D18 Caucus and Democratic Hispanic Club Events

I got to hear Chris Van Hollen's thoughts on the SCHIP override attempt at both the District 18 Democratic Caucus event at Cafe 1873 in Kensington on Sunday and the Democratic Hispanic Club event at the Pooks Hill Marriott. It'd be churlish to complain since I'd bring it up at every opportunity myself if I were head of the DCCC.

Perhaps after denying health care to kids despite promising otherwise in 2004, President Bush and the GOP will propose to take away canes from old ladies. Besides, most chairs of the DCCC end up invisible in their districts since they have to travel so much around the country supporting other Democrats. Rep. Van Hollen clearly is not taking that route.

Former Del. Helen Koss received the first annual District 18 Democratic Caucus Legends Award. She represented District 18 in the House for four terms beginning in 1971, and gave a very gracious speech accepting the honor. A number of elected officials besides Rep. Van Hollen came to congratulate her and to kibbitz with local activists, including Sen. Rich Madaleno, Delegates Jane Lawton and Jeff Waldstreicher (and former Del. Carol Petzold), Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, and George Leventhal, and Central Committee Members Vic Weissberg and Oscar Ramirez. Pete Fosselman did double duty as both Kensington's mayor and helping serve the food at the restaurant. (Quick food review: delicious, I ate more than I intended.)

Speaking of Oscar, he did a great job as the MC at the Democratic Hispanic Club Award Ceremony--undoubtedly making his girlfriend and parents who were in attendance very proud. His former boss, Rep. Joe Baca, was the keynote speaker and introduced by Chris Van Hollen. Van Hollen also had kind words for Rep. Al Wynn, who presented one of the awards. While it is traditional for DCCC chairs to support all Democratic incumbents, I bet Donna Edwards wasn't too thrilled. Wynn and Edwards jousted for the support of the crowd (and also bought equal amounts of space in the official program).

The Democratic Hispanic Club gave Poder con Ganas awards to three people: El Zol 99.1 Host Pedro Biaggi, MoCo Recreation Department Director Gabriel Albornoz, and Through the Kitchen Door Founder Liesel Flashenberg. Quite a few elected officials came to support the awardees and the Club. Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez helped MC the event. Delegates Jane Lawton, Jeff Waldstreicher, Heather Mizeur, and Susan Lee attended as did Sen. Mike Lenett, Councilmembers Mike Andrews and Duchy Trachtenberg, and School Board Members Judy Docca and Shirley Brandman. Two candidates for the Gaithersburg Council also came and campaigned. (No doubt my list is incomplete.)