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Showing posts with label Becky Wagner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Becky Wagner. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
MoCo Primary 2010: Council At-Large Precinct Results
Total Results (Including Absentees and Provisionals)
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Becky Wagner: Thank You
Council at-large candidate Becky Wagner sent the following message to her supporters today.
Thank You
Dear Friends,
The primary election may be over, but from my view, your 30,000+ votes mark our beginning. More than 30,000 of you said yes to our vision of a Montgomery County. During the campaign I talked about a County where everyone thrives. We talked about growing our revenue base to pay for the core services that we want: education, fire and safety, parks and libraries, and services for the most vulnerable. We asked for a County which attracts good jobs and thriving businesses. I called for workforce housing and reliable, affordable mass transit to become a priority. We said that the County Council must practice fiscal discipline and require accountability in all fiscal matters.
30,000 of you sent a message to the Council. You said difficult challenges require leadership which elevates the dialog, represents thoughtful deliberation and courageous decision making. The work of the Council is too important for personal agendas and acting in self-interest. Our decisions must be based on the answer to this question: what represents the greater good for our whole community? Sometimes the answer is not popular, but the right way is not always the easy way. So now, we are 30,000 strong in holding the County Council accountable. Choices made by the County Council touch every resident of our county. Every decision today needs to be about our future and our vision for Montgomery County.
So we didn’t quite make it to the General Election. We did, however, give voice to our vision for Montgomery County.
Please accept my deepest appreciation! You signed on to be part of the Friends of Becky Wagner campaign and were part of an effort that made us proud. You knocked on doors, phone banked, email-blasted, hosted meet& greets, marched in parades and contributed your dollars and time. Our team: campaign manager Edward Cooper, along with Robin Savits Cooper, Pam McRainey and Andy White as co-chairs and Kathy Michaelian serving as Treasurer created the framework which made it possible for thousands of terrific volunteers to find their voice as Friends of Becky Wagner.
You, like me, believe our best days are ahead of us. We have to trust each other and have confidence going forward. We are not alone. We are 30,000 strong and growing!
Thank you and great good wishes for the coming year.
Becky Wagner
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Special Spy Report: Council At-Large
The County Council At-Large race may be the most unpredictable primary in the county. Over and over again, we have consulted our spy network for insights into how it will play out. But this time we are checking in with a truly special group of informants:
State legislative candidates.
Why are we asking them, do you ask?
First, perhaps even more than the council candidates, the folks running for state legislature are on the doors. They see who has signs up. They see what literature has been dropped. They attend many of the same events at which the council candidates show up – or don’t show up. And they hear who is being talked about and what is said. In the years between elections, the delegation and the council don’t know very much about each other. But right now, the political radar is up.
Second, politicians know politics. They can size up other candidates – their message, their logistical capabilities, their knack for the game – a lot better than can lay people. Asking politicians about other politicians is like asking bank robbers about lock picks.
Third, while some of the state legislative candidates have endorsed one or more council candidates, they are not truly invested in those choices. They are far enough removed to have a more impartial point of view of the council election than the council candidates or their supporters. Frankly, the delegation members assume that the council will be dysfunctional regardless of who gets elected!
That said, most of the state legislative candidates we asked about the council at-large race did not venture an opinion. They are QUITE busy now, as you might expect. But twelve of them did give us their take on a super-confidential basis. Some are incumbents and some are not. They come from all over the county. Here’s what they told us about which council at-large candidates will be elected.
State Spy #1:
Probably the four incumbents. The reason: the dead weight of inertia. If an incumbent loses I would say it would be Duchy. Hans is in the best position to take advantage of an opening because he comes from vote-rich District 20.
State Spy #2:
1st place will be Marc Elrich - for his caring, astute, in-depth analysis of every issue, he knows more about the issues before them than any other member. 2nd Nancy Floreen - President of the Council can’t hurt and she has worked with the community continually since on the council. 3rd George Leventhal - knows how to reach a consensus with Executive and council. 4th Becky Wagner - She was 5th until the NOW issue is forcing Duchy to the back of the pack. Becky is sharp, understands what is needed and how to get it.
State Spy #3:
I think right now that it’s Leventhal, Elrich, Riemer, Trachtenberg, in that order. Leventhal and Elrich have had good all-around campaigns, though Leventhal is weak on field and Elrich on mail. Riemer’s campaign has been strong all around, and he has rolled up a lot of vital endorsements. Trachtenberg squeaks in on incumbency and the Jewish vote, though for someone with as much money as her the campaign has been lackluster to say the least. My two cents: I think she’s so confident of re-election that she is saving her money for an Exec race in four years. There is no end to that woman’s ego...
State Spy #4:
1. George Leventhal - Has maximized incumbency to his advantage. High visibility over his 8 years in office and corresponding high name ID matters in low turnout races.
2. Marc Elrich - Won in 2006 without much institutional support. Marc has broadened his appeal over the past 4 years and has key institutional support this time around, including both the Post and the Apple Ballot.
3. Hans Riemer - The general dissatisfaction with the current Council will cause one incumbent to go down. With the Post and Apple Ballot endorsements and what looks like the best field operation/campaign amongst all the challengers, Riemer appears best positioned to capitalize.
4. Nancy Floreen - Stumbles to the finish line on the strength of high visibility serving this year as Council President and the other inherent advantages associated with having been an incumbent for 8 years.
State Spy #5:
Leventhal, Elrich, Riemer, Trachtenberg. As much of a tool as Leventhal is, he has a lot of support and it is pretty clear he is going to be first. Elrich also has a lot of support, as he has spent a lot of time in the last four years building grassroots support so that it would not take a lot of money to run for re-election. Riemer is a force of nature this year and frankly deserves it. I’m just guessing on the last one, but I don’t see Wagner knocking off Duchy, as much as I wouldn’t mind it.
State Spy #6:
George Leventhal - He publicly admitted regret about spending which is refreshing because voters don’t hear too often elected officials understanding their mistakes. Despite the “throw the bums out” feeling in the electorate, the challengers are a little lackluster. The Community Conversations over the summer were fairly popular and having mail in mailboxes before everyone else made him standout.
Marc Elrich - Has built the broadest coalition in the entire county. Not easy to do in a bad economy. When the teachers union, Post, developers and environmental groups support you, there's really no one else to go against you. People pay attention that he is everywhere in the county and genuinely listens to every point of view. Despite some disagreeing with his conclusions about various issues, everyone knows that his thought process is untainted.
Nancy Floreen - Knows how to consistently come in the top four. Her creative mailers get a few seconds of hesitation before they end up in the recycling.
Hans Riemer - The voters are going to want at least one new person. Becky Wagner is significantly more qualified and would be a great councilmember, but she’s a first time candidate going against some real pros. He is going to win because so many groups and elected officials are supporting his campaign and he has the field organization and mail plan to let every voting Democrat know it.
State Spy #7:
I would say Leventhal, Trachtenberg, Elrich, and it will be a close race for 4th between Wagner, Riemer, and Floreen. Definitely too close to call but I would say that Riemer pulls it out based on ground game.
I think that Trachtenberg and Leventhal win because of their incumbent status/name recognition. And though he has not sent many, Elrich’s mail is by far the best I have seen over here.
State Spy #8:
My two cents (which is all this is worth), is that Nancy, George and Marc will likely be reelected. I think the fourth will be Hans or Becky -- with an edge to Hans. Nancy is generally well liked and is seen on the “news” often -- so, despite the negative website and signs about her, I think she’ll be fine. For whatever reason, people like George and he campaigns very hard. He’s not my choice but he’s in touch with voters and I believe he’ll be reelected. I think Marc appeals to many people --- he comes across as honest and sincere, despite some recent criticism. As a newcomer, Hans is campaigning hard and is connecting with people. But I think Becky has come a long way in the past three weeks and has some traction.
State Spy #9:
The incumbents, because despite the anger towards and discontent in Rockville, I don’t think the voter anger is directed in a single direction. However, Duchy seems to be sitting on her huge campaign account and not sending out much mail. So, though I would bet a few dollars on the incumbents, I wouldn’t be too shocked if Riemer wins and Duchy loses.
State Spy #10:
Marc Elrich, because he’s calm and usually level-headed and may be the only grown-up on the Council
George Leventhal, because he’s everywhere--nobody loves his explosive personality but everybody respects his commitment
Duchy Trachtenberg--a serious legislator with a good sense of how to run and win, may finish 4th because of a late start
There will be a photo-finish recount between
Nancy Floreen--ubiquitous on the campaign trail but grating
And
Hans Riemer--who has targeted MoCo seniors very effectively with non-stop calls and mail about his AARP work which make him a real force in the race despite his failure to win the hearts of many local political activists
Leading to victory of Hans….
State Spy #11:
Being a pragmatist, I expect all four incumbents to return. All of them have significant bases of support and frankly no one has angered any of their base. While Duchy is sometimes irrational, the general public does not see it and they have no reason to vote against her. I was offended by her piece which bragged about how she beat up on the unions about the budget, but some people probably liked it.
Hans has run a fantastic campaign and he certainly has a great deal of support. If anyone can pull off an upset I think it is he, but I still think that it is a long shot.
State Spy #12:
Hans Riemer. Great field. Good mail. Has broad endorsements.
Becky Wagner. Has teachers and she is prominent in their mailers. Undercurrent of voter frustration against current council. She has tapped it.
Marc Elrich. No enemies. Has endorsements. For four years, has gone to events in all corners of the County. Of all at-large council members, I have seen him the most at various events. Has not really alienated business, has labor support, has environmental and civic group support. Will be low turnout election and many of his constituencies vote.
Slight edge to Leventhal over Floreen. I think both are seen as emblematic of problems with current council on multiple fronts. Though they have varying and good mix of endorsements, I have seen lack-luster campaigns that rely predominantly on mail and existing name recognition.
Duchy Trachtenberg is not going to win. Lackluster mail. Hardly at events throughout the county. She’ll do well in her corner of the county, but not very well in the rest of the county. I think she could have won had she run a stronger campaign. She did not frame for voters why she should get another 4 years. If her message is fiscal responsibility, no one knows it’s her message.
Our spies’ tally:
George Leventhal: 12 (unanimous)
Marc Elrich: 12 (unanimous)
Hans Riemer: 8
Nancy Floreen: 7
Duchy Trachtenberg: 7
Becky Wagner: 2
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Becky Wagner: Incumbency is Not Tenure
County Council At-Large candidate Becky Wagner is once again spanking the incumbents and their mutual non-aggression pact. Following is her email to supporters.
Incumbency is not tenure!
Dear friends and neighbors,
Over the course of this campaign, the incumbent members of the Montgomery County Council have done everything they can to gloss over and make us forget the lack of civility and embarrassing public displays acted out in the council chambers and the media.
In fact, after all of their petty personal squabbling, they decided that in order to save their own jobs, they need to finally get along with each other, in what can only be described as an election year miracle.
It took a $1 Billion budget deficit to get their attention. One incumbent council member wrote to her constituents, “As you know, the FY11 budget was fairly disastrous.” I am not sure this county has four more “fairly disastrous” years in it.
Re-election of the incumbents will affirm their conduct and their choices. I don't know about you, but after watching 3 ½ years of this council, I believe we can do better.
Our need to return integrity, honesty and civility is the first reason I am running for County Council. Residents have the right to expect our elected leaders to model civility as they represent us. We have the right to see elected officials make us proud as they model constructive and collaborative behavior on behalf of the County.
When The Gazette endorsed me, they noted my "ability to criticize bad policy without making personal attacks." The challenges we face as a county are too great for four more years of small politics.
Are you satisfied with the status quo? If so, I am not your candidate. However, if you have had enough and know that we can do better, vote on September 14 for me, Becky Wagner, County Council At-Large.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Monday, September 06, 2010
Wagner Whacks the Council
Here’s something we have not seen in twelve years: an at-large council challenger has gone negative against the entire County Council. William O’Neil tried this in 1998 and finished eighth out of eight, but Becky Wagner, who authored the piece below, is a FAR more formidable candidate. And who can blame Wagner for lumping all the incumbents together since they lumped themselves together when they struck their non-aggression pact?
Saturday, September 04, 2010
At-Large MoCo Council Debate at the 4H in Chevy Chase
Thirteen candidates showed up in Chevy Chase tonight for the second to last candidate forum--or so I am told--of the at-large campaign season. The debate was sponsored by a panoply of municipalities and organizations from around the area. Channel 16 covered it so you should be able to watch it. Here are my impressions on how candidates struck people--less about the specifics of what they said and more about style.
As mayor, I got to introduce the candidates--a great example of a politician taking credit of the hard work of others in putting the forum together and Charles Duffy for moderating it. The candidates looked like they were ready to throw me off the stage when I suggested that elections are like reality TV in that you actually get to vote people off the island--a thought I admit was inspired by viewing of Top Chef last night and perhaps by a post on the delegate race in District 18 inspired by Project Runway four years ago. Perhaps I was on firmer ground when I spoke about all the important decisions they get to make.
George Gluck (Green) lost me when he said that the solution to the economic crisis in a nutshell is that we all need to stop shopping at Barnes and Noble in Bethesda and go to the Cricket Book Shop in Ashton instead to keep money and jobs in the County. Reinforced the impression of Greens as well-meaning but utterly impractical and a bit kooky.
Duchy Trachtenberg (D) had one really good theme that resonated well and one that sounded a little tinny to me. The good theme is making tough choices in tough times. In short, it makes a virtue out of Duchy's loss of political support from unions--a smart and sensible response to the choices she has made in office that fits the mood of the times--not to mention the Post. In contrast, Duchy recitation of Ike's endorsement and how we can only trust experienced hands now rang false as it left me wondering why one should have supported her four years ago.
Despite starting off the debate by complimenting his fellow incumbents, George Leventhal (D) quickly lost any chance of taking home the Mr. Congeniality statuette. A bull in a china shop, George is tough and argumentative rather than pleasant and controlled, and sometimes clever instead of convincing. His tone is the one I try to keep out of my classroom teaching--the one that suggests you're a real idiot if you disagree with me--reinforced with a frown and crossed arms. Folks, we even nearly had a Saturday Night Live moment brought to life when he went after Jane de Winter. But hey, I guess you can't argue with George's electoral success.
In contrast, Nancy Floreen (D) came across as an adult who has firm convictions and a grasp of the facts but keeps her head. Like George, Nancy has strong opinions and defends them armed with a quick mind and grasp of the issues.. However, she managed to make her points, and even correct people, without looking like she was berating them or being unpleasant. Not an easy balance but one Nancy carried out with conviction. Looked like a Council President.
Jane de Winter (D) benefited from being George's target and having a sense of humor about it as she turned George's attack on her fiscal sense and her advocacy for education into a family anecdote about an adult handling a child. One can debate about who won the point but the optics of standing up to a bully were good as Jane held her own as she made an impression--something challengers have to do. Seated wrongly as a "W" instead of a "D", de Winter got to sit in the center of the pack.
Raj Narayanan (D) came across as an outsider with economic knowledge but lost credibility when he urged the audience to vote for him and Marc Elrich--mainly because it looks weak and because he apparently urges support for himself and a different incumbent at each forum. Nonetheless, he was a fresh face to me and I enjoyed his contribution.
Hans Riemer (D) was the candidate who really gets that debates are not just about what you say but the impression you make. Though younger than the other Democrats, he came across as calm, likable, and knowing the notes he wanted to hit, particularly reinforcing the message of his recent mailer on seniors. Though some will ask where's the beef? his competitors did not press this point as at other forums.
Becky Wagner (D) had an ability to relate governmental problems to both her past experience and to make clear points on complex issues. As with Jane de Winter, I got the impression of someone who has worked hard in the community and earned her spot up there. Becky came across as clear-eyed even if one wondered about her stands on issues as her responses sometimes could be read a number of ways--not necessarily a bad thing when one is trying to corral voters with diverse opinions.
Marc Elrich (D) must have been good in the classroom. He has clear views but also looks like someone who is practical, knows a lot, is willing to talk calmly with others, and thinks that politics is about bringing people together to solve the community's problems. In short, another grown up. He elicited the only applause for the night when he mentioned his bus-rapid transit proposal.
Fred Evans (D) seemed like a nice enough fellow but did not leave much of a memory--bad news for any candidate, I'm afraid.
Robert Dyer (R) wanted you to know that he is the man with the fiscal plan. Very intense. I confess I don't know what to make of Republicans with pony tails. The repeated references to Fantasy Island didn't help. I resisted urges to stand up from the back of the auditorium and shout: "The plane! The plane!"
Mark Fennell (R) brags about being a tea-party candidate in his literature but oddly sounded more interested in making sure that developers pay their fair share for infrastructure in addition to standard Republican fiscal concerns. I preferred the guy on stage to his written materials. Mark is sort of an inverse Bob Ehrlich who looks great in his ads but really should never be allowed to debate.
Brandon Rippeon (R) woke me up with a resonant voice and a passionate presentation but then disappointed with his anodyne attack suggesting that increasing gang violence indicates that the county council has provided bad value for its money. Like Hans, Brandon is a young, fresh face but has a very different style.
Note: I have endorsed Marc Elrich and Jane de Winter. I apologize for any votes this loses them.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Duchy Slaps Riemer, Wagner
In an email sent to supporters on Monday, Duchy Trachtenberg's campaign manager, Woody Brosnan, had this to say about challengers Hans Riemer and Becky Wagner. No, he did not name them, but his targets were obvious. This sort of talk is normally supposed to occur under the radar, but thank Heavens we have blogs to air these kinds of things!
The Week Ahead
By Woody Brosnan, Campaign Manager
Next Friday marks the start of Maryland’s first experience with early voting in person. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from Sept. 3 through Sept. 9—even on Labor Day—voters can go to one of five locations to vote. (Those locations are listed below, at the end of this piece.)
Is there any reason to wait until Sept. 14? Is there going to be some startling new bold innovation to spring forth from one of Duchy’s challengers?
Probably not.
One of the challengers says vote for him because he would be a “fresh face” on the Council. Now when I was covering Congress for various newspapers and heard that argument I always that meant there wasn’t much behind the face. Then too, a face can always change depending on the audience.
Another says she’s a “consensus builder” but a consensus for what isn’t exactly clear because she won’t offer specifics on the county’s tough budget choices.
One thing I have to admit is that Duchy is not a new face. For two decades, she’s been around Montgomery County and Maryland, and in the halls of the Capitol fighting for women’s rights, improvements in the care of the mentally ill, and critical needs for our community.
Duchy is a consensus builder too; but what sets her apart is that she starts with an idea, like creating a Family Justice Center for victims of domestic abuse, or banning the use of trans fat in restaurants in the county, or envisioning a long-term fiscal plan that makes sense and then selling the idea to her colleagues on the Council.
Her record of success is pretty good too. To learn more, visit www.voteduchy.org.
So just go ahead and vote early, and mark your ballot for Duchy Trachtenberg, Councilmember At-Large.
Here are those Early Voting Locations:
Silver Spring Civic Building, 8525 Fenton Street, Silver Spring 20910
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville 20850
Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville 20853
Germantown Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown 20874
Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville 20866
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Heard a Good Rumor?
There are MANY rumors floating around in the County Council races right now. Let’s be irresponsible and review a couple of them, shall we?
1. The Rockville consensus is that Craig Rice should and will win the Council District 2 seat. No one believes Sharon Dooley has a shot, and no one in either the council building or the Executive Branch wants to see combative former Planning Board Chair Royce Hanson get in. As a result, lots of people are wooing Rice and hoping to earn his vote later. Ike Leggett, for example, gave Rice $3,000.
2. The at-large incumbents loathe Hans Riemer and are picking up their whisper campaign against him. More than one person who has publicly supported him has told your author that they have been pressured by one or more incumbents to retract that support. There has been an intense effort to discredit Riemer and plant derogatory allegations about him in the media. One such allegation is that he has never worked for AARP. Your author knows that is a lie because Riemer would answer the phone at AARP when called there by yours truly.
3. A civic activist who despises Council President Nancy Floreen has started an illegal, anonymous anti-Floreen website and has begun erecting illegally-placed road signs calling for her defeat. The activist is known to be a supporter of Council Member Marc Elrich. Elrich denies responsibility for fomenting the anti-Floreen effort, but his pleas are not entirely believed. Rumors are spreading that the activist is planning an attack mailer against Floreen. This is beginning to stress the incumbents’ four-way mutual non-aggression pact.
4. Council Member George Leventhal has taken an increasingly hard line against challenger Becky Wagner in the at-large candidate forums. Leventhal is suspected by many of tacitly supporting Wagner a year ago, a charge he denies, and some are now accusing him of throwing Wagner under the bus as part of the incumbents’ deal.
5. Council Member Duchy Trachtenberg is so upset about the growing circulation of stories about her mishandling money while she was Treasurer of Maryland NOW that she is vowing to locate their source. Perhaps she should blame the Gazette, which originally reported on the issue. Our informants are wondering whether distraction over this matter explains why Trachtenberg, who is sitting on over $200,000 in the bank, has apparently not yet sent out mail.
6. More than one council incumbent has recently butted heads with Council Vice-President Valerie Ervin, who will likely become President this December. That is EXTREMELY unwise as Ervin will be determining committee assignments, including chairmanships. Ervin is a tough cookie who will not tolerate mischief and will break heads if she has to.
7. We’ll finish with something positive. Yes, we know such things bore you, but you received plenty of dirt above, so deal with it. The County Council and the county’s statehouse delegation are often criticized for not talking to each other, but that could change for the better. One example is that Council Member Roger Berliner, who has significant expertise on energy policy, and Delegate Brian Feldman (D-15), who sits on the House committee that oversees electric utilities, are collaborating on legislation to establish performance standards for Pepco. We don’t care what they come up with, but the very fact that they are working together may be a sign of good things to come.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Council At-Large: Becky Wagner and Hans Riemer
With Jane de Winter and Fred Evans reporting dismal fundraising numbers, there are only two at-large challengers with a shot to win: Becky Wagner and Hans Riemer. What are their chances?
Becky Wagner
Becky Wagner’s personality is shinier than a new silver dollar. MoCo is full of people with IQs surpassed only by their egos. Not Wagner. The long-ago comments by our spies were dead on: she is smart, extraordinarily gracious, a great speaker and aces interviews. People who meet her in person usually like her very much.
Wagner has never run for office before, so assessing her potential electoral performance is difficult. Her closest candidate analogue may be Nancy Floreen. Like Floreen, Wagner has deep roots in the community, support from business, and experience in the public arena. Unlike Floreen, she is on the Apple Ballot (which is good) and is running against four incumbents who are more or less sticking together (which is not good). Wagner’s message combines the pro-growth appeal of Nancy Floreen and the fiscal discipline of Duchy Trachtenberg. Because of that message overlap, their demographic similarity and their close residential proximity (Wagner in Bethesda, Trachtenberg in North Bethesda and Floreen in Garrett Park) the three women could be chasing many of the same votes.
We expect Wagner to do well in Bethesda because it is her home and the Apple Ballot made a strong showing there in 2006. That cuts directly into Trachtenberg’s base, since she won Bethesda last time when she was on the Apple. If Wagner erodes Trachtenberg’s area of strength and Trachtenberg cannot make it up elsewhere, Duchy will go home.
Could Becky Wagner win? It’s possible if Trachtenberg falters and Riemer does not live up to his hype, but we doubt it. Something has not clicked with this campaign. Wagner raised just $60,238 in outside contributions between January and August, less than half the outside contribution totals of Riemer ($130,782) and Floreen ($124,063) despite having substantial business support. She appears to be running the same sort of campaign as the incumbents, namely showing up at civic, public and candidate events and saving up a six-digit mail budget for use at the end. The incumbents can get away with that because of their superior name recognition. Wagner cannot. We are picking Wagner to finish sixth, with a small chance of fifth if Trachtenberg implodes.
Hans Riemer
Riemer’s campaign is one of the great stories of the election season. He has outraised all of the other at-large candidates, including the incumbents, since January. He has the support of both MCEA and the Post and his endorsement mix is better than anyone except Marc Elrich. He has reassembled much of the campaign team that won the 2009 special election for Nancy Navarro, including David Moon and Ken Silverman. And his ground game is easily the best in the at-large race, placing thousands of door-knocks and phone calls. Riemer’s opponents grumble about his brief history in the county and question his resume, but his supporters are excited and motivated.
Riemer ran for an open seat in District 5 in 2006. School board member Valerie Ervin blew him out by a 62-38% margin. Riemer won just six of forty-nine precincts, five of which were outside the Beltway, and Ervin crushed him in Takoma Park and Downtown Silver Spring. But Ervin is now Riemer’s ally and even his opponents expect him to run well in District 5. Since Riemer is on the Apple Ballot, he has a chance to run decently in places outside District 5 where the Apple performs well, including Chevy Chase, Bethesda and Potomac. His challenge will be to put together enough votes in the rest of the county to break through the incumbents.
Riemer has become something of a vessel for discontent with one or more of the incumbents. Organizations or individuals who have a problem with an incumbent have usually chosen Riemer as the alternative. For example, MCEA ditched Duchy Trachtenberg and Nancy Floreen in favor of Riemer (and Becky Wagner). The Post dropped George Leventhal and added Riemer. The AFL-CIO and SEIU dropped Trachtenberg and added Riemer. Progressive Maryland dropped both Floreen and Trachtenberg and added Riemer. The Sierra Club has never supported Floreen or Leventhal, but they added Riemer to their list along with past endorsees Trachtenberg and Elrich. And MANY people with whom we have spoken have voiced unhappiness with an incumbent or two (usually Floreen or Trachtenberg) and have included Riemer on their vote list. If Riemer is everyone’s fourth vote, he will win.
We are picking Riemer to finish anywhere from third to fifth. If his campaign skills, endorsements, money and work ethic can compensate for the incumbents’ starting name recognition, he will be headed to Rockville. If not, then the incumbents will likely have been invincible from the start. Riemer definitely benefits from a sense of momentum and the number of spies who believe he will win is growing. We will soon see if they are right.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Becky Wagner's First Mailer
If smiles alone could win elections, Becky Wagner could be headed to Rockville.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Former Senator Paul Sarbanes Endorses Becky Wagner
Former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, who employed County Council At-Large candidate Becky Wagner, has endorsed her challenge for the council. Following is Wagner's press release.
For Immediate Release
Former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes endorses Becky Wagner for Montgomery County Council
Calls Wagner a “proven leader” and strong and effect advocate for Montgomery County’s residents
August 11, 2010 – Bethesda, Maryland – Former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (D), the longest serving U.S. senator in Maryland’s history, today strongly endorsed Becky Wagner for an At-Large seat on the Montgomery County Council.
“For six years Becky Wagner gave outstanding service as a representative of my Senate office in Montgomery County. She then became the Executive Director of Interfaith Works where she has continued her dedicated and exemplary service,” said Sarbanes. “Now she is seeking to extend her deep commitment to public service by becoming an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council.”
Sarbanes added, “A strong and effective advocate, Becky will bring her superb problem solving abilities and her dedication to the public good to the challenges facing the county. She is a proven leader of intelligence and integrity and I urge the citizens of Montgomery County to give Becky Wagner this opportunity to serve them on the Council.”
A respected coalition builder, Becky has led progressive causes and efforts that have significantly and directly benefited Montgomery County’s residents. As Executive Director of Interfaith Works, a non-sectarian interfaith coalition of more than 165 member and affiliated congregations representing over 75,000 families of many faiths working together to meet the needs of the county’s poor, she has grown the organization into a professionally managed non-profit business with diverse funding sources.
During her service to the people of Montgomery County as Senator Sarbanes’ representative, she built consensus in the community to bring the FDA to White Oak, marshaled infrastructure funding for NIST in Germantown and additional funding for NIH and worked with community leaders to relocate several Walter Reed Medical Center research buildings to Silver Spring. Previously, Wagner advocated for the needy as the founding director of Rainbow Place, Montgomery County's first shelter for homeless women. She has co-chaired Montgomery County’s Safety Net, “Vote ‘No’ on Amendments A, B, C” and “No on Slots” coalitions.
“I am humbled and honored to have the support of my mentor and one of Maryland’s greatest progressive Democrats, Senator Paul Sarbanes,” said Wagner. “The values and ideals that he modeled for me and his staff – civility, cooperation, and collaboration – have informed my decisions and approach to developing community solutions.”
Senator Sarbanes joins former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan in recommending Wagner to the voters of Montgomery County. Additionally, she has been endorsed by such organizations as Montgomery County’s teachers (MCEA), Montgomery Women, Coalition of Asian American Democrats (CAPAD), Montgomery County Business PAC, HousingMaryland, Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce PAC. Wagner, a 40-year resident of Montgomery County, was named Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian magazine in 2008 and was the 2007 Meyer Foundation “Exponent Award” recipient in recognition of her exceptional work aiding the most vulnerable in our community.
For more information, please visit www.beckywagner.org
Media Contact:
Edward Cooper
Friends of Becky Wagner
ec@beckywagner.org
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Becky Wagner Nails Incumbents on Failure to Cooperate
In a blog post published last week, County Council At-Large challenger Becky Wagner nailed the four incumbents on failing to cooperate until they confronted a billion-dollar deficit that threatened the county's AAA bond rating. Her criticism echoes many of our informants who are incredulous on their recent non-aggression pact. Following are Wagner's remarks.
Why collaboration, not “I told you so,” matters…
Posted by Becky Wagner on August 5th, 2010
I don’t think it should take a $1 Billion deficit in an election year to get the attention of five or seven County Council members. Over the last several weeks at various venues, some incumbent Council members have identified ideas they had which would have pulled us back from our fiscal crisis much earlier than May 2010. The phrases, “if only they would have listened to me in 2008,” or, “I knew in 2007,” have been offered more than once. Who are they? Their fellow Council members!
The best idea in the world will not move forward if one does not possess the leadership skills to build collaborative partnerships and frankly, gain two votes in committee of three members or five votes on the nine-member County Council. In all of my professional, community and political work, I have a proven record of building consensus and moving a progressive vision forward in Montgomery County – whether it is was chairing the Vote No on ABC (Ficker Amendments) in 2002, our Stop Slots efforts or building the Safety Net Coalition. For the past 11 years I have worked with 165 congregations of many faiths, each finding where we have common interest in the greater good of the community and as a result 35,000 men, women and children are strengthened. I worked with former County Executive Doug Duncan, our nonprofit community and other elected officials to bring the nation’s first local match for the Earned Income Tax Credit to Montgomery County. I know how to bring stakeholders to the table to develop legislation and how to achieve consensus on challenging issues.
Are you comfortable with the status quo? Are you willing to put the County’s future in the hands of Council members who, only when pushed to the brink of losing our AAA bond rating, decide to cooperate with each other? I think we can do better.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Council At-Large Incumbents Forge Non-Aggression Pact
The four County Council at-large incumbents – Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal and Duchy Trachtenberg – have struck a non-aggression pact for the remainder of the election season. While they have not formed a slate by any means, they have agreed to avoid going after each other and to reserve their fire for the challengers.
The pact, agreed to a couple weeks ago, contains the following elements.
1. None of the four will speak ill of each other in public. This covers campaign communications such as mailers and emails.
2. Elrich and Trachtenberg will endorse each other and Leventhal and Floreen will endorse each other, but there will not be a four-way mutual endorsement. Such a public display might irritate some of the supporters of the respective candidates.
3. None of the four will endorse any of the at-large challengers.
The non-aggression pact is the product of several factors.
1. Leventhal and Floreen do not care for Trachtenberg, but her reporting nearly $300,000 in campaign cash back in January convinced them that Trachtenberg can likely not be defeated.
2. Becky Wagner, who was regarded as a fair bet to defeat Trachtenberg last fall, has not caught on other than by landing MCEA’s endorsement. If she was making a stronger showing, more than one council incumbent might consider supporting her. Instead, she has chosen to go negative against the whole council.
3. None of the incumbents respect Hans Riemer. They regard him as a non-substantive candidate who has not lived in the county long enough to warrant election and does not know very much about county government. They dismiss his endorsements and campaign expertise, perhaps to their peril.
4. The incumbents were united by the budget process, during which they were attacked from all sides and hung together until the end. That was the first time that they realized they could put aside their differences and all work together.
5. All four believe that all of them will be coming back. But if a challenger breaks through, no one knows which incumbent would be headed home. So the safest thing for each incumbent as an individual to do is to circle the wagons.
This deal comes from a very different place than the slates in MoCo’s state legislative districts. The latter slates are populated, for the most part, by incumbents with histories of working together and minor policy differences. The at-large incumbents have waged bitter feuds over the years, especially Elrich versus former End Gridlock members Floreen and Leventhal and Trachtenberg versus Leventhal. The non-aggression pact is strictly a marriage – well, more like a limited cohabitation arrangement – of convenience.
But the pact is not without cost to its members. Many of Elrich’s supporters detest Leventhal and Floreen for supporting the ICC and accepting no limit on their developer contributions. Elrich has stressed the problem of developer contributions for MANY years to his significant benefit. So why would his supporters credit any accommodation he makes with candidates they view as the developers’ favorites? The unions will not smile on any deal struck by their endorsees with Duchy Trachtenberg, whom they regard as an arch-enemy. And the district Council Members can hardly be expected to fall in line as none of their interests were considered by the deal signers. Two of them (Valerie Ervin and Nancy Navarro) have already endorsed Riemer.
The deal may not hold over the long term, especially as other stake holders speak up. But if it does, the structure of the election is basically set. However much they may dislike each other, the incumbents will stand up for the council’s record – especially on the budget – while the challengers will hammer away from the outside. Whether the strategy works will be decided by the voters.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Becky Wagner Gets Tough with County Council Incumbents
County Council At-Large candidate Becky Wagner has delivered the toughest criticism to date by any challenger of the incumbents' budget policies. Following is an email she sent to her list.
Borrowing from our future...
With the primary election looming in September, the incumbent County Council members finally took steps in May to bring order to Montgomery County’s fiscal house - after two years of deferring pension funding, setting aside the mandatory Maintenance of Effort for the school system and failing to fulfill negotiated contracts. I am running for County Council because I believe they should have been paying attention three years ago, not just six weeks ago.
What will our core services be? What will a re-structured government look like? We all know that unpopular decisions will have to be made. I have the leadership and experience to build consensus on what needs to change and make the tough decisions on how to do that. I have managed a large nonprofit with a 5% overhead that is able to provide good paying jobs with good benefits to over 100 employees. We keep to a strict budget and make payroll every two weeks. THAT is why I am ready to lead on Day One and ready to get Montgomery County moving again. THAT is the kind of common sense, pragmatic experience we need on the Council right now.
But I cannot do it without your help. Please consider giving me resources I need to win - please contribute $50, $100 or more to the Friends of Becky Wagner! Make your contribution payable to Friends of Becky Wagner and mail to 119 Forest Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 or make a secure online contribution through my website by clicking Here.
We must practice fiscal discipline in order to protect the values we believe in as Democrats and ensure that all residents of Montgomery County — now and in the future — can continue to enjoy the overall high quality of life we are fortunate to have.
Thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.
All the best –
Becky Wagner
Candidate for Montgomery County Council, At Large
becky@beckywagner.org
www.beckywagner.org
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Primaries to Watch IV, Part Four
By Marc Korman and Adam Pagnucco.
Here are races Four and Three!
4. Council At-Large
Previous Rank: #4
Marc
For a race with all four incumbents running, there is a lot of action here. With the filing deadline behind us, there are six challengers. Of the six, I would argue that at this point only two are serious contenders to knock off an incumbent: Hans Riemer and Becky Wagner. Both are running hard campaigns all around the County and secured the Apple Ballot. Riemer also nabbed the Post endorsement. Jane de Winter has also been running for fifteen months and working hard.
But the real question is whether any incumbent is actually vulnerable. Nancy Floreen was the loser in the Apple Ballot sweepstakes, but she has won without it twice before. Duchy Trachtenberg seems to be a popular target, but she has $350,000 which pays for a lot of mail. Marc Elrich will probably have the least money, but he has strong grassroots support and candidates in every race are praising his Bus Rapid Transit plan. The Apple Ballot and Post stamp of approval help his profile too. George Leventhal, the primary vote leader in 2006, seems to be the favorite for that slot again. Even the Washington Post gave him some praise while declining to endorse him, a courtesy they did not extend to many others they did not support.
There are some great challengers, but who are they going to beat?
Full disclosure, I am a public supporter of Hans Riemer.
Adam
The last assessment by the spies still mostly holds. There is a significant sentiment that all four incumbents will win. There are also those who think that Hans Riemer will beat one of them, although educated observers differ on whether Duchy Trachtenberg or Nancy Floreen is more vulnerable. Riemer is running the best campaign of any candidate and he is flying high because he and incumbent Marc Elrich are the only at-large contenders to get both the Apple Ballot and the Post endorsement. Becky Wagner has a lot of respect in some quarters of the county and still has an outside shot as long as she stays on message and avoids spats and rants. The Post is trying to pin all the county’s budget problems on incumbent George Leventhal, but the newspaper by itself cannot prevent him from coming back. We have noticed that the incumbents mainly bring their families or their council staffers to parades and other events, meaning that their ground games are not awesomely strong.
There are various phenomena operating just under the surface in the at-large campaign. They include:
1. The Possibility of Slates.
Last fall, many speculated that the Council Members who backed Nancy Floreen for President (Floreen, George Leventhal, Mike Knapp, Valerie Ervin and Nancy Navarro) might form a slate and try to knock out one of the other four. That idea was dashed by Ervin when she announced that challenger Hans Riemer was the only at-large candidate she would be backing. Now it seems more likely that at least some of the other four council incumbents – Roger Berliner, Phil Andrews, Duchy Trachtenberg and Marc Elrich – will be cooperating formally or informally. If they do, one of their priorities will be ensuring that Elrich, who refuses developer contributions, will have enough money to finance his mail. They may also choose to back an at-large challenger if they can find one who is both viable and politically acceptable.
2. Target: Floreen
Accordingly, some or all of the above four may go after Floreen. None of them agree with her on growth policy, none were impressed with her handling of the budget and all were unhappy at her successful wresting of the council presidency from Berliner. Now that she has been rejected by MCEA, some smell blood in the water. We have heard from multiple sources that there is a significant possibility that Floreen will be targeted by negative mail, either by a slate including one or more of the four who did not back her for the presidency or by an “independent” entity supported by them. Since Andrews has no opponent, Berliner is pulling away from Hopkins and Trachtenberg has more money than several regional banks, there is more than enough campaign cash to spare for a mailer or two against Floreen. Leventhal is not viewed as vulnerable enough for such tactics to have effect.
3. County Executive 2014
In part, the at-large race will be affected by the dynamics of the impending contest to succeed Ike Leggett in 2014. Leventhal is likely to run. Ervin would be foolish not to consider it, and she is no fool. There may be others. If Leventhal finishes first and Riemer does not win, Leventhal will project early strength for the Executive race. If Riemer wins with strong support from District 5 and non-white precincts, Ervin will look like a king-maker. If Riemer scores close to Leventhal or even outpolls him, Ervin will look even more formidable. But if Marc Elrich finishes first, his name will be bandied about. Trust us: all capable politicians think more than one step ahead, and the County Executive’s seat is a big step indeed.
3. District 17 State Senate
Previous Rank: #1
Marc
The rumor is that Jennie Forehand has begun to work, but what took her so long? Why let Cheryl Kagan get such a head start when the challenger has been open about her campaign for over a year? If Forehand loses, I think the post-mortem on her campaign will focus on the past year and Forehand’s failure to understand she was facing a serious threat. A similar scenario has unfolded in District 39. On the other hand, if Forehand pulls out a victory it will demonstrate the power of incumbency and slates.
Adam
Cheryl Kagan has the complete package for a candidate: smarts, savvy, charm, speaking ability, experience in campaigning and office-holding, work ethic and a methodical approach to the business of politicking. She is the kind of challenger that would pose problems for any incumbent and is running perhaps the best campaign in the county. But she has a conundrum to resolve: how to give voters a reason to get rid of Forehand. The incumbent is a pleasant, gracious and long-serving politician who has built up a base among regular, older voters who tend to dominate primaries with low turnout. Kagan has not tried to build a contrast with Forehand. It’s tricky given that the two have similar policy positions and no one wants to come across as beating up the nice grandmotherly lady next door.
If Forehand lets Kagan continue to hustle rings around her, she will lose. But if she picks it up, she could still survive.
We reveal the final two tomorrow!
Friday, July 02, 2010
Becky Wagner Sweats
In an amazing post on her blog, Council At-Large candidate Becky Wagner has lashed out at unnamed people spreading rumors about her. We reprint her comments below.Green Hair
Posted by Becky Wagner on June 30th, 2010
As we move toward primary day on September 14th, the season of rumor, innuendo and whispering is in full bloom. When I hear gossip about me, I always use the “green hair” standard. If someone says I have green hair, and I do not, then I don’t give it another thought. If I do have green hair, then I consider if green hair is a good or bad thing!
In the past week I have heard that I am in the union camp, a developer’s candidate, too old, too conservative, too liberal, anti-union, too religious and only care for the vulnerable. WOW! Rumors like this are notorious in political campaigns, especially when candidates prefer to misrepresent an opponent’s character rather than debate the issues. All of us know it is impossible to be all things to all people, and some of us don’t pretend to be. The truth is that I believe we all have a responsibility to build a strong county, and that no one special interest trumps fairness. If you are reading this and know me, then you know that in the matter of these rumors, I don’t have green hair. But if you don’t know me, I encourage you to find out for yourself, the truth about who I am.
I am a progressive Democrat who is a leader on issues critical to our county. After starting the Montgomery County’s first shelter for homeless women, working for Senator Paul Sarbanes, leading Interfaith Works as we support 35,000 of our low income neighbors, co-chairing the Vote No effort which successfully stopped the Ficker Amendments in 2002, pulling together our Stop Slots forces and creating the Safety Net coalition to save services for the vulnerable, I’ll put my record for progressive, front-line work in this county up against anyone.
What you have in me is a leader with a commitment to bring everyone to the table, believing that all voices are worthy and have merit. I don’t believe in identity politics, so label away, but at your own peril. If we continue to try and divide our community I believe that our downward spiral is assured. Rather than speculation and innuendo, we need to be talking about growing our revenue base and funding core services. The hard stuff.
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