Your author has passed on congratulations to today's Young Guns winners on Facebook. And now their Facebook friends are running wild! As of this writing, 30% of all visits to this blog are direct entries into our Young Guns Part Two post and most of them are coming from Facebook. Yee-ha!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Young Guns Hold Shootout at MPW Corral
Young Guns of MoCo, Part Two
The wait is over. Let the young guns list begin!
10. Ryan Spiegel, 30
City Council Member, Gaithersburg
7 Votes
Respondent: Ryan was an effective candidate for the House of Delegates who came in a narrow 4th place. He then led the One Montgomery slate and serves on the Gaithersburg City Council. He has a bright future for his passion, warmth, and ability to work with a diverse group of people and interests.
Respondent: Very much the up and comer. Was the only member of his slate to get elected in a contentious city election, but has since been able to get some good work done within the limiting confines of small city council politics.
Respondent: Big aspirations for a career in Annapolis, but may be waiting awhile before getting the opening.
Respondent: Anyone think he's not going to be a legislator in D17 or, if he wants, Mayor of G’Burg?
Respondent: Showed that he could bounce back from a tough loss, is working hard on the City Council. A potential mayor of Gaithersburg after Sid Katz leaves?
Respondent: Ryan is an upcoming leader in Montgomery County. He is well respected as a City Councilmember in Gaithersburg, and is both a strong policymaker and campaigner.
Adam: Gaining some stature in Gaithersburg and beyond. People are wondering what’s next.
7 (tie). Eric Luedtke, 27
Board Member, Montgomery County Education Association
Contributor, Free State Politics and Maryland Politics Watch
9 Votes
Respondent: What can I say? Eric is a natural born leader and proved this at an early age. He has not only been involved in a variety of community and advocacy organizations, but he’s a great teacher-leader and awesome dad and husband. What I like best about Eric is that he doesn’t do all of these things as “resume builders” (there are people out there who do this), but he does them because they are causes in which he truly believes. He is certainly ambitious, but not to the point where he doesn’t listen to and respect those that have led the way. This is why a lot of people like him and believe he is a true leader with the right ideology.
Respondent: School teacher and union geek. Will have good creds for a future state house run.
Respondent: He is smart, young, strategic and will be a force in the county for a long time.
Adam: Civic activist, union leader, political activist, intellectual, and overall good guy. One of the most versatile players in the county. Needs to blog more often!
7 (tie). Ben Moskowitz, 19
Former Student Member, Board of Education
Former Campaign Staffer for Chris Van Hollen, Steve Silverman and Saqib Ali
9 Votes
Respondent: It’s relatively easy to get young people interested in national politics or social issues like gay marriage, but near impossible to make them care about local politics. Ben Moskowitz, however, has been doing just that. As Student Member of the Board of Education, he helped organize a student caucus on the Purple Line last spring. Sure, he worked on Steve Silverman’s ill-fated campaign for County Executive, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? Here’s hoping he decides to come back to MoCo after he graduates from U-Penn in a couple of years.
Respondent: Ben’s been active for decades, it seems, and he’s still in undergraduate school! Elected as the SMOB, he has worked on countless campaigns. He’s serious, articulate and reliable.
Respondent: Wow - this kid is a born politician. He has been working on and helping run campaigns for many years and successfully got himself elected as the Student Member of the Board of Education. With that experience under his belt, plus his internship this summer at the DSCC, he will only become more of a threat to knock off almost anyone (once he graduates from College, that is).
Respondent: Left the county to go to college, but will return with an Ivy League education and more dangerous than ever. If you’re running a campaign, you need this guy with you and not against you.
Respondent: He is a political phenom destined for greatness. 18 or 19 years old but pure genius. Wonderful to work with. Wise beyond his years. An unbelievably aggressive campaigner and a sharp policy eye too.
Respondent: Ben may be away in college, but he’s not that far away. And he intends to remain active in MoCo. At the ripe old age of 19, Ben has already held high-level positions in the campaigns of MoCo luminaries. He may have a little growing up to do before he can run for office himself, but Ben is often referred to by Dem leaders as “the future governor” - and it’s only partially a joke. He commands the time and respect of County Council Members and Congressmen. He is a terrific tactician and tireless worker, but his real expertise is number-crunching. He can sort, manipulate, and micro-target with voter databases like nobody else.
Adam: May have the biggest upside of any name on this list. He is only 19 and has already been a valuable contributor to multiple campaigns. What havoc will this kid be wreaking across MoCo in ten years?
7 (tie). Jason Waskey, 27
State Director, Democratic National Committee/Organizing for America
Former Special Assistant, Office of the Maryland Secretary of State
Former Campaign Director, Maryland for Obama
9 Votes
Respondent: He has been one of the go to guys to actually run campaigns in Maryland and Montgomery for years, including doing great work on the 2006 coordinated. He dealt with the nuts and bolts of Obama’s Maryland operation, getting in on the ground floor in 2007 and staying with it all the way until election night.
Respondent: One of two co-chairs of the County Obama Campaign, Jason is well-connected and can only keep moving up. His recent appointment to the DNC as Maryland’s voice is a great coup for this young leader.
Respondent: Jason Waskey has made quite a name for himself through his leadership on the Obama campaign, standing out among many in Maryland. Few people put in the same kind of time, raised the same kind of money, and worked as hard to get Obama elected than Jason.
Respondent: Statewide Obama role includes Montgomery County - he is a leader to hundreds of Obama activists in the County. Knows more Maryland electeds than most delegates.
Respondent: Jason is a genius when it comes to political ground game strategy, and a tireless worker who puts everything into a task. He deserves most of the credit for the fact that Maryland made more phone calls and door-knocking trips to battleground states for Obama than any other state in the nation on a per capita basis. Look for him to be a Maryland hybrid of Rahm Emmanuel and Karl Rove (in a good way) for many years to come, and he may run for office himself one day.
Adam: The best-connected Young Gun. Few people in Maryland are closer to President Obama. Already a rising player in state politics.
Tomorrow, we’ll reveal Young Guns Six, Five and Four. Be here!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Duchy Trachtenberg's Chief of Staff Voted National NOW President
Council Member Duchy Trachtenberg's Chief of Staff, Terry O'Neill, has been voted the new national President of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Council Member Trachtenberg is herself a former President of Maryland NOW. The Gazette reported that O'Neill would have to leave Trachtenberg's staff if she won the NOW presidency, so the Council Member will be picking a new Chief of Staff.
Young Guns of MoCo, Part One
Ladies and gentlemen of the blogosphere, welcome to a special MPW series. Beginning today, we are unveiling the next generation of MoCo leaders – the ones who will inherit this county, and maybe the state as well.
Remember when you were fresh out of college? I sure do. Back in the good old days, my priorities were booze, babes and bling. (Now they’re diapers, Da-Da and doo-doo.) But MoCo is home to a growing cohort of young people with a very different priority: politics.
These youngsters are challenging the status quo at every level. They are organizing, volunteering, strategizing, lobbying and even legislating. Some of them are already among the best at their trade. Others are catching up rapidly. Today’s county leadership, most of whom are in their 50s or older, needs to look over their shoulders. The next wave is fast breaking upon their shores.
We wanted to identify these Young Guns, the best of the best of the new generation. And so we turned to the greatest intelligence organization in the county: MPW’s omnipresent spy network. We asked our informants to identify people up through age 35 who live in or work in Montgomery County and either have significant influence now or have great potential for influence in the near future. Forty-two spies answered our call and submitted a combined total of sixty-nine names. Ten of them rose to the top and have earned recognition from this blog. They are the Young Guns. Remember these names, people, because you will be hearing them for a long time.
Tomorrow, we will begin revealing their identities in ascending order of number of votes cast. Don’t miss it!
Is O’Malley Vulnerable?
The Baltimore Sun recently reported on possible primary challenges to Governor Martin O’Malley, an event that drew cheers from the conservative blogosphere. The mainstream media wants an exciting race to cover and the GOP desperately wants to get rid of the incumbent Governor. So is O’Malley vulnerable?
Of course not, silly! Martin O’Malley is not going anywhere. Here’s why.
1. Money
Between 11/3/04 (the day after his last mayoral victory in Baltimore) and 11/7/06 (the day he defeated Governor Bob Ehrlich), O’Malley raised $10.9 million in contributions. The O’Malley-Brown Committee Slate raised an additional $1.6 million over that period. The Democratic State Central Committee raised $2.2 million. Ehrlich raised $13.2 million – more than O’Malley – and still lost. As of January 2009, O’Malley had over $1 million in the bank. Former Governor Ehrlich had just $151,529.
Any effort to overthrow O’Malley by a member of either party would require millions of dollars just to be competitive. Unless a multi-millionaire was willing to self-finance, that funding will be extremely difficult to obtain. And don’t forget O’Malley’s faithful lieutenants: Senate President Mike “Big Daddy” Miller and the rest of the General Assembly leadership. If any of the state’s major interest groups tried to finance an opponent of O’Malley, they would find their entire legislative agenda quickly shut down.
2. Poll Findings
While Martin O’Malley may not be hugely popular, he is not especially weak among the public. Here are his poll results from Gonzales Research:
O’Malley bottomed out in March 2008, immediately after passage of the special session’s tax package, at a net negative 11 points in approval rating. His most recent net in January 2009 was plus 12. As of that month, he had a 65% approval rating among Democrats, a 59% approval rating among Independents and a 17% approval rating among Republicans. The GOP rank-and-file may detest O’Malley, but they are not numerous enough to get rid of him. And few serious contenders would primary an incumbent who starts with two-thirds of the voters in support.
3. Challengers
As of right now, the only challengers floating their names are former Calvert County Delegate George Owings, former Prince George’s County Executive Wayne Curry and his successor, Jack Johnson. We agree with Marc Korman; none of them will be much more than a speed bump against O’Malley in a primary. Owings, a member of Governor Ehrlich’s cabinet, will find no traction among Democrats who still remember George W. Bush. Curry and Johnson start off with a solid base in Prince George’s County, home to more registered Democrats than any other Maryland jurisdiction. But the county’s reputation for low-performing schools, controversies in its police department and government corruption will cast a shadow over any resident politician in a statewide race. Only an Executive who actually made progress on the county’s problems would stand a chance. Neither Curry nor Johnson qualifies.
4. Montgomery County
In a Democratic primary, O’Malley starts with lots of support in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Any challenger would need to carry Montgomery County to have any shot at the Governor. That is extremely unlikely to happen. A fair number of county insiders gripe about O’Malley, especially over issues like money for school construction, the disparate treatment of funding for Baltimore’s Red Line and the Washington suburbs’ Purple Line, his handling of the ICC and various allegations of broken promises after the special session. Some even call him “the Governor of Baldamore.” But O’Malley held the line on teachers pensions, fully funded Geographic Cost of Education Index spending and did not target Montgomery for extra cuts in this year’s budget.
And let’s put the complaints of the insiders in perspective: NONE of them would dare challenge O’Malley publicly. Rank-and-file Democrats still, by and large, support him. Only ICC opponents resent him, and by themselves, they cannot turn the county against him. In short, only Attorney General Doug Gansler or former County Executive Doug Duncan would even have a hope of carrying Montgomery in a Democratic primary against O’Malley.
5. Watch the Big Guys
Maryland has many ambitious politicians who would love to be Governor. Of the most capable among them, none are preparing to take on O’Malley.
Doug Gansler led the state in fundraising last year. He has never had one bad word in public for O’Malley and appears to be biding his time for 2014. Comptroller Peter Franchot has been very quiet since we published our “Long Knives” series. He will have his hands full holding his current office against term-limited Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith. Doug Duncan is known to be unhappy with the state’s leadership, but he is undertaking none of the activities that are typically associated with a statewide campaign. And former Governor Ehrlich is putting on his best Mario Cuomo imitation rather than aggressively taking it to his 2006 rival.
Every one of these men has the resources to commission a poll. More than one probably has. And those polls will probably show the same result as Gonzales: O’Malley is currently strong enough among both Democrats and Independents to defeat any challenger. If O’Malley were truly vulnerable, all of these men would know it and one or more would be taking him on even as we write this. And they’re not.
Let’s face it: whether you like him or not, barring an economic or natural disaster, we are very likely to get four more years of Martin O’Malley as Governor.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Organizing for Healthcare, Part Two
By Marc Korman.
Last time, we discussed the Organizing for America healthcare event that took place earlier this month to build up grassroots support for healthcare reform. This time we will talk a bit more about some of the discontent at the meeting.
President Obama may have three priorities for healthcare (costs, choice, and coverage), but many of the grassroots supporters at the OFA event had just one: single payer. Sharon Dooley gave a preview of the desire by many progressives for a single payer system, instead of tinkering with the current marketplace of competing insurance companies. That same desire was expressed at the OFA event.
There was always a bit of unrest among progressives over some of candidate Obama’s positions, such as a troop increase in Afghanistan or his failure to support gay marriage. But people were willing to shove that aside in order to get a progressive Democrat elected. But with healthcare, many attendees expressed a willingness to let healthcare reform die entirely instead of allowing a system resembling the current mix of public plans like Medicare and private insurance exist.
Delegate Barve spoke about the importance of securing 60 votes and Karen McManus from Congressman Van Hollen’s office conceded that the final product would not be perfect. But those reality checks did little to settle down anxious activists. I have heard that many of the earlier house parties had a similar vibe.
One way to calm the base might be to provide a little more information. Costs, choice, and coverage make nice talking points, but many of those in the room wanted more information. A few were even honest enough to admit to not knowing the difference between a public option (where a government run plan would compete against the private insurers) and single payer (where all health coverage would flow through one entity). The idea of the public option is something of a “single payer lite.” A robust, government run program could use its bargaining power to negotiate low prices and provide comprehensive services, theoretically requiring its public sector competitors to do the same. One of the downsides of the current cooperative compromise put forth by Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) is that they would likely be local cooperatives, total lacking in the bargaining power that makes a federal public option appealing.
But President Obama may not really be that interested in what the OFA attendees know or support. He may be using a disgruntled base for Machiavellian purposes. The assumption has been that the purpose of the healthcare house parties is to encourage grassroots supporters to contact their legislators and educate their neighbors about healthcare reform. But a slightly unhappy progressive base could allow President Obama to tell moderates in both parties he cannot compromise any further. That could lead to him getting more of what he wants in a final plan.
Maybe the Obama faithful will fall in line once a plan starts moving through Congress, but as of today they do not appear sold, at least not in Montgomery County. But with a vast network of Congressional liaisons and a high approval rating, perhaps President Obama can bring them around.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Who’s Doing the Best Job on the Environment?
The Maryland League of Conservation Voters (LCV) has released its 2009 scorecard. Four of Montgomery’s eight Senators and nineteen of Montgomery’s twenty-four Delegates earned perfect scores. Only two of the county’s legislators scored less than 70%. Read more to find out who they are!
LCV scored eleven committee votes and six floor votes for Senators, and eleven committee votes and six floor votes for Delegates. Many of these votes were on different bills because some were considered in one chamber and not the other. Legislators were not penalized for votes taken by committees on which they did not sit or for excused absences.
First, let’s recognize the legislators with perfect records this year. They are:
Senators Brian Frosh (D-16), Rich Madaleno (D-18), Mike Lenett (D-19) and Jamie Raskin (D-20).
Delegates Anne Kaiser (D-14), Karen Montgomery (D-14), Kathleen Dumais (D-15), Craig Rice (D-15), Bill Frick (D-16), Susan Lee (D-16), Kumar Barve (D-17), Jim Gilchrist (D-17), Luiz Simmons (D-17), Al Carr (D-18), Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-18), Jeff Waldstreicher (D-18), Ben Kramer (D-19), Roger Manno (D-19), Sheila Hixson (D-20), Tom Hucker (D-20), Heather Mizeur (D-20), Saqib Ali (D-39) and Kirill Reznik (D-39).
Every other Montgomery legislator scored at least 70% and missed just one or two votes with two exceptions: Senators Rona Kramer (D-14) and Jennie Forehand (D-17).
Kramer voted wrong four times, by far the most in the county’s delegation. She earned a 50% score, which was tied by one Republican (District 2 Senator Donald Munson) and exceeded by another (District 35 Senator Barry Glassman, who scored 56%). LCV penalized Kramer for:
Voting against HB 309, which would have reauthorized a program for restoring historic buildings. The bill passed the House unanimously but died in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on an 8-7 vote.
Voting for a floor amendment to SB 666. The bill would have tightened requirements for developers to prevent forest loss from new projects. The amendment, which passed, exempted utility companies and the entire bill became law.
Voting against SB 672, a bill by Senator Jamie Raskin that would have established stormwater user charges to pay for stormwater management activities. The bill failed in the Senate.
Voting against SB 554, the Chesapeake Bay Nitrogen Reduction Act of 2009, which required nitrogen removal technology on new septic systems near the Bay. The bill became law.
Senator Jennie Forehand voted with Kramer on the stormwater and nitrogen bills. Because she serves on Judicial Proceedings, a committee that did not consider any environmental bills this session, she was not rated on any committee votes and earned a 67% score.
We previously reported that Kramer and Forehand were ranked best and second-best in the county by a right-wing business group. Now they are ranked last and second-to-last in the county by the state’s premier environmental organization. That is a bad combination for a Montgomery politician.
Here are LCV’s lifetime scores for Montgomery Senators:
100%: Brian Frosh (D-16), Jamie Raskin (D-20)
95%: Rich Madaleno (D-18), Mike Lenett (D-19)
88%: Rob Garagiola (D-15)
84%: Nancy King (D-39)
81%: Jennie Forehand (D-17)
65%: Rona Kramer (D-14)
And here are LCV’s lifetime scores for Montgomery Delegates:
100%: Bill Frick (D-16), Roger Manno (D-19)
98%: Karen Montgomery (D-14), Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-18), Tom Hucker (D-20)
96%: Craig Rice (D-15), Heather Mizeur (D-20)
95%: Anne Kaiser (D-14)
94%: Bill Bronrott (D-16), Kirill Reznik (D-39)
93%: Luiz Simmons (D-17), Al Carr (D-18), Hank Heller (D-19), Charles Barkley (D-39)
92%: Jim Gilchrist (D-17), Jeff Waldstreicher (D-18)
91%: Susan Lee (D-16)
90%: Kathleen Dumais (D-15), Saqib Ali (D-39)
89%: Sheila Hixson (D-20)
88%: Herman Taylor (D-14)
85%: Kumar Barve (D-17)
84%: Brian Feldman (D-15), Ben Kramer (D-19)
WSSC Board Picks New GM, But...
...The Gazette is already finding problems with his record in his old job in the District of Columbia. You just can't make this up, folks!
Update: Following is the press release from County Executives Ike Leggett and Jack Johnson. Note their lack of comment on the Gazette's information.
Update 2: The Post's Katherine Shaver, who has done consistently strong reporting on WSSC, has more.
Press Release
For Immediate Release: June 18, 2009
Leggett, Johnson Recommend New General Manager for Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson today announced their recommendation of Jerry N. Johnson to serve as the new Chief Executive Officer/General Manager of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC).
Johnson is currently General Manager of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA), a position he has held since 1997. He is nationally known as a turnaround specialist. As the first General Manager of a newly created water and sewer authority, he guided it from an unrated agency, with a projected $8 million deficit, to one with an A+ credit rating and $170 million reserve in just two years. In addition to being responsible for the day-to-day operations, planning and management of the authority, he developed and recommended long-range capital programs, financial programs and special projects to the Board, then oversaw
their implementation.
WASA provides drinking water and wastewater treatment to more than half a million residential, commercial and local governmental customers in the District and collects and treats wastewater for 1.6 million WSSC customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland and for Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. The authority also operates the 150-acre Blue Plains Water Treatment Plant, the largest advanced treatment plant in the world.
Before his career at WASA, Johnson was employed by the City of Richmond for nearly two decades, serving in various capacities. From 1991 to 1997, he was Deputy City Manager for Operations. He also served as Director of Public Utilities and was responsible for four utility operations -- gas, electric, water and wastewater – providing service to the metropolitan Richmond area.
”I am very pleased that Jerry Johnson has agreed to serve in this important role,” Johnson said. “His extensive experience and background with wastewater treatment and management and his knowledge of our region makes him the best choice for General Manager.”
“Jerry Johnson’s extensive experience with utilities, especially with water and wastewater treatment, makes him the ideal person for this position,” Leggett said. “He also has the added advantage of knowing the WSSC service area and could hit the ground running.”
Johnson has an A.S. degree in Business Administration from Ferrum College, a B.S. in Urban Affairs and Economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He also completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local
Government at the JFK School of Government at Harvard.
The WSSC is the eighth largest water and wastewater utility in the country, providing water and sewer services to nearly 1.8 million residents of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. The agency operates and maintains nearly 5,500 miles of freshwater pipe lines and more than 5,300 miles of sewer main lines.
Challenger Announces Exploratory Committee for District 20 Delegate
Elihu Eli El, a 39-year-old Takoma Park resident, has announced his formation of an exploratory committee for a run at District 20 Delegate. El is a computer programmer, an instructor in the U.S. Army Reserve, a former member of the Teamsters and an active member of the District 20 Democratic Caucus.
Delegate Tom Hucker (D-20) is not loved by the other three members of his delegation. One source of unhappiness was his distribution of the "Hucker Ballot" last November. Could a newcomer like El benefit from tension among the incumbents and squeak through? Don't laugh - Gareth Murray did just that back in 2002 (although he benefited mightily from incumbent Dana Dembrow's domestic violence difficulties).
Following is El's announcement email.
FRIENDS OF ELI
Dear Friend,
This movement will be built by ordinary citizens from the bottom up. We need your donation in order to get this campaign up and running. We don't want this to end before it really gets started. This process has been a real human experience -- there's a strong community that's emerging here among our supporters. However, this recession has hit our families unexpectedly. Most supporters are visiting the website and donating $20 or less. You may also elect to make a small recurring amount by checking the "Make my selection a recurring payment" checkbox. I know what I'm asking is hard. I know that politics and politicians have disappointed you so many times before, to the point where sometimes it seems easier just to tune out and walk away. But what you have to remember is that when you walk away, the same old politics wins every time. That's what all the people who benefit from politics as a game are counting on. That's why we need you. That's why I can't do this alone:
1. Go to: http://www.friendsofeli.com/
2. Click on "enter" or "FRIENDS OF ELI"
3. Click on the "online donation system" menu selection item
If Prompted:
Click on the Active X bar, if displayed.
Repeat steps 2 and 3.
Congratulations...you are about to make history.
It's a feeling that's bigger than the excitement of a typical political campaign. It's the feeling of a movement. And that movement isn't just here in Maryland. It's in every state, as shown by the record number of people getting involved. We're just a few thousand donors shy of getting our campaign off the ground and you owning a piece of this campaign. Make your first donation of $5 now. We're also working together to change the broken political process that requires candidates to spend so much of their time raising money as opposed to focusing on issue advocacy.
That potential to revive that feeling of community and connection is why we decided to do this. We knew there was an opportunity to change politics, to make it about hope and a shared passion for our common future. And we knew that other people who feel the same way would come back into the process or decide to participate for the first time. We're closer to something historic than anyone ever imagined we could be. It's the culmination of talking and listening and building the kind of organization that engages people.
I hope you understand how much of a difference it makes to raise this money in a different way. Rather you are a family member, friend, or professional contact, I am proud that you are a part of this.
Yours sincerely,
Eli
Organizing for Healthcare, Part One
By Marc Korman.
Harking back to his community organizer roots, President Obama has transitioned his presidential campaign, Obama for America, into an activist group, Organizing for America. Their work is just getting started in Montgomery County.
Organizing for America exists under the auspices of the Democratic National Committee. Jason Waskey, who served as Campaign Director of Obama’s Maryland operation, is moving over to the DNC where he will serve as State Director for DNC-OFA. Every Congressional district in the country will have a volunteer liaison working with DNC-OFA. In Montgomery County, the 8th Congressional District liaison is Jon Randall, who worked tirelessly at the Bethesda Obama Office. Curtis Valentine is the liaison for the 4th Congressional District. He was an Obama fellow who worked in Prince George’s County during the general election.
A little outreach bye OFA began earlier in the year in support of President Obama’s budget proposal. But their real debut came in early June when house parties were held all around the country in support of healthcare reform, one of the Obama Administration’s top domestic priorities. After a weekend of house parties around Montgomery County, OFA held an event at the new Montgomery County Education Association headquarters.
The event had over sixty people in attendance, including State Senator Jennie Forehand, Delegate Kumar Barve, and State Senate candidate Cheryl Kagan. The purpose of the event was to build excitement for healthcare reform, including preparing for a day of healthcare service on June 27th, and presumably to activate a grassroots army of supporters to promote reform.
At the event, attendees heard about President Obama’s vision for healthcare reform, including his three priorities of lower costs, freedom to choose doctors and healthcare plans, and full coverage for all Americans. Karen McManus from Congressman Van Hollen’s office also spoke, encouraging people to contact his office with thoughts or ideas on the plan.
Following the speeches, the room broke into four smaller groups. Each group had two purposes. First, participants shared personal stories from their lives that demonstrated to them that healthcare reform was needed. Second, attendees brainstormed ideas for a healthcare service activity. Some ideas in the group I sat in were to hold a healthy barbecue, bring health professionals to a specific community to provide services, offer educational services, or conduct activities to lobby for healthcare reform. OFA is still finalizing its plans for the service day, but when they become available we will post them here.
That tells you the who, what, when, where and why of the event. Next time, we will take a look at some of the underlying tension at the meeting.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
What ACT is Not Telling You About Rich Madaleno
Action Committee for Transit (ACT) and a blogger who sits on its board have launched a double-barreled attack on Senator Rich Madaleno (D-18) alleging that he is anti-transit and only wants to build toll lanes for the wealthy. Are they right?
On June 5, ACT released a statement accusing Madaleno of “opposition to new bus rapid transit and light rail lines.” Greater Greater Washington blogger Cavan Wilk followed with a post mimicking the statement on which he failed to disclose that he is an ACT Board Member. In addition, ACT and Wilk accuse Madaleno of supporting $800 million high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on I-95 north of Baltimore “to subsidize rich people’s commutes.”
ACT’s antipathy for Senator Madaleno is understandable given that he opposes the Purple Line. Your author disagrees with Madaleno’s position on that project. We believe light rail is the best option for the Purple Line and that the O’Malley administration will select it. If ACT and Wilk merely said that Madaleno opposes the Purple Line (as they did today), we would have no argument with them.
But they went further, saying he opposes all BRT and light rail projects and supports HOT lanes on I-95. Let’s deal with the latter issue first. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) controls all toll facilities in the state. MdTA and MDOT decide which, if any, toll projects are built. The legislature rarely votes on any individual projects and has not voted on HOT lanes for I-95. Madaleno has not introduced any legislation on the subject. ACT and Wilk have no evidence from Madaleno’s record as a legislator to support their allegation. Furthermore, even if Madaleno did support HOT lanes, that would not make him an enemy of transit. To the extent that HOT lanes are financed by the tolls they generate, they do not threaten other transportation projects.
The evidence cited by ACT and Wilk that Madaleno opposes all BRT and light rail projects is this excerpt from his testimony on the Purple Line last fall:Quite frankly, the state does not have the resources to pay for any of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or Light Rail Transit (LRT) options. Over the past decade, the only major new construction projects the state has moved forward with have been funded primarily with toll-backed revenue bonds. There are no alternative funding mechanisms available for this project. As a member of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, I feel confident in reporting that no new revenue options appear politically feasible in the foreseeable future.
Senator Madaleno never said that he opposes all BRT or light rail projects. He merely said the state does not currently have the money for them. That is a fact. Senator Ed DeGrange (D-32), Chairman of the Senate Capital Budget Subcommittee, told Maryland Commons this week, “I do not see any growth in revenue for transportation in the near future and we may see further declines and budget reductions.” Your author has bludgeoned the Lords of Annapolis for not sufficiently funding transportation again and again and again and again and again with NO aid from ACT or Cavan Wilk. Where were they when the O’Malley administration cut transportation funding by $1.1 billion last fall? This blog criticized the administration twice for it while ACT and Wilk did not utter a peep. Instead, Wilk actually praised the Governor for supporting the Purple Line six weeks after his administration cut the project’s financing by 19% (and cut money for the Corridor Cities Transitway by nearly half). Why do ACT and Wilk leave O’Malley alone while slamming Senator Madaleno, who had nothing to do with these cuts?
ACT is essentially criticizing Madaleno for telling the truth about the state’s sorry performance on transportation funding. If we bash our politicians for telling the truth, they will only be encouraged to lie.
Let’s examine Senator Madaleno’s actual record on transportation. Following is a list of the pro-transit and pro-transportation bills Rich Madaleno has sponsored over his years in the General Assembly. For whatever reason, ACT and Cavan Wilk have either not compiled or not released this record.
HB 1157 2003: Constitutional amendment to prevent raids on the Transportation Trust Fund.
HB 981 2006: Creates a mass transit account within the Transportation Trust Fund.
HB 1345 2006: Requires MDOT to study operating and capital funding needs for transit.
SB 31 2007 Special session: Raises the gas tax by 5 cents.
SB 461 2007: Requires MDOT to issue transit passes to training organizations for low-income people. Became law.
SB 444 2009: Requires the Maryland Transit Administration to study adding a new MARC station near the Walter Reed annex in Forest Glen. Lead sponsor.
SB 722 2009: Raises the gas tax by 5 cents. Lead and only sponsor.
SB 273 2009, SB 276 2009 and SB 280 2009: Governor O’Malley’s smart growth package. Became law.
SB 539 2009: Sets goal for reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 2036.
Senator Madaleno also wrote a blog post on gas tax indexing and said this after his election as Chairman of the Montgomery Senate Delegation:Finally, I plan to lead the delegation in a discussion concerning the future of transportation funding in our state and region. The last year has highlighted the growing volatility in the revenue sources that support the transportation trust fund. While we may not agree on every project, we need to explore new ways to provide financial stability to the trust fund and to ensure that we have the resources to meet our significant transportation infrastructure needs.
So let’s see. If Senator Madaleno had his way, the state would have a constitutional amendment to protect the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) from raids. The TTF would have a separate account reserved for mass transit and MDOT would have a solid cost estimate for transit needs across the state. The gas tax would be raised and indexed for inflation, thus providing more funds for all manner of transportation projects. Forest Glen Seminary would have a new MARC station and the state would set a goal for reducing VMT by 2036. Few state legislators, if any, can match this record. But Action Committee for Transit and Cavan Wilk do not reveal any of this and would have us believe that Madaleno is anti-transit. Good grief!
Here’s a tip for starry-eyed transit advocates: pragmatism pays. Senator Madaleno disagrees with us on the Purple Line. He won’t change his mind and we won’t change ours. But he is the Chairman of Montgomery’s Senate Delegation and he can be a powerful ally on transportation funding.
ACT and its followers have a choice. They can work with legislators like Madaleno on raising more money for transportation, without which the Purple Line will never be built. Or they can post sloppy propaganda, engage in fruitless battles and watch transit projects sink into penniless oblivion. We hope they choose the former option.
Disclosure: The author is Treasurer of the District 18 Democratic Team, which includes Senator Rich Madaleno.
Politicians Must Act on WSSC
Crack, crack, crack. That’s the sound of pipes breaking in Derwood, Potomac and Temple Hills. And what sound has come from the politicians charged with fixing the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s problems? With the exception of Senate President Mike Miller, we have heard very little sound at all.
WSSC has two related problems that stem from a common cause. First, it cannot select a new general manager, a position that has been vacant for more than a year. The nominee agreed on by County Executives Ike Leggett and Jack Johnson looks doomed because of accusations of racial bias in his last job. Second, WSSC’s Commissioners cannot agree on a capital fee schedule to accelerate replacement of its aging pipes. The agency’s paralysis continues despite the fact that WSSC’s former general manager warned in 2007 that catastrophic pipe failures could explode “like a missile.” Federal stimulus money contributed a measly $8 million to WSSC’s backlog.
The root cause of these issues is WSSC’s Board of Commissioners, which has three members each from Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Of the Prince George’s Commissioners, all appointed by Jack Johnson, one is a budget manager with no utility experience, one is a contractor who has worked on WSSC contracts and one is a repeated political candidate who has made a career of alleging racism at the agency and runs up big expense tabs. All are obsessed with minority contracting, and at one point they held a 12-hour meeting dominated by that issue in the aftermath of a pipe break.
As long as WSSC’s Board deadlocks, there can be no agreement on a general manager or a capital replacement fee. It’s just that simple. Leggett’s preferred approach of cooperation with Johnson has not paid off. Consider Johnson’s recent statement about the two County Executives’ general manager nominee to the Gazette: “I don't support [him] and I don't not support [him]. I just think there are some issues that need to be resolved.” How exactly can Leggett cooperate with an individual with that style of “leadership?”
WSSC cannot be restructured without state legislation. The Montgomery and Prince George’s delegations considered several proposals heading into Annapolis for the 2009 general session, including a bill to add a rotating municipal member to the Board and a bill requiring at least one vote from each county for a Board motion to pass. Both bills failed. The General Assembly did pass bills calling for whistleblower protection and more financial oversight - good ideas that do nothing to change the Board’s structure. Neither will help WSSC hire a new general manager or fix its pipes. Only Mike Miller is threatening action.
But the failure on WSSC does not belong to the state legislature alone. The Montgomery County Council complained loudly about the agency last winter but they never developed a common position on structural reform to send to the county’s statehouse delegation. County Executive Leggett still maintains that cooperation is the way out despite voluminous evidence to the contrary. And Governor Martin O’Malley, who made saving Prince George’s County’s hospital system a priority, has been completely absent from the WSSC debate.
So what will happen the next time a giant pipe breaks and homes and businesses dry up? All of the politicians will point fingers at each other. And you know what? They will all be right.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Big Daddy Spanks Jack Johnson Over WSSC (Updated)
Senate President Mike Miller is getting fed up with the problems at WSSC. Following is a letter he wrote to Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson (referenced by the Post) in which he calls for "quick and decisive action" and "a WSSC that is ethical and competent."
Miller has long been concerned about WSSC. In 2005, he called turmoil at the agency a "cancer" and said, "Public confidence in the ability of this board to govern is nonexistent." Judging by the contemptuous reaction of Johnson's staff, Miller may have to take direct action to fix the agency. And if Big Daddy is serious, we will be cheering him on every step of the way.
Update: Miller offers more in the Gazette, including this beauty: "In another year we'll have another county executive and, hopefully, a better working relationship between the county executives and the commissioners." Youch!
June 15, 2009
The Honorable Jack Johnson
Office of the County Executive
County Administration Building
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Dear County Executive Johnson:
I am writing to express my grave concerns and frustration as to the level of total incompetence at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (“WSSC”). As you know, in Prince George’s County, we are surrounded by the Patuxent River, the Potomac River, numerous tributaries of these rivers, and the accompanying watersheds that flow directly into these very environmentally sensitive areas.
Given the importance of these areas, it was truly beyond belief that, on May 11, 2009, 30,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into a direct tributary of the Potomac River, the Piscataway Creek. Incredibly, on June 4, 2009, another 30,500 gallons of raw sewages spilled directly into the Piscataway Creek. This means that in less than one month, over 60,000 gallons of raw sewage has been allowed to pour directly into Piscataway Creek. This is not only incomprehensible, it is unacceptable.
I believe one of the most critical roles of government officials is to serve as stewards of our environment. The health and safety of our citizens depends upon our ability to protect the air and the water quality in the county. Additionally, it is not fair or equitable for one county to be allowed to have raw sewage polluting the rivers and tributaries that go beyond its own borders.
These recent events confirm that the WSSC has sunk to levels of incompetence that we should all be embarrassed to see. The needs have been well documented and yet WSSC Commissioners representing our County have sat idly by, while pipe after pipe has burst. Now, during the worst recession we have seen since the Great Depression, they raise rates by 9%. This rate increase coincides with public disclosure of thousands of dollars of ratepayer funds being used by WSSC members to pay for things such as political and charitable events. All during a time when there still is no General Manager of the Agency. Given this information, why on earth should we or the citizens of this County believe that they need the rate increase or even know how to address these serious issues with additional funds?
It is far past time for a massive overhaul of this agency. We cannot simply shrug our shoulders and accept delays and excuses for things such as raw sewage flowing into sensitive environmental areas again and again. I would, therefore, formally call upon you to act in your official oversight roles to take the reigns of this situation.
The first step must be the expeditious appointment of a General Manager, who possesses the sufficient credentials and expertise to take over the agency and resolve these issues immediately. Next, the County Council should call for hearings and demand a comprehensive plan for an effective resolution of these matters, as soon as possible. The use of ratepayer funds for questionable activities by WSSC members should also be reviewed. If these issues cannot be addressed at the local level by the time the General Assembly convenes in January, State legislators cannot in good conscience allow things to continue as they have been.
I look forward to your decisive and quick action and am willing to assist you in these efforts in any manner possible. Thank you for your consideration of my concerns and I would further ask that you please advise me as soon as possible as to actions the County plans to take in this matter. The citizens of our County deserve a healthy environment in which to live and raise their families and they deserve a WSSC that is ethical and competent.
Sincerely,
Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.
TVMM/vlg
cc: Prince George’s County Council
Saqib Stokes Senate Speculation (Updated)
We just love Delegate Saqib Ali (D-39). Just a couple hours after we posted "Ten Random Questions," which included the commonly-heard rumor that he might challenge Senator Nancy King, Delegate Ali linked to the post from his Facebook page. He told his 1,800+ Facebook friends, "Saqib Ali just read speculation that he'd run for State Senate. Wow... Just wow. Apparently it's 'the rumor that refuses 2 die.'"
At the moment, 39% of this blog's traffic consists of direct entries to the "Ten Random Questions" post. Most of them are coming from Delegate Ali's Facebook page and that guarantees a good day for this blog. All of you politicians out there should heed the example of Saqib Ali, a blogger's best friend!
Update: Now Robin Ficker is encouraging Delegate Ali to run for Senate. No folks, I am not making this up.
Ten Random Questions
Here are ten random questions we – and the spies – have been asking.
1. Will progressives find someone to run against Rona Kramer?
Senator Rona Kramer (D-14) is the bane of the left, having an even worse labor and environmental record than her brother, Delegate Ben Kramer (D-19). And Rona had no coattails for Ben, pulling in only three of sixteen precincts in her district for his County Council race. But the left has not yet found a plausible candidate to take her out. If they do – watch out!
2. Will Saqib Ali challenge Nancy King?
Delegate Saqib Ali (D-39) reported a cash balance of $87,423.54 in January 2009 – higher than any other Delegate except Susan Lee (D-16) and more than double District 39 Senator Nancy King ($40,217.23). Ali competed with King for the Senate appointment and criticized her months after she won, leading to speculation of a contest ever since. If Ali does challenge King, it endangers any chance of an incumbent slate and may make District 39 Delegate Kirill Reznik vulnerable. This rumor refuses to die.
3. How many open seats will there be in District 19?
Most observers believe Delegate Hank Heller will retire. Delegate Ben Kramer has made it clear that he would rather be on the County Council. So how many Delegate seats will be open? If there is more than one, how many people will come out of the woodwork to grab one? As if this is not enough, we hear Senator Mike Lenett may draw an opponent.
4. Once Jim Smith runs for Comptroller, what will MoCo Dems do?
Comptroller Pete Franchot may be the most hated man in Annapolis, but he is a statewide incumbent from Montgomery County. On the other hand, once Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith finally announces his challenge, there could be pressure from friends of Franchot targets Martin O’Malley and Mike “Big Daddy” Miller to support Smith. That will put many members of the Montgomery delegation – especially those from Franchot’s home base in District 20 – in a tight spot.
5. When will the state make its decision on the Purple Line?
Last fall, the Maryland Transit Administration released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement listing eight options for the Purple Line: no-build, maintenance of existing bus service, three options for Bus Rapid Transit (with one of them on Jones Bridge Road) and three for light rail. We expected the state to make its decision by now and begin the federal review process. Which option will they pick? And why are they taking so long?
6. What is happening at the Washington Post?
Change is coming to the Post, but not in a good way. The organization is undergoing its fourth buyout since 2003 and Greater Greater Washington has written that at least one local reporter is leaving. The Post ombudsman is already warning of a drop in coverage quality. Montgomery County reporters Ann Marimow and Miranda Spivack together produce only about three articles a week. (A blog with that little output would struggle to hold its readership.) If either of them takes a buyout, the impact on local coverage would be devastating.
Meanwhile, one of the county’s politicians recently asked us, “So, did anything come of the Post editorial story, or did they arrogantly ignore it like the lazy monopolists they are?” Unfortunately, the Post continues to employ an intern to write its editorials despite conduct that would have gotten him fired anywhere else. One of his latest MoCo editorials saying, “Maryland bureaucrats think they know best about Montgomery County school funding,” mimicked the county’s press release on the state School Board waiver, which said, “This is a classic example of state bureaucrats second-guessing an agreement reached on the local level by Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Public Schools to fully fund County school programs.” We deserve better.
7. What will happen to the fifth floor?
The County Council has two kinds of staff: political and merit. Political staffers (on the sixth floor) work directly for individual Council Members. Merit staffers (on the fifth floor) are technical experts in their subject areas who perform policy work for multiple members and often last over several councils. While some of the political staffers are excellent - and some are not - much of the institutional knowledge of the place resides with the merit staff. And the best of them are approaching retirement age in the next few years, including Staff Director Steve Farber, Deputy Staff Director Glenn Orlin (known as “the tenth Council Member”) and Senior Legislative Attorney Mike Faden. If all of them retire at the same time and are not replaced by top-notch people, Rockville will go down the tubes.
8. How tough will Ike Leggett be at the bargaining table?
We all know that County Executive Ike Leggett wants to run for re-election as a fiscal conservative. Later this year, he will get his chance to prove his conservatism because five of the six public employee union contracts (all except the Fire Fighters) will come up for bargaining prior to their expiration. Leggett’s team will handle the negotiations with the police and MCGEO directly. While Superintendent of Schools Jerry Weast will bargain with the three education unions, Leggett will have some influence over that process because of his ability to recommend funding levels for the education budget. So will Leggett be a tough bargainer? Few of our spies expect that. If he is not, then he will be leaving it to the council to decide whether to fund any cost-of-living increases. That will be a tough argument to have in an election year with another multi-hundred-million dollar budget deficit looming over Rockville.
9. Who will build momentum in the Prince George’s County Executive race?
Right now, we see three credible candidates in the hunt: former Delegate Rushern Baker (D-22B), who nearly defeated term-limited incumbent Jack Johnson in 2006, Senator C. Anthony Muse (D-26) and State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey. A few months ago, we picked Ivey as the early leader, partially because Baker’s and Muse’s finances were in terrible shape. But there is a long time to go in this race. Montgomery County residents have a lot at stake here because Prince George’s dysfunction often spills over the border, especially with regards to WSSC. Most of our spies with an opinion favor Ivey, with one calling the dropoff between him and the other Prince George’s politicians “huge.”
10. When will the At-Large challengers announce?
We have received an awful lot of traffic on our Whispers of the At-Large Race series. We are hearing that we have missed a couple prospective candidates and we may have to revisit them. In the meantime, only two at-large hopefuls have websites up: Jane De Winter and Guled Kassim.
We cannot stress to the challengers how difficult this race will be. All four incumbents are running again. The county is a huge and expensive place in which to run. Money is tough to raise. Whoever jumps out first and shows some game will have an edge in generating buzz, lobbying for endorsements and getting some backing. There is no reason why any plausible candidate would want to cede these advantages to his or her rivals. So we are looking for some action soon.
Lordy, people, that is enough trouble-making for one day!
Monday, June 15, 2009
George Leventhal Hires Dan Reed
Just Up the Pike's Dan Reed has announced his hire by County Council Member George Leventhal. There is precedent for a MoCo blogger to get such a plum job: Mike Raia, who wrote Outside the Beltway, was snatched up by Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown as Deputy Press Secretary in 2007. (He has since been promoted to Press Secretary.) Mike ended his blog but Dan intends to keep JUTP going.
Leventhal is getting one of the best local writers in the county. Dan is getting access to one of the brainiest, and funniest, politicians in the state. Here's hoping the arrangement works out for both of them.
Montgomery Teachers Under Stress
By Eric Luedtke.
This spring, educators in Montgomery County and across the state participated in the TELL Survey, which sought to gauge the opinions of Maryland's teaching workforce on a broad variety of issues. The results are, frankly, fascinating. They paint a picture of the teaching workforce in Montgomery County in which many teachers are stressed by an increasing workload and unhappy with not being included in district and school level decision-making. Most surprisingly for a school system which prides itself on being among the best in the state, our system does not compare favorably with other parts of the state. And I need to be clear - this is not just an issue for teachers and their union leadership. It's an issue for everyone who cares about our schools. As I've pointed out on MPW before, the issues of workload and inclusive decision-making are profound factors in our ability to recruit and retain the best teachers. Just as importantly, any one with a child in school will tell you that they want them in a classroom with a relaxed, well-planned teacher, not one who is stressed and distracted by bureaucratic minutiae and who doen't have time to do their job right.
In the results that follow, results are shown for both Montgomery County and the state as a whole. The results of our county skew the statewide results, of course, so the reality is that the difference between our responses and responses in other jurisdictions may be larger than they first appear. Numbers aside, compared to the state as a whole, Montgomery teachers are less likely to report that:
- they have reasonable class sizes
- they have enough instructional time to meet the needs of all students
- school leadership consistently enforces rules
- teachers are involved in decision-making in the district
- teachers are trusted to make sound decisions about instruction
- there is an effective process for making group decisions in their school
- their school leadership facilitates an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect
- teachers feel comfortable raising concerns in their school
- school leadership makes an effort to address concerns about conduct and learning
Perhaps more damning for a school system which prides itself on collaboration with employees, only 38% of teachers think they have an appropriate say in decision-making in their schools and only 19% think that about the school system as a whole.
These results are alarming. We know that the most successful school reform models across the country have placed a high premium on professionalism and the inclusion of teachers in decision-making. We know that reasonable workloads and empowerment are key to keeping good teachers in our classrooms. We know from a University of Pennsylvania researcher that when staff have more say in their schools, it not only decreases staff turnover but drastically reduces problems between teachers and students.
And yet, Montgomery County is underperforming the state. If nothing else, this proves again that addressing workload and school leadership issues will be key to continuing the improvements we've seen in student performance in MCPS. The system and teachers have a golden opportunity to chart a new course during the coming contract negotiations, if only we have the will to take advantage of it.
Right-Wing Business Group Gives High Marks to Rona Kramer and Jennie Forehand
Maryland Business for a Responsible Government (MBRG), a business advocacy group that seldom has anything nice to say about Montgomery County state legislators, has made a partial exception for two of them: Senators Rona Kramer (D-14) and Jennie Forehand (D-17).
MBRG’s membership roster includes some of the biggest businesses in the state, as well as some of the most anti-union (Miller and Long, the Associated Builders and Contractors Chesapeake Chapter and Wal-Mart). Even one of our business sources describes them as “really right wing.” They recently issued a 2009 score card that ranked Senators on 11 votes and Delegates on 9 votes. Some of the bills MBRG criticized legislators for supporting were Delegate Roger Manno’s shift breaks bill, a bill making it easier for employment discrimination victims to claim back pay, a bill that instituted a very weak effort to crack down on employee misclassification and a bill expanding family and medical leave for employees. In MBRG’s opinion, a vote to help workers is a vote against business.
MBRG gives an award to legislators scoring at least 70% on its priorities. Only one Montgomery legislator met that standard this year: Senator Rona Kramer (D-14). MBRG credited her on the following votes:
Voting against a bill that would have restricted transfers of rental units covered by federal housing assistance.
Voting against a bill that would have cracked down on fraud against the state health department.
Voting against a bill that would have tightened requirements on lead paint testing and mitigation on owners of residential properties.
Voting against an amendment to a bill that would have limited credits to employers on some workers compensation claims.
Voting against a bill by Senator Jamie Raskin (D-20) that would have imposed a stormwater user charge that would have funded stormwater management activities.
Voting for an amendment to the workers misclassification bill that weakened penalties for tax-cheating employers.
Voting against the Preakness bill, which authorized the state to condemn and purchase the Preakness.
Kramer’s lifetime cumulative score from MBRG is 62% - 22 points higher than the next-best lifetime scorers in Montgomery (Senators Rob Garagiola and Jennie Forehand).
Forehand received a 59% score this year. She voted with Rona Kramer on the rental unit transfer bill, the lead paint bill, the workers compensation credit amendment, the stormwater user charge, and the weakening of misclassification penalties. She also voted against a bill that would have reinstituted partial electricity reregulation.
Here are the scores for the rest of the Montgomery Delegation:
40%: Senator Rob Garagiola (D-15), Delegates Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-18), Kirill Reznik (D-39)
33%: Delegate Luiz Simmons (D-17), Jeff Waldstreicher (D-18), Ben Kramer (D-19)
30%: Senator Nancy King (D-39), Delegate Heather Mizeur (D-20)
25%: Delegates Herman Taylor (D-14), Charles Barkley (D-39), Roger Manno (D-19)
20%: Delegates Anne Kaiser (D-14), Karen Montgomery (D-14), Craig Rice (D-15), Bill Bronrott (D-16), Bill Frick (D-16), Kumar Barve (D-17), Jim Gilchrist (D-17), Al Carr (D-18), Henry Heller (D-19), Sheila Hixson (D-20), Tom Hucker (D-20), Saqib Ali (D-39)
18%: Senator Brian Frosh (D-16)
17%: Delegate Kathleen Dumais (D-15), Susan Lee (D-16)
13%: Delegate Brian Feldman (D-15)
0%: Senators Rich Madaleno (D-18), Mike Lenett (D-19), Jamie Raskin (D-20)
Sunday, June 14, 2009
On Political Pulse
Ken Ulman, the 35 year old County Executive from Howard County will be on the "Political Pulse" TV Show on Channel 16 TV in Montgomery County.
County Executive Ulman is a rising star in the Maryland Democratic Party and there are already published reports that he might run for statewide office in 2014 when he would be term limited as County Executive. Mr. Ulman addressed that subject during the interview and he talked about some of the other future possible candidates for higher office in Maryland, like Anthony Brown and Doug Gansler.
Other subjects that were discussed include Howard County's new health care initiative which is receiving some national attention, how Howard County is doing in these tough budget times and Mr. Ulman's hands-on approach to government.
Political Pulse now airs 6 times a week and the Ulman interview will air on Channel 16 TV:
Tuesday, June 16th at 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 17th at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 18th at 9:00 p.m.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 19th, 20th and 21st) at 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Post Ombudsman Warns of Quality Drop
In a must-read essay, Washington Post ombudsman Andrew Alexander gathers confidential feedback from Post reporters about their ongoing financial difficulties and buyouts and reports their consensus: quality will drop. We have already seen this and it looks like it is about to get worse.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Whispers of the At-Large Race, Part Five
In our final part, we examine the last three potential at-large contenders.
Hans Riemer, Silver Spring
Riemer moved into Montgomery County in December 2004 and ran unsuccessfully for the County Council District 5 seat in 2006. He has lots of experience as a national political activist, working against George W. Bush’s social security privatization plan, running Rock the Vote and working for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign as his national youth director. He currently works for AARP.
Riemer has a number of important strengths. He was a maniacal door-knocker in 2006, has a knack for making a good impression, has quickly developed a network of friends across the county (including your author, who supported him last time) and has participated in numerous political and advocacy campaigns. He raised over $130,000 for his last council race and that was before he went to work for Obama. His weakness is that he does not have a long history of activism in the county. His service on Action Committee for Transit’s board was interrupted by his employment with Obama. Still, Hans Riemer will be a major contender for an at-large seat because of his progressive background, campaign experience and ability to raise money.
Spy: Can’t see him winning, but he is politically immersed and was gracious after losing to Valerie Ervin. He would be a dark horse candidate. I believe he will run.
Spy: He is someone that can be a progressive consensus builder in Rockville.
Spy: Hans also works for the AARP so he should be able to deliver credible messages to the “Obama Generation” as well as Seniors. He will have to work against the potential “Downcounty” heaviness on the Council (Marc, Valerie, Nancy, Hans and George). To do this, he’ll have to work hard to prove to the UpCounty folks that he can represent them too and that he’s able to relate to their concerns. He is a good fundraiser and will be able to fundraise a lot of money, which is necessary for an At-Large bid, and if done early, could scare some others out of the race. He would be an asset to the council as a new, young voice in contrast to the status quo.
Spy: Young - experienced, smart and multi-ethnic appeal as his wife is minority. Cute child. Said to be exploring a run as an at large candidate. Ran against Valerie and is rumored to be supported by her for the at large spot. Don't know his politics or his alliances. With experience in Rock the Vote, AARP and the Obama campaign - could be a formidable candidate especially if he can still draw on some of that West Coast money.
Spy: I think Hans will be a strong candidate. You can’t even count the number of friends this guy has made over the last few years. A talented, fresh face to shake up an underwhelming council. While he lost in 2006 his campaign was quite well run and this is the type of guy who learns from experience. Of all the names, only Hans seems strikingly different than the same-old tired list of Council candidates. He’s a proven money-raiser and knows how to campaign. He’d be appealing to new, younger voters and senior citizens alike, and is well positioned to be the strongest voice on sustainability issues.
Spy: Smart and likeable. Could be a dark horse. Claims to have the ability to mobilize young voters - but didn’t do so when he ran against Valerie Ervin in the 2006 District 5 primary.
Spy: Hans Riemer would be a great at-large candidate, who could bring in younger, progressive Democrats and minorities. His run (and loss) in the District 5 Council race a couple of years ago was good preparation for a second try, and I think it’s a sign of his political talent that he and Valerie seem to have a good relationship now.
Spy: He’s been planning to run since he lost. He is much more established than he was a few years ago and is a logical additional vote for the Floreen/Ervin/Knapp/Leventhal side of the council. He has the organizational know-how to run countywide and can raise the money.
Spy: Hans Riemer is one of the more frequently mentioned serious at-large candidates. Though Valerie Ervin handily defeated him, Riemer seems to have smartened from the loss and has built strategic alliances since then. The key fact in his favor is that he raised a large wad of cash for his first run for office, both proving that he can raise money and also that he must have built serious name recognition in D5 after having spent so much money there three years ago. Since branching out to serve on the brain trust of Obama for America, AARP and ACT, he should be a fundraising juggernaut compared to the other challengers. His youth also gives him both a fresh image and makes him harder to tie to the older battle-lines (ie: End Gridlock). Keep an eye on Hans Riemer. He is likely to gain the support of perhaps some incumbent councilmembers, as well as Obama volunteers, progressive activists, labor, business, and more.
Steve Silverman, Silver Spring
Prior to County Executive Ike Leggett’s hire of Silverman as his new Director of Economic Development, a possible comeback by the former at-large Council Member was one of the hottest rumors in the county. That was probably part of the reason why Leggett brought him in. Few people believe that Silverman will run again now. But what happens if he figures out that Leggett will not give him the resources he needs to do his job?
Spy: Can’t see him doing that, but he does burn to win and loves wielding power. Enough with the retreads. Let’s develop a new bench.
Spy: This rumor doesn’t pass the credibility smell test. No way in hell he’s going to trade in his cozy $180,000 County job for the right to go back to the Council and make 50% less. “Been there, done that” saying certainly applies here.
Spy: Steve Silverman is the other all-star (along with Becky Wagner) on your list. He is already getting rave reviews from inside and outside DED and he’s only been on the job a few weeks. He is “A-list” material, without a doubt, with a proven track record from his previous service on the Council and a practical, no-nonsense approach to local government that is focused more on results and helping people than ideology or political correctness. He would instantly be a leading candidate for any office in the County, if he wants to run in 2010. That is the only question. He knows how to get along with others, even those whose views differ from his, and the County would benefit from more true leaders, like Steve, at the helm right now in these very difficult times.
Spy: Steve is making much better money than Council Members. Been there, done that.
Spy: Not sure he would run, but if he did, he surely would round out the leadership team. This man is a leader. Steve is honest, practical, effective, and respected by residents, community groups, labor, business and other elected officials. Indeed, his former rival, Ike Leggett, has called on him to serve.
Spy: He burned too many bridges in his last campaign. Leggett is too smart to have brought him on if he thinks he would be a rival. He has been a state official, and tried for county exec, - wouldn't another run for at-large be a come down?
Spy: I’ve never heard of him as a potential candidate for council. I had heard rumors of him running if Leggett didn’t (a big rumor a few months ago), but hopefully he settles into his new post.
Spy: Interesting to think about Silverman returning to public life. Though I know many a person who now regrets supporting Leggett over Silverman, most of these are knowledgeable political operators. They mostly voted for Leggett because they thought he was more liberal, but now find him to be either an incompetent manager or an intentional waffler. They do not outnumber the much larger group of primary voters who (fairly or unfairly) drank the Kool Aid and started believing Silverman was the devil in developer’s clothing waiting to plow over the Ag Reserve. It is sort of sad, actually, as Silverman seems like a nice guy and Ike seems more like a weasel every day. In any case, Silverman would hurt George Leventhal’s re-election prospects. But, is he really going to run for office after picking up the high-profile post he just accepted?
Spy: Has a much better job now as Economic Development Director. The big surprise would be if he decides the Leggett administration is dysfunctional, resigns and runs for County Executive against Leggett!
Becky Wagner, Bethesda
Wagner has been the Executive Director of Interfaith Works (formerly Community Ministry), one of the county’s most prominent charities, for about ten years. She is one of the biggest names in the county’s non-profit community and is well known by both the political class and the business world. She was named a 2008 Washingtonian of the Year by the magazine of the same name.
Wagner has never run for office before but she did work as an aide to Senator Paul Sarbanes. As a successful non-profit executive, she should know how to raise money. Her organization’s mission of helping homeless people and the working poor should give her plenty of credibility with progressives. Her biggest potential problem is her opposition to the county’s living wage law, part of an effort by non-profits to successfully exempt themselves from the law that ultimately passed. Wagner is a heavyweight contender for an at-large seat.
Spy: Becky Wagner is the standout among the early names surfacing so far. She is the real deal, a true, proven, visionary leader with deep roots and incredibly broad support in the community. She has dedicated most of her life to making the community we live in a better place, especially for those less fortunate, and she is a good manager who knows how to run a tight ship. She has earned lasting respect and admiration from everyone who has ever gone through Leadership Montgomery, run a local business, had any interaction with Community Ministries or dozens of other major non-profit organizations she has helped in the County, or basically anyone who has ever met her. She is the kind of serious, dedicated community leader (and I use the term “leader” deliberately here) who you’d hope in your wildest dreams might be persuaded to run for public office one day. She is on everyone’s “A-list” and would be a huge asset to Montgomery County as a member of the Council. Just let me know when she launches her campaign committee and where to send the check. As leaders go, it doesn’t get any better than Becky Wagner.
Spy: Runs a very professional, respected non profit. Has political experience working for former Sen. Sarbanes. Can’t see her having the patience for the B.S. required for running and serving as an at-large council member in Montgomery. However, if she does, she could be a very strong candidate. Already has a built in network with her non-profit and has a track record of serving others.
Spy: She knows the non-profit worlds but is there money there for her campaign? Does she have her feet on the ground and is she grounded enough to hit the trail running? I have my doubts - and do not see her on the circuits, nor have I heard her speaking forcefully on any cause that could rally the faithful.
Spy: Becky Wagner is the new Jane De Winter, meaning people are floating her name quite a bit right now as a potential serious at-large challenger. Unfortunately, she suffers from the same problems as Jane De Winter - no name recognition, no demonstrated fundraising ability, and nothing particularly exciting or different about her, except that she is a woman whose name is not Duchy Trachtenburg. This seems like a real long-shot, even with incumbent support. Putting gender aside, the fundamentals of her candidacy are little different than that of Chris Paladino, who has no chance.
Spy: I know a lot of people who will drop everything to support Becky Wagner… I see Hans and Becky as the only two on your list who will be able to excite people enough that they will open up their checkbooks to give generous contributions.
Spy: The strongest possible non-incumbent (other than Silverman). Wide reach across the county, strong base in the religious and non-profit communities, impressive fundraising potential. Excellent speaking skills and knowledge of the issues. If I were an incumbent at-large member, I’d be very worried about Becky. She needs to make amends with labor for her opposition to the living wage legislation years ago, which she should be able to do, given labor's antipathy to Trachtenberg and desire to back a winner in 2010.
Final comment:
At the moment, we see Becky Wagner, Hans Riemer and Jane De Winter as the most likely and viable at-large challengers. But it’s still very early. Each of them needs to start running hard, raising money and gaining visibility SOON. Whoever slacks off will fall behind in the early contest for surrogates, endorsements and the critical Apple Ballot. And don’t forget that all four incumbents are in the race. So, to all the candidates, we say this – start showing us some hustle and run!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
District 39 Town Hall Meeting
Following is the announcement from Senator Nancy King (D-39).
Senator Nancy J. King
Invites you to join her and
Delegates Charles Barkley, Saqib Ali and Kirill Reznik
For District 39's
Annual Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
North Creek Community Center
20125 Arrowhead Road
Montgomery Village, MD
7:00 PM
2009 Legislative Session Wrap-Up
Followed by Questions and Answers
We look forward to seeing you there!
House Majority Leader: Pagnucco Should "Burn in Hell"
Blog-weary Delegate Kumar "Bad Boy" Barve (D-17), fatigued from Kindle, Twitter, Facebook and all online communications, is cutting loose against your author. I know some people hate our blog but this is ridiculous!
Leland Community Center to be Renamed for Jane Lawton
Following is the press release from the county.
Contact: Bonnie Ayers, 240-777-6507
LELAND COMMUNTY CENTER TO BE RENAMED IN MEMORY OF FORMER DELEGATE JANE LAWTON
Leggett joins local officials, friends, family members, community residents for ceremony
Sunday, June 14
2:15 -3 p.m. – Speakers, Presentations
3 p.m. – Unveiling of signs, Dedication of memorial tree
3:15 - 4 p.m. -- Reception
4301 Willow Lane,
Chevy Chase
The Leland Community Center will be renamed in memory of former Delegate (and Chevy Chase mayor) Jane Lawton who died in November 2007 following a presentation to a telecommunications symposium in Washington, DC.
Former Chevy Chase Mayor Mier Wolf will serve as master of ceremonies. Participating in the ceremony will be: County Executive Isiah Leggett, County Council President Phil Andrews, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, State Senator Rich Madaleno, Montgomery County Parks Director Mary Bradford, Pat Baptiste, friend of Ms. Lawton and Stephanie Lawton, her daughter.
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