Samie Conyers announces bid for county commissioner

Yesterday, I dropped by Tauraso’s Restaurant in Frederick to catch Samie Conyers ' announcement that he is running for the Frederick County Board of County Commissioners. There were between one and two dozen supporters there to help him launch his campaign, including Commissioner John Lovell, who introduced fellow Republican Conyers before his short speech.

I don't know Bishop Conyers very well. We've met a few times briefly, and he's always come across as friendly and gracious. I appreciated that he took the time yesterday to welcome me and chat for a few minutes as other folks started to arrive. And I have a lot of respect for the all the volunteer work he has done with various organizations and issues in our community.

This is the fourth time he has run for a local office, and the second time for the Board of County Commissioners. Just last fall Last fall, he narrowly lost in his bid to become a Frederick city alderman.

As much as he has been involved in local organizations and institutions, I have not seen him around Winchester Hall, or active in many of the county matters on the commissioners' agenda. His short talk at his campaign launch didn't offer any details to clarify things (not a criticism - that's normal for such an event, even though there are exceptions).

So...we'll see.

From the FREDERICK NEWS POST:

In fourth bid, Conyers building bridges

May 13, 2006

By Clifford G. Cumber

FREDERICK -- Bishop Samie Conyers, a Republican, stressed his role as a bridge builder between people, and urged voters not to count him out in his fourth bid for elected office when he announced Friday he's in the race for Frederick County commissioner.

In last year's election for the five seats of the Frederick Board of Aldermen, the Rev. Conyers came in sixth place.

In 2002 he mounted a run for county commissioner, then dropped out days later to run for the House of Delegates in District 3A, which includes Frederick and some surrounding neighborhoods. He also ran unsuccessfully for the Frederick County Board of Education in 1999.

"I really want people to sort of forget about the past," he said. "Because the past I lost four races. But I want a place at the table, I don't want to be on the menu. I want to be a part. I want part in the decision making. And we need a place at the table."

Infrastructure, such as schools, needed to be in place to allow for growth the county is experiencing and will come, the Rev. Conyers said.

The Rev. Conyers was introduced by Commissioner John Lovell, who said he was a friend, and "a man of integrity," and of "experience and caring."

"He's brought to Frederick County a desire to try to help people," Mr. Lovell said.

"He brings to the table in this campaign a caring side that would be good for our party and also would be good for Frederick County," Mr. Lovell said.

The Rev. Conyers said Frederick was "one of the most beautiful counties I've ever lived in."

"Frederick County has a bright future," he said. "It's growing rapidly. We must elect men and women that you can trust to do the right thing when the tough decisions come."

The Rev. Conyer's candidacy literature state he is running on lower taxes through more efficient services, improving school funding, better countywide roads, affordable housing and maintaining quality of life for youth and seniors. His campaign slogan is "leadership, integrity, family values."

"Some have already counted me out, but I believe I will have a place at the table with your support and your help," he said. "I want not to be a voice for myself or any special-interest group, but for the people of this community."

The Rev. Conyers is a bishop at Grace Pentecostal Worship Center. He served in the military for 23 years, is married and has one daughter.

Other candidates attended the announcement: board of education candidate Daryl Boffman; Linda Naylor, running as a Republican for delegate in District 3A; and State's Attorney candidate Dino Flores, also a Republican.

From the GAZETTE:

Conyers enters race for commissioner
http://www.gazette.net/stories/051806/fredcou201550_31944.shtml

May 18, 2006

By Sherry Greenfield

Samie Conyers hopes his leadership, integrity and belief in family values will be the winning combination he needs to finally land an elected seat in Frederick County politics.

Conyers announced Friday he is running for a seat on the Frederick Board of County Commissioners in the Sept. 12 primary election.

No stranger to political campaigns, Conyers (R) has run unsuccessfully for the Board of Education, House of Delegates and county commissioner before. Last fall, he failed in his attempt to become a Frederick city alderman.

‘‘I sort of want people to forget the past, because in the past I lost four races,” Conyers told a small crowd of supporters at Tauraso’s Restaurant in Frederick. ‘‘I want a place at the table. I just don’t want to be on the menu ... With your help and support I think we can make a difference. Some have already counted us out. But with your help and support I think I can have a seat at table.”

A minister at Grace Pentecostal Worship Center, Conyers is a retired U.S. Army sergeant.

Conyers’ volunteer work has made him well known in the community. He is a volunteer on the Board of Trustees of Frederick Community College, Interfaith Housing, the Human Relations Commission and the Frederick County Cancer Coalition.

‘‘I hope you will look at me as people person, an individual and someone who builds bridges in Frederick County,” he said to supporters Friday.

Conyers believes his volunteer work would be an asset as a county commissioner, since much of it involves issues such as health care, affordable housing and education.

Conyers’ campaign literature specifically lists lowering taxes, improving school funding, better countywide roadways, affordable housing and maintaining a good quality of life for senior citizens and youth as his top priorities.

Commissioner John R. Lovell Jr. (R) has plenty of admiration for the man he calls his friend. Lovell was on hand Friday to introduce Conyers as ‘‘the next member of the Board of County Commissioners.”

‘‘What he has brought to Frederick County is a desire to help people,” Lovell said. ‘‘... He brings caring, integrity and he stands for family values, which I certainly stand for myself.

Six candidates have announced plans to run for Frederick County commissioner as of this week. Democratic candidates include: Kai Hagen and Richard Floyd. Republican candidates include: incumbents Michael L. Cady and John R. Lovell Jr., Samie Conyers and Charles Jenkins. The deadline to file for candidacy is July 3. The primary election is Sept. 12; the general election is Nov. 7.

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WHY I'M VOTING FOR KAI!

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Linganore/New Market

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