New County Councilman Chuck Ferrar
In December Chuck Ferrar was selected as our County Councilman to take the seat vacated by Josh Cohen when he was elected mayor of Annapolis. Here is a brief bio on Mr. Ferrar, and the text of a story in The Capital about his appointment.
Charles ("Chuck") Ferrar, Councilman, Sixth District, was appointed to the County Council in December 2009. Mr. Ferrar graduated from Bladensburg High School and is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Annapolis. He is the owner of Bay Ridge Wine and Spirits in Annapolis. He oversees all facets of the business with 36 employees and was awarded the National Retailer of the Year Award in 2004. Mr. Ferrar serves as a member of the Comptrollers’ Business Advisory Council and is National Vice-President of the American Beverage Licensees. He is past president of the Anne Arundel County Licensed Beverage Association, the Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association, and the Wholesalers Retailers Association of Maryland as well as an active member of the Annapolis Rotary Club. Mr. Ferrar resides in Edgewater with his wife of 45 years, Bev. They have a daughter, Lisa, married to David, who are the parents of their beautiful grandson, James.
Council picks wine shop owner after 18 rounds of voting
By Erin Cox, Staff Writer
Published in The Capital 12/18/09Business owner Chuck Ferrar was selected as the newest member of the County Council on Thursday night in a grueling 18-round, four-hour public vote.
Ferrar, a 67-year-old Democrat from Edgewater, will be sworn in Monday night and immediately cast a vote on the most controversial issue to face the council this term.
During the interview process, Ferrar indicated he would provide the crucial support to approve any casino in Anne Arundel County when he said he would vote in favor of both the competing bills to permit one.
"I'd like to be very specific," he said. "I do support slots. I plan to vote for both bills."
The high-drama meeting included another recusal from Council Chairman Ed Middlebrooks and the withdrawal of one of the six applicants for the vacant seat because of the threat of a lawsuit.
"Through the use of legal trickery coupled with the use of a threat of legal suit, I am not a good choice," William Moulden told the council.
Moulden contested a legal opinion by Deputy County Attorney David Plymyer that Moulden's job as a Prince George's County teacher disqualified him from holding a county office.
Moulden did not identify who threatened the lawsuit to challenge his potential appointment to the seat. But he said that person warned that Moulden and his family would face $20,000 in legal fees.
"I don't believe I have a problem (qualifying), but I do feel that if I was to be on the board (council) under this cloud I think it would be injurious to your working for the next nine months. And that's not something a citizen should do," said Moulden, who currently serves on the county Board of Appeals.
Middlebrooks said earlier this week that he was reconsidering stepping aside from the casino debate and the selection of the new council member because a new opinion from the county Ethics Commission cleared him to participate.
But Middlebrooks, R-Severn, announced at the beginning of the meeting that his "impartiality and integrity has been called into question," then recused himself and left.
The five council members winnowed the remaining pool of five applicants to two during the first round of voting. But the council deadlocked for nearly three hours, casting 17 consecutive oral ballots aloud without either Ferrar or candidate Mike Miller receiving the necessary four votes for the appointment.
After Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-Crownsville, broached the issue of race and pointed out the historic significance of appointing Miller, an African-American business consultant, the proceeding halted. Silence continued for more than a full minute while the council's only African-American, Councilman Daryl Jones, debated whether to switch his vote from Ferrar.
Jones, D-Severn, abstained from voting in the fifth round, changed his vote to Miller in rounds six and seven, then voted for Ferrar in the remaining 11 rounds.
Benoit and Council Vice Chairman Ron Dillon consistently supported Miller. Councilwomen Tricia Johnson, R-Davidsonville, and Cathy Vitale, R-Severn, consistently supported Ferrar.
The extended voting, punctuated by short speeches by the council members in support of their candidates, forced the council to take a recess because the public-access television station broadcasting the program had scheduled another show for 10 p.m. Frustrated home viewers called in to complain that the feed had been cut off.
Meanwhile, every council member complained about the process for picking a successor for now-Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen, saying the system was flawed.
"This process is insane. The process is truly insane," said Dillon, R-Pasadena, who eventually ended the deadlock by choosing to "throw in the towel" and support Ferrar, after Benoit suggested resuming debate on another day or staying up all night casting ballots.
"I think you're a fabulous candidate," Dillon told Miller. "I'm sorry that your family has had to endure this nail biting for 31/2 hours. … I know the members of the council, and they're pretty stubborn."
After the hearing, a visibly exhausted Ferrar said the public process "leaves a lot to be desired. But I am very excited and very much looking forward to the job."
Ferrar owns Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits in the Annapolis area, is married and has one adult daughter.
He will represent the Annapolis Neck Peninsula and part of Edgewater on the council until a new council member is elected to the job in November 2010. Ferrar said he intends to run for the position then.
Oyster Harbor Citizens Association