Showing posts with label Herman Taylor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herman Taylor. Show all posts
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Herman Taylor Trying to Raise Money
Delegate Herman Taylor (D-14) is trying to raise money in his long-shot race against Congresswoman Donna Edwards. Check out the event announcement below.
Taylor's money situation is murky. Marc Korman found that he had raised just $4,000 in his last FEC report. David Lublin discovered that his website was shut down due to lack of payment. But somebody had to pay for Taylor's campaign rally, business cards and email blasts.
This is not only one of the worst-run campaigns for Congress of all time, but it should also be a romp for the auditors.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Herman Taylor’s FEC Report
By Marc Korman.
Wondering why the 4th Congressional District is not one of our “Primaries to Watch?” Wonder no more.
According to Delegate Herman Taylor’s quarterly campaign finance report, he has a grand total of $6,646 cash on hand having raised just $4,000 during the quarter. The report also indicates Delegate Taylor has spent no money out of his federal account thus far. Back in January, the Congressional hopeful had no funds left in his state campaign account.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Donna Edwards raised $131,294 over the past three months and has over $200,000 cash on hand. Congresswoman Edwards had a slow fundraising year in 2009. She reported just $56,000 cash on hand at the end of last year, a pretty low figure for an incumbent. She began increasing her fundraising activity when Prince George’s State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey threatened to run against her and has not let up since.
Money alone cannot win the election, but the disparity between the two candidates means that absent a scandal of Watergate proportions, Congresswoman Edwards will be nominated for another term.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Where is Herman Taylor's Campaign Finance Report?
Back in November, we reported that Delegate Herman Taylor was distributing these cards proclaiming his run for Congress.
And yet, Federal Election Commission records show that Taylor has not reported any receipts or disbursements from a federal campaign account through March 31.
Congressional campaign finance reports are filed quarterly. Taylor has not filed a report for the quarter ended 12/31/09 or the quarter ended 3/31/10. Yet the evidence above proves that resources have been spent on his campaign for Congress before those due dates.
Taylor appears to be out of compliance with federal campaign finance law. The Federal Elections Commission must investigate.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Spy Report on Taylor Announcement for Congress
One of MPW's cloaked spies filed the following report on Delegate Herman Taylor's announcement for Congress yesterday against Donna Edwards.
#####
There were about 250 people in the UM Alumni Center, with very loud music blaring. The crowd was about 95% African American. 2 ministers gave invocations and several other ministers were introduced. A little girl sang “I Think I Can Fly” and Ski Johnson, a famous saxophonist, played. 3 people talked about how Herman helped them with scholarships, getting health care, and being a helpful guy. Rona Kramer urged everyone to knock on doors to help Herman and Herman’s mother introduced him, saying he always wants to help people. Ida Ruben was there and described as Herman’s mentor. Also there were George Leventhal, Craig Zucker, and DC Councilman Kwame Brown. There was a very complimentary video bio of Herman which included Ike Leggett and George Leventhal.
Herman’s talk was animated and emotional. He talked about his accomplishments in Annapolis, formally announced his candidacy for Congress in Maryland’s 4th congressional district, and said he would fight for the little guy, help promote the American dream not the American nightmare, help small business and minorities, and bring winds of change.
The audience was extremely enthusiastic for Herman.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Herman Taylor Schedules Announcement for Congress
Delegate Herman Taylor (D-14) has scheduled his announcement for a challenge to Congresswoman Donna Edwards. Following is his release.
Don’t miss this important announcement!
Admission is free and everyone is invited!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center
University of Maryland, College Park Campus
at Field House Dr. and Valley Dr
Next to Byrd Stadium
2 pm – 4:30 pm
RSVP to teamhermantaylor@gmail.com
Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 per election cycle. We may accept contributions from an individual totaling $2,400 per election.
Authorized by HLT Maryland Leadership Inc. | Treasurer: Terry Davis | Labor donated.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Prince George’s Delegation Seeks Veto Power Over WSSC Minority Contracting
The commissioners of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) have been told by their general counsel that the agency’s current minority contracting program is illegal. That doesn’t sit well with the Prince George’s County Delegation, which is devoted to the program and its beneficiaries. So they have a solution: they want veto power over what WSSC will do. And they are very, very close to getting what they want.
Minority contracting is big business in Prince George’s County and especially at WSSC. Prince George’s County has a history of sending aggressive defenders of the program to occupy its three seats on the WSSC’s six-member board. In fact, one of the county’s current commissioners is himself a minority contractor who has done business with the agency. The Prince George’s commissioners’ obsession with minority contracting runs so deep that the issue dominated a 12-hour board meeting held after the monster River Road pipe break last year, which was not discussed. What started as a program to protect struggling, small minority businesses decades ago has turned into a protection system for big, politically-connected companies looking to keep their piece of the pie. That’s because in thirty-two years of existence, WSSC’s minority contracting program has never graduated a single firm.
But the program has a problem: it’s illegal. WSSC’s own legal counsel told the commissioners back in January that the program was unconstitutional. The Gazette reported:According to commissioners, a legal analysis delivered to them in closed session Wednesday concluded that the WSSC’s minority business enterprise program violates the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1989 ruling, in City of Richmond (Va.) v. J.A. Croson Co., that preference programs are unconstitutional unless based on a finding that the beneficiaries otherwise lack access.
Of course, these contractors have had thirty-two years of access! And their political contributions get them a WHOLE lot more access than the average Joe on the street.
WSSC has known that its minority contracting program has had problems for at least five years but its commissioners cannot agree on how to fix it. The three Prince George’s commissioners almost always deadlock with the three Montgomery commissioners, so the current illegal program has been extended again and again. But the legal counsel’s naked declaration is forcing the issue to a head and that alarms state legislators in Prince George’s County. After all, some of them depend on minority contractors for cash and political support and their interests must be protected.
So Prince George’s County Delegate Aisha Braveboy (D-25) and Montgomery County Delegate Herman Taylor (D-14) introduced local bill PG/MC 116-10, which prohibits WSSC modification or approval of a new minority contracting program without General Assembly approval. In this case, that means approval by the Prince George’s delegation, the Montgomery County delegation and finally the General Assembly as a whole. Both lead sponsors have an angle. Braveboy has sought to cast herself as a champion of minority contractors and would like to use the issue in a potential challenge to Senator Ulysses Currie. Taylor is running for Congress against Donna Edwards and is looking for ways to build a base in Prince George’s County.
Local bills pertaining to bi-county agencies like WSSC must pass both the Prince George’s and Montgomery delegations before heading to the floor. Prince George’s approved it by a 19-0 vote. The situation is more complicated in Montgomery because the County Executive and the County Council are on record as opposing the bill. In a letter to the two delegations, the Montgomery County Office of Intergovernmental Relations wrote, “The Montgomery County Executive and Council oppose this bill because it could require the Commission to operate a program that is not legally defensible and because the Commission should have the autonomy to operate its own program.”
Most MoCo legislators care little or nothing about minority contracting. They see it as a Prince George’s issue. If Braveboy and her delegation are jumping up and down about it, why not just give it to them and try to get something for it later? So the MoCo delegation voted in favor of the bill by 11-10, but it did not pass because it needs a majority of the delegation’s twenty-four members, or 13 votes, to get approved. Delegates Al Carr (D-18) and Tom Hucker (D-20) were absent.
But the issue is not yet dead. Braveboy and Taylor are still pushing it and want a new vote, possibly today. If they can get both Carr and Hucker to vote with them, the Prince George’s delegation will get its veto power. WSSC could then fashion the world’s fairest, most legal minority contracting program but if politically-connected contractors squawk, it is going down.
That would be very, very dangerous. In the wake of its legal counsel’s opinion, WSSC is now knowingly operating an unconstitutional race-based contracting program. That makes the agency a sitting duck for any non-minority contractor looking to sue. And if there is a class action that covers a period of years, well… the liability will be incalculable. And any damages will be paid by you, the ratepayers. That’s right, you.
So who’s more important? The ratepayers? Or politicians and their cronies? We’re about to find out.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Primaries to Watch Update, Part Three
By Marc Korman and Adam Pagnucco.
And now, the top three primaries in MoCo!
3. County Council At-Large
Prior rank: Fifth
Marc
This race is still largely unformed, but so far Becky Wagner, Guled Kassim, and Jane DeWinter have taken definitive steps towards running. One person who slipped through Adam’s survey of potential at-large candidates was former State Senator Ida Ruben. There are persistent rumors of her making a return to elected life with an at-large run.
There’s no question that the unions are shopping for at least one at-large challenger, with Duchy Trachtenberg the popular target. Becky Wagner appears to have broad teacher support based on some of the folks supporting and working for her, which given MCEA’s influence could be helpful.
It is worth noting that new Council President Nancy Floreen is an at-large member. She was the lowest winning vote getter in the 2006 primary (and the top vote getter in the general). The Council President is a high profile job and she obtained it in a high profile way. But given the budget deficit and difficult challenges ahead, her position may actually have a negative effect on her reelection. That said, at this point she is still a safe bet for re-election.
This race was at #5 in September. With stepped up activity by challengers, it has moved up the list in interest.
Adam
I heard rumors about Ida Ruben running for an at-large seat back in May while I was writing the Whispers of the At-Large Race series. But the spies said such mean things about her that I didn’t have the heart to print their remarks in the series. (And you know I’ve printed some pretty rough commentary from the spies in the past!) Even though the Gazette talked to Ruben in October, I see no evidence of an actual campaign going on. And I have heard no additional information about AFL-CIO Director of Civil Rights Roz Pelles, Kensington Mayor Pete Fosselman, Delegate Ben Kramer or former District 4 candidates Cary Lamari and Chris Paladino. Robin Ficker is running for council, but he has not said whether he will run in District 4 or at-large.
The incumbents understand something that I’m not convinced all the challengers get: winning an at-large election in Montgomery County is extremely difficult. It takes vast sums of money just to build name recognition. All of the incumbents had attention-getting positions prior to their joining the council, and two of them (Marc Elrich and Duchy Trachtenberg) ran unsuccessfully prior to getting elected. If you want to have a shot in this kind of race, you really need to bring it – especially since all four incumbents are running again.
Here’s a tidbit: I am hearing persistent rumors of a movement to draft former District 5 candidate Hans Riemer for an at-large run. Riemer, an Obama campaign staffer who has also served as a Board Member of Action Committee for Transit, received mostly favorable reviews from our informants in June. If he got in, he would be able to raise some national money, capitalize on both local and national campaign experience and likely run on a smart-growth platform. A Riemer candidacy could be a game-changer in the at-large race.
2. Congress District 4: Edwards vs. Taylor vs. Ivey
Prior rank: Sixth
Marc
Donna Edwards stormed into the 4th Congressional District primary in 2006 and won the hearts and minds of many active progressives. She brought that energy back and more in 2008 and cleaned the clock of incumbent Al Wynn. But something has gone sour and many people have grumbled about Edwards. In September, I referred to these as below the radar complaints and lots of flack from pro-business and pro-Israel interests. From my conversations, dissatisfaction with Edwards has grown among her constituents.
That dissatisfaction has led not only Delegate Herman Taylor to run against her, but also encouraged Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey to “explore” the race. That squeezes the incumbent in both counties she represents, though it could also mean the anti-Edwards vote is divided. A key indicator of how seriously Congresswoman Edwards takes these challenges may be her next campaign finance report. Last quarter she raised less than $40,000 and had just $55,000 cash on hand, anemic numbers for a House incumbent.
This race was on the list in September as #6, mentioned as Edwards vs. Taylor. With Delegate Taylor in the race and State’s Attorney Ivey moving in that direction, it has grown more interesting and moved up the list.
Adam
I have two questions about this contest.
1. How many votes can Glenn Ivey get in Montgomery County? In 2008, MoCo accounted for 32% of all votes cast in the District 4 Democratic primary. Edwards received 67% of the vote in MoCo and 55% of the vote in Prince George’s. It is impossible to overstate the strong dislike that most MoCo voters have for the Prince George’s County government and any politicians who are associated with it. The jailhouse killing scandal may be more damaging to Ivey in MoCo than it is in Prince George’s, which is where it occurred.
2. I have yet to find anyone who believes that Herman Taylor will win this seat, but which of the other candidates does his presence hurt more? Will he split the anti-Edwards vote with Ivey? Or will he take away MoCo votes from Edwards? He may not do much of either if he is unable to raise enough money to be competitive.
One more fact to consider is that the Democratic primary vote in Prince George’s is over 60% female. That is bound to help Edwards in a contest against two men.
1. District 17 State Senate
Prior rank: First
Marc
This remains the most visible challenge in the county. Cheryl Kagan is running hard against longtime incumbent Jennie Forehand. Kagan is running so hard compared to Forehand that some people do not even realize they are running against each other. Forehand is, by all accounts, organizing her most serious campaign ever and not showing any signs of withdrawing. But it is difficult for anyone to match Kagan’s energy and intensity. Going forward, it will be interesting to see what contrasts Kagan draws with the incumbent and how much money she has raised come January. Forehand has a long record with the voters and should have institutional support from Annapolis that will provide lots of resources.
Adam
Jennie Forehand has three problems. First, no one out-hops the Energizer Bunny. That is not knocking Forehand – it’s just that any rival would have problems keeping up with Kagan’s go-everywhere-at-all-times work ethic. Second, Forehand doesn’t know how to run a modern campaign. She has not had a quality challenger since she was a Delegate and her team edged out Luiz Simmons in 1986 and Susan Hoffmann in 1990. Forehand has never defeated a high-caliber opponent one-on-one – an unusual fact for a politician with such a long history. (Of course, Kagan has never run in a one-on-one race.) Third, if no challengers to the District 17 Delegates show up, are they really going to knock on doors all summer for Forehand? Something tells me that a character like Kumar “Bad Boy” Barve would be more likely to be found downing margaritas at the beach!
That said, Forehand has a decades-old base inside the district and an incumbent’s advantages can never be discounted. This remains a marquee contest that could go either way.
We’re not done yet. We have one small item of business left for later today!
Friday, November 13, 2009
More Evidence of Herman Taylor Running for Congress
Check out this business card, folks.
HLT Maryland Leadership Inc. was incorporated on 11/6/09. Its Articles of Incorporation are not yet online. It is headquartered at 804 Pershing Drive, which is the same address used by Herman Taylor for Montgomery County LLC.
Looks like this race might happen!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Shifting Funds
By Marc Korman.
Last week I wrote about campaign finance reports for Maryland House of Representatives candidates. I received some questions about the ability of a state candidate to transfer money to a federal account. Today I will try to address the inquiries.
The context in which I discussed the issue was Delegate Herman Taylor. He is a rumored candidate for the House of Representatives against Congresswoman Donna Edwards. Back in January, Delegate Taylor’s state campaign committee had $19,000 in the bank. I found no record of a federal account and wrote that a “federal campaign committee cannot accept funds from a nonfederal campaign account.”
My meaning was that Delegate Taylor could not transfer the whole $19,000, plus whatever he has raised since, to a new federal account. But there are some things Delegate Taylor may be able to do.
FEC regulation 110.3(d) species that transfers from a nonfederal to a federal campaign account are prohibited. However, the nonfederal committee can coordinate with the federal committee to refund the state contributions and have them donated again as federal contributions. That is exactly what is unfolding in Illinois, where State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has been refunding state donations and having them resubmitted for his US Senate campaign.
Some people also asked if Delegate Taylor could make a donation, as opposed to a transfer, from his state account to his federal account within the federal limits. I have not been able to find a definitive answer to the question.
Several people who have worked on Congressional campaigns told me that the answer was no for various reasons. One asserted that state committees could never give to federal campaigns. Another said state committees could donate to federal campaigns, but not if the committees are controlled by the same candidate. Other campaign sources said a state committee could donate to a federal committee up to the legal limit for an individual contribution. Another source said state committee could give up to $1,000 a year in the aggregate to federal candidates, including themselves. All I can say is Delegate Taylor should find a good campaign finance lawyer or spend a lot more time researching the issue than I did before donating to himself.
Incidentally, Maryland has its own rules for the reverse scenario. Federal committees cannot make transfers to state committees, but they can make donations up to the legal limit of $4,000.
If Delegate Taylor or other state legislators are serious about challenging an incumbent, the clock is ticking on getting their campaign finance house in order.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
House Campaign Finance Reports (Updated)
By Marc Korman.
Campaign finance reports for the US House of Representatives have been released for the third quarter, covering July 1st to September 30th. The reports for the 1st, 4th, and 8th Congressional Districts of Maryland help set the stage for the 2010 election year.
1st Congressional District
Maryland’s most endangered incumbent is Congressman Frank Kratovil. His seat is the only one in Maryland that will receive national attention in 2010.
Kratovil raised $222,257 in the third quarter and has $691,205 cash on hand. State Senator Andy Harris was Kratovil’s opponent in 2008 and they will likely face off again in 2010. Harris raised $179,306 last quarter and has $313,055 cash on hand. In the last election, Kratovil expended almost $2 million and Harris around $3 million, though Harris had to beat an incumbent to win the primary. Their rematch will be expensive and bitter. Kratovil is off to a good start with his fundraising.
4th Congressional District
Congresswoman Donna Edwards raised only $39,191 and has just $55,742 cash on hand. She has the smallest balance of any Maryland incumbent and her fundraising has declined each quarter of 2009. She has also been spending actively, with recorded expenditures of over $227,000 during the campaign cycle so far.
The 4th Congressional District will not be going Republican any time soon, but Edwards may have a primary challenge. As Adam has highlighted, District 14 Delegate Herman Taylor may be running. Delegate Taylor does not have a federal account. In January, his state account had over $19,000 in it. But according to FEC regulations, federal campaign committees cannot accept funds from a nonfederal campaign account.
Delegate Taylor or other potential challengers should not be fooled by Congresswoman Edwards’ slow fundraising. Her donors may have been fatigued from her efforts in 2006 and 2008, but she has raised her national profile among progressives while in office and will be able to raise substantial funds if necessary. She raised almost $1.5 million for her successful 2008 campaigns.
8th Congressional District
Congressman Chris Van Hollen raised $170,926 in the third quarter, giving him $2.9 million cash on hand. Van Hollen will likely have just a token Republican opponent next year. Most of Van Hollen’s funds will go towards fellow Democrats that he is charged with protecting as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). In the 2008 campaign cycle, Van Hollen donated $715,000 to the DCCC and Maryland Democratic Party.
The other House districts in Maryland are pretty quiet. Republican Roscoe Bartlett’s potential challenger, Andrew Duck, raised under $5,000 so far this year. Maryland’s other four Democratic House members all have ample cash on hand of over half a million dollars each.
Update: One of MPW’s readers alerted me to Casey Clark, another Democratic candidate in District 6 seeking to challenge Congressman Bartlett. Mr. Clark has raised $69,529 so far this year including $18,900 in the most recent fundraising quarter.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Herman Taylor Works Prince George's
Delegate Herman Taylor (D-14), who is considering a run for Congress against incumbent Donna Edwards, is hosting an awards reception for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) at National Harbor next month. MBEs are a key part of the power base in Prince George's County, and if Taylor can build a base among them, that will aid him against Edwards. Following is the solicitation.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Herman Taylor Closer to Running Against Donna Edwards
Check out this secret dispatch from the spies!
Delegate Herman Taylor (D-14) sent out this email to his supporters on Wednesday:From: Team Taylor [mailto:d14.gov@gmail.com]
Here's the invite. Anyone want to crash it?
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:04 PM
To: Herman Taylor's Office
Subject: Delegate Taylor's Poolside Reception this Saturday
Dear Friend,
I am exploring the possibility of a campaign for a higher position, and I would really appreciate your advice and input over the next couple of weeks as I come to a decision. Therefore, I would like to personally invite you to a Poolside Reception at the home of two very good friends, Randi and Karen Payton. There, we’ll have the chance to talk further about my plans.
The food for the event is being provided by one of my favorite restaurants in Prince George’s County, Carolina Kitchen. This will be a fun filled evening with great food and great networking. This is not a fundraiser; however anyone who wishes to donate to my cause is welcome to do so.
This is an invitation only event. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to ensure your name is on the list. I look forward to seeing you there.
The Paytons live at 1215 Heritage Hills Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774.
Warmly,
Herman Taylor
Thursday, September 03, 2009
MoCo Primaries to Watch, Part Two
By Marc Korman and Adam Pagnucco.
Marc and Adam are back with commentary on three more primaries that will captivate MoCo political junkies from Burtonsville to Bethesda.
7. Dana Beyer vs. District 18 Delegates
Marc:
Although still in the exploratory stage, Dana Beyer has given some early indications she is running for delegate in District 18 again. For example, she still maintains her campaign website. Beyer ran in 2006 and started to run in the 2005 and 2007 District 18 central committee appointment process (ultimately won by Jane Lawton and Al Carr), before pulling out. Beyer has made her mark as a candidate, Duchy Trachtenberg staffer, and activist with a particular focus on transgender rights. She is a relentless campaigner who does not mind telling people what she thinks. At the least, first termer Waldstreicher and appointee Carr will need to work hard to keep their seats. Full disclosure, I have donated to the District 18 slate and Al Carr, who I voted for in the 2007 appointment process.
Adam:
Dana Beyer is one of Montgomery County’s great characters. She is smart, opinionated, tough and more than willing to duke it out with the forces of evil. She never took down her campaign website after finishing fifth in the 2006 primary and even kept up a campaign ad in the Forest Glen Metro station for a year afterwards. But Dana is running uphill. While she has a lot of support from national GLBT activists, she has much less from prominent people inside the district. When the District 18 incumbents held their slate fundraiser last year, the vast majority of the district’s movers and shakers signed up as co-sponsors. (Disclosure: I am the Treasurer of the District 18 Democratic Team.)
6. Congresswoman Donna Edwards vs. Delegate Herman Taylor (Rumored)
Marc:
Rumor has it that Herman Taylor is going to run against Donna Edwards, though similar rumors existed in 2006 when Al Wynn was still in the race. Anything can happen, but Taylor will really have to distinguish himself to get primary voters to turn on Donna Edwards, who they have rallied around for two elections as they sought to knock off the longtime incumbent Wynn (Edwards ran in a third election, the Special Election to replace Wynn, but was nominated by central committees and not in a primary). There have been a few below the radar complaints about Edwards locally, but most of the flack she has received has been from business and pro-Israel interests with little sway in the progressive district. If Taylor officially announces and raises the hundreds of thousands needed to even compete, this race may move up.
Adam:
Donna Edwards body-slammed political boss-man Al Wynn last year. If Herman Taylor is foolish enough to challenge her, she will eat him alive. Glenn Ivey, the current Prince George’s County State’s Attorney, would be a far more formidable candidate if he decided to run for this office.
5. County Council At-Large
Marc:
Adam did a great job presenting the broad array of candidates lined up to run for the at-large County Council seats earlier this year. How vulnerable the current at-large incumbents are is a matter of debate, but with so many candidates at least rumored to run there will be some excitement. Jane DeWinter and Gulled Kassim have already started their campaigns and many of the other candidates Adam wrote about are ready to go too. This will be an expensive free for all, even if the incumbents come out on top.
Adam:
Incumbent Marc Elrich has no money. Incumbent Duchy Trachtenberg has no money and few friends. Elrich can raise some money, although he is always handicapped by his refusal to take developer contributions. That is one reason why his legions of true believers will never desert him. Some believe that Trachtenberg will be able to raise huge amounts of out-of-state money because her former Chief of Staff was just elected President of the National Organization for Women. We believe that will help her, but only to a point. Why should a NOW activist in South Dakota care who is on the Montgomery County Council? And it’s probably too late for Trachtenberg to regain some of the friends she has lost since 2006, especially in the labor community.
Now let’s look at the challengers. Marc is right that DeWinter and Kassim are in. We believe Becky Wagner will run and she will be a strong candidate. We have seen no sign that Hans Riemer is getting in. Ben Kramer looks like he may be running, but he has a habit of entering campaigns late so there is no way to be sure. Here’s the hot new rumor: multiple spies are reporting that Roz Pelles, the AFL-CIO’s Director of Civil Rights, is thinking about getting in. Pelles is African-American, has great labor cred and has worked on campaigns for Marc Elrich (in 1990) and Valerie Ervin (in 2004). She is also the nicest person in politics you will ever meet. But she is 60 years old and has never run in an election herself. Is she ready for the at-large meat grinder?
One more thing: the poor state of the economy will make it hard for everyone to raise money. That may push at least some candidates into slates.
We’ll have the Final Four tomorrow!
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Squeeze Play on Donna Edwards?
Time to stir the pot!
We hear that District 4 Congresswoman Donna Edwards may get a two-headed primary challenge from Prince George’s State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey and Delegate Herman Taylor (D-14). Rumors are rampant of Edwards staffers not returning phone calls and the Congresswoman having multiple spats with other politicians. We believe Ivey would be a strong contender for Prince George’s County Executive if he chose to run for that office. No doubt his supporters hope that Taylor, who represents part of Eastern Montgomery County, will strip enough MoCo votes from Edwards so that Ivey will squeak through on the basis of a winning margin in Prince George’s.
If that is the plan, it has problems. Taylor was convicted of driving while impaired in February after falling asleep at the wheel of his idling Cadillac in May 2008. Taylor is also known to be pro-life in Annapolis, a fact Edwards would be sure to point out. As for Ivey, he has yet to live down his failure to obtain an indictment in the infamous Prince George’s jailhouse killing. Edwards spanked bullying bossman Al Wynn and will take it to either - or both - of these prospective opponents. They have been warned!
If Taylor is foolish enough to run, Olney resident Craig Zucker, Comptroller Peter Franchot’s Deputy Chief of Staff, becomes the early favorite for the open Delegate seat. Zucker lost the 2002 District 14 Delegate primary to Anne Kaiser by just 327 votes and has been a fixture at political events ever since.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Deadline for Herman Taylor: Are You In or Out?
Editor: He is out. So you can stop reading here and go to the WaPo posting on it. Heck, enjoy my ever so thoughtful posting 2 hours prior to his withdrawal. ;)
Normally December is a quite time for us political types: time to do some holiday shopping, watch a football game in quite, catch your breath from a previous fall campaign, maybe even rake a few leaves. Not this year. Today is the deadline for the February 12th primary, so the State Board of Elections has been swamped with last minute filing deadlines, with 9:00 p.m. being the bewitching hour.
So besides candidates for President and their pledged delegates, there are deadlines for candidates to Congress. In our area, the big primary race is in Congressional District 4, which is a hybrid of Prince George's and Montgomery County. The incumbent, Albert Wynn, has drawn so far, four challengers: Donna Edwards. George Mitchell, George McDermott, and Jason Jennings.
The big news last week was the WaPo report that District 14 Delegate Herman Taylor (official government site) was considering a run. Well, today is decision day for Herman Taylor (Delegate campaign site).
Well as of 2:00 p.m., the State Board of Elections in Annapolis does not have a petition from Herman Taylor.
But if he does enter the race and he remains a Delegate will he be able to campaign & raise money during a General Assembly Session? Back in 1992, when the Congressional District was created one of the candidates, if my aging memory serves me, was then-Delegate Dana Dembrow, who decided NOT to raise money during the legislative session and it may have cost him his chance. But that is another story.
The question is: Can Delegate Taylor raise the $300,000 he claims is being promised to him in the 70 days remaining to make this a "go"? If the answer is "no" then why run? If the answer is "yes" then we will hear in the next few hours.
As I hear more I will report.
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