Cooper resigns as president of commissioners

Charles County commissioners’ President F. Wayne Cooper (D) announced his resignation Friday morning in a hastily arranged broadcast on the county government’s cable access channel.

Cooper (D) will formally step down at 4:30 p.m Friday.

The news comes just three months after Cooper announced that he would not seek re-election due to medical and personal reasons.

“Since my announcement in April that I would not seek another term as your Commissioner President, I have been working to bring to a close several priorities before the end of my term that will continue to strengthen Charles County’s competitive position,” Cooper said in a county press release issued shortly after noon. “They’ve included the adoption of the FY 2011 County Budget financial plan … along with funding to support a continued quality educational system, which has been one of my priorities since my days as a member of the Board of Education.”

Cooper could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday.

Rumors of his departure surfaced shortly after his April announcement. At the time, he evaded questions about whether he would serve out his term.

“Overall, I think Wayne can look back and feel a sense of pride for his years in public service, both on the [Charles County] Board of Education and the County Commissioners,” said Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton (D-Charles), a former commissioners’ president.

Following six years on the county school board, Cooper was elected to the commissioners’ board in 2002 and was appointed its president in 2004 after then-president Murray D. Levy was appointed to the Maryland House of Delegates.

“It would have been best if he had completed his term,” said Levy (D-Charles). “Now the central committee has to make two appointments … With elections upon us it would have been best to allow the citizens of Charles County to make those choices.”

The Charles County Democratic Central Committee does not have to nominate Cooper’s successor before this fall’s election, said County Attorney Roger L. Fink. But if they choose to nominate Edith J. Patterson for the post and it is approved by Gov. Martin O’Malley, the central committee would then have the option to appoint a replacement for Patterson’s District 2 seat.

Patterson (D) has filed to run for the board’s presidency. She will square off against former commissioner Candice Quinn Kelly in the Democrat primary. Republicans Jim Thompson and Jack Cheseldine are running for their party’s nomination.

The best outcome would be for the board to operate with only four members until after the election, Levy said. While there could be a problem if there were a bunch of 2-2 votes, “if they’re able to conduct business it wouldn’t be so bad.

“Again, it’s an upset to the government. It’s a distraction however it works out. This takes attention away from what the people should be focusing on right now,” Levy said.

Patterson said she will continue as vice president and that those duties “are simply to set the agenda for the commission, preside over commission meetings and sign public documents.”

“It’s been a tough decision for Commissioner Cooper. I understand and respect his decision to step down as president; I understand he believes it is in the best interest of him and his family,” she said.

There are only seven meetings scheduled before the end of the year, Patterson said.

“The transition of leadership in terms of finding and taking responsibility for administrative work and policies will be handled by me. I have taken a leave of absence from [the College of Southern Maryland] because his tenure ends today, to make sure there’s no disruption of services and policies and administration.”

Patterson said there will be no disruptions in continuity of the chain of command; there are – after all – four commissioners still on the board.