Letter to the Editor: We endorse Diane Nixon (August, 2006)
When Diane called me and said, “I need you to testify before the Maryland State Senate about a pet cemetery bill I wrote,” I thought she was nuts. Me? Testify?
Senate Bill 983 was more than a pet cemetery bill, it was a consumer protection bill that would keep grieving pet owners from being charged for burial items they didn’t need, would protect the plots they had purchased, and would ensure their pets would rest in peace forever.
Having heard countless stories from those who had buried their pets at Rosa Bonheur Memorial Park, the thousands of dollars spent, the heartache of unkept and unsafe grounds, the guilt for believing that a deed and perpetual care payments would keep their deceased loved ones safe, I said “yes.”
Diane knows the ins and outs of the Senate and House. Everywhere we went with her, people knew her, knew her reputation, and respected her work. She guided us through the process, made sure we had what we needed to testify, gave us the confidence to go in and represent thousands of Maryland State pet owners and fight for their consumer rights. The bill passed the Senate 45-0, but was stalled in the House during the last days of the session by one delegate and was never given the opportunity to go to the floor of the House for vote, despite no opposition and favorable votes by other House committee members.
It was then that I realized that not all Delegates have the peoples’ interest at heart, but Diane does. When elected, I am confident that she will listen to the people, vote according to their will, and represent her community.
We need people like Diane in Annapolis, and I hope you take an active role and see that you get that representation by voting for her in September.
—Penny Blankenship
Gil Blankenship
Save Rosa Bonheur Memorial Park