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St. Mary's County commissioner urges residents to verify social media claims, schedules town hall
Summary
A St. Mary's County commissioner encouraged residents to contact officials directly about claims circulating on social media about Leonard Hall Academy, announced a town hall Saturday at Bay District Volunteer Fire from 1 to 3 p.m., offered condolences following a recent plane crash and urged residents to support local farmers markets.
A St. Mary's County commissioner urged residents to verify information seen on social media regarding Leonard Hall Academy and announced a public town hall for Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bay District Volunteer Fire.
The commissioner opened by saying community members should contact local officials when they encounter questionable posts: "please, whenever you see anything on social media that makes you question it, please reach out to the people who know. Any 1 of us up here on this panel can answer those questions." The commissioner said they will give "a straight answer to a straight question" and that if they do not know an answer immediately, they will follow up afterward.
Why it matters: Misinformation circulating online can prompt public confusion and demands for official responses; the scheduled town hall is intended as an opportunity for residents to ask why recent decisions were made and to get direct answers from county commissioners.
During the remarks the commissioner also expressed condolences after a recent plane crash, stating that "the plane crash was a terrible tragedy and did affect many people in this community. A gentleman I work with lost his son-in-law. So, my prayers go out to the families not just here in St. Mary's County, but all the families who have experienced the horrible loss." The commissioner did not provide further details about the crash or identify the person who lost a relative beyond that description.
The commissioner concluded by encouraging residents to patronize local farmers markets during the weekend and reiterated the town-hall invitation: "If you have questions, you want to know why we made the decisions we made, please come out. Come and attend. Come ask questions." The speaker said they have never failed to follow up on questions asked of them as a commissioner.
The remarks appeared during a commissioners' panel discussion; no formal motions or votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt.
