JuiceBlender: D19 Dems Form Slate w/o Sam Arora?, Obama Picks Raskin for #2 at US Treasury & Candidates Enter AG Race

Below Maryland Juice provides a round-up of recent news of interest to local politicos:

JUICE #1: SAM ARORA'S DISTRICT 19 COLLEAGUES FORMING SLATE WITHOUT HIM? - Bethesda Magazine's Lou Peck today reported that marriage equality flip-flopper Sam Arora may be about to be ditched by his District 19 colleagues when it comes time for re-election next year. Voters in Arora's Montgomery County legislative district are represented by one State Senator and three members of the House of Delegates. The norm for well-functioning teams is often for the incumbent members to run for re-election together as a slate. But writer Lou Peck reports that D19 Senator Roger Manno and D19 House members Bonnie Cullison and Ben Kramer may be forming a re-election slate without Sam Arora (details below):

BETHESDA MAGAZINE:  Three of [District 19’s] four incumbents – Sen. Roger Manno and Delegates Bonnie Cullison and Ben Kramer – are likely to form a joint slate as they seek re-election in 2014, according to sources.... The slate will not include the district’s other incumbent, Delegate Sam Arora.

Meanwhile, Marice Morales, who works in Manno’s office as a volunteer special assistant, confirmed that she plans to file this week for delegate in District 19.....

Asked whether he plans to seek re-election, Arora would say only, “I expect to announce my plans at the end of summer.” As of January, Arora had only $3,200 in his campaign treasury, raising just $270 during 2012, according to a filing with the state Board of Elections....

Another potential candidate apparently in the mix is Charlotte Crutchfield of Silver Spring, who represents District 19 on the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee....

Already filed is Melodye Berry of Silver Spring, a former officer of the county’s African-American Democratic Club who ran for delegate in 2006....

JUICE #2: POWER COUPLE EMERGES IN D20 AS OBAMA TAPS SARAH BLOOM RASKIN FOR #2 SPOT AT U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT - Yesterday, Maryland Juice received a forwarded copy of the following White House press releases announcing that Sarah Bloom Raskin (who happens to be married to State Senator Jamie Raskin) is being nominated for Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury. Obama's selection of Raskin would make her the first woman to occupy the #2 spot at Treasury (excerpt below):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• France Anne Cordova – Director, National Science Foundation
• Sarah Bloom Raskin – Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury
• Sylvia I. Garcia – Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, Department of Transportation
• Jo Handelsman – Associate Director for Science, Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Gregory B. Starr – Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, Department of State
• Karen Stanton – Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Department of State
• Amy J. Hyatt – Ambassador to the Republic of Palau, Department of State

President Obama said, “The extraordinary dedication these individuals bring to their new roles will greatly serve the American people.  I am grateful they have agreed to serve in this Administration and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Sarah Bloom Raskin, Nominee for Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury

Sarah Bloom Raskin is a Governor on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, a position she has held since 2010.  Ms. Raskin was Commissioner of Financial Regulation for the State of Maryland from 2007 to 2010.  Prior to this, from 2003 to 2007, she was the Managing Director of Promontory Financial Group.  She also was General Counsel of Columbia Energy Services from 1998 to 2001, and the Worldwide Retail Exchange from 2001 to 2003.  Ms. Raskin was Banking Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs from 1993 to 1998.  Ms. Raskin began her career as a lawyer for Mayer Brown and Platt in New York, and later for Arnold & Porter, in both New York and Washington D.C., where she engaged in corporate finance work as well as regulatory work.  Earlier in her career, she worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.  Ms. Raskin received a B.A. from Amherst College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

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JUICE #3: SEN. BRIAN FROSH & DEL. JON CARDIN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL - The 2014 Democratic Primary for Attorney General is getting underway, as State Senator Brian Frosh and Delegate Jon Cardin announced their campaigns in the last week. The Washington Post's John Wagner reported that Cardin announced his campaign last week with a web video, which happens to feature Del. Talmadge Branch and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (excerpt & video below):

WASHINGTON POST: Del. Jon S. Cardin (D-Baltimore County) formally kicked off his campaign for Maryland attorney general on Monday morning with a Web video in which he pledges to protect families “from the next-generation challenges they face.”

“Families are facing new and complex challenges in today’s rapidly changing world, and I believe Maryland’s next attorney general must be aggressive enough and savvy enough to stay one step ahead of anyone seeking to harm our families, whether on our streets or in cyberspace,” said Cardin, a member of the House of Delegates since 2003 who has been gearing up to run for statewide office for months.... 

The video also includes testimonials from several people — including Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), the delegate’s uncle....

Meanwhile, State Senator Brian Frosh announced his campaign for Attorney General with the following email message:

BRIAN FROSH: Dear Juice, Over the past few months I have traveled across the state talking with Marylanders from all walks of life about their hopes and goals for the future, the challenges that they face, and how state government can help.

Wherever I went, I found that all Marylanders want the same things:  safe neighborhoods; clean air to breathe and clean water to drink; equal opportunity; economic security and a shot at the American Dream.

The problem is that too many people aren’t living in safe communities.  Too many people feel they don’t get a fair shot.  Too many Marylanders feel taken advantage of by utilities that underperform and overcharge.  Too many people worry that polluters are destroying our air and water with little accountability.

In a world where powerful special interests seem to get all the breaks, too many Marylanders feel like their voices aren’t being heard.  They want to know that they’ve got an advocate who will fight for them.  They want to know someone has got their backs.

That’s why, after much encouragement from Marylanders across the state, I’ve decided to run for Attorney General of Maryland.  I want to be the people’s lawyer.

I am no stranger to these battles.  As a young man, my parents taught me the importance of fighting for justice, making independent decisions and standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves.    I’ve carried those values with me throughout my career in public service: championing laws to curb gun violence; prohibiting drilling for oil and gas in the Chesapeake Bay; protecting Maryland homeowners from the threat of foreclosure; fighting to end discrimination and inequality; and holding public utilities accountable for poor service and unwarranted rate hikes.

But there’s still much work to be done.

We need an Attorney General who will fight for justice and equal treatment for all Marylanders; someone who knows that protecting our children and fighting for safe communities is the first step in creating opportunity for all; someone who will fight to protect consumers and seniors from scam artists; someone who will crack down on corruption and hold accountable those who try to defraud our citizens; and someone who will enforce laws that protect our environment and work to prevent discrimination so that all Marylanders have the opportunities they deserve.

That’s the kind of Attorney General I intend to be. I will fight for you every day.

I hope you’ll join me on this journey.  Keep checking back in the coming weeks and months for more information on my agenda to protect Maryland families.  Please join me in September for our campaign kick-off.  In the meantime, I’ll continue traveling across the state, discussing the issues and concerns that affect the daily lives of all Marylanders.

Thank you for your support and words of encouragement. Marcy and I are deeply grateful to you, and I am confident that together we can win this race and continue to protect our youth, keep our communities safe, preserve Maryland’s natural resources, and level the playing field for all Maryland families.

Sincerely,

Brian Frosh 

JUICE #4: MONTGOMERY COUNTY ROAD SIGN HACKED TO DISPLAY MARIJUANA MESSAGE  - A couple of Maryland Juice readers took note of an unusual act of "hacking" in Montgomery County. WUSA9 reports that an unknown person took control of a road display sign on Kensington Parkway and used it to tell drivers to "Smoke Weed Evryday" (excerpt below):

WUSA9: [A WUSA employee] spotted an electronic message sign near Beach Drive that read "Smoke Weed Evryday." She turned around and snapped a photo for us....

Of course, hacked road signs aren't new.  In May, a sign in Portland, Oregon  on Southeast 39th Avenue and Grant Street was changed to read "Caution. Gingers ahead."  In 2012, an electronic sign warned of the fiscal cliff ahead while another told drivers that zombies were coming. Take a look at some other signs that were hacked here, courtesy of Jalopnik: http://on.wusa9.com/13mxlYX

Sen. Roger Manno's Aide Maricé Morales Wants to Replace Sam Arora // PLUS ANOTHER MYSTERY: Is Sam Pro or Anti-Choice?

UPDATE: Maryland Juice received the following letter from folks at NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland taking issue with our anonymous sourcing on that story. Though I cannot divulge my sources, the article was not at all meant to imply anything about how Arora and NARAL might interact in the future. In fact, a few politicos who contacted me after publication suggested that the jury was still out on the freshman lawmaker's views on abortion and related issues. Blog articles notwithstanding, NARAL itself obviously plans an open and transparent survey process. We will be following this story (and the role of reproductive rights in 2014) in the future, but next time we'll be sure to check in directly with the NARAL staff!

Dear Maryland Juice: In your June 29, 2013 post about Delegate Sam Arora's position on women's reproductive rights, you incorrectly attributed your source as an insider at NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland. No NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland staff or officers, nor NARAL Pro-Choice PAC board members were interviewed for your article. NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland and its PAC takes pride in our transparent and fair representation of our positions on all matters concerning the advancement of women's rights in Maryland. We would appreciate it if in the future you would check your sources with our organization before issuing anonymous statements. We encourage you, as well as you readers to contact us directly to answer questions about reproductive rights and where elected officials or candidates may stand on this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Wendy Royalty, NARAL Pro-Choice MD PAC Chair
Jodi Finkelstein, NARAL Pro-Choice MD Executive Director

Sen. Roger Manno & Maricé Morales

Rumors are aswirl that an aide to District 19 State Senator Roger Manno is plotting a run against Sam Arora in 2014. Arora famously voted against marriage equality during an extremely close vote -- and after promising to support LGBT rights. But the 2010 runner-up to Arora (Jay Hutchins) recently announced he had decided not to run, leaving many wondering if Arora was still going to face a challenge.

But Maryland Juice recently met Manno's Special Assistant Maricé Morales at a political event in Montgomery County, where she confirmed she was plotting a 2014 bid for the House of Delegates.

In addition, at the urging of an anonymous source, I poked around on Sen. Manno's website and was intrigued to see hints that he may indeed be backing Morales, given that his press releases seem to be highlighting her work in the District (excerpt below):

SEN. ROGER MANNO PRESS RELEASE: This evening Senator Roger Manno and Delegate Ben Kramer each received the prestigeous “Shofar Award” for their advocacy on behalf of the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy (MJBHA) in Aspen Hill.... 

Joining Senator Manno was his Senate Special Assistant, Ms. Marice' Morales, who worked tirelessly with lawmakers and the community throughout the 2013 legislative session to secure passage of the $100,000 capital bond.

Notably, District 19 Democrats are represented by one State Senator (Roger Manno) and three Delegates: Sam Arora, Bonnie Cullison and Ben Kramer.  But a visit to Del. Bonnie Cullison's Facebook page also revealed a photo of Maricé Morales at a recent Cullison fundraiser. Now obviously a photo does not necessarily equal an endorsement, but this is still pretty interesting to see:

And to round it all out, here's Maricé Morales with Sen. Victor Ramirez of Prince George's County:

IS DEL. SAM ARORA PRO-CHOICE OR ANTI-CHOICE? - Strangely, one anonymous source also noted that it is apparently unclear where Sam Arora stands on the issue of reproductive rights. Maryland and Montgomery County politics are weighted toward the pro-choice position, but notwithstanding potential exceptions for rape or incest, a few Maryland Juice sources struggled to figure out where Arora stands on the issue.

A national organization voter education organization called Project Vote Smart attempted to survey Arora on abortion and other issues, but their website only had the following information about Sam Arora's views:

PROJECT VOTE SMART: Sam Arora refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2010 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.

Nevertheless, Maryland Juice tracked down a 2010 NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland legislative analysis, and Sam Arora is the lone Delegate from Montgomery County who is not listed as a pro-choice lawmaker. Arora is instead listed as "Untested" alongside conservative/moderate Democrats (eg: Steve DeBoy & John Olszewski, Jr.) and Republicans like Kathy Afzali.

At first I thought this could be because no votes on the issue had been taken during Arora's freshman term, but then I realized six additional freshmen from MoCo were rated as pro-choice: Delegates Craig Zucker, Eric Luedtke, Aruna Miller, Ariana Kelly, Bonnie Cullison and Shane Robinson.

AN ANSWER TO THE MYSTERY? - Maryland Juice contacted a knowledgeable source to figure out if there was a story behind Sam Arora being tagged as "Untested" in their analysis. Their response was that in 2010 (ie: his first election for office in liberal MoCo), Sam Arora never returned his candidate survey to NARAL. Hmm.

So does anyone know whether Sam Arora is pro-choice or pro-life? I'm honestly baffled that nobody seems to know the answer to this question. Perhaps one of you knows? If so, please drop a note in the comments section below.

Police Union Accuses MoCo Exec & Council of "Making False Statements" About Question B // PLUS: Electeds Take Sides

BACKGROUND: Montgomery County's police union is sparring with the County Executive and Council over "effects bargaining rights." A "vote for" Question B this November would eliminate the Fraternal Order of Police's ability to bargain over certain management decisions impacting their work.

Elected officials and organizations in the County are beginning to take sides. Below you can see the latest materials from the police union, including a flyer rebutting Montgomery County's most recent Question B advocacy, a list of endorsers for a "vote against" Question B, and a video of a recent labor union press conference on the issue:
Montgomery County Police Union Flyer Urging "Vote Against" Question B

Here is a flyer listing endorsers of a "vote against" Question B:

Below you can watch a video of this week's police union press conference about Question B. Senator Roger Manno and labor leaders came out to urge a "vote against" Question B:

GAMBLING UPDATE: Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett & Educators to Urge "Vote For" Question 7 Today

Maryland's gambling expansion boosters are holding a press conference this afternoon in Montgomery County. Executive Ike Leggett will be appearing with Delegate Bonnie Cullison and various educators to urge a "vote for" Question 7 (details below):

Press Release

MONTGOMERY COUNTY EDUCATORS JOIN 

GROWING COALITION OF SUPPORT FOR QUESTION 7

ROCKVILLE (Oct. 8, 2012) – The ‘Vote for 7’ campaign for Maryland Jobs and Schools announced it will hold a press conference tomorrow, October 9th at 4:00 p.m. with Montgomery County educators, legislators and business leaders on the benefits of Question 7 to Maryland schools.  According to the Department of Legislative Services, passage of Question 7 will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue to the Education Trust Fund.

Since its creation, the Education Trust Fund has already taken in $184 Million from gaming in Maryland. Through the addition of a new resort casino in Prince George’s County and adding table games like blackjack and poker to existing Maryland casinos, Question 7 would significantly increase the amount of money coming into the Education Trust Fund to help Maryland schools and Maryland children.

WHAT: Press conference on the benefits of Question 7 to Maryland schools

WHO:

• Isiah Leggett, Montgomery County Executive
• Bonnie L. Cullison, Maryland State Delegate, District 19, Montgomery County and former President, Montgomery County Education Association
• Larry Edmonds, Vice President for Legislation, The Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations
• Dr. Stewart L. Edelstein, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University System of Maryland and Executive Director, The Universities at Shady Grove
• Andrea Jolly, Executive Director, Rockville Chamber of Commerce

WHEN: Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 4:00 p.m.
                                  
WHERE: University of Maryland at Shady Grove, Building 2, room 1042, Rockville, MD

To learn more about ‘Vote for 7’ and the effort to bring jobs and revenue back to Maryland, visit www.voteforseven.com or click here to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

Paid for by FOR Maryland Jobs & Schools, Inc., Tim O'Brien, Treasurer.

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MONDAY: Sam Arora's Ex-Friends Host Play About Marriage Equality // Challenger Jay Hutchins Featured in Post-Show Chat

SAM ARORA BACK ON THE HOT SEAT: Yesterday, Maryland Juice received word of a very interesting event being held at Silver Spring's Roundhouse Theatre on Monday night. The DC Theatre Collective is hosting a one-time production of a play called 8, which chronicles the federal court challenge to California’s Proposition 8 (ticket link).

Notably, the shows producers are two former supporters of Maryland's anti-gay lawmaker Sam Arora, and they have invited Arora's principal challenger Jay Hutchins to speak to the audience after the show.

Check out the message and event announcement from a disappointed former supporter of District 19 Delegate Sam Arora below:

FORMER SAM ARORA SUPPORTER: I sent you an email about this event a couple weeks back but I have some news to share - Jay Hutchins, who as you know is running to replace Sam Arora in District 19, will be joining our post-show discussion panel for "8" the play (this Monday at Round House Theatre Silver Spring). Chris Geidner will be moderating the panel (cool piece on his participation in Fishbowl today).

I know you've written extensively about Sam Arora. I've personally known him for over 10 years and was an ardent supporter and donor to his campaign. This is one of the reasons we were inspired to produce this play in Silver Spring in the first place. His betrayal hit me and our mutual friends really hard - many of whom are gay and were told BY SAM, to their faces, that he supported their right to marry. We can't forget Sam's betrayal the next time his name is up at the ballot box.

Jay Hutchins, District 19 Delegate Candidate

NOTE // 2014 SLATE IN DISTRICT 19 - JAY HUTCHINS & BONNIE CULLISON + 1 (???): Delegate Sam Arora currently serves in a 3-member State House district with Delegates Bonnie Cullison and Ben Kramer. But Kramer may run for Montgomery County Executive in 2014 and create an open seat in District 19.

If that happens, to defeat Sam Arora, there will need to be two strong challengers running to replace Sam and create a de facto progressive slate with Delegates Bonnie Cullison and Jay Hutchins.  

Folks who care about knocking out Sam Arora in 2014 need to start thinking about that possibility.

See the press release about the marriage equality play below:

DC THEATRE COLLECTIVE ANNOUNCES READING OF  DUSTIN LANCE BLACK’S NEW PLAY “8”

Actors, Activists, and Community Leaders Join Fight to  Protect Marriage Equality in Maryland with Landmark Marriage Equality Play
[Silver Spring, MD] – Less than a month before Marylanders go to the polls to make an historic decision about same sex marriage, a local group will build momentum for marriage equality with a unique night of theater and activism.

The DC Theatre Collective, with license from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact, is proud to announce a one-night-only benefit reading of “8,” a play chronicling the historic trial in the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. The event, which will take place on October 8 at Round House Theatre Silver Spring, will feature a post-show discussion moderated by award-winning journalist Chris Geidner of BuzzFeed. Panelists include Jay Hutchins (candidate for Maryland State Delegate in District 19, Silver Spring), Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein (Foundation Board President of Equality Maryland), and Katie Rooney (advocate and volunteer with Marylanders for Marriage Equality). Hutchins is running for the seat currently held by Del. Sam Arora, who voted against Maryland’s marriage equality bill earlier this year. “8” is written by Dustin Lance Black, the Academy Award-winning author of the feature film Milk. Proceeds from the event will benefit AFER and Equality Maryland.

“This election day, Marylanders will vote on Question 6 – the Civil Marriage Protection Act – which provides civil marriage licenses to committed gay and lesbian couples,” said Jenny Lynn Towns, Director/Producer of “8”and Co-Founder of the DC Theatre Collective. “We must do everything in our power in the weeks before the election to protect marriage equality for our friends and neighbors in MD – by getting people to the ballot box, building resources for the organizations fighting for it, and raising awareness about what’s at stake if anyone sits on the sidelines this November.”

The cast of well-known local actors includes Helen Hayes Award winners and nominees, as well as several openly gay and lesbian actors. The cast includes: Frank Britton, Caleb Caudill, Felicia Curry, Chris Dinolfo, Lee Mikeska Gardner, Will Gartshore, Chris Geidner, Rick Hammerly, Lisa Hodsoll, James Konicek, Susan Lynskey, Rose McConnell, Scott McCormick, Carl Menninger, Jared Mercier, Tom Story, MaryBeth Wise, and Jaysen Wright.

When: October 8, 2012 @ 7:30pm

Where: Round House Theatre Silver Spring | 8641 Colesville Road | Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tickets: Online at www.roundhousetheatre.org or by phone at 240-644-1100

“8” is an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown) – the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry. Dustin Lance Black, the Academy Award-winning writer of the feature film Milk and the film J. Edgar, based “8” on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama, and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families.

“8” had its much-heralded Broadway world premiere on September 19, 2011, at the sold-out Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City, and had its West Coast premiere reading at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Saturday, March 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. The West Coast reading featured an all-star cast including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Martin Sheen, and was directed by AFER Founding Board Member Rob Reiner. The two readings collectively raised more than $3 million for the fight to secure full federal marriage equality.

“People need to witness what happened in the Proposition 8 trial, if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter,” said AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black. “The goal of ‘8’ is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right.The facts are on our side and truth always finds the light. AFER and Broadway Impact are doing all we can to help speed that process along.” Throughout 2012, AFER and Broadway Impact are licensing “8”for free to colleges and theatres nationwide in order to spur action, dialogue, and understanding.

“The DC Theatre Collective believes in creating theatre that challenges audiences and inspires them to act. When I read ‘8,’ I knew it was a piece that could do that,” said Towns. “I also believe it’s a piece that will remind people of what’s at stake this November.”

Tickets can be purchased online at www.roundhousetheatre.org or by phone at 240-644-1100.

Follow DC Theatre Collective on Twitter, Facebook, or visit www.dctheatrecollective.com

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MCEA Sends Direct Mail for Jeanne Ellinport Featuring Sen. Rich Madaleno and Delegates Bonnie Cullison & Heather Mizeur

UPDATE #2:  Rival Board of Education candidate Rebecca Smondrowski emailed to highlight that Delegate Heather Mizeur has endorsed both herself and Jeanne Ellinport for the District 2 seat. She forwards an email blast from Delegate Mizeur, which we excerpt below:

HEATHER MIZEUR: For the Montgomery County Board of Education (a non-partisan race), there is an open seat in District 2 where county-wide votes will be tallied to advance the top two vote getters for the general election. I recommend you consider supporting either Jeanne Ellinport or Rebecca Smondrowski.  Both bring considerable passion for and experience on educational issues in the County and would make fine additions to the Board of Education.

UPDATE: In the comments section below, MCEA political director Jon Gerson explains the omission of Fred Evans from the direct mail pieces below:

JON GERSON: While Maryland Juice chose to post recent direct mail pieces sent out by MCEA in support of Board of Education candidate Jeanne Ellinport, with commentary recognizing the organization's recommendation of both Ellinport and Fred Evans in the D-2 BOE race, and noting only one candidate was featured ("interesting"), the blog/author failed to mention that MCEA provided similar support to Evans (who used the direct campaign contribution to also fund an extensive direct mailing). In addition, MCEA provided comparable resources to their recommended At-large BOE candidate, Phil Kauffman. While posting (only one of) the candidates pieces might be of interest to Maryland Juice followers, it is important to provide the full account of MCEA's support to avoid misperception by those relying on the site for information.

Montgomery County's teachers union (MCEA) is sending out three postcards in support of Board of Education District 2 candidate Jeanne Ellinport. Each postcard features a state legislator, and coincidentally, all of the endorsers are from the LGBT Caucus: State Senator Rich Madaleno (D18), Delegate Bonnie Cullison (D19) and Delegate Heather Mizeur (D20).

It is worth noting that MCEA has endorsed two candidates in the BOE District 2 race, Fred Evans and Jeanne Ellinport. Evans is not mentioned on these mail pieces. Interesting!

MCEA Direct Mail: Board of Education District 2 Candidate Jeanne Ellinport