Dear Friend: Hans Riemer Montgomery County CouncilmemberRecently, I wrote to you about the large profits Pepco was earning as its outage performance was declining. With million of dollars per year in after-tax profit, Pepco does not need a rate increase to pay for system improvements.
Many of you asked: “What can be done to improve Pepco?” Pepco is regulated by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) and Pepco’s status as a private company and its regulation by an appointed commission establish one central fact: no single elected official on the state or county level has the power to control its operations. But if we all work together, we can make a difference.
Here’s what you can do.1. Contact the Maryland Public Service Commission
The PSC will be considering a set of rule changes to strengthen the company’s accountability and a rate hike requested by Pepco to cover the cost of its improvement program. Since the PSC is Pepco’s direct regulator, please call them at 1-800-492-0474 today to let them know what you think.
2. Contact the Governor and your State Legislators
Pepco is subject to state law. Governor O’Malley and Delegate Brian Feldman are working on legislation to impose reliability standards on Pepco and fine the company for non-compliance. It is vitally important that this legislation pass with real teeth. Please contact your state legislators and ask them to co-sponsor and vote for the bill. To get contact info for your legislator, go to www.mdelect.net.
3. Sign our Petition
Sign our petition stating that Pepco’s reliability and service are intolerable, urging the establishment of standards and fines, advocating that the company not receive any rates increases until it improves service and asking that executive pay be tied to power reliability.
4. Spread the Word!
Pepco will not change its ways easily. We will need a LOT of signatures on this petition to show the company, the PSC and the state government that we are serious about demanding improvement. So please forward our petition to your friends, neighbors, Facebook and Twitter followers, listservs and any other contact media to which you have access.
No one person, including me, can tame Pepco alone. But we can work together to get the power service we all deserve.
Join us.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Councilmember Hans Riemer on Pepco
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Riemer: Power Down but Profits Up
from my inbox by At-Large MoCo Councilmember Hans Riemer
The first winter storm of 2011 has revealed once again what Montgomery County residents know too well: Pepco is incapable of restoring power outages in a reasonable period of time.
Surprising, then, that Pepco is as profitable as ever. Just last October -- despite a year of intense criticism about failing service -- Pepco raised its estimated earnings per share for 2010 by up to 38 percent.
The “thundersnow” began on Wednesday afternoon. According to Pepco officials, 127,000 Montgomery residents lost power by the following morning. Forty-eight hours after the storm hit, the Washington Post reported that 64,843 Montgomery residents were still without power – more than the combined total of 42,667 residents without power in all other Washington-area jurisdictions.
As one resident wrote to me bitterly, Montgomery County has become a “laughing stock” in the region. Of course there is nothing amusing about seniors trapped in apartment towers with no lights, heat, or elevator service.
Pepco has offered a variety of excuses for its failure to restore power promptly in the past. The company once blamed its performance on trees, telling regulators that the region has the “fourth most-dense” tree canopy in the nation. But the Washington Post found no support for that claim in a December 15, 2010 article and exposed equipment failures as the real reason for outage problems.
Pepco has also blamed plowing problems for its inability to access neighborhoods. But Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation plowed the vast majority of roads 24 hours after the most recent storm had passed and still more than 100,000 county residents were without power.
The problem is not trees or weather, it is Pepco’s management.
In its December investigative article on Pepco, the Post found that the company’s reliability problems have been steadily growing worse for five years. Its customers have experienced 70% more outages than customers of comparable large utilities and their power has been out more than twice as long. By 2009, Pepco had fallen to the bottom quarter of U.S. utilities in customer satisfaction.
Pepco’s proposed solution to its problems is its six-point “reliability enhancement plan,” in which it intends to spend $51 million annually in Maryland over the next five years, with additional sums for DC.
Where will it get the money? Ratepayers, of course. Pepco wants to increase rates on its customers to pay for its improvements. What the company is not telling the public is that it does not need a rate hike to improve its infrastructure. According to Pepco’s financial disclosure documents filed at the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Pepco’s profits have exceeded $200 million every year since 2004.
In October, 2010, Pepco raised its guidance on full-year earnings from 80-95 cents per share to $1.00 to $1.10 per share, and affirmed 2011 guidance at $1.10-1.30. Pepco’s outage performance has been declining over this same period.
Pepco’s top eight executives, including its retired chairman, collected $12.7 million in compensation in 2009. They have reaped huge gains despite failed service.
Pepco paid out $238 million in dividends last year and could cut that amount to pay for its capital improvement program. But since its board and management collectively own over 750,000 shares of Pepco stock and its executives have been granted over $11 million in stock awards over the last three years, the company would rather stick ratepayers with the tab.
Pepco’s failure to ask for extra crews until Wednesday’s storm was well underway is yet another sign that it is managed badly. It is galling to think that Pepco’s executives rake in the bucks when service declines and will rake in even more when we pay to fix the problems they created.
Pepco must face a financial penalty for providing poor service. The Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) should fine Pepco for every kilowatt hour lost by its customers due to outages. This would set an appropriate performance incentive.
The MPSC should also demand service improvements without the ratepayer increase. Let Pepco’s executives and investors pay to get Washington area customers back to an acceptable level of services. After all these years of increasing profits despite declining services, the balance sheet should not be tipped in their favor yet again.
As a Bethesda resident wrote to me, “When I moved to Montgomery County, I never imagined that I would struggle to keep my baby warm.” I couldn’t agree more.
The time for talking about Pepco’s problems is over. The time to act is now.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Congratulations Hans!
Councilmember Hans Riemer and his wife, Angela, just welcomed a very important new constituent: Travis Martin Riemer on January 2nd. He's 7 lbs, 13 oz.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Hans Riemer, 2006: "I'll Get the Purple Line Built or Die Trying"
Hans Riemer has always been an ardently pro-transit candidate, even at the risk of his own health. In 2006, he ran for the open Council District 5 seat and sent out this mailer in which he vowed, "I'll Get the Purple Line Built or Die Trying." Hans lost the election, but he did survive the mailer. He is headed to Rockville after finishing second in this year's council at-large primary.
Monday, October 18, 2010
MoCo Primary 2010: Council At-Large Precinct Results
Total Results (Including Absentees and Provisionals)
By District
By Local Area
By Race/Ethnicity
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Riemer Protests Ehrlich's Cut for MoCo Schools
Hans Riemer, one of the Democratic Party's four nominees for council at-large, is protesting GOP Governor candidate Bob Ehrlich's proposed cut to MoCo's state education aid. Following is his press release.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, October 06, 2010
CONTACT: Alex Behrend, alex@hansriemer.com
Riemer Rejects Ehrlich’s Planned Education Cuts, Says “Writing Is On The Chalkboard” for Montgomery County
[SILVER SPRING, Maryland] -- Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Council At-Large Hans Riemer denounces Bob Ehrlich’s plan to cut education funding [1] and urges Montgomery County voters to support Governor Martin O’Malley to ensure continued strong funding of our schools.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Bob Ehrlich said he would not provide funding for schools in Montgomery County and other jurisdictions where cost of living is higher, in order to make room for additional tax cuts he is proposing. [2]
“The writing isn’t just on the wall in the choice between Governor O’Malley and Bob Ehrlich, now it’s on the chalkboard,” says Riemer. “The stakes couldn’t be higher for Montgomery County and our schools. Bob Ehrlich’s plan to cut education funds to pay for his tax proposal is irresponsible and would be devastating.”
During Governor O’Malley’s first term, Montgomery County schools were ranked #1 in the nation two years in a row. The Governor invested $2.4 billion into our schools with $30.2 million allocated for much-needed renovations for schools like Bells Mill, Cresthaven, Cashell and Carderock Springs. The percentage of Montgomery County elementary students scoring proficient or better in reading and math for has gone up 6 percentage points and the number of middle school students scoring proficient or better increased by an average of 10 percentage points.
“Governor O’Malley’s record on education is second-to-none, just like our schools in Montgomery County,” says Riemer. “We cannot afford Bob Ehrlich’s reckless education agenda. Parents, teachers, students and anyone who cares about the future of Montgomery County must support our Governor. Martin O’Malley’s record is clear, and so is Bob Ehrlich’s reckless rhetoric.”
Riemer, the former National Youth Vote Director for Barack Obama and operative for Rock the Vote, and his wife Angela live in Silver Spring with their pre-school age son, Henry. The Riemers have another boy due in January 2011.
“As parents, Angela and I decided to raise our family in Montgomery County because of the great school system,” says Riemer. “This is more than just a policy debate, it’s personal for me.”
“With a young son, another on the way and the countless number of students I’ve worked with over the years, protecting our schools and education system is a core value for me.”
-- END --
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Special Spy Report: Council At-Large
The County Council At-Large race may be the most unpredictable primary in the county. Over and over again, we have consulted our spy network for insights into how it will play out. But this time we are checking in with a truly special group of informants:
State legislative candidates.
Why are we asking them, do you ask?
First, perhaps even more than the council candidates, the folks running for state legislature are on the doors. They see who has signs up. They see what literature has been dropped. They attend many of the same events at which the council candidates show up – or don’t show up. And they hear who is being talked about and what is said. In the years between elections, the delegation and the council don’t know very much about each other. But right now, the political radar is up.
Second, politicians know politics. They can size up other candidates – their message, their logistical capabilities, their knack for the game – a lot better than can lay people. Asking politicians about other politicians is like asking bank robbers about lock picks.
Third, while some of the state legislative candidates have endorsed one or more council candidates, they are not truly invested in those choices. They are far enough removed to have a more impartial point of view of the council election than the council candidates or their supporters. Frankly, the delegation members assume that the council will be dysfunctional regardless of who gets elected!
That said, most of the state legislative candidates we asked about the council at-large race did not venture an opinion. They are QUITE busy now, as you might expect. But twelve of them did give us their take on a super-confidential basis. Some are incumbents and some are not. They come from all over the county. Here’s what they told us about which council at-large candidates will be elected.
State Spy #1:
Probably the four incumbents. The reason: the dead weight of inertia. If an incumbent loses I would say it would be Duchy. Hans is in the best position to take advantage of an opening because he comes from vote-rich District 20.
State Spy #2:
1st place will be Marc Elrich - for his caring, astute, in-depth analysis of every issue, he knows more about the issues before them than any other member. 2nd Nancy Floreen - President of the Council can’t hurt and she has worked with the community continually since on the council. 3rd George Leventhal - knows how to reach a consensus with Executive and council. 4th Becky Wagner - She was 5th until the NOW issue is forcing Duchy to the back of the pack. Becky is sharp, understands what is needed and how to get it.
State Spy #3:
I think right now that it’s Leventhal, Elrich, Riemer, Trachtenberg, in that order. Leventhal and Elrich have had good all-around campaigns, though Leventhal is weak on field and Elrich on mail. Riemer’s campaign has been strong all around, and he has rolled up a lot of vital endorsements. Trachtenberg squeaks in on incumbency and the Jewish vote, though for someone with as much money as her the campaign has been lackluster to say the least. My two cents: I think she’s so confident of re-election that she is saving her money for an Exec race in four years. There is no end to that woman’s ego...
State Spy #4:
1. George Leventhal - Has maximized incumbency to his advantage. High visibility over his 8 years in office and corresponding high name ID matters in low turnout races.
2. Marc Elrich - Won in 2006 without much institutional support. Marc has broadened his appeal over the past 4 years and has key institutional support this time around, including both the Post and the Apple Ballot.
3. Hans Riemer - The general dissatisfaction with the current Council will cause one incumbent to go down. With the Post and Apple Ballot endorsements and what looks like the best field operation/campaign amongst all the challengers, Riemer appears best positioned to capitalize.
4. Nancy Floreen - Stumbles to the finish line on the strength of high visibility serving this year as Council President and the other inherent advantages associated with having been an incumbent for 8 years.
State Spy #5:
Leventhal, Elrich, Riemer, Trachtenberg. As much of a tool as Leventhal is, he has a lot of support and it is pretty clear he is going to be first. Elrich also has a lot of support, as he has spent a lot of time in the last four years building grassroots support so that it would not take a lot of money to run for re-election. Riemer is a force of nature this year and frankly deserves it. I’m just guessing on the last one, but I don’t see Wagner knocking off Duchy, as much as I wouldn’t mind it.
State Spy #6:
George Leventhal - He publicly admitted regret about spending which is refreshing because voters don’t hear too often elected officials understanding their mistakes. Despite the “throw the bums out” feeling in the electorate, the challengers are a little lackluster. The Community Conversations over the summer were fairly popular and having mail in mailboxes before everyone else made him standout.
Marc Elrich - Has built the broadest coalition in the entire county. Not easy to do in a bad economy. When the teachers union, Post, developers and environmental groups support you, there's really no one else to go against you. People pay attention that he is everywhere in the county and genuinely listens to every point of view. Despite some disagreeing with his conclusions about various issues, everyone knows that his thought process is untainted.
Nancy Floreen - Knows how to consistently come in the top four. Her creative mailers get a few seconds of hesitation before they end up in the recycling.
Hans Riemer - The voters are going to want at least one new person. Becky Wagner is significantly more qualified and would be a great councilmember, but she’s a first time candidate going against some real pros. He is going to win because so many groups and elected officials are supporting his campaign and he has the field organization and mail plan to let every voting Democrat know it.
State Spy #7:
I would say Leventhal, Trachtenberg, Elrich, and it will be a close race for 4th between Wagner, Riemer, and Floreen. Definitely too close to call but I would say that Riemer pulls it out based on ground game.
I think that Trachtenberg and Leventhal win because of their incumbent status/name recognition. And though he has not sent many, Elrich’s mail is by far the best I have seen over here.
State Spy #8:
My two cents (which is all this is worth), is that Nancy, George and Marc will likely be reelected. I think the fourth will be Hans or Becky -- with an edge to Hans. Nancy is generally well liked and is seen on the “news” often -- so, despite the negative website and signs about her, I think she’ll be fine. For whatever reason, people like George and he campaigns very hard. He’s not my choice but he’s in touch with voters and I believe he’ll be reelected. I think Marc appeals to many people --- he comes across as honest and sincere, despite some recent criticism. As a newcomer, Hans is campaigning hard and is connecting with people. But I think Becky has come a long way in the past three weeks and has some traction.
State Spy #9:
The incumbents, because despite the anger towards and discontent in Rockville, I don’t think the voter anger is directed in a single direction. However, Duchy seems to be sitting on her huge campaign account and not sending out much mail. So, though I would bet a few dollars on the incumbents, I wouldn’t be too shocked if Riemer wins and Duchy loses.
State Spy #10:
Marc Elrich, because he’s calm and usually level-headed and may be the only grown-up on the Council
George Leventhal, because he’s everywhere--nobody loves his explosive personality but everybody respects his commitment
Duchy Trachtenberg--a serious legislator with a good sense of how to run and win, may finish 4th because of a late start
There will be a photo-finish recount between
Nancy Floreen--ubiquitous on the campaign trail but grating
And
Hans Riemer--who has targeted MoCo seniors very effectively with non-stop calls and mail about his AARP work which make him a real force in the race despite his failure to win the hearts of many local political activists
Leading to victory of Hans….
State Spy #11:
Being a pragmatist, I expect all four incumbents to return. All of them have significant bases of support and frankly no one has angered any of their base. While Duchy is sometimes irrational, the general public does not see it and they have no reason to vote against her. I was offended by her piece which bragged about how she beat up on the unions about the budget, but some people probably liked it.
Hans has run a fantastic campaign and he certainly has a great deal of support. If anyone can pull off an upset I think it is he, but I still think that it is a long shot.
State Spy #12:
Hans Riemer. Great field. Good mail. Has broad endorsements.
Becky Wagner. Has teachers and she is prominent in their mailers. Undercurrent of voter frustration against current council. She has tapped it.
Marc Elrich. No enemies. Has endorsements. For four years, has gone to events in all corners of the County. Of all at-large council members, I have seen him the most at various events. Has not really alienated business, has labor support, has environmental and civic group support. Will be low turnout election and many of his constituencies vote.
Slight edge to Leventhal over Floreen. I think both are seen as emblematic of problems with current council on multiple fronts. Though they have varying and good mix of endorsements, I have seen lack-luster campaigns that rely predominantly on mail and existing name recognition.
Duchy Trachtenberg is not going to win. Lackluster mail. Hardly at events throughout the county. She’ll do well in her corner of the county, but not very well in the rest of the county. I think she could have won had she run a stronger campaign. She did not frame for voters why she should get another 4 years. If her message is fiscal responsibility, no one knows it’s her message.
Our spies’ tally:
George Leventhal: 12 (unanimous)
Marc Elrich: 12 (unanimous)
Hans Riemer: 8
Nancy Floreen: 7
Duchy Trachtenberg: 7
Becky Wagner: 2
Monday, September 13, 2010
East County Apple Mailer
This mailer was produced not by MCEA, but by Council Members Nancy Navarro and Valerie Ervin and at-large candidate Hans Riemer, all of whom have endorsed each other and all of whom are on the Apple Ballot.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Hans Riemer: Working Together To Support High Quality Schools
Following is a policy piece released by at-large candidate Hans Riemer's campaign on public schools.
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Montgomery County is in the midst of an ongoing fiscal crisis. Teacher pay has been cut along with school services that parents have come to rely on. As we move forward, we must work to keep cuts out of the classroom. We cannot take our educational progress for granted, and we must be mindful that while our tax base is shrinking our challenges to promote excellent education are growing as a result of demographic change. We must work hard to protect our schools and remain ahead of the curve so that Montgomery County can continue to be a great place to raise a family.
Accountability and Partnership in School Management:
Hans’ first priority as Councilmember will be to stabilize our long-term fiscal position in a way that protects our key priorities, particularly education. Hans’ goal is to meet the challenge of restructuring our government for a new era of reduced tax revenues, while working diligently to expand our tax base for the long term.
The County Council is the funding agent for Montgomery County Public Schools, and has an obligation to make sure that our money is well spent. On the Council we should have a culture of accountability and collaboration with the school board and MCPS leadership.
The next Council will need to take a step forward in its relationship with the School Board and MCPS to provide an effective and constructive financial oversight role. In the recent budget, the process clearly broke down, as MCPS threatened to sue the County. Collaboration must be the guiding principle for our toughest decisions as we work through our fiscal challenge.
Dynamic Teaching Practices for a New Student Body:
Educational data shows that the most important factor in student achievement is teacher quality – it is more determinative than the social conditions in the family or the overall conditions at the school or in the school system. Teachers who are not meeting standards for our children need training on successful methods and peer support from teachers in the district who graduate students with records of excellence. Hans supports MCPS and MCEA’s teacher evaluation program to support teacher progress, including termination for those who do not improve.
Engaging All the Communities in our Student Population:
Low-income and disadvantaged families are increasingly moving into Montgomery County and their children are enrolling in the school system. The county faces signficant achievement gaps in our schools. While we have made strides in areas such as increased AP success for minority students, graduation rates for non-white, non-Asian Pacific students have also gone down steadily over the past 5 years.
On the Council Hans will advocate for universal Pre-K so we can put children on the path to overcoming second-language issues early. To involve parents who are unfamiliar with English or with our educational system, our schools have to take full advantage of every tool to make these willing parents full partners in their children’s education. The Language Assistance Services Unit is an essential tool. We need to make sure schools take advantage of these services to improve parent participation by communicating in their language about school calendars, parent meetings and student activities.
Montgomery College: Training Workers for High-Paying Jobs
Montgomery County’s higher education system needs to be a critical part of our plan to attract new jobs and investment in green energy, life science and nanotechnology industries. We need to partner with Montgomery College and our other higher education institutions and leading employers to train workers to take the higher paying jobs that we are striving so hard to create here in Montgomery County.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Monday, September 06, 2010
Hans Riemer: Uniting Montgomery County for Improved Public Transportation
Following is a policy piece on transit released by council at-large candidate Hans Riemer's campaign.
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Hans Riemer has focused his community involvement on supporting public transportation in Montgomery County. As vice-president of the Action Committee for Transit, Hans has fought to protect Metro funding, RideOn buses, and to build the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway.
Hans will continue his leadership on public transportation as an At-large member of the County Council. His vision for a better future for Montgomery County is tied to improved transit options for residents. The key priorities that Hans will work on include:
1. Ensuring Metro is world class: Metro is the backbone of our economy in Montgomery County, and as it deteriorates, so does our quality of life. We must bring it back.
2. Light-rail Purple Line: I will be a leader for the Purple Line in state and federal funding processes.
3. The Corridor City Transitway: If the Federal money isn’t there, let’s find an affordable approach to get going now with this key project in the 270 corridor.
4. RideOn buses: Without RideOn, countless people will not be able to get to their jobs, schools, and families.
5. Rapid transit vehicle routes on our commuting corridors: Starting on Route 29 with feeder systems to support new jobs in the East County.
6. Priority for walkers and bikers, too: If it is easier to get into our job centers people will walk or bike.
These systems will all work together to provide real alternatives to driving for all our residents.
An inability to secure funding for transportation projects has stalled our efforts to plan sustainably by creating affordable housing and new jobs centered around mass transit. We need a Council that will fight tenaciously to get the Purple Line through the state and federal funding processes. The Purple Line was first proposed in the late 1980s, while the CCT was first proposed in the early 1970s---more than 35 years ago! How long do we really plan to wait? It is time for the County to take responsibility for getting the CCT built.
That will mean looking at financing mechanisms that don’t require waiting for a Federal approval process that could come in decades, if it ever comes at all.
Of course, in this economic climate every part of county government faces tight budget constraints. With strong regional and national competition for transit dollars, we cannot afford to be complacent. As Councilmember, Hans will work every day to reach out to our state and federal representatives to ensure we speak with one loud voice for local transit.
Hans’ ability to create alliances and work strategically has earned him the endorsement of the chair of our state delegation, Brian Feldman, the Chair of our Ways & Means Committee, Sheila Hixson, as well as Delegates Bill Frick, Tom Hucker, Karen Montgomery and Kirill Reznik, among others -- a diverse and county-wide roster of state leaders (for a complete list visit www.hansriemer.com)
Hans Riemer has been endorsed by the Sierra Club for his vision of Montgomery County — a network of tightly-knit, walkable, mixed-use communities interconnected by high quality transportation alternatives, including better transit, walking, and biking options. Sustainable growth, both socially and environmentally, is the only way our county can continue to be the great place to live in the future that it is today.
Saturday, September 04, 2010
At-Large MoCo Council Debate at the 4H in Chevy Chase
Thirteen candidates showed up in Chevy Chase tonight for the second to last candidate forum--or so I am told--of the at-large campaign season. The debate was sponsored by a panoply of municipalities and organizations from around the area. Channel 16 covered it so you should be able to watch it. Here are my impressions on how candidates struck people--less about the specifics of what they said and more about style.
As mayor, I got to introduce the candidates--a great example of a politician taking credit of the hard work of others in putting the forum together and Charles Duffy for moderating it. The candidates looked like they were ready to throw me off the stage when I suggested that elections are like reality TV in that you actually get to vote people off the island--a thought I admit was inspired by viewing of Top Chef last night and perhaps by a post on the delegate race in District 18 inspired by Project Runway four years ago. Perhaps I was on firmer ground when I spoke about all the important decisions they get to make.
George Gluck (Green) lost me when he said that the solution to the economic crisis in a nutshell is that we all need to stop shopping at Barnes and Noble in Bethesda and go to the Cricket Book Shop in Ashton instead to keep money and jobs in the County. Reinforced the impression of Greens as well-meaning but utterly impractical and a bit kooky.
Duchy Trachtenberg (D) had one really good theme that resonated well and one that sounded a little tinny to me. The good theme is making tough choices in tough times. In short, it makes a virtue out of Duchy's loss of political support from unions--a smart and sensible response to the choices she has made in office that fits the mood of the times--not to mention the Post. In contrast, Duchy recitation of Ike's endorsement and how we can only trust experienced hands now rang false as it left me wondering why one should have supported her four years ago.
Despite starting off the debate by complimenting his fellow incumbents, George Leventhal (D) quickly lost any chance of taking home the Mr. Congeniality statuette. A bull in a china shop, George is tough and argumentative rather than pleasant and controlled, and sometimes clever instead of convincing. His tone is the one I try to keep out of my classroom teaching--the one that suggests you're a real idiot if you disagree with me--reinforced with a frown and crossed arms. Folks, we even nearly had a Saturday Night Live moment brought to life when he went after Jane de Winter. But hey, I guess you can't argue with George's electoral success.
In contrast, Nancy Floreen (D) came across as an adult who has firm convictions and a grasp of the facts but keeps her head. Like George, Nancy has strong opinions and defends them armed with a quick mind and grasp of the issues.. However, she managed to make her points, and even correct people, without looking like she was berating them or being unpleasant. Not an easy balance but one Nancy carried out with conviction. Looked like a Council President.
Jane de Winter (D) benefited from being George's target and having a sense of humor about it as she turned George's attack on her fiscal sense and her advocacy for education into a family anecdote about an adult handling a child. One can debate about who won the point but the optics of standing up to a bully were good as Jane held her own as she made an impression--something challengers have to do. Seated wrongly as a "W" instead of a "D", de Winter got to sit in the center of the pack.
Raj Narayanan (D) came across as an outsider with economic knowledge but lost credibility when he urged the audience to vote for him and Marc Elrich--mainly because it looks weak and because he apparently urges support for himself and a different incumbent at each forum. Nonetheless, he was a fresh face to me and I enjoyed his contribution.
Hans Riemer (D) was the candidate who really gets that debates are not just about what you say but the impression you make. Though younger than the other Democrats, he came across as calm, likable, and knowing the notes he wanted to hit, particularly reinforcing the message of his recent mailer on seniors. Though some will ask where's the beef? his competitors did not press this point as at other forums.
Becky Wagner (D) had an ability to relate governmental problems to both her past experience and to make clear points on complex issues. As with Jane de Winter, I got the impression of someone who has worked hard in the community and earned her spot up there. Becky came across as clear-eyed even if one wondered about her stands on issues as her responses sometimes could be read a number of ways--not necessarily a bad thing when one is trying to corral voters with diverse opinions.
Marc Elrich (D) must have been good in the classroom. He has clear views but also looks like someone who is practical, knows a lot, is willing to talk calmly with others, and thinks that politics is about bringing people together to solve the community's problems. In short, another grown up. He elicited the only applause for the night when he mentioned his bus-rapid transit proposal.
Fred Evans (D) seemed like a nice enough fellow but did not leave much of a memory--bad news for any candidate, I'm afraid.
Robert Dyer (R) wanted you to know that he is the man with the fiscal plan. Very intense. I confess I don't know what to make of Republicans with pony tails. The repeated references to Fantasy Island didn't help. I resisted urges to stand up from the back of the auditorium and shout: "The plane! The plane!"
Mark Fennell (R) brags about being a tea-party candidate in his literature but oddly sounded more interested in making sure that developers pay their fair share for infrastructure in addition to standard Republican fiscal concerns. I preferred the guy on stage to his written materials. Mark is sort of an inverse Bob Ehrlich who looks great in his ads but really should never be allowed to debate.
Brandon Rippeon (R) woke me up with a resonant voice and a passionate presentation but then disappointed with his anodyne attack suggesting that increasing gang violence indicates that the county council has provided bad value for its money. Like Hans, Brandon is a young, fresh face but has a very different style.
Note: I have endorsed Marc Elrich and Jane de Winter. I apologize for any votes this loses them.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Duchy Slaps Riemer, Wagner
In an email sent to supporters on Monday, Duchy Trachtenberg's campaign manager, Woody Brosnan, had this to say about challengers Hans Riemer and Becky Wagner. No, he did not name them, but his targets were obvious. This sort of talk is normally supposed to occur under the radar, but thank Heavens we have blogs to air these kinds of things!
The Week Ahead
By Woody Brosnan, Campaign Manager
Next Friday marks the start of Maryland’s first experience with early voting in person. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from Sept. 3 through Sept. 9—even on Labor Day—voters can go to one of five locations to vote. (Those locations are listed below, at the end of this piece.)
Is there any reason to wait until Sept. 14? Is there going to be some startling new bold innovation to spring forth from one of Duchy’s challengers?
Probably not.
One of the challengers says vote for him because he would be a “fresh face” on the Council. Now when I was covering Congress for various newspapers and heard that argument I always that meant there wasn’t much behind the face. Then too, a face can always change depending on the audience.
Another says she’s a “consensus builder” but a consensus for what isn’t exactly clear because she won’t offer specifics on the county’s tough budget choices.
One thing I have to admit is that Duchy is not a new face. For two decades, she’s been around Montgomery County and Maryland, and in the halls of the Capitol fighting for women’s rights, improvements in the care of the mentally ill, and critical needs for our community.
Duchy is a consensus builder too; but what sets her apart is that she starts with an idea, like creating a Family Justice Center for victims of domestic abuse, or banning the use of trans fat in restaurants in the county, or envisioning a long-term fiscal plan that makes sense and then selling the idea to her colleagues on the Council.
Her record of success is pretty good too. To learn more, visit www.voteduchy.org.
So just go ahead and vote early, and mark your ballot for Duchy Trachtenberg, Councilmember At-Large.
Here are those Early Voting Locations:
Silver Spring Civic Building, 8525 Fenton Street, Silver Spring 20910
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville 20850
Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville 20853
Germantown Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown 20874
Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville 20866
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Hans Riemer: Working to Support Small Businesses and Economic Recovery
Following is a policy piece released by council at-large candidate Hans Riemer's campaign on helping small businesses and pursuing economic growth.
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Hans Riemer will work to reposition Montgomery County as an economic leader in our region and in the global economy. For decades, Montgomery County government has taken economic progress for granted, thanks to the investment that comes in to the county as a result of the Federal presence we have here. Complacency will not work any longer.
Consider regional economic forecasts. According to economists, the jobs that companies create in other parts of the region will be higher paying, better jobs than are created here; while the jobs that companies create here will be more in the service sector, with lower pay. As a result, people who work here will have to drive from long distances because they can not afford the housing... while people who live here will have to commute long distances to earn enough pay to live here. The result is worsening traffic and a degrading quality of life for everyone.
Improving our competitiveness and long term economic outlook will require us to bring new companies here and keep our home-grown success stories from leaving. These are largely smaller businesses.
While tax giveaways get much of the attention around economic competitiveness, the reality is more mundane. To improve our business climate we need the following conditions for businesses:
1. Affordable retail space
2. Competitive tax and regulatory policy
3. Transportation solutions
4. Affordable housing for workers
5. Workers who are trained in their sectors
6. Good schools and quality of life for the workforce
7. And a county government that won’t forget small businesses when big businesses compete for attention.
Of these, the hardest to create is good schools. We have that already. The remaining factors are directly under the control of the County government, and we can do better.
As part of Hans’ plan to recharge the local economy in a way that is consistent with our progressive values, Hans will also help small businesses continue to take advantage of the growing green business practices and green procurement requirements.
It’s time for Montgomery County to have an economic plan. We are at a competitive disadvantage in the region and the long term outlook is not good. We must take action in the next Council to turn it around.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Heard a Good Rumor?
There are MANY rumors floating around in the County Council races right now. Let’s be irresponsible and review a couple of them, shall we?
1. The Rockville consensus is that Craig Rice should and will win the Council District 2 seat. No one believes Sharon Dooley has a shot, and no one in either the council building or the Executive Branch wants to see combative former Planning Board Chair Royce Hanson get in. As a result, lots of people are wooing Rice and hoping to earn his vote later. Ike Leggett, for example, gave Rice $3,000.
2. The at-large incumbents loathe Hans Riemer and are picking up their whisper campaign against him. More than one person who has publicly supported him has told your author that they have been pressured by one or more incumbents to retract that support. There has been an intense effort to discredit Riemer and plant derogatory allegations about him in the media. One such allegation is that he has never worked for AARP. Your author knows that is a lie because Riemer would answer the phone at AARP when called there by yours truly.
3. A civic activist who despises Council President Nancy Floreen has started an illegal, anonymous anti-Floreen website and has begun erecting illegally-placed road signs calling for her defeat. The activist is known to be a supporter of Council Member Marc Elrich. Elrich denies responsibility for fomenting the anti-Floreen effort, but his pleas are not entirely believed. Rumors are spreading that the activist is planning an attack mailer against Floreen. This is beginning to stress the incumbents’ four-way mutual non-aggression pact.
4. Council Member George Leventhal has taken an increasingly hard line against challenger Becky Wagner in the at-large candidate forums. Leventhal is suspected by many of tacitly supporting Wagner a year ago, a charge he denies, and some are now accusing him of throwing Wagner under the bus as part of the incumbents’ deal.
5. Council Member Duchy Trachtenberg is so upset about the growing circulation of stories about her mishandling money while she was Treasurer of Maryland NOW that she is vowing to locate their source. Perhaps she should blame the Gazette, which originally reported on the issue. Our informants are wondering whether distraction over this matter explains why Trachtenberg, who is sitting on over $200,000 in the bank, has apparently not yet sent out mail.
6. More than one council incumbent has recently butted heads with Council Vice-President Valerie Ervin, who will likely become President this December. That is EXTREMELY unwise as Ervin will be determining committee assignments, including chairmanships. Ervin is a tough cookie who will not tolerate mischief and will break heads if she has to.
7. We’ll finish with something positive. Yes, we know such things bore you, but you received plenty of dirt above, so deal with it. The County Council and the county’s statehouse delegation are often criticized for not talking to each other, but that could change for the better. One example is that Council Member Roger Berliner, who has significant expertise on energy policy, and Delegate Brian Feldman (D-15), who sits on the House committee that oversees electric utilities, are collaborating on legislation to establish performance standards for Pepco. We don’t care what they come up with, but the very fact that they are working together may be a sign of good things to come.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Council At-Large: Becky Wagner and Hans Riemer
With Jane de Winter and Fred Evans reporting dismal fundraising numbers, there are only two at-large challengers with a shot to win: Becky Wagner and Hans Riemer. What are their chances?
Becky Wagner
Becky Wagner’s personality is shinier than a new silver dollar. MoCo is full of people with IQs surpassed only by their egos. Not Wagner. The long-ago comments by our spies were dead on: she is smart, extraordinarily gracious, a great speaker and aces interviews. People who meet her in person usually like her very much.
Wagner has never run for office before, so assessing her potential electoral performance is difficult. Her closest candidate analogue may be Nancy Floreen. Like Floreen, Wagner has deep roots in the community, support from business, and experience in the public arena. Unlike Floreen, she is on the Apple Ballot (which is good) and is running against four incumbents who are more or less sticking together (which is not good). Wagner’s message combines the pro-growth appeal of Nancy Floreen and the fiscal discipline of Duchy Trachtenberg. Because of that message overlap, their demographic similarity and their close residential proximity (Wagner in Bethesda, Trachtenberg in North Bethesda and Floreen in Garrett Park) the three women could be chasing many of the same votes.
We expect Wagner to do well in Bethesda because it is her home and the Apple Ballot made a strong showing there in 2006. That cuts directly into Trachtenberg’s base, since she won Bethesda last time when she was on the Apple. If Wagner erodes Trachtenberg’s area of strength and Trachtenberg cannot make it up elsewhere, Duchy will go home.
Could Becky Wagner win? It’s possible if Trachtenberg falters and Riemer does not live up to his hype, but we doubt it. Something has not clicked with this campaign. Wagner raised just $60,238 in outside contributions between January and August, less than half the outside contribution totals of Riemer ($130,782) and Floreen ($124,063) despite having substantial business support. She appears to be running the same sort of campaign as the incumbents, namely showing up at civic, public and candidate events and saving up a six-digit mail budget for use at the end. The incumbents can get away with that because of their superior name recognition. Wagner cannot. We are picking Wagner to finish sixth, with a small chance of fifth if Trachtenberg implodes.
Hans Riemer
Riemer’s campaign is one of the great stories of the election season. He has outraised all of the other at-large candidates, including the incumbents, since January. He has the support of both MCEA and the Post and his endorsement mix is better than anyone except Marc Elrich. He has reassembled much of the campaign team that won the 2009 special election for Nancy Navarro, including David Moon and Ken Silverman. And his ground game is easily the best in the at-large race, placing thousands of door-knocks and phone calls. Riemer’s opponents grumble about his brief history in the county and question his resume, but his supporters are excited and motivated.
Riemer ran for an open seat in District 5 in 2006. School board member Valerie Ervin blew him out by a 62-38% margin. Riemer won just six of forty-nine precincts, five of which were outside the Beltway, and Ervin crushed him in Takoma Park and Downtown Silver Spring. But Ervin is now Riemer’s ally and even his opponents expect him to run well in District 5. Since Riemer is on the Apple Ballot, he has a chance to run decently in places outside District 5 where the Apple performs well, including Chevy Chase, Bethesda and Potomac. His challenge will be to put together enough votes in the rest of the county to break through the incumbents.
Riemer has become something of a vessel for discontent with one or more of the incumbents. Organizations or individuals who have a problem with an incumbent have usually chosen Riemer as the alternative. For example, MCEA ditched Duchy Trachtenberg and Nancy Floreen in favor of Riemer (and Becky Wagner). The Post dropped George Leventhal and added Riemer. The AFL-CIO and SEIU dropped Trachtenberg and added Riemer. Progressive Maryland dropped both Floreen and Trachtenberg and added Riemer. The Sierra Club has never supported Floreen or Leventhal, but they added Riemer to their list along with past endorsees Trachtenberg and Elrich. And MANY people with whom we have spoken have voiced unhappiness with an incumbent or two (usually Floreen or Trachtenberg) and have included Riemer on their vote list. If Riemer is everyone’s fourth vote, he will win.
We are picking Riemer to finish anywhere from third to fifth. If his campaign skills, endorsements, money and work ethic can compensate for the incumbents’ starting name recognition, he will be headed to Rockville. If not, then the incumbents will likely have been invincible from the start. Riemer definitely benefits from a sense of momentum and the number of spies who believe he will win is growing. We will soon see if they are right.
