By Jud Ashman.
First things first. Voters in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Garrett Park are fortunate to have two exemplary people, Jennie Forehand and Cheryl Kagan, vying for the State Senate nomination in the September 14 Democratic Primary. As the pols and close observers all know, campaigning is an all-consuming, emotional business and, invariably, as Election Day approaches, tensions rise. It’s remarkable, and a credit to our district, that these candidates – as well as their volunteers - have maintained a high level of civility during this vigorous contest. Our favorite blogger, Adam Pagnucco, has dubbed it “The Classiest Race in MoCo” and, even as the messages out of each campaign start to get a little more direct, I think he’s probably right.
Now, going into this Primary, we have a pretty good idea of what will be on the table in Annapolis in the 2011 session – and it’s all grim stuff:
· A [pick a number: 1 through 3] billion dollar deficit;
· The specter of teacher pensions being sent back to the counties;
· Challenges funding education, transit, and all of your other favorite priorities;
· Proposals on tax rate increases, which will need to be balanced against the objective of fostering business and economic development; and
· A long tradition of balancing State budgets on the backs of Montgomery County residents and taxpayers.
So, there are the cards. The question is: whom do we want at the table?
It’s probably fair to say that Jennie Forehand and Cheryl Kagan agree on the vast majority of the issues; they’re both pragmatic in their approach – perhaps a little more centrist in their politics than either would care to admit during a primary. What really sets each apart is her leadership style: Jennie Forehand serving the last 31 years as the unassuming, self-described “worker bee;” Cheryl Kagan’s style being the more assertive, upfront advocate, “let’s make it happen” type.
Folks, sometimes tough circumstances call for a different kind of leadership. That is to say, “It’s time to re-shuffle the deck!”
Our cities and our County at large need a real “go-getter;” a staunch advocate, someone who’s not afraid to shake things up, but who can also build coalitions around important issues. Those qualities, and more, are united in Cheryl Kagan.
Cheryl’s smarts, savvy, and experience are obvious to even the most casual observer (or Scrabble opponent); and her infectious charm obvious to any who’ve been in the same room. However, I’d like to add a personal observation, having had the opportunity to get to know her pretty well over the last year or two: I don’t know if I’ve ever met someone as dedicated to “follow-through”, to “leaving no stone unturned,” in order to get things done as Cheryl Kagan. That’s exactly the sort of leadership we need right now.
With the larger issues facing our County, and those facing our municipalities (e.g., In Gaithersburg, we’ve lost about 27% of our entire state funding over the last two years), we need someone like Cheryl Kagan at that table.
Jennie Forehand has served us well over the years and certainly has earned our praise. What I liked about the Washington Post’s endorsement of Cheryl Kagan was that it struck a balance between appreciation for Jennie Forehand’s service and an acknowledgement that Cheryl Kagan is the right choice for today and tomorrow. I agree with them in both regards.
Times like these demand an independent minded, effective advocate. And so I urge Democratic Party voters in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Garrett Park to come out on September 14th and support Cheryl Kagan.
Full Disclosure: I am not affiliated with any party, and thus not a registered Democrat.
Jud Ashman
Member, Gaithersburg City Council
Monday, August 30, 2010
Why Cheryl Kagan is the Right Choice for District 17
Friday, May 14, 2010
Why You Should Be in Gaithersburg on May 15th
By Jud Ashman.
Folks, the Gaithersburg Book Festival is no longer just an opportunity to throw tomatoes at our favorite blogger, Adam Pagnucco (speaking at 2pm in the James Michener Tent). It has grown into what may be the greatest one-day assortment of literary talent in the history of Montgomery County. No joke, no hyperbole.
We are talking more than 50 authors who will be speaking and signing books on the grounds of Gaithersburg City Hall. (If you want names, take a few minutes and go to the web site.) If I haven’t convinced you yet, check out the HIGHLIGHTS of their accomplishments:
- Last week, our keynote speaker was on Oprah and The View – and if you missed it, you can catch him this Sunday (according to his web site) on Meet the Press.
- Last month, one of our authors won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize.
- We have a National Book Award winner, who also happens to have been a finalist for the Pulitzer three times.
- We have a Newbery Medal winner, which if you don’t remember is the most coveted prize in children’s literature.
- At least three of our authors made major Best Books of 2009 lists – and several are destined to make the 2010 lists.
- There are many who’ve written best-sellers and several who’ve had books adapted into major motion pictures and plays.
We also have a ton of great new talent who are destined to become household names. See them here first! With summer right around the corner, this is the perfect opportunity to pick out your summer/vacation reading.
But wait! There’s more!
• Workshops for aspiring writers.
• A Children’s Village with fun and creative activities for kids of all ages.
• A Coffee House that will feature song and verse from local talent.
• A ton of really interesting exhibitors and wonderful sponsors.
• Food, food, food! (Some of which comes in the form of samples from our culinary authors.)
• Book sales on site from Barnes & Noble and Friends of the Library.
Oh, and by the way, the Gaithersburg Book Festival is free of charge!
Now, since we’re posting on MPW, here’s the policy angle as I see it: The first rule of economic development for an area is “Give people a reason to be there.” The DC Metro area is at the very top of the list of the “Most Literate Cities in the U.S.” Last September, the National Book Festival on the Mall drew 130,000 attendees… IN THE RAIN! Mind you, we’re not even remotely trying to draw 130,000 people to Gaithersburg on May 15th. (Maybe next year…) But come on, people, let’s show D.C. how MC rolls!
And the interest doesn’t stop at our borders. Looking at the GBF web site stats, almost 20% of the people considering our program are coming from DC, almost 10% are coming from Virginia, more than 5% are coming from New York, and we’ve even heard from people as far away as Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Michigan. In fact, our program coordinator received a voice mail the other day from someone in Philadelphia asking for directions to Gaithersburg City Hall!
All this is to say that, as we grow the Gaithersburg Book Festival over the years, we all have an opportunity to take a major step forward in branding our Montgomery County community as a cultural destination of regional and, yes, national importance.
We want YOU with us! And we want your friends, and your families, and your neighbors with us too - on May 15th, and every year after.
“Or,” you might be thinking, “cut the crap, Jud. I’m just going to heckle Adam!” We’ll take that too. We’re not all that picky!
Jud Ashman
Gaithersburg City Council
Chair, Gaithersburg Book Festival
www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org
Saturday, January 09, 2010
On Books, Blogs and Politics
By Jud Ashman.
MPW is most assuredly not an "event calendar," but Adam has a secret motive in indulging this off-topic post on the upcoming Gaithersburg Book Festival: he is going to be one of our many fascinating featured speakers.
That's right! This is an early invitation. Come to the grounds of Gaithersburg City Hall on Saturday, May 15th, when you'll have a chance among other things, to see your favorite pundit, policy wonk, and provocateur, Adam Pagnucco speak about blogging the 2010 campaigns, his relationship with the mainstream media, and his successes working in this relatively new medium.
And to those who aren't so enamored with Adam's insights and musings, this might also be a good opportunity to come and heckle him... until his handlers escort you off the premises! (Bet he didn't think of that when he said yes!)
Stay tuned for more on this great event.
Jud Ashman
Gaithersburg City Council
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Hey! What About Our CCT? What Are We, Chopped Liver?!
By Jud Ashman, Gaithersburg City Council Member.
Can someone please come up with a serious argument against the Corridor Cities Transitway? Apparently all this “agreement” and lack of controversy has had the ironic effect of moving the CCT to the media and political backburner at exactly the time it makes the most sense.
If you don’t know - or can’t remember – what the Corridor Cities Transitway is, don’t blame yourself. It’s our fault! What gets news media attention - far more than any boring aspects of merit a project might boast - is a fight. If we just could have found someone out there among the citizenry, the business community, or the elected officials who opposed the project, you surely would’ve been inundated with stories in the Washington Post, the Gazette, NewsChannel 8, etc. Marc Fisher could’ve filed two columns a month on the subject and Adam, here at MPW, could’ve posted a 4 part statistical analysis!
But we obviously failed to find that opposition. “Why?” you ask. Because the CCT makes too much sense. Here are the facts:
• The concept for the CCT dates back to the 1964 General Plan for Montgomery County. It’s a 14-mile transitway that would link the Shady Grove Metro to Clarksburg. (Ultimately, the CCT could be extended to Frederick but that is not currently under consideration.) The project has earned the support of the cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville, as well as Montgomery County.
• The stated goals of the CCT are:
o Provide efficient, reliable transit enhancement
o Extend Metrorail Red Line and reduce demand for drive access to Shady Grove Station
o Support current and planned land uses in the corridor
o Relieve traffic congestion on area roads (particularly I270)
• The CCT is more than simple north-south transit. It links the existing Town Centers of King Farm and Kentlands – as well as similar communities in Germantown and Clarksburg - with the approved future Town Centers of Crown Farm/Washingtonian Rio and Watkins Mill, and potentially with a Johns Hopkins Shady Grove Life Sciences Center. Collectively, these town centers will provide countless opportunities to live, work, shop, learn, and play without getting in a car. (Note: With the Kentlands and the Lakelands, the City of Gaithersburg pioneered the sort of Transit Oriented Developments that most jurisdictions have been emulating for the past decade. Problem is, we’ve had no “Transit” and thus haven’t seen the full potential of the planning model)
• For the last 45 years, the City of Gaithersburg has taken the CCT into account when making all land use decisions related to its western sections. 100% of the right-of-way within the Gaithersburg city limits is available for construction at no cost to the public.
• Overall, 60% of the entire right-of-way for the CCT is available for construction at no cost to the public.
• Based on year 2030 population and employment forecasts, the CCT is projected to have an average daily boarding in the neighborhood of 30,000 riders.
• MTA is currently studying whether it’s best suited for Light Rail or Bus Rapid Transit. As a Bus Rapid Transit mode, the cost effectiveness ratio meets Federal “New Starts” criteria and is eligible to compete nationally for Federal funding.
It should be noted that, all things being equal, most people when asked would support a Light Rail (LRT) option over BRT. However, all things aren’t equal; LRT is probably 3 or 4 times more expensive. Careful readers of this blog will remember the estimates from Marc Elrich’s BRT plan: Light Rail costs about $75 to $102 million per mile vs. about $20 million per mile for BRT. (In fact, if the Purple Line is built as Light Rail, as is the preference of both Park and Planning and the County Council, and the CCT is built as BRT, then the CCT will probably come in at about ¼ of the cost, based on published estimates.)
All of this isn’t to argue that the Purple Line (as light rail) isn’t a worthy project. It certainly is. But let’s not allow it to suck all of the oxygen from the room. The CCT has enormous merit, and can be made into a reality at a fraction of the cost; both in terms of dollars and political capital.
The Corridor Cities Transitway is good to go!
