Slates, Slams and $: Gregory Promotes Pals for Cecil County Council; “Slate” Flyers Push Lies, Paid for by Developers, Hornberger

NEWS ANALYSIS Jackie Gregory (R-5), the vice president of the Cecil County Council, must have an acute case of insomnia, posting social media attacks on some of her fellow councilors and perceived political foes at all hours of the night. And when the sun comes up, she stars in glossy promotional mailers declaring she has a “need” for her preferred “slate” of candidates to sit with her on the Council. What she isn’t saying is that the “Cecil Conservative Slate” of political newcomer candidates she is promoting is largely financed by out-of-county developers and financial transfers from Del. Kevin Hornberger (R-35B), a large donor to her own campaigns and the spouse of county executive Danielle Hornberger (R), a close ally of Gregory. And she isn’t saying why her “slate” is particularly focused on attacking Councilor Al Miller (R-3), who is up for re-election this year, with flyers attacking him personally with false claims. One flyer shows pictures of her three preferred candidates but inexplicably declares that Miller is “our opponent.” The official Republican primary election ballot lists only one candidate running against Miller: Bob Gatchel, an actor who appeared in drag wearing female clothing and a bouffant red wig in […]