Dement submits name in attempt for third and final term

Four candidates first to file for county commissioner

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Dement is seeking his third consecutive term, which would be the final allowed under the law. He represents District 1, the Ridge, Valley Lee area and is a resident of Tall Timbers.

Dement is 74 as of today, July 8. His wife, Shirley, died in April. They were married for more than 50 years.

He first won election in 2002, defeating incumbent Democrat Joseph F. Anderson. He won a second term by defeating Democrat Elfreda Mathis in 2006.

He will have opposition in the September 2010 primary. Republican challenger Richard A. Johnson of Valley Lee filed for Dement's seat Monday as well.

"I'm not running against anyone," he said Tuesday. "I'm running for the job. I'm a people's commissioner and I would like to continue for another four years. I will continue to be honest, listen, use common sense and make conservative decisions," he said.

In this term Dement voted along with the other commissioners to establish a growth policy that limits the number of new homes that can be built each year to 1.25 percent of existing housing.

He voted with three other commissioners in December 2008 to purchase 172 acres in Leonardtown for $5.3 million for public use, including a new library and schools.

He voted with three other commissioners against the St. Mary's Crossing neighborhood proposed on Route 4 across from St. Andrew's Estates.

Dement voted against hiring Derick Berlage as the new director of land use and growth management.

He is a lifetime resident of St. Mary's County and founded the Slowpitch Softball League, earning the nickname "Mr. Softball."

He graduated from Great Mills High School in 1953 and worked more than 20 years with the board of education as a bus driver instructor before retiring.

jbabcock@somdnews.com