Two Questions for D-18 Candidates

Although I look forward to the D-18 candidates forum on Sunday, there is unlikely to be be time for all interested voters to ask the many questions that we have. So here are two important questions that I would like to see answered. I invite all the candidates to answer here, on this forum.

1. In the past several months, the Central Committee has selected legislators for Districts 16 and 39, and now 18. As a result, when the 2008 session of the General Assembly begins next month, almost 40% of Montgomery County residents will have as one of their representatives someone they had no voice in selecting.

In addition, the selection is made by a body where almost every one of the decision-makers lives outside the district.

Citizens who are not registered Democrats had no voice at all in electing the body that is making the selection for them. Even most rank-and-file Democrats didn't have a clue who these people were when we saw the Central Committee on the primary ballot.

And, although we will be having elections throughout the state in 2008, voters in these three districts will be denied the opportunity to democratically elect someone to fill out the rest of the term.

Do you support this system, which is not consistent with electoral democracy or the principles of the Democratic Party? If not, then what specific actions will you take to amend the Maryland constitution to change this system?


2. [For candidates who support marriage equality] Some of your future colleagues in Annapolis believe that civil unions are an adequate remedy to the discrimination currently faced by same-sex couples who cannot marry. Others don't even support civil unions. We need these legislators' support for a marriage bill to pass.

What actions will you take during the 2008 session to get these delegates' support for the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act?