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Conyers enters race for commissioner

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Samie Conyers hopes his leadership, integrity and belief in family values will be the winning combination he needs to finally land an elected seat in Frederick County politics.

Conyers announced Friday he is running for a seat on the Frederick Board of County Commissioners in the Sept. 12 primary election.

No stranger to political campaigns, Conyers (R) has run unsuccessfully for the Board of Education, House of Delegates and county commissioner before. Last fall, he failed in his attempt to become a Frederick city alderman.

‘‘I sort of want people to forget the past, because in the past I lost four races,” Conyers told a small crowd of supporters at Tauraso’s Restaurant in Frederick. ‘‘I want a place at the table. I just don’t want to be on the menu ... With your help and support I think we can make a difference. Some have already counted us out. But with your help and support I think I can have a seat at table.”

A minister at Grace Pentecostal Worship Center, Conyers is a retired U.S. Army sergeant.

Conyers’ volunteer work has made him well known in the community. He is a volunteer on the Board of Trustees of Frederick Community College, Interfaith Housing, the Human Relations Commission and the Frederick County Cancer Coalition.

‘‘I hope you will look at me as people person, an individual and someone who builds bridges in Frederick County,” he said to supporters Friday.

Conyers believes his volunteer work would be an asset as a county commissioner, since much of it involves issues such as health care, affordable housing and education.

Conyers’ campaign literature specifically lists lowering taxes, improving school funding, better countywide roadways, affordable housing and maintaining a good quality of life for senior citizens and youth as his top priorities.

Commissioner John R. Lovell Jr. (R) has plenty of admiration for the man he calls his friend. Lovell was on hand Friday to introduce Conyers as ‘‘the next member of the Board of County Commissioners.”

‘‘What he has brought to Frederick County is a desire to help people,” Lovell said. ‘‘... He brings caring, integrity and he stands for family values, which I certainly stand for myself.

Six candidates have announced plans to run for Frederick County commissioner as of this week. Democratic candidates include: Kai Hagen and Richard Floyd. Republican candidates include: incumbents Michael L. Cady and John R. Lovell Jr., Samie Conyers and Charles Jenkins. The deadline to file for candidacy is July 3. The primary election is Sept. 12; the general election is Nov. 7.