Maryland: Too Many Candidates in the Race - A Recipe for Political Plume?

Well, nothing is wrong with multiparty democracy, except that it really matters who the practitioners are and their level of experience and maturity.

Multiparty democracy was the cry of politicians and advocates in the 70s. By 1980, the prayer was answered. And Liberia became a multiparty state instead of a one-party state. Without a doubt, The True Whig Party that led the country for closed to 100 years dissappeared from the face of the earth.

In the first election during the early days of multiparty democracy (1985), many things went wrong – too many parties registered. The total number of parties that registered confused the people (voters). Somehow, these parties had not yet developed any good sense of purpose. Because this was a new process. Seemingly, everyone was happy that the opportunity had presented itself for everyone, rich or poor, to get in the race that they have been denied” for quite so long. Sooner not later, it got worse. In 2005 there were closed to forty political parties with a population of 3 million people. Evidently, somebody wasn’t reading the new change correctly. From that time onward, the case worsens more and more as more political parties became to emerge.

In Maryland, during my day - early 70s, there were either one or two candidates. Somewhere in the race, there was an understanding between candidates that one would give in to the other candidate for the sake of progress and in the name of Maryland’s future development.

Immediately after the 1985 election, I packed my belongings and left the country to pursue and further my academic study. This took me to many countries before landing in the United States where I now reside prior to my coming to Liberia to be a part and eyewitness to what is unfolding. As such, I did not see the rest of the elections held in the country. Now that I am here, I promise to see every inch of the process and bear witness to the truth.

I choose Maryland County as my rock of gibralter to stand on and test the case.

October, 2011 is Presidential and Parliamentary elections. And Maryland is putting up so many candidates. If you asked me name them, I'm sure I will forget some of them. Because it is long line of candidates.

But let me give it a try:

Senatorial Aspirants

1. James Norman Anderson, II (commonly known as “Jimmy)

2. Amb. Horatio Dan Moriase (commonly to referred as “H. Dan”)

3. Mayson Goe (commonly referred to as “M. Goe”)

4. Abraham Jackson (commonly referred to as “AB Jackson”)

5. Anthony W. Bedell

6. Gloria Scott (incumbent)


Representatives Aspirants for Harper District

1. Helena N. Bedell

2. Rev. Joel Jackson

3. P. Mike Jury

4. George Prowd

5. Lee Newton

6. Wah Woart

7. Wahkla Neufville

8. Emmanuel Walker

9. James Biney (incumbent)

10. Globa Williams

Representative Aspirants for Pleebo/Sodokeh District

1. Dr. Bhofal Chambers (incumbent)

2. Eric Giko

3. George Nubo

4. G. Saytu

5. Yibie Brown

6. Ben Wilson

There is something special about some of these aspirants.

Jimmy is the only one running as an independent candidate. That means, he will spent his own money and not fall for anyone who wishes to control his platform and agenda. The rest of the candidates both senatorial and representatives fall under the watchful eye of a political party. Essentially, they will have to play to the rules of those parties.

George Prowd has been a very visible and outstanding member of the ruling Unity Party. From all indications, because of his relations to Gloria Scott (current Junior Senator of Maryland), everyone thought George would win the UP primary. But to our utmost surprise, Helena Bedell kicked George into the trash can of history. She beat him by 17 to 4 votes. Wide marging! George could not handle the defeat. He became disgruntled. He immediately ran out of the doors of the primary hall like a meteor. He ran to the National Democratic Coalition of Dew Mayson for refuge. Whether or not George will be respected due to his change of ships in the middle of the proverbial sea, will be determine in October during the elections.

Here is the Mayson Goe case:

Well, The Congress for Democratic Change of Amb. George Weah wasn’t actually established in Maryland. I know this because I am here. And so Mayson began to underwrite its establishment and operational budget prior to the primary. Mayson ran the activities of CDC for a protracted period of time with his pocket power. Suddenly it became evident Mayson is the “man” for CDC in Maryland. Everyone knew Mayson would be the senatorial candidate of CDC in Maryland. But things changed. We heard about rambling in Monrovia. Someone wanted to take Mason's seat. Soon we heard a primary was due in Harper City between Mayson Goe and Anthony Bedell. Well, Anthony Bedell is from Pleebo. So, if a primary was held in Harper, Goe would beat Anthony. Because Goe lives in Harper.

On Friday, August 12, 2011, the CDC primary was held in Harper. I am told Anthony Bedell did not show up. Whether in protest or not, we don't know. But he wasn't around. Understandably, Mayson got a “white Ballot.” The following day we heard something different – the primary won by Mayson was declared null and void by the CDC Party Executives in Monrovia. Why? Up to now, we don't know! We learn Amb. H. Dan Moraise will be the senatorial candidate of the CDC in Maryland. Evidently, Mayson is kicked on the proverbial curve. From what we are hearing, Mayson is looking out for another party to carry him as its senatorial candidate. Whether this was right or not tells us much about our participation in multiparty democracy and our honesty to our fellow countrymen and women during the political season.

There’s another case. It is the Abraham Jackson Case.

This man calls himself, “The David among the Goliaths.” He is a staunch member of the NUDP – Prince Johnson Party. A primary was called. He took part. And so was a lady from Pleebo. Understandably, the lady beat him during the primary. But Jackson wasn’t satisfied. So he filed a protest. What we are hearing now is that Jackson won the protest. So he is the senatorial candidate of NUPD in Maryland. Understandably, the lady failed because she is a staunch and registered member of the ruling Unity Party. She did not withdraw her membership in the Unity Party prior to going to the primary of NUDP. So A. B. Jackson is now relaxed to meet with the “giants” come October, 2011. In other words, he is the candidate for the NUDP for Maryland Senatorial post.

There’s the Numoweh and Kudemoweh Case:

The Numoweh & Kudemoweh are the only two chiefdoms in the Harper District. They have been at each other’s throats for a protracted period of time - conflict. There have been armed hostilities in the District between these two chiefdoms. It came in the shape of "Coldwar" - other towns proxy for them. This “Coldwar” continued on for more than two decades. Thanks to The KudeNumo Peace Initiative Foundation, Inc. of which I am founder and copresident for helping to resolve the conflict between both chiefdoms. Prior to the crisis resolution, it was agreed that both chiefdoms would uphold the agreement that existed between their parents long ago. This year, the Numowehs enjoys the right to put forward the senatorial candidate. And the Kudemowehs will put up the representative candidate for the Harper district. It means that none of the chiefdoms will put up any candidate besides what is allotted to it.

Here is the problem:

The Numowehs put up Amb. H. Dan Moraise as their senatorial candidate. And the Kudemowehs put up Ms. Helena N. Bedell as their candidate for the office of representative for the Harper district. In essence, no other candidate should come forth from either chiefdom besides the chosen ones.

George Prowd is from the Numoweh chiefdom. To our surprise, he throws his hat in the race for the office of representative for the Harper district. As you will know, this is the slot that belongs to the Kudemowehs. By George running for the post allocated to the Kudemoweh people, he violates the age-old Agreement.

On the other side, Anthony Bedell is running for the office of senator for Maryland. He’s from the Kudemoweh side. And this slot is ONLY for the Numowehs. By Anthony seeking the post, he too, like George Prowd, violates the age-old Agreement.

Then we have the likes of Emmanuel Walker, Wahkla Neufville, Wah Woart. They all are from the Kudemoweh side. They went into a primary in Cavalla. In the primary, Helena Bedell beat them. She came out as the candidate for the Kudemoweh chiefdom. Now that these young men become disgruntled with the process in which they were an integral part. Today, they are ready and prepared to violate the Agreement by sticking their heads into the race against the chosen one – Helena Bedell.

Essentially, George Prowd, Wah Woart, Wahkla Neufville and Emmanuel Walker are all rebels in the strict sense. They refused to yield to the will of their people.

If James Biney, the incumbent wins, it will simply be because these young men made it so. Their participation will divide the votes. The balance of the votes, if "Simple Majority" stands, will go to James Biney. By so doing, Biney wins. And when that happens, Harper district and the Glebo people will be buried for another fourth term under Biney’s lack of leadership, desensitization and incompetency.

Who will you blame, Biney? Heck, no!

You can’t think Biney is popular! Because he's very upopular!

You will have to blame the four men (Walker, Woart, Neufville & Prowd). Because they refuse to listen to the voice of the people which is the voice of God!


I am Thomas G. Bedell speaking and working on the ground in Liberia