reimbursed for the legal expenses incurred during the suit filed against them by the University Of Maryland School Of Law on behalf of the Waterkeepers Alliance.  However, we were successful in helping to get budget language approved in the Senate which authorizes the Board of Public Works to provide contingent compensation to the Hudson family farm.  It appears they may not need a dime of this money.  But, the point/goal is that Maryland should not run farmers out of business.  Land that is actively farmed is far less damaging to the environment than when the same acreage is developed into housing tracts or shopping centers.   I will constantly fight to keep families like the Hudson’s on the family farm. 

 

I want to continue my long history of fighting for bridge and highway safety projects on the Eastern Shore.  We have been successful in getting $50 million in construction monies to be used towards the replacement of the Dover Bridge.  This bridge is the inter-county connector for Talbot, Southern Caroline and North Dorchester Counties.  We also secured about $50 million to be used towards the continued dualization of State Route 404. 

We are moving forward on the development of the Sailwinds property in Cambridge by securing $1.5 million ($2.5 million total) in the Capital Budget to be used towards the repair/replacement of the wharf located along the property which is essential to the property’s and Cambridge’s revitalization. 

 

I am proud of my pro-business/pro-veteran’s voting record. As an Eastern Shore native I know Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico Counties.  I am gratified to represent the 37^th Districts’ four counties, 23 municipalities and 34 volunteer fire companies.  

 

And finally, I believe that the most important asset of any legislator is to provide good constituent service and as your State Senator I have always strived to do that.” 

Senator Colburn Announces the 17th Annual Colburn Choptank River Cruise

On Friday July 12, 2013 at 6:00 P.M. SHARP, the Citizens for Colburn Committee will be hosting the 17th Annual “Colburn Choptank Dinner Cruise.” You will be able to cruise on one of the most exciting attractions offered on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, “The Dorothy Megan,” an authentic 80 foot reproduction of a turn-of-the century paddle wheeler.

Savor the scenery along the Choptank River and take the opportunity to speak with me about the issues surrounding the past 2013 Maryland General Assembly Session as well as other issues facing Marylanders.

Sit back on the upper deck, relax and enjoy entertainer Shelley Abbott. A special dinner will be provided by the Suicide Bridge Restaurant, along with a cash bar. Sponsorships start at $500, and individual tickets are $75.

Seating is limited so please respond before July 5, 2013 so that you and your guests can be accommodated. This event is always a sellout. For reservations please call 410-924-0098.  

 Please accompany us again and enjoy a great evening with friends. Departure time for the cruise is 6:00 P.M. SHARP! We leave from Suicide Bridge Restaurant near Secretary, Maryland. Don’t miss the boat! There will be no tickets issued, but your name tag will await you at the dock!