Showing posts with label Kyle Lierman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyle Lierman. Show all posts
Monday, October 18, 2010
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Kyle Lierman: Thank You
District 16 House candidate Kyle Lierman has sent the following email thanking his supporters and congratulating the winners of his primary.
Dear [Voter],
Now that our campaign is over and I've had some time to reflect on the last few months, I want to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to you and all the people who made this campaign possible. As most of you know by now, the final votes have been tallied and we came up about 350 votes short of winning one of the three nominations for delegate. Although I'm disappointed, I have no regrets, and am instead filled with gratitude toward the many people who supported our effort and with pride in the way we conducted our campaign.
Any great effort starts with the support of one's family, and over the last four months, mine went all in for me. Thank you to my mother (and treasurer) Connie, father Terry, sister Brooke and her husband Eben, and brother Trent and his wife Holly for all of their hard work and dedication. I also want to give a special thanks to my great friend and Campaign Chair, Irene Pollin.
My family also grew during this race to include the staff and volunteers who put countless hours into this campaign. I cannot tell you how humbled I was by the support I received in the community over the course of this campaign. I want to extend a huge and heartfelt thanks to all of you, and the over 600 people who made this campaign possible. I'd also like to take a moment to recognize my campaign team - most of whom were unpaid and whom I will never be able to repay for their incredible work:
Campaign Manager: Nicholas Kowalski
Deputy Campaign Manager: Kim MacDonald
GOTV Director and the best sister in the world: Brooke Lierman
Field Organizers: Brianna McCullough and Carl Ehrlich
Director of Correspondence: Jordann Wine
Interns: Caila Driscoll, Daniel Hafner, Kate Hooper
And all of our volunteers, especially Sara Conrath, David Dimock, Sue Byrnes and Lucy Freeman.
I am extraordinarily proud of the campaign that we mounted. We knocked on over 23,000 doors, made over 10,000 phone calls, sent over 4,000 postcards, and built a base of support on the idea that our constituents deserved a representative that puts their interests above any special interest.
I want to congratulate Susan Lee, Bill Frick and Ariana Kelly on gaining the Democratic nominations. I also want to congratulate the other challengers, many of whom I now consider friends, for running strong, positive campaigns and for showing the wide array of talent in this district. I look forward to working with all of them - and all of you - to make sure District 16 has a strong turnout for Governor O’Malley in November.
Thank you again for your hard work and dedication and for believing in me and our campaign; I am forever indebted to you for your commitment and support.
Kyle Lierman
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Absentee Ballot Counts
One of our informants forwarded the following absentee ballot counts by legislative district. These counts have implications for a number of close races.
Democratic Absentee Ballots, as of 10am this morning...
D14: 636 requested -- 320 returned so far
D15: 692 requested -- 312 returned so far
D16: 1735 requested -- 868 returned so far
D17: 814 requested -- 461 returned so far
D18: 1266 requested -- 599 returned so far
D19: 925 requested -- 528 returned so far
D20: 731 requested -- 297 returned so far
D39: 430 requested -- 208 returned so far
The spy notes, "If the absentees returned don't increase dramatically, Rona Kramer would have to take 60% of them, Kyle Lierman would need 65% and Cheryl Kagan would need 80%."
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Buy Kyle Lierman a Watch
This is just a brutal Google ad purchased by House 16 candidate Ariana Kelly targeting Google searches on her rival, Kyle Lierman.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Kelly Takes a Risk
The conventional wisdom in round-robin races is that candidates should not go after rivals because that creates opportunities for third parties to go up the middle and win. But District 16 House candidate Ariana Kelly has rolled the dice with this bold new contrast mailer.
Kelly is now saying through the mail what she has said online twice: she believes she is better qualified to go to Annapolis than Kyle Lierman. An independent poll of which your author has become aware shows that Kelly and Lierman are virtually tied for the district’s third Delegate seat. Perhaps Kelly’s mailer is an attempt to move those numbers. But will it move them in her direction, Lierman’s direction or no direction at all? We’ll find out tomorrow night – unless this contest goes to absentees and provisionals.
Campaign Finance Fun Facts
Here’s a few tidbits from the immense State Board of Elections campaign finance database!
1. Marc Elrich has long disavowed development industry contributions and Duchy Trachtenberg told Progressive Neighbors that she was also turning them away. But Elrich took $3,000 from the Maryland Realtors PAC on 8/13/10 and Trachtenberg took $3,000 from them on the same day. Aren’t realtors part of the development industry since someone has to sell all those buildings the developers put up?
OK, reasonable people can disagree on that question, but Trachtenberg also took $1,000 on 5/11/10 from HBW Group of Rockville, a “commercial real estate and construction company.”
Now that is indisputably development money. So Trachtenberg snowed Progressive Neighbors and got away with it since they endorsed her. Do they have the balls to retract their endorsement or are they just going to lie down and get played?
2. Our informants are baffled by Duchy Trachtenberg’s spending. She started the year with $289,198 – far more than any other candidate and mostly raised out-of-state in four-digit checks. Since then, she has spent more on tracking polls and consulting ($35,000) than she has on printing, direct mail and postage ($33,817). Contrast her printing, mailing and postage total to those of Senator Mike Lenett ($129,378) and Delegate Saqib Ali ($104,876), each of whom is running in a district that is one-eighth of the county. Trachtenberg’s ads in Bethesda Magazine, Washington Jewish Week, Leisure World News and Takoma Park Voice – purchased for a combined cost of just $7,230 – have been no substitute for the robust mail program she could have afforded. She has done just one mass mailing and was, incredibly, beaten to the mailbox by Becky Wagner.
As of August 29, Trachtenberg was sitting on $209,629 with just sixteen days left to spend it. Television could consume that amount of money rapidly, but we have seen no sign of any such ads. And it’s getting late – VERY late. Some sources are speculating that she is so sure of victory that she is saving the money for a County Executive run. Unless she has a grand strategy that has not shown up in her finance reports, she could very well be the richest loser in MoCo history.
3. County Executive Ike Leggett and Marc Elrich have long been political allies even if they have had occasional disagreements. So Ike kicked in $2,500 to his campaign account on 8/19/10.
Well, just twelve days later, Elrich filed an affidavit to help 9:30 Club owner Seth Hurwitz obtain a temporary restraining order against Ike’s pet project, the Fillmore in Silver Spring. The Executive Branch was blindsided and immediately began investigating whether Elrich broke the ethics law by aiding a lawsuit against the county.
How’s that for gratitude? Is it too late for Ike to get his money back?
4. Speaking of the County Executive, he may not have a Democratic primary opponent or a slate, but he has given money to a number of candidates this year. They are:
Vanessa Atterbeary: $300 on 4/21/10 (given as an individual)
Bo Newsome: $6,000 on 7/8/10
Craig Rice: $3,000 on 7/12/10
Judy Docca: $1,000 on 8/2/10
Jay Hutchins: $1,000 on 8/3/10
Martin O’Malley: $4,000 on 8/10/10
Pat O’Neill: $1,000 on 8/11/10
Bonnie Cullison: $1,000 on 8/15/10
Marc Elrich: $2,500 on 8/19/10
Craig Rice: $250 on 8/22/10 (from Catherine Leggett)
Rona Kramer: $3,000 on 8/23/10
Mark Winston: $2,500 on 8/27/10
Bo Newsome: $250 on 8/29/10 (from Catherine Leggett)
One curiosity: A month after contributing to Atterbeary, Leggett endorsed the District 18 Democratic Team.
Another curiosity: Bo Newsome contributed $600 in “rent” to Leggett on 8/19/10.
5. Kyle Lierman reported having just $6,298 in the bank on 8/29/10. Ariana Kelly, his principal rival for the District 16 open Delegate seat, reported having $51,025. (That’s what self-financing can do for you!) Lierman had to replenish his coffers somehow, and we won’t find out how until after the election.
6. Senator Nancy King (D-39) paid $8,000 to Momentum Analysis of Washington, DC, the same polling firm that worked for Big Daddy’s tobacco-financed slate, on 8/12/10 as a “consulting fee.” The timing is interesting since the payment was made about two weeks before King launched her attack website against Ali. If this payment was indeed for a poll, did it say something that prompted King to go negative?
7. Here are the biggest recipients of campaign contributions (excluding loans) this year in MoCo.
Council Candidates
Hans Riemer: $171,392
Nancy Floreen: $146,838
George Leventhal: $111,338
Marc Elrich: $87,435
Craig Rice: $84,173
Senate Candidates
Nancy King: $116,105
Saqib Ali: $76,866
Brian Frosh: $54,623
Roger Manno: $53,769
Jamie Raskin: $51,251
Delegate Candidates
Kyle Lierman: $106,191
Mark Winston: $62,580
Hoan Dang: $56,723
Heather Mizeur: $55,718
Craig Zucker: $49,054
8. Here are the biggest spenders of campaign money this year.
Council Candidates
Becky Wagner: $126,119
Hans Riemer: $122,241
George Leventhal: $112,418
Nancy Floreen: $105,047
Duchy Trachtenberg: $94,709
Senate Candidates
Saqib Ali: $180,591
Mike Lenett: $174,185
Rob Garagiola: $134,139
Cheryl Kagan: $87,152
Nancy King: $84,322
Delegate Candidates
Vanessa Atterbeary: $129,780
Kyle Lierman: $99,893
Dana Beyer: $98,825
Hoan Dang: $89,195
Craig Zucker: $69,906
9. Here are the biggest self-funders of the cycle. This statistic includes contributions and loans to self from 2007 on, but does not include self-funding for the 2009 special election.
Council Candidates
Becky Wagner: $95,000 (from husband)
Hans Riemer: $50,000
Robin Ficker: $22,358
Jane de Winter: $17,115
Ilaya Hopkins: $12,500
Senate Candidates
Mike Lenett: $200,713
Rich Madaleno: $30,000
Michael Griffiths: $6,200
Delegate Candidates
Vanessa Atterbeary: $107,250
Ariana Kelly: $85,381 (includes $6,266 from husband)
Dana Beyer: $75,000
Charlie Chester: $55,000
Jay Hutchins: $47,772 (includes $2,635 from wife)
We’re sure there is a WHOLE lot more, but it’s time to go back to posting negative mail!
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Kelly Kicks Lierman Again
District 16 House candidate Ariana Kelly has gone negative against rival Kyle Lierman again. Here's a post on her website, to which she is steering traffic through ads on Facebook.Kyle Meets a Voter
The following is an actual email our campaign received from a previously undecided voter in Wyngate recounting Kyle Lierman's attempt to "persuade" her to vote for him. Though amusing, the email also shows how nominating Kyle would hurt the Democratic ticket in the November election (which, lest we forget, we still have to win.) To read Ariana Kelly's blog on how her nomination will help the Democratic ticket, click here.
To: info@kellyfordelegate.com
From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Re: "Stop Kyle Lierman" ad on facebook
Your "Stop Kyle Lierman" ad on facebook that links to "Washington Post Exposes Forces Behind Lierman Campaign" is excellent!
That punk kid showed up in my front yard on XXXXXXXX in the Wyngate neighborhood and disgusted me with his arrogance. He's a jerk. Turn him loose to act like a know-it-all with the over-50 crowd, and he might shoot himself in his own foot despite the money from his daddy's old buddies.
I tend towards being quite conservative. I did not like the left-wing ideas he was spouting as he stood in my yard, and I told him so. Now, I'm no fool: I realize that most Democrats in this district are quite liberal, but I am allowed my opinions also. And if the kid standing on my property asking for my vote can't hear me out and can only say, "You need to leave the Democratic party," then the little jerk sure as the heck is not going to listen to my opinions once he is elected.
Ariana Kelly is more liberal than I would want if I were designing the world, but she has a good lot of experience, is well connected to this neighborhood, did not grow up as a spoiled rich kid, and understands what it's like to be a grown up. I expect to vote for her, and it was the "Stop Kyle Lierman" ad that drew me to Kelly's column.
Lierman is a punk kid who deserves to have his butt kicked. Someone should tell him to get a job and support himself for two or three years before he runs for public office. He's arrogant, offensive, inexperienced, and doesn't deserve to be elected as dog-catcher.
Cordially,
XXXXXXXXXXX (Name Withheld at Voter's Request)
So here's a question. Are these attacks going to stay online or is Kelly going to put them in the mail?
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Primaries to Watch V, Part Three
By Marc Korman and Adam Pagnucco.
Here are races Six and Five!
6. District 16 Delegate Open Seat
Previous Rank: #6
Marc
The chaos continues in District 16. At times, this has started to shape up as a race between Obama campaign staffer Kyle Lierman and Ariana Kelly from MomsRising. Both have the resources to run competitively and the mail house does not care if it was loaned to the campaign or only raised as a result of family connections. On the other hand, Kelly has not been able to consolidate as much support against Lierman as it appeared she would early on, when she picked up the Apple Ballot and SEIU.
Lierman and Kelly are still the most likely new Delegates, but there are nine other challengers in the race and they are all making waves in their own ways. Hrant Jamgochian can try to leverage the Post endorsement into political victory. Mark Winston and Charlie Chester can still convince voters that their experience is what is needed. Scott Goldberg can make good use of his combination of personality and policy smarts to connect. Bill Farley has demonstrated at least through lawn signs (which cannot vote) a presence far beyond his political base of Somerset. One thing holding back the pack is a serious lack of resources compared to Kelly and Lierman.
Incumbents Bill Frick and Susan Lee are also working really hard to keep their seats, which seems pretty certain but it is never a bad thing to see incumbents work.
Full disclosure, I have volunteered for the incumbents and donated to Bill Frick.
Adam
It’s a pity that Hrant Jamgochian, Scott Goldberg and Mark Winston do not live in District 39 as all of them could very well win the open seat up there. Unfortunately for them, they are competing with Kyle Lierman and Ariana Kelly.
Our spies say that Lierman is running the best campaign. He has tons of outside money without resorting to big self-funded loans (as has Kelly), has good mail and has a sophisticated voter outreach operation. None of this is a surprise given the work he did for Barack Obama in 2008. If Lierman was not a candidate, he would be an excellent campaign manager. Kelly has two important advantages: her endorsements (including the Apple) and her status as the only female challenger. She also has enough money to compete with Lierman.
The fact that the Post did not go with Lierman helps Kelly, but the teachers have more critical races than this one to which to devote poll coverage. Since the mail is crazy in this district, that puts a premium on other ways to reach voters. Lierman’s skill set will help in that regard. I still see this as a two-way race, but one interesting new wrinkle is that Kelly has gone negative against Lierman. If the two of them start slugging it out, there is a tiny chance that another challenger could squeeze past them for the open seat.
5. District 19 Delegate Open Seat
Previous Rank: #7
Marc
You have to hand it to Bonnie Cullison. If she is half as convincing with District 19 voters as she must have been with the Post to get their endorsement, she should do well on September 14th. But that only works if she is out there hustling as much as the other candidates working for District 19’s two open seats including fellow Apple Ballot endorsee Jay Hutchins, fellow Post endorsee Sam Arora, as well as Hoan Dang and Vivian Scretchen.
The teachers will likely be out in force in District 19, which will benefit Jay Hutchins since he shares their endorsement. Sam Arora has plenty of money and work ethic, but it is probably time to start spending some of it on mail.
Full disclosure, I donated to Arora and have volunteered for him.
Adam
Ben Kramer is the only incumbent in the race and is certain to come back. That leaves two seats for three quality candidates: Sam Arora, Bonnie Cullison and Jay Hutchins.
Lots of sources in the district are picking Arora to finish second. He started early, has the most money, has been working the hardest and has performed well in candidate forums. He does not have the Apple Ballot, but he does have the Post endorsement, and this may be one district where the Post is as, or maybe even more, important than the Apple. Arora has been all over Leisure World and his signs sprouted first around the district, but Hutchins has nearly caught up in the sign war. Arora has problems: he started as a complete unknown, has little history in the district before running for office and some say his campaign has petered out a little bit. But most of our informants say that he has run the best campaign of any Delegate candidate and that could get him to Annapolis.
If Arora wins, Cullison and Hutchins will square off for the remaining seat. Cullison scored a huge win by getting the Post endorsement, and her supporters can point to that as a sign that she is not merely a creature of MCEA. Hutchins is hustling and is liked by nearly everyone who meets him. Cullison’s campaign gets low marks for execution and Hutchins has more money, but Cullison benefits from being the most viable woman in the race. Our sources are flipping coins on this one, but the Post could make the difference for Cullison in the end. The result could easily depend on absentees and provisionals.
More tomorrow!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Kelly Lights Up Lierman
District 16 House candidate Ariana Kelly has posted the following item on her website about the Post's article on fellow candidate Kyle Lierman's fundraising.The Washington Post today exposed the forces supporting Kyle Lierman's campaign for delegate. The Post reports the 23-year-old's bid is bankrolled by wealthy friends and patrons of his father Terry -- the former state party boss and drug company lobbyist who is now Chief of Staff to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Only Ariana Kelly has the credentials and support to stop Terry Lierman from bullying and buying a delegate seat for his son, and to give Montgomery County the representation it deserves in Annapolis. To see Ariana Kelly's track record and list of supporters, click here.
On the one hand, there is some truth to Kelly's charges. Terry Lierman is intensely involved in his son's campaign. Kyle's donor list is full of Terry's friends and supporters and we have heard MANY stories of Terry making fundraising calls, complaining to organizations that failed to endorse his son and even getting involved in designing campaign materials. And the participation of ethics-challenged Congressman Jim Moran in Kyle's campaign (a story that went national) is problematic at best. If Kyle Lierman was instead named Kyle Jamgochian, Kyle Farley or Kyle Winston, he would probably not be a front-runner in this race.
But candidates in round-robin elections like Delegate contests usually avoid going negative against a rival for fear that a third candidate will go up the middle and win. Could that happen in District 16?
Friday, August 20, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Women for Kyle
As Josh Kurtz reported this morning, former national NARAL President Kate Michelman is headlining an event for District 16 House candidate Kyle Lierman. This is a slap for Ariana Kelly, who was once Executive Director of NARAL in Maryland. Also in attendance will be Council Member Duchy Trachtenberg (who endorsed Lierman early) and Council Member Valerie Ervin. The notice appears below.
Kelly Tweaks Lierman on Finances
District 16 House candidate Ariana Kelly has sent out an email on her finances that is obviously directed at open seat rival Kyle Lierman. Without naming him, Kelly makes clear that she has raised as much money (although including a loan), spent less and has more cash on hand than Lierman. The conventional wisdom has been that Kelly would have more endorsements, but Lierman would have more money. It appears that that is not the case at the moment, although another finance report is due in early September. Following is Kelly's email.
Delegate Candidate Ariana Kelly Brings In More, Spends Less
$106,994 of Inflows Since May, $77,024 Cash on Hand in Competitive Maryland House Race
Ariana Kelly, candidate for the open House of Delegates seat in Maryland's District 16, has brought in $106,994 for her campaign committee since May. In addition to a loan from the candidate, Kelly’s campaign raised funds from nearly 200 donors, including numerous donations from people who have worked with Kelly over her career. Kelly reported no contributions from corporations, PACs, or other campaign committees. Her parents together gave $421. Her grandmother gave $33.
Kelly, a non-profit executive and seasoned manager, is running an efficient campaign. Including in-kind contributions, Kelly has spent only $29,970 as of August 10, leaving her with $77,024 cash on hand heading into the last four weeks of the campaign.
Ariana Kelly is a fiscally responsible and socially progressive candidate who will continue her track record of making responsible budget decisions in Annapolis.
Kelly has been endorsed by a wide range of public interest organizations, as well as current and former elected officials. Her supporters include the Montgomery County Education Association, Maryland State Education Association, NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland, Sierra Club of Maryland, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Montgomery Women, Equality Maryland, SEIU Local 500, Montgomery County Public Schools Retirees Association, and Women's Campaign Forum. She has also been endorsed by Maryland Delegates Jeffrey Waldstreicher (D-18) and Kathleen Dumais (D-15), and by former Maryland Senators Sharon Grosfeld and Mary Boergers.
Kelly currently directs the Environmental Health Campaign for MomsRising,org, a million member advocacy organization working to build a more family-friendly country. She is also the former Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland and former Executive Producer for PBS' weekly news program To The Contrary.
Kelly was born and raised in Maryland's District 16. She and her husband Barak live in Bethesda with their two children.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Kyle Lierman Cracks Six Digits
District 16 House candidate Kyle Lierman is reporting $106,571.56 in contributions and $42,778.69 in cash on hand for the period ending August 10, possibly the best result of any non-incumbent in the district. And these totals do not include any loans. While Lierman received 479 contributions, 54% of his money came from 32 four-digit checks. Each of his parents kicked in $4,000 and Virginia Congressman Jim Moran added $2,000. The Pollin family, who are friends with Lierman’s father, kicked in a combined $8,000. Among Lierman’s expenses was an $11,500 payment to national pollster Peter D. Hart, a pricey firm for a Delegate candidate.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Lierman Story Goes National
Tim Carney, a national political columnist who once worked with Bob Novak, has picked up our story on Kyle Lierman's connection to Jim Moran. Carney confirms our account and writes:
So, the question, as blogger Pagnucco asks today, is why would Kyle Lierman, in his first political race, bring this skeleton out of the closet by throwing a fundraiser with Moran?
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Skeleton Comes out of the Closet, Raises Money for Lierman
Congressman Chris Van Hollen is unquestionably the most popular politician in Montgomery County. Long-time political observers know it did not necessarily have to turn out that way, as the Republican Congresswoman Van Hollen defeated – Connie Morella – was almost taken out two years before Van Hollen’s victory by lobbyist Terry Lierman. But Lierman was crippled by a scandal that is, incredibly, being resurrected today. And the person responsible for reviving it is none other than his son, District 16 Delegate candidate Kyle Lierman.
Connie Morella was once the best of MoCo Republicans – liberal on social issues, moderate on fiscal issues, and unfailingly charming and gracious. She served two terms as a District 16 Delegate before narrowly defeating Stewart Bainum Jr. for Congress in 1986. In the next six elections, she received 60% or more of the vote despite her overwhelmingly Democratic district. But by 2000, the right-ward drift of the GOP leadership was causing Morella problems back home. How could nice Connie be voting for such awful people as Dick Armey and Tom “The Hammer” DeLay?
So Terry Lierman, a lobbyist, businessman and former Congressional staffer, pounced. He reported $400,000 early, ran on bread-and-butter Democratic issues like prescription drug benefits for seniors and gun control and wound up out-spending the incumbent. He even contributed $1.5 million of his own money to his campaign – two-thirds of his total proceeds. But Lierman was undone by revelations in the Washington Post of a $25,000 personal loan he made to Virginia Congressman Jim Moran, who was working on legislation that was favorable to one of Lierman’s clients. Morella defeated Lierman by six points, with many observers remarking on the impact of the scandal on the race.
So what is Jim Moran doing now? He is raising money for Terry Lierman’s son, Kyle, who is running for a District 16 Delegate seat. Check out the solicitation below.
Now let’s be clear: Kyle Lierman was thirteen years old when his father ran against Morella, so he had nothing to do with the Moran incident. But why his campaign would want to invoke any memory of one of the biggest political scandals in MoCo history is baffling. The younger Lierman, who is just twenty-three, is already struggling against the perception that he is a family-created candidate. That is exacerbated by the fact that he lives with his mother, who also happens to be his campaign Treasurer.
So why bring back Moran?
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Notes and Observations in District 16
By Marc Korman.
The race for District 16 is heating up with 13 candidates and 100 degree temperatures. Here are a few random notes and observations from the front, combined with some free advice to the candidates.
For those not living and breathing the race, the 13 candidates are: Incumbents Bill Frick; and Susan Lee; Attorney and former District 19 Democratic Club Officer John Adams; Attorney and repeat candidate Charlie Chester; Attorney Peter Dennis, also the son of Civic Federation President Peggy Dennis; Town of Somerset Councilman Bill Farley; Real estate management business owner and Montgomery County Young Democrats President Scott Goldberg; Attorney Craig Herskowitz; Attorney and health policy strategist Hrant Jamgochian; Former NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland Executive Director and MomsRising’s Director for Environmental and Workplace issues Ariana Kelly; Former Obama campaign staffer Kyle Lierman, also the son of local political bigwig Terry Lierman; Common Cause Board Member Michael Sriqui; And attorney and former Housing Opportunities Commission Chair Mark Winston. Whoa, that’s a lot of candidates.
The District 16 Democratic Club hosted a forum for all of the Delegate candidates at the Bethesda Library last week. Twelve of the candidates, including the two incumbents, attended. Craig Herskowitz was out of town for work but had a statement read.
The consensus among the individuals I spoke to were that the big winners were the two incumbents, Bill Frick and Susan Lee, and challenger Scott Goldberg. Other candidates had high points, but these three were consistently great. Frick and Lee were essentially endorsed by all of the other challengers during a question about what legislator you would like to emulate, cementing the impression that the 11 challengers are fighting for one open seat. Goldberg’s one two punch of strong and humorous delivery plus real policy proposals stood out even to those in the capacity crowd supporting other challengers. The funniest moment of the debate belonged to the moderator, who gave the field a grand total of 15 seconds to explain how they would solve the budget deficit.
The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Breakfast Club is also working its way through the challengers. The first installment featured Bill Farley, Craig Herskowitz, Ariana Kelly, and Kyle Lierman. Also in attendance was District 18 Challenger Dana Beyer. The moderator was kind enough to grant the candidates a grand total of 30 seconds to explain their approach to the budget.
Herskowitz has staked his campaign on speed cameras and constituent service, pretty much declining to comment on other issues and referring individuals to his website. Although no one loves the speed cameras, my own view is that he cannot mount a successful campaign in a crowded field on these narrow issues alone and should talk about some of his other ideas along with these passions.
Kelly and Lierman seem to view the race as between them, at least when they appear together. That thinking is understandable given that MPW and others have consistently cited them as the frontrunners. They both have a strong ground game and the resources to win. But I would just remind them that a race with two perceived frontrunners often creates opportunities for Trojan horse candidates (Just ask Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt about Iowa in 2004). With so many candidates in the field, there are plenty of places for voters to turn besides Lierman or Kelly.
Bill Farley is a Town of Somerset Councilmember, making him the only challenger with elected office experience and giving him a stronghold in one of the top performing precincts in the primary. I have no idea if he is working the doors or has money for mail, but he has a good candidate profile. However I am not sure what his message is and his approach to the Purple Line should also be explained. He supports starting over with some type of trench or cut and cover approach. That is an unrealistic option at this stage and in practical terms means Farley opposes the Purple Line.
If you care about the lawn sign primary, which does not win elections but is fun for bloggers, Lierman, Jamgochian, and the incumbent team have a strong start in Bethesda with a sprinkling of other candidates as well. I have not been to the northern or western portions of the district lately to see the signs there. So far the only mass mail I have received is from Mark Winston and Michael Sriqui.
Based on my conversations and impressions in the district, candidates are distinguishing themselves in many ways. Hrant Jamgochian is impressing people with his smarts, nice guy approach, and health care background. Winston is picking up what I view as strong endorsements including Ike Leggett’s and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce. Many long time District 16 residents I speak with think highly of Charlie Chester and his experience.
My advice to the candidates? Keep knocking on doors and stay hydrated.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Mark Shriver Endorses Kyle Lierman
Former District 15 Delegate and Congressional candidate Mark Shriver has endorsed Kyle Lierman for Delegate in District 16. Following is the press release from the Lierman campaign.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Nicholas Kowalski, (301) 605-4247
Mark Shriver Endorses Kyle Lierman for Delegate
BETHESDA - Former two-term Delegate and Congressional candidate Mark Shriver endorsed Kyle Lierman today for the open delegate seat in District 16.
"I have known Kyle for years. I saw him volunteer as a kid for his dad, volunteer to help elect Governor O'Malley, organize in 6 states for President Obama, and volunteer in Haiti after the earthquake. He is dedicated to public service," Shriver said. Shriver, currently the Senior Vice President of US Programs for Save the Children, said Kyle's experience and leadership skills will be an asset for District 16 in Annapolis and for early childhood education, a passion they share. "I was 30 years old when I was first elected to the House of Delegates and I can assure you that Kyle, with his bold ideas and fresh perspective, will be able to get things done in Annapolis and be a lifelong advocate for children across Maryland."
Lierman, who launched his campaign in early June, expressed deep gratitude for Mr. Shriver's support. "I appreciate Mark's support very much. His career and that of his family as dedicated public servants has been inspiring to Americans everywhere."
Shriver's announcement marks the third key endorsement Kyle Lierman has earned from major community leaders in Montgomery County. In early June, at the campaign's opening event, Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg endorsed Lierman. Irene Pollin, a local philanthropist and widow of the late Abe Pollin, is serving as Lierman's campaign chair.
"The support we've received from Mark Shriver, Councilmember Trachtenberg and Irene Pollin shows what my candidacy and this campaign is all about: public service. Their leadership in the community has been about improving Montgomery County and the State of Maryland. A a delegate from District 16, I will be a leader for changing the status quo in Annapolis and work tirelessly to improve Montgomery County and Maryland."
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