Photo by John Singleton (L-R) Bob and Jean Aebli, Mark Mucklebauer, Cathy Vitale, Anne Rutherford, Kathy Feldman and Ann Gillespie pose with former Lt. Governor Michael Steele at the Fire Nancy Pelosi Rally that took place in Severna Park on October 30.

By John Singleton

It was been a busy election season for Severna Park. On October 23, Americans for Prosperity threw a party in the parking lot of the public library and 300 people showed up. On Saturday, August 28, 45 five-passenger buses breezed from the grounds of St. Martin’s-in-the-Field at 6:20am, to the Restoring Honor Rally in Washington, D.C. On Saturday, October 30, former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele made a triumphant return to Severna Park after six weeks on the road as part of the Fire Pelosi Bus Tour.

"It was like a big picnic, whatever you could bring with you from home that’s what you ate," commented Diana Larmore of Severna Park. "At the Restoring Honor Rally there were almost no vendors, no commercialization, nobody selling t-shirts. It was hard to find a can of soda. The Mall in DC was immaculate when we left it."

At the Americans for Prosperity event, local delegates Steve Schuh and Cathy Vitale addressed the crowd on economic issues like relieving the tax burden on individuals and small businesses. Americans for Prosperity has 26,000 members in the state of Maryland, and it came into existence in February 2009.

"Voters are mobilized around the idea of jobs and lower taxes," added Steve Poland. "The election will be a great day for freedom."

On October 30, Michael Steele rallied approximately 200 political supporters around the idea of a Republican take-back of Congress, curbing federal spending, and cutting the deficit. For residents of Severna Park, the myriad events leading up to the November 2 election served not only as a vehicle for the exercise of free speech, but as a means of forging new friendships.

"One of the fascinating trends in this elaection cycle has been the number of young people turning out to these events," observed Anne Rutherford, who attended the rally on October 30. "They’re making lasting friendships with other young people who share their values and love of America. Michael Steele is the kind of leader who can really inspire college students and young adults."

The Restoring Honor Rally turned strangers into fast friends virtually overnight. Marge Acree and her husband George spent hours coordinating lodging for families from as far away as Oklahoma, Florida, and Salt Lake City. Some even stayed with local families or in hotels in close proximity to central Anne Arundel County. Fellowship was so abundant that the bus ride home at the end of the day felt like the culmination of a college road-trip or a neighborhood block party.

"For the ride home we had a guitar player from Oklahoma join our bus," recounted Liz League. "He sang patriotic songs and some hilarious political songs and everybody was singing along."