Mr. Flood said he would appeal the conviction.

"Most of the citizens feel very strongly more cuts have to be made before taxes are raised," Mr. Flood said.

Mr. Flood said no decision was likely on the port until the fall, when a new budget is adopted.

A swift public response to a crisis, Mr. Flood said, is often a company's best hope for limiting the damage to its stock price.

"You really can't have pets in the post office, or any retail environment," Mr. Flood said.

Property taxes are about to rise, Mr. Flood said, and about 70 county jobs have been cut as a result.

"I love those good old oyster names," says Mr. Flood.

Mr. Flood and his allies say they subscribe to this point of view.

Mastercard is also developing a teaching program, Mr. Flood said.

The return receipt is also "a good way to track them down," said Mr. Flood.