A resolution before the Annapolis City Council in support of former Midshipman Lamar Owens? quest to graduate might encounter significant resistance from council members who say the city has no business in Naval Academy affairs.
Among the council?s nine members, four contacted Tuesday said that they will not support the resolution, scheduled for a vote April 9, because the city should not be getting involved in the issue. Two council members did not return calls for comment.
“I don?t think we have a place to question the U.S. Navy,” said Alderman Michael Christman, R-Ward 2, himself a 1985 graduate of the Annapolis military academy.
The resolution, sponsored by Alderwoman Classie Hoyle, D-Ward 3, hopes to encourage the Navy to “change its stance” if passed, Hoyle said. The basis for the resolution is to support Owens? quest in legitimizing his education.
Owens? final fate will be decided by the secretary of the Navy, according to Deborah Goode, spokeswoman for the Naval Academy. Owens was found guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer in July in connection with charges of rape ? of which he was acquitted.
“My practice is to vote against resolutions that tell outside institutions what to do,” said Alderman Richard Israel, D-Ward 1. Israel said there are too many other issues of importance facing the council for it to involve itself in Naval Academy policies.
Aldermen David Cordle, R-Ward 5, and Ross Arnett, D-Ward 8, indicated they don?t support the resolution.
Hoyle seems to have Mayor Ellen Moyer and Alderman Samuel Shropshire, D-Ward 7, in her corner.
Moyer said it may not be appropriate for the council to “stick its nose” in the Navy?s business, but that does not stop her from having an opinion.
Shropshire said he has not made up his mind yet, but that he was leaning toward supporting the action.
Alderwomen Sheila Finlayson, D-Ward 4, and Julie Stankivic, U-Ward 6, did not return phone calls.
As for the academy?s opinion on the resolution, Goode said, ” It would be inappropriate to comment on the business of the City Council.”
