Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Realtors Announce Endorsements in Council Races
The Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors has announced their endorsements in the County Council races. Following is their press release.
MCGEO Targets Schools in Questionnaire
The Municipal and County Government Employees Organization (MCGEO), which represents most county employees other than police officers, fire fighters and school workers, has included the following six questions in its questionnaire for County Council candidates.
SEIU Slams Becky Wagner
Four members of SEIU Local 500's endorsement committee have issued the following response to Council At-Large candidate Becky Wagner's mass email on the union's endorsement decision. Hide the children, folks!
Jay Hutchins and Eric Luedtke on "Political Pulse" on Ch. 16 TV
Jay Hutchins, who is running for MD State Delegate in District 19, and Eric Luedtke, who is running for MD State Delegate in District 14, will be on the "Political Pulse" TV political show on:
Thurs, July 1st at 9 p.m.
Fri-Sun, July 2nd-4th at 6:00 p.m.
and Tues, July 6th at 9:30 p.m.
Political Pulse is on Montgomery Municipal Cable in Montgomery County.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sharon Grosfeld Endorses Ariana Kelly
Former District 18 Delegate and Senator Sharon Grosfeld has endorsed Ariana Kelly for a District 16 House seat. Following is former Senator Grosfeld's statement.
Ariana possesses the rare combination of talent, intelligence and compassion that inspires people to listen closely to her ideas and believe in her. She has demonstrated strong leadership in her past efforts to secure legislation important to Maryland families, and I am convinced that as a state delegate representing District 16, she will take her passion and negotiating skills to even greater heights. Ariana is exactly the person anyone would want to advocate for their interests.
MoCo NOW Releases Early Endorsement List
The Montgomery County chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) has released its early endorsement list. Its first picks are:
Planet Earth Endorses Craig Rice
OK, maybe not, but it sure seems that way. Here is his supporter list (which does not include institutions like MCEA and SEIU).
Monday, June 28, 2010
Doug Duncan Endorses Ilaya Hopkins
Former County Executive Doug Duncan has endorsed Ilaya Hopkins, who is challenging incumbent Council Member Roger Berliner in Council District 1 (Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac). Following is her press release.
Becky Wagner vs. SEIU
Council at-large candidate Becky Wagner just sent out a mass email blaming her non-endorsement by SEIU Local 500 on her support for privatization. This comes in the context of her past opposition to the county's living wage law. Taken together, these two positions suggest a willingness to contract out county services to workers paid as low as the minimum wage. MCGEO, which is just as opposed to privatization as is SEIU, contributed $3,000 to Wagner's campaign last November. What will they think?
Following is Wagner's mass email.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Equality MD Endorsements and Some Surprises
Equality Maryland released their early endorsements today. A complete list and some highlights below the fold.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Folk Singers for Kagan
Who else but Cheryl Kagan would bring in a nationally recognized folk singer from Delaware for one of her fundraisers?
Duchy Trachtenberg Schedules Campaign Kickoff
At-Large County Council Member Duchy Trachtenberg has scheduled her campaign kickoff for the Strathmore Mansion in Rockville on Tuesday, June 29. Following is her announcement.
Is There Such A Thing as Too Young?
By Marc Korman.
I am a proud, young(ish) Democrat. I have given endless hours and more money than my wife is comfortable with in support of young candidates. My first piece written for MPW was about the generational shift in the Montgomery County Delegation between 2005 and 2007. But lately I have spent some time pondering if there is such a thing as being too young for elective office.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Jeff Waldstreicher Endorses Ariana Kelly
Delegate Jeff Waldstreicher (D-18) has endorsed former NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland Executive Director Ariana Kelly for Delegate in District 16. Following is Delegate Waldstreicher's statement.
From the Saqib Ali Archives
We took a screenshot of this when Delegate Saqib Ali (D-39) put this up on Twitter last fall and promptly forgot about it. But that was a disservice to our readers since it proves yet again that Ali is one of the state's funniest politicians.
Introducing the Citizens League of Montgomery County
By Dan Hoffman.
Several months ago Marc Korman provided a post to MPW referencing the development of a new organization in Montgomery County, aimed at re-engaging county residents and giving them a tool for bringing fresh ideas, perspectives, and solutions to our elected County officials. I’d like to finally introduce the organization he was referring to, the Citizens League of Montgomery County.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Senator Nancy King on the BOAST Bill
From the Washington Grove Town Council meeting on November 23, 2009.
Nancy Floreen and Jane de Winter on "Political Pulse" on Ch. 16 TV in MoCo
MoCo County Council President Nancy Floreen, who is an At-Large Council-member, and Jane de Winter, who is running for 1 of the 4 At-Large County Council seats, will be on the "Political Pulse" TV Show on:
Thurs, June 24th at 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun, June 25th-27th, at 6:00 p.m. and
Tues, June 29th, at 9:30 p.m.
"Political Pulse" is on Montgomery Municipal Cable in Montgomery County.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Two Wildest Campaign Videos Ever
Of course, they are from Alabama. This is Republican Dale Peterson, who was running in the primary for Agriculture Commissioner.
Peterson lost, but cut this video endorsing the Republican who beat him. Note how he fires a rifle shot at a miscreant stealing a campaign sign.
Now why can't Maryland politicians let it rip like this?
Buy a Piece of the Hunk
Here's one of the more creative campaign tactics of 2010: District 19 Delegate candidate Sam Arora is selling artwork of himself! For $50 contributed here, you can frame this up in your living room. What are you waiting for, ladies?
SEIU Local 500 Makes Council, School Board Endorsements
Shortly after SEIU's Maryland and D.C. State Council made endorsements for state legislators, SEIU Local 500 (which represents school support staff and adjunct professors) released their county office endorsement list. Many of their incumbent endorsements were expected. The newsworthy endorsements are incumbent Roger Berliner in District 1 (who is batting one thousand on this measure), Craig Rice in District 2 and Hans Riemer, who is challenging at-large. Incumbent at-large member Nancy Floreen also earned an endorsement. Following is their press release.
SEIU Announces State Legislator Endorsements
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Maryland and D.C. State Council has announced its endorsements for state legislators. The big news in MoCo is that SEIU is supporting two Senate challengers: Karen Montgomery in District 14 and Cheryl Kagan in District 17. Following is their complete list.
Berliner Endorsed by Governor O’Malley
Following is the press release from Council Member Roger Berliner's campaign.
20-20 Hindsight: A Look Back at the 1990 Election That Transformed the MoCo Political Landscape
By Steve Simon.
Twenty years ago at this time – much like this year – a first-term Montgomery County Executive was cruising into reelection, with no real challenger in sight. Then, two hours before the candidate filing deadline, five-term County Councilmember Neal Potter shocked locals by postponing his previously announced retirement plans to enter the race and take on a seemingly unbeatable incumbent, in Sid Kramer.
Lawton Center to Be Site of First Solar Roof
Ketch Ryan and Kirk Renaud in the Town of Chevy Chase pushed hard to make this happen and I know that they'll be especially thrilled by the news in this press release from Councilmember Roger Berliner (D-1):
Monday, June 21, 2010
Farewell to Maryland Politics Watch
In all probability, this is the last original post I will be writing for Maryland Politics Watch for the foreseeable future. I owe it to all of you to explain why.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Where MPW Readers Come From
Here’s the geographic distribution of page views from the computers used by our readers from May 30, 2009 through May 25, 2010. This period accounts for 602,689 page views, or about 60% of the total traffic in the history of our blog.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Leggett for Winston
By Marc Korman.
On a hot Saturday morning Mark Winston kicked off his campaign for Delegate in District 16 in front of over thirty people outside his campaign offices. He was joined by a very special guest who endorsed him, County Executive Ike Leggett.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Mark Winston Announces Delegate Run in District 16
L. Mark Winston, who unsuccessfully sought appointments as a District 16 Delegate in 2002 and 2007, has announced his candidacy for the seat. Following is his press release.
One Year of Your Favorite MPW Posts
Here are the most-viewed MPW blog posts from May 30, 2009 through May 25, 2010. This period represents over 60% of the total page views in the nearly four-year history of this blog.
