DIRECT MAIL: Gov. Martin O'Malley and Baltimore, PG, MoCo & Howard Democratic Executives Urge "Vote For All" Referenda

Yesterday Maryland Juice reported that a new Democratic-aligned group materialized out of nowhere and was endorsing a "vote for all" the ballot questions. The sample ballot, from a group called "Forward Maryland" urged voters to support not only marriage equality (Question 6) and the Dream Act (Question 4), but also Maryland's congressional districts (Question 5) and gambling expansion (Question 7).

It turns out the operation is not faceless. Today, Maryland Juice received a direct mail sample ballot from the group, but they are now calling it the "Official Recommendations of Governor Martin O'Malley and Maryland's Leading Democrats." The mailer below also includes the faces of Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, Prince George's Executive Rushern Baker, and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman:

See the full direct mail piece below:

SAMPLE BALLOT: Gov. O'Malley & Democratic Executives Urge Vote For All Questions

IKE LEGGETT DEFENDING MOCO VALUES?: Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, for what its worth, is also appearing on straight-up "vote for" Question 7 direct mail pieces promoting Maryland gambling expansion. See an excerpt from a postcard that arrived at my house yesterday:

New Democratic-Aligned Group Urges "Vote For All" MD Ballot Questions // SCANNED DOC: "Forward Maryland" Sample Ballot

A new group called "Forward Maryland" formed a few days ago and is urging voters to "vote for" all of the state's ballot questions. The new political committee is printing and distributing the voter guide below, which encourages Marylanders to support issues ranging from marriage equality and the Dream Act to gambling expansion and the new Congressional Districts. The effort appears to be designed to encourage the Democratic base to stick together on all of the ballot questions (see below):
Forward Maryland Voter Guide

WHO IS FORWARD MARYLAND: Public filings indicate that Forward Maryland's treasurer is Isaac Salazar, a former communications director for the Maryland Democratic Party, while the Chair of the committee is Sheila Irene Hill. The sole disclosed financier is a W. Hackerman, who dropped a large $100,000 onto the effort a few days ago. See the filing documents below.

Maryland Juice presumes that "W. Hackerman" is prominent Baltimore real-estate developer Willard Hackerman, who is currently working on redeveloping the 1st Mariner Arena and convention center areas in the city. Notably, Hackerman also donated $50,000 to the "vote for" Question 6 campaign for marriage equality last September.
Forward Maryland Campaign Finance Report
Very interesting sample ballot activity this year!