If we can take a break from Saqib-Mania for a moment, let’s return to the biggest story from last week: our series on Montgomery County’s most influential people. We have had quite a bit of reaction to those posts that we would like to address.
Perhaps it is no great surprise that the lists were passed far and wide. Visit counts were 59% above average on Wednesday (when Part Three was posted), 45% above average on Thursday (when Part Four was posted) and 32% above average on Friday. The Washington Post covered Part Three, no doubt generating additional interest. The series came in second in traffic only to our Gazette series, revealing that most people care more about their local news coverage than who’s up and who’s down among the politicians!
The lists have become at least temporarily entrenched in the local political culture. For example, when Senator Rich Madaleno appeared before the Committee for Montgomery on Monday, he was introduced as, “the third-most influential person in the county.” An eye-witness told me that everyone seemed to understand the reference. From now on, we should all refer to Senator Madaleno by his new nickname – “Third.” (Isn’t that a better nickname than “Tied for Nineteenth?”)
Most of the reactions were some variant of the following three statements:
“How on Earth did X make the list?”
“How on Earth did Y not make the list?”
“Z is really mad at YOU because YOU left him off the list!”
Sigh... I spent two straight days explaining my methodology. Fifty-five knowledgeable people voted. It’s not MY list, it’s THEIR list. The only discretion I had was in weeding through the comments. Some of them would have gotten this blog deleted by Blogger.com! Like, for example, the ones about Weast... OK, I won’t go there.
Several readers commented that this list was only a snapshot. I agree. Imagine who would have made it three years ago: Doug Duncan, Steve Silverman, Marilyn Praisner, Bruce Roemer, perhaps Ida Ruben, and more. I would have not been on the list because this blog did not exist back then. As a matter of fact, there would have been no such blog lists at all! How different would a list of this kind look three years from now?
A few people said they thought the series measured visibility rather than influence. That might be true. One example they cited was that of Comptroller Peter Franchot, who tied for 6th with 22 votes. What would Annapolis reporters do without him? The only way Big Daddy will ever get Franchot’s microphone away from him is to pry it from his cold, dead hands!
Here’s an interesting theory from one of our smartest readers. She believes that the lists measure electoral influence, not policy influence. Eighteen of our 55 respondents (about one-third) were elected officials and she thinks that they voted for people who could affect whether they get elected. Serious policy and community people, the kind who are influential leaders but may not directly sway elections, would be less likely to get votes. Is she right?
To test this idea, I broke out the tallies of elected voters from non-elected voters. Here’s who they picked:
Electeds Voting for Electeds
16 Votes: Ike Leggett, Chris Van Hollen
13 Votes: Rich Madaleno
12 Votes: Brian Frosh, Sheila Hixson
10 Votes: Karen Britto
8 Votes: Peter Franchot, Doug Gansler
6 Votes: Marc Elrich, Brian Feldman
Non-Electeds Voting for Electeds
32 Votes: Ike Leggett
27 Votes: Chris Van Hollen
22 Votes: Rich Madaleno
18 Votes: Brian Frosh
16 Votes: Marc Elrich, Sheila Hixson
15 Votes: Mike Knapp
14 Votes: Valerie Ervin, Peter Franchot
13 Votes: Doug Gansler
Electeds Voting for Non-Electeds
8 Votes: Jerry Weast
7 Votes: Royce Hanson, Adam Pagnucco
5 Votes: Esther Gelman, Tom Perez
4 Votes: Tim Firestine, Jon Gerson, Gino Renne, Karen McManus
3 Votes: Bonnie Cullison
Non-Electeds Voting for Non-Electeds
20 Votes: Royce Hanson
19 Votes: Jerry Weast
16 Votes: Bonnie Cullison, Tim Firestine
12 Votes: Gino Renne
11 Votes: Adam Pagnucco
9 Votes: Blair Lee, Gustavo Torres
5 Votes: Wayne Goldstein, Bill Robertson
Most of the names were similar with one prominent exception: MCDCC Chairwoman Karen Britto. Of her 12 votes, 10 came from elected people and only 2 came from non-electeds. As you can see, more electeds voted for Ms. Britto than for either Peter Franchot or Doug Gansler. This indicates that politicians are much more attuned to MCDCC’s power of legislative appointments than are non-politicians. In fact, a few of the respondents who voted for Ms. Britto believed that she helped arrange the appointments. One even said, “20% of our state delegation is honorable due to her efforts to gain their appointment. Al Carr, Bill Frick, and Kirill Reznik owe her big.”
Lastly, everyone expects me to do this again. Well, maybe next year. In the meantime, one wag suggested doing a new poll identifying “MoCo’s Least Influential.” Lordy guys, aren’t I in enough trouble already?
Friday, October 10, 2008
Reaction to MoCo’s Most Influential People
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Washington Post Covers MPW Most Influential List
The Washington Post's Lisa Rein covered MPW's most influential elected officials list, even using one of our sources' quotes on Senator Brian Frosh. These lists have already had massive circulation and the Post's interest guarantees even more exposure. Thank you, Ms. Rein!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Montgomery County’s Most Influential People, Part Four
Our respondents collectively nominated 171 individuals as the most influential non-elected people in Montgomery County. Of these people, 108 received just one vote and 22 received two. To make it onto the upper reaches of our list, it was not enough for a person to be well-known in one local area or in one sector of the community. A person needed wide recognition across multiple segments of our sample to get near the top. Here are the leaders, along with some commentary from myself and our voters.
1 (tie). Royce Hanson, M-NCPPC Chairman
27 Votes
Respondent: “All development starts here.”
Respondent: “In a county obsessed with development politics, Hanson has his hands in most of the heated debates in the county.”
Adam: “Royce Hanson was a player in this county decades before many of today’s politicians came on the scene. His institutional knowledge is unsurpassed and his stature is far greater than his predecessors.”
1 (tie). Jerry Weast, MCPS Superintendent
27 Votes
Respondent: “Education still rules in Montgomery.”
Respondent: “He controls the largest part of the county budget and a huge number of employees. The school system's impact on the community is enormous. It is our one single civic entity countywide. In a community that so values education, he is shaping the future with his curriculum decisions.”
Adam: “Jerry Weast has transcended the superintendent role and become a true power broker whether people like it or not.”
3. Tim Firestine, Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer
20 Votes
Adam: “Ike Leggett’s right-hand man. A supremely confident, supremely competent master of MoCo’s bureaucracy. Check out this post I wrote about him last year.”
4. Bonnie Cullison, President, Montgomery County Education Association
19 Votes
Respondent: “For all of the talk of their waning influence (ie: some of their endorsed candidates lost) - they are not a group you want to get on the wrong side of.”
Respondent: “As President of MCEA, she’s extremely effective at using MCEA’s power to influence elected officials.”
Adam: “It’s not merely that Ms. Cullison is the head zookeeper of the county’s 800-pound gorilla. She is also a former chair of the Committee for Montgomery and is known in many circles throughout the county.”
5. Adam Pagnucco, Assistant to the General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters
18 Votes
Adam: “I know what all of you cynical people are thinking. No, I did not rig this vote and no, I did not vote for myself! Let’s be honest about this, folks. The only reason I occupy this position is because the vast majority of our survey respondents are regular readers of this blog. With a different survey group and/or methodology, I might not be on this list at all. But political blogs are growing in influence, and not just this one. Politicians beware!”
6. Gino Renne, President, UFCW Local 1994, Municipal & County Government Employees Organization (MCGEO)
16 Votes
Adam: “MCGEO is a force and Gino Renne is their founder and leader. Check out how his radioactive yellow-clad legions dominated the budget sessions in the last cycle.”
Respondent: “While I may not like his tactics, he has the ability to turn out his members when needed and that increases his influence.”
Respondent: “As president of MCGEO, he will be the other major party at the table during budget negotiations. MCGEO and MCEA could destroy Ike and the council over the next year. They could also undermine their own power.”
7 (tie). Blair Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Lee Development Group and Gazette columnist
11 Votes
Respondent: “The development king with more money than God.”
Adam: “Blair Lee’s balancing of his public writings and private interests is a very difficult feat, but he has been doing it successfully for a long time.”
7 (tie). Gustavo Torres, Executive Director, Casa de Maryland
11 Votes
Respondent: “The Godfather of the Latino community.”
Adam: “Gustavo Torres built up Casa from a church basement refugee group into a major factor in every local politician’s thinking. His influence is growing steadily inside and outside the county.”
9. Tom Perez, Maryland Labor Secretary
9 Votes
Respondent: “Leading the administration's education efforts about slots and an insider in certain national Democratic circles.”
Respondent: “As Labor Secretary, he has earned respect due to his intelligence and hard work. Many people, both advocates and businesspeople, were impressed with him (and Gansler) as they worked out the foreclosure assistance plan last year. He is also winning friends outside MoCo by working for slots. Should Mikulski retire in 2010 and Anthony Brown jump off the ticket for that opportunity, Perez could be an attractive Lieutenant Governor selection.”
Adam: “A superstar in waiting.”
10. Esther Gelman, Former Montgomery County Council Member
8 Votes
Respondent: “Esther Gelman is an informal advisor to nearly all MoCo electeds and her wisdom is unprecedented. She is a practical activist who will not abandon the good in pursuit of the perfect.”
11. Wayne Goldstein, Past President, Montgomery County Civic Federation
7 Votes
Respondent: “You don't want Wayne on the opposite side of an issue from you. If he's taken a position, he usually has facts. He loves facts. He doesn't let go. He's persuasive and has a great sense of humor.”
Adam: “Lives up to his nickname: the Great Civic Grand-daddy. Anyone who has a problem, does a lot of research, makes a bunch of noise and won’t go away is following in his footsteps.”
12 (tie). Jon Gerson, Director of Community Outreach, Montgomery County Education Association
6 Votes
Adam: “MCEA’s super-smart political strategist has been a player for a long, long time. May be the best political handicapper in the county.”
12 (tie). William G. Robertson, President and CEO, Adventist Health Care
6 Votes
Respondent: “Bill Robertson is hands down one of the most universally liked and respected CEOs in Montgomery County. This, of course, is because Bill himself is genuinely nice, respectful and caring of others. He understands that being a CEO is not contrary to his mission as a faith driven community business. The respect that he has gained from members of the community, both elected and non-elected, as well as the time and money he has dedicated to this community will ultimately give him a significant leg up on the other hospitals jockeying for places to grow in Montgomery County.”
14 (tie). Tom Israel, Executive Director, MCEA
5 Votes
Respondent: “The executive director of MCEA who keeps the organization running through various officers. He is very intelligent and skilled in many areas. He is both political and hard working. He will play an important role in what happens with our local budget problems. As MCEA transitions to new leadership in a year, he will be an important inside player in setting the agenda for the organization.”
14 (tie). Terry Lierman, Chief of Staff, U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
5 Votes
Respondent: “Former party chair, D08 congressional candidate and now Steny Hoyer's chief of staff. Need I say more?”
14 (tie). Karen McManus, Aide to Chris Van Hollen
5 Votes
Adam: “Van Hollen could not have a better representative in the community.”
14 (tie). Amy Presley, Clarksburg Activist and Planning Board Member
5 Votes
Respondent: “Well known, popular for a Republican, in fact has managed to lose the label of being a Republican. Been very effective in motivating people.”
Adam: “Butt-kicking super-activist is a role model for other troublemakers.”
14 (tie). Bob Stewart, Executive Director, MCGEO
5 Votes
Adam: “Tough-talking labor leader would fit right in with the Teamsters or the Building Trades.”
Honorable Mention (4 Votes), in Alphabetical Order
Ed Asher, President and COO, Chevy Chase Land Company
Stewart Bainum, Chairman of the Board, Choice Hotels
Doug Duncan, Former Montgomery County Executive
Jim Humphrey, Planning and Land Use Committee Chairman, Montgomery County Civic Federation
Glenn Orlin, Deputy Staff Director, Montgomery County Council (known as “The tenth Council Member”)
Susan Turnbull, Vice Chair, Democratic National Committee
Rebecca Wagner, Executive Director, Community Ministry of Montgomery County
Final Notes: Three of our top four vote-getters may all be leaving their current positions over the next few years, making the top of this list extremely fluid. I will be writing a reaction post next week, so if you want to put in your two cents, call me.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Montgomery County’s Most Influential People, Part Three
Our respondents collectively nominated 51 elected officials as the most influential leaders in Montgomery County. Here are the leaders, along with some commentary from myself and our voters.
1. Ike Leggett, Montgomery County Executive
48 Votes
Respondent: “Ike Leggett, despite difficult fiscal times, still enjoys a loyal following and his consensus-building style plays well with Gov. O'Malley's One Maryland approach to government.”
Respondent: “He can have more day to day impact on county residents than anyone else.”
Respondent: “While he may not have a group of loyalists around him in other elected positions like Duncan, he seems to be personally liked by all. Although he faces an incredibly difficult budget problem much like Neal Potter, he seems to be a smarter politician more willing to use the advantages of his office. Thanks to the county government, he has the largest PR machine of anyone on this list. The tough decisions ahead could lead to a similar fate as Potter.”
Respondent: “He has a soft style but is a scrappy survivor.”
Adam: “The next county budget will be the biggest challenge of the great chess master’s career. Every segment of the county’s establishment will be scrutinizing his performance and weighing any signs of vulnerability.”
2. Chris Van Hollen, U.S. House of Representatives
43 Votes
Respondent: “He doesn't get involved in local stuff, though he'd be influential if he did. He's probably more universally respected than any other local politico.”
Respondent: “He is the main go-to guy for most things federal, and is the most accessible of the lot, and the nicest, too.”
Respondent: “He controls the purse strings for Dems in the House and has direct influence on Democratic gains in this election. He's done this by keeping a low profile, but a new class of freshman representatives will have him to thank if they're elected in November.”
Respondent: “He is extremely well-liked in the county and incredibly talented. I never hear a critical word about him. Now, he has risen in the ranks of the US House. He may lead DCCC to biggest win in a generation while Congress has poor ratings. This will give him clout on the Hill. His endorsement locally may now be more important than MCEA or the Post. He has replaced Duncan as the kingmaker. However, he uses this power very sparingly. As he becomes more powerful/entrenched, will he use it more to build a machine?”
Adam: “Amazingly, he is just now entering his political prime. No one can predict at this point how high he will go.”
3. Rich Madaleno, State Senator (D-18)
35 Votes
Respondent: “Sen. Rich Madaleno has a bright future ahead of him. If Van Hollen ever gives up his spot, Rich - along with at least 5 other colleagues from the General Assembly - is the odds on favorite to keep the seat blue. Look for Madaleno to build a national name in that case, though, with national support from GLBT organizations. His ability to stand up to Mike Miller during special session without facing punishment or the back bench proves his political skill and his influence with the Montgomery Delegation.”
Respondent: “He's respected by the Senate President and everyone goes to him for information. If he wants to get something passed, he can get it passed. He's on the all important Budget and Tax Committee.”
Respondent: “No one understands the budget better than him. Smart and tactical. If there is ever going to be change in Annapolis, it will have to fly with the members of the Senate Budget & Tax Committee.”
Respondent: “Nobody knows the state budget better, and few have the level of political skills he has to make things happen.”
Adam: “One of the smartest people in Annapolis, period.”
4. Brian Frosh, State Senator (D-16)
30 Votes
Respondent: “Oft-talked about successor to Mike Miller, without the Dr. Evil thing going on.”
Respondent: “Highly respected, considered very knowledgeable and, like Van Hollen, his integrity is widely recognized.”
Respondent: “He's a low key legislator and has learned to play the Annapolis game without abandoning his liberal principles.”
Respondent: “I think he is the second most powerful senator in Annapolis only behind Miller. He quietly moves many bills thru the Judicial Proceedings Committee and is great in debate. With Currie's ethical problems, he seems to now be the likely successor to Miller.”
Adam: “Brian Frosh could be the next Senate President, but the legend of Big Daddy will live on!”
5. Sheila Hixson, Delegate (D-20)
28 Votes
Respondent: “As the only Montgomery chair in the House, she has great influence with Busch. She is also the only strong MoCo candidate for speaker, should a vacancy occur in 2011. She will play a critical role in the budget debate since almost all funding formulas go through her committee. She is the de facto chair of the house delegation as Busch turns to her for MoCo matters.”
Respondent: “Ways and means, hello? Will she retire next term though? I doubt it. If Ida Ruben and Barbara Mikulski are trendsetters, our grand dames seem to like to hang around.”
Respondent: “Her power and her weakness are one and the same--she is so tied into the leadership in Annapolis. That can be great for some issues, but can mean she can’t do much for you on others. She can make money move, but always took second chair to Peter Franchot who preferred to be out front. She is also accessible.”
6 (tie). Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Council Member
22 Votes
Respondent: “Love him or hate him, he seems to be able to steer a council coalition. Whether this lasts beyond 2010 is another matter. I think he's taken one too many aggressive moves.”
Respondent: “While we frequently disagree, to his credit he’s been a successful power broker.”
Respondent: “He is proving to be very effective behind the scenes. Talks with everyone, and is surprising many in the development world with his willingness to come up with practical long-term solutions. Doesn't want to be Council President – just wants to make effective changes.”
Adam: “Scary smart. Sometimes just plain scary! More of an intellectual than a politician, Elrich digs down deep into details. He is also the patron saint of little guys who take on big business or big government. Chief of Staff Dale Tibbitts is one of the brainiest people in Rockville.”
6 (tie). Peter Franchot, Maryland Comptroller
22 Votes
Respondent: “Making some serious waves (and enemies!) in Baltimore and Annapolis.”
Respondent: “While he is not making lots of friends, he is driving a lot of the discussion in Annapolis. His feud with Miller is legendary and entertaining. His vote on the Board of Public Works is quite important. He has made many connections in the state by going around the establishment. Ehrlich may have cost his own reelection by focusing energy and attention early on Franchot. Could the same happen to O'Malley if he too bothers with Franchot's election?”
Respondent: “Whatever those in the politically savvy elite may think, he is great for a sound bite, they never seem to end, and thousands watch the noon news and see his mug on it.”
8 (tie). Doug Gansler, Maryland Attorney General
21 Votes
Respondent: “Doug Gansler's star is rising. He surprised most insiders by keeping a low profile and expanding his political base to include Baltimore and its suburbs.”
Respondent: “He is making lots of friends. He ran a textbook campaign to win the AG race when little known outside of Montgomery. He has been able to get several initiatives through the General Assembly and earned respect as a hard working and thoughtful person. He has not been the media hog he seemed to be in MoCo. Who remembers the sniper trial now? I would expect either Doug or Chris to be the first Montgomery based governor or senator in living memory and longer - Civil War maybe. He could also get something big from Obama. His early and active support could be repaid handsomely by President Obama. He made the right bet unlike O'Malley. He does seem to be building toward advancement in 2014.”
Respondent: “Finally, the chicken farmers have to curb their damn manure!”
8 (tie). Mike Knapp, Montgomery County Council Member
21 Votes
Respondent: “He has emerged as the counter balance to Ike on the council. He seems best situated to reassemble the Duncan coalition if Ike fails. However, he may also be saddled with the cost of fixing the budget problems as a member of the council. Duncan marched to victory in 1994 from Rockville City government over the incumbent council president.”
Respondent: “He was central to the council vote to uphold the labor contracts.”
Adam: “It is unclear how many votes were cast for the Gentle Giant of Germantown primarily because he is this year’s Council President. Next year, he will still be head of the Council’s Planning, Housing & Economic Development Committee – of course, provided that future Council President Phil Andrews will allow it.”
10 (tie). Valerie Ervin, Montgomery County Council Member
18 Votes
Respondent: “Strong voice on the council. Fights for what she believes in. Lets others know what she thinks. This may make her somewhat less effective, but no less influential.”
Adam: “Has lots of supporters in business, labor and outside District 5. Relentless, tough, smart and fearless. Excellent staff, top to bottom, led by Rockville Hall of Famer Sonya Healy. During the District 4 special election, Ervin went up against the County Executive and four other County Council Members and came within five points of helping Nancy Navarro get elected. Don’t mess with Valerie Ervin!”
10 (tie). Jamie Raskin, State Senator (D-20)
18 Votes
Respondent: “Constitutional and progressive thought leader with an amazing grassroots base.”
Respondent: “Outspoken and inspiring to a lot of people. He can fire up the grass roots.”
Respondent: “If Obama wins in November, Jamie could be one of the few State Senators in Maryland to have the President on speed dial. Both are former editors of Harvard Law Review and Raskin has been a vocal champion of Barack's campaign. I don't know if this will give him any more or less influence than he already has, but in a county as wealthy and large as Montgomery, there are few shining lights of influence in Annapolis.”
Respondent: “One of the smartest people in Maryland politics today. As progressive as they come. But has also proven himself very effective at moving legislation.”
Adam: “On a short list to succeed Chris Van Hollen in Congress.”
12. Kumar Barve, House Majority Leader (D-17)
13 Votes
Respondent: “He could be speaker and certainly is in a position of power.”
Respondent: “As majority leader, he speaks more on the floor than any other member. He is quick, articulate, and witty. He is effective in helping Busch move his agenda. Barve has been less effective at shaping that agenda which is why I ranked him down on the list.”
Adam: “The House Majority Leader gets points for giving us one of the naughtiest quotes to ever appear on this blog on the sensitive subject of MCDCC’s legislative appointments.”
13 (tie). Karen Britto, Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee Chairwoman
12 Votes
Respondent: “She has been a big part of making the county entirely blue and determining three new delegates and a senator in this four year cycle alone.”
Respondent: “She asks for little but people jump when she does. 20% of our state delegation is honorable due to her efforts to gain their appointment. Al Carr, Bill Frick, and Kirill Reznik owe her big. The state party should listen to her more.”
13 (tie). Heather Mizeur, Delegate (D-20)
12 Votes
Respondent: “A triple threat - member of the General Assembly, staffer for Sen. John Kerry, and member of the DNC.”
Respondent: “While many may think she's so focused on herself and moving up, she does know how to work the system and play the game to get things passed in Annapolis. She's extremely effective in that way.”
Respondent: “Health policy queen, DNC rep and rising star.”
15. Brian Feldman, Delegate (D-15)
11 Votes
Respondent: “Despite your recent blog posts, my view is that he has done a lot to turn the Montgomery delegation into more of a team.”
Adam: “As Chairman of Montgomery’s House Delegation, Brian Feldman has a thankless job. A few respondents who did not vote for him still went out of their way to praise his patience and hard work.”
Honorable Mention (8-10 Votes), in Alphabetical Order
Nancy Floreen, Montgomery County Council Member
Rob Garagiola, State Senator (D-15)
George Leventhal, Montgomery County Council Member
Nancy Navarro, Board of Education President
In Part Four, we will unveil our list of the most influential non-elected people in Montgomery County.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Montgomery County’s Most Influential People, Part Two
In writing this series, I asked some of the county’s smartest and most connected people two questions. Who are the county’s ten most influential elected officials? And who are the county’s ten most influential non-elected people? Sounds simple, right?
Actually, it’s not simple at all. “How are you defining influential?” several of my respondents asked. “That’s up to you,” I replied. And so people went in different directions. One respondent defined influential as “able to get something done, not just perceived self-importance.” Others looked at day-to-day impact on county events. A few went for nationally-known individuals who happened to live in the county. But a lot of respondents identified different people for different reasons, arguing that influence comes in varying forms. Ultimately, my definition of an influential person is someone whom other influential people say is influential. That’s circular thinking to be sure, but it works in this case because the vast majority of our respondents are themselves important players in the county.
Who are our respondents? We will not disclose their identities, but here is the demographic breakdown of the 55 people who answered our call:
Affiliation
Elected Official: 18, Government Staff: 8, Non-Profit: 7, Business: 7, Civic: 4, Labor: 4, Civic/Labor 1 (me), Other: 6.
Race
White: 46, Black: 4, Latino: 3, Asian: 2
Gender
Male: 39, Female: 16
Age
Under Forty: 18, Forty or Over: 37
Residence
Silver Spring/Takoma Park: 20, Chevy Chase/Kensington: 10, Bethesda/Potomac: 9, Rockville/Gaithersburg: 6, Other Montgomery: 7, Out-of-County: 3
Note: Many of the Silver Spring respondents live outside the Beltway.
In discussing their picks, I told respondents that I was not looking for the most popular people, but the most powerful. Most respondents understood that. “I really hate some of these people,” snarled one caller. “They’re evil, but they’re on my list because they have the most juice. And if you ever tell them I voted for them, I’ll strangle you!”
That points to one of the most challenging aspects of this project: the extreme sensitivity of this information. In several instances, bitter enemies voted for each other. In several other instances, public political allies did not vote for each other. That was very revealing: quite a few people are more insecure with regards to their “friends” than their enemies! Of course, many, MANY people voted for themselves. But everyone who answered took a gigantic risk in trusting my pledge of confidentiality and I appreciate that profoundly. In accordance with their wishes, I have deleted all emails related to this project.
In Part Three, we will unveil our list of the most influential elected officials in Montgomery County.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Montgomery County’s Most Influential People, Part One
This may be the riskiest, most secretive and most sensitive series we have ever run on Maryland Politics Watch. It will no doubt be one of our most hotly-debated works too. Because today, we begin unveiling the results of an exhaustive two-week project designed to determine and rank, at least for the moment, the most influential people in Montgomery County.
Other publications have released most-influential lists before, notably PolitickerMD and the Gazette. Like many of you that have seen these lists, I agreed with some choices and disagreed with others. But my primary reservation about them is that they did not make clear their methodology. For all anyone could know, these lists were generated by a handful of editors sitting around a desk. And so I thought: how could this be done better?
If any one person generated a list of powerful figures in a local area, that list would be skewed. Every one of us has a station in life. There are some issues we deal with and some we do not. There are some groups of people we talk to regularly and others we hardly know. There are some pieces of our world we perceive (relatively) clearly and others we have never seen. The opinion of any one person or even a small group of people is therefore inherently limited and not up to this task.
And so I began to reach out to some of the smartest and most connected people in the county. Who did they think was influential? I started out by contacting several dozen of my best sources. That mushroomed into additional input from their friends and even others beyond them. These people are part of the small network of politicians, staffers, activists and lobbyists that really run Montgomery County. Slowly, secretly – sometimes painfully – they began to tell me the real truth as they saw it. They named who really had the stick and who did not.
And soon, soon enough, dear readers – you too will know what they said.
