Red Card for Soccer

But the kicker came Tuesday, when, at a whirlwind County Council meeting, Chairman Marilynn M. Bland (D-Clinton) stunned colleagues by quashing debate about the stadium. A council committee of the whole had voted 5 to 0 -- with two abstentions, including Ms. Bland -- to oppose legislation that would fund a study of the stadium. Only two of nine council members were absent, so it seemed certain that the full council would come to the same conclusion. But Ms. Bland asked the council at that time to reconsider the vote, then took the unusual step of issuing a statement emphasizing that the vote didn't "indicate a final council decision or position." Ms. Bland hinted to Maryland Del. Norman H. Conway (D-Wicomico), chairman of the House committee considering the stadium issue, that the council might change its position. Yet council members who opposed the bill say that there was no reason for Ms. Bland to believe they would switch their votes. Mr. Conway is waiting on a letter of support from the council before moving the bill forward.

A vote on support for the legislation was on an initial agenda for Tuesday's meeting, and many council members and residents arrived expecting a vote. But by meeting day, the agenda had been reprinted without the vote. Ms. Bland rushed through a perfunctory agenda, then gaveled the meeting to a close before another member could introduce a motion to vote on the bill. Ms. Bland exited the room without explanation, leaving colleagues speechless and residents in attendance furious.

Reasonable people can disagree on whether the stadium is a good idea. But there's no excuse for Ms. Bland snuffing out a debate about its merits.