LEAKED DOC: Sen. Rob Garagiola Responds to MCDCC Appointment in D15 // PLUS: Over 150 Support Bilal Ayyub

BACKGROUND: Maryland Juice recently reported on the latest turn of events in the race to succeed Rob Garagiola for his District 15 State Senate seat. The Washington Post's Bill Turque wrote that Delegate Brian Feldman will face a challenger, Bilal Ayyub, in his quest to be appointed to the vacant seat. The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) will soon name a temporary replacement for Garagiola, and some minority activists in MoCo have called for Ayyub (a University of Maryland professor) to be appointed as a caretaker who would not run for office in 2014. Below Maryland Juice publishes a leaked letter from Sen. Rob Garagiola to members of the MCDCC, along with a couple signs that Bilal Ayyub is beginning to campaign for the D15 Senate vacancy.

JUICE #1: ROB GARAGIOLA ENDORSES BRIAN FELDMAN TO REPLACE HIM IN SENATE - Maryland Juice received a leaked copy of a letter sent by Sen. Rob Garagiola to MCDCC members endorsing Del. Brian Feldman to replace him. The letter below also touches upon the race issues raised during the course of the debate:

From: "Robert Garagiola" <xxxx@xxxx.com>
To: xxxxx
Sent: Friday, July 19, 2013 6:26:06 PM
Subject: Brian Feldman for State Senate

Dear Montgomery County Central Committee Members,

I am writing to strongly endorse Delegate Brian Feldman for the seat being vacated by me on September 1st.

While some have suggested it has already been decided who will succeed me – calling it a coronation of sorts – I disagree. There is a fair process in place to select a successor. Each of you has an important decision before you. However, I believe that the most important consideration should be: Who is the best person for the state Senate to represent District 15 in Annapolis? To me, there is only one answer: Brian Feldman.

At the same time, I think that the public discussion about greater minority representation in public office is important. Brian, Kathleen, and I, who were incumbents in 2006, tapped Craig Rice to join our ticket and provided significant financial and volunteer support to ensure that he defeated a Republican incumbent Delegate. In 2010, when Craig decided to run for County Council, the District 15 team got behind Aruna Miller and again provided financial and volunteer support to elect her Delegate. While the Montgomery County delegation benefited with greater minority representation in its ranks, we supported Craig and Aruna, not because they were minorities, but because they were the best people for the job in 2006 and 2010, respectively.

In 2014, I am strongly supporting Anthony Brown for Governor and Ike Leggett for County Executive. Both can expect my time and money to support their candidacies. I am also supporting Delegate Susan Lee for state Senate in District 16. Again, I am supporting these people not because they are minorities, but because they are the best people for the jobs that they are seeking to fill.

Brian is the best person for the job of state Senator. He is unmatched by any possible candidate for state Senate in his ability to legislate, get things done for the residents of District 15, and be able to hit the ground running from day one as a state Senator. He has proven his campaign acumen in winning a very difficult election in 2002, as well as winning successive elections in 2006 and 2010. Brian is well respected in Annapolis by his colleagues – Senators and Delegates respect him and support him.

I am writing not to coronate Brian. I am writing to share my opinions of him and, like Ike Leggett, Craig Rice, Kathleen Dumais, Aruna Miller, and so many others, to endorse his candidacy. I have known Brian for more than 15 years. He is a dedicated public servant. He is hard working. He is exactly the type of person you want serving you.

I have watched Brian navigate complicated issues in Annapolis. I have watched him solve constituent problems. I have seen him work hard to help elect other good Democrats up and down the ticket. I have seen him work with Republicans and Democrats to better the State of Maryland. Brian is by far the best person for the job! I cannot say enough positive things about him. In my opinion, he deserves your support for his candidacy for state Senate for District 15.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss Brian’s qualifications further.

Sincerely,

Rob Garagiola

JUICE #2: BILAL AYYUB BEGINS CAMPAIGNING FOR D15 SENATE VACANCY, LISTS OVER 150 SUPPORTERS - Meanwhile, Maryland Juice readers have pointed to a couple bits of evidence that Bilal Ayyub is beginning to campaign for the District 15 State Senate seat. Ayyub has a website up which lists over 150 supporters, and he has confirmed on Twitter that he is campaigning for the vacancy. His website also provides some info on his background (details below):

BILAL AYYUB: As an engineering professor, scholar, author, a successful businessman, angel/venture capital investor and community leader, Bilal possesses in depth expertise and diverse experiences in many subjects from fiscal matters to government structure to infrastructure to transportation to education to biotechnology to energy to homeland security to standard and regulation development. He is a persisting advocate for citizen participation in governance, diversity, civil liberties and social justice.

Bilal received many awards by several engineering societies, and the 2003 State of Maryland Governor Paris Glendening's Citation for "positive contributions, leadership and distinguished service ... in honor and appreciation of your selfless efforts on behalf of the community." In 2006, he was appointed to the Higher Education Transition Work Group for Governor Martin O'Malley. In 2007, he received the Department of the Army Commander's Award for Public Service for leading the development of the risk model for the hurricane protection system of New Orleans. He also served on Governor O'Malley's Maryland Middle Eastern American Affairs Commission, and is presently serving on the Governor's Emergency Management Advisory Council.

Bilal Ayyub (far left) with Gov. Martin O'Malley, Tufail Ahmad and Terry Lierman.

Check out the following Tweets from Bilal Ayyub regarding the D15 vacancy:

MORE ON THE DISTRICT 15 SENATE VACANCY SOON!