Delegate Galen Clagett to Run for Frederick Mayor This November // Campaign Kickoff Wednesday, February 27

Maryland Juice just received an invitation to Delegate Galen Clagett's campaign kickoff for Frederick Mayor. The long-serving District 3A Democrat is not running for re-election in 2014 and will instead run in this September's Democratic Primary for Mayor. The general election is Tuesday, November 5th. Details on the February 27th kickoff event below:

The Frederick News-Post reported on Clagett's mayoral bid yesterday, and their report highlighted the other candidates in the race (excerpt below):

FREDERICK NEWS-POST: Delegate Galen Clagett has confirmed that he plans to run for mayor of Frederick.... "I've given it some serious thought for some time now," Clagett said. "I have what I consider to be a vision for the city. ... I've lived here most of my life and I want to see it be successful...."

Alderwoman Karen Young, a Democrat, has already announced her plans to run for mayor. Mayor Randy McClement, a Republican, has not said whether he will seek re-election....

More on the Frederick Mayor's Race Soon!

Marriage Equality JuiceBlender: Frederick Rally Coverage, Gansler on Referendum/Legal Challenge, Video Debate & More!

UPDATE: Metro Weekly has a video of Attorney General Doug Gansler's speech at the Frederick marriage equality rally last night:



News coverage in the Free State is currently focused on the growing battle over marriage equality. Before the start of the weekend, Maryland Juice highlighted a few developments with this issue:

1. The Tea Party announced an anti-equal rights rally tonight in Annapolis; the impetus is rumors that the form of the marriage bill will change to avoid a referendum,
2. The Catholic Church is helping promote the Tea Party rally, 
3. But their Archbishop is now stoking racial hostility to marriage equality, and 
4. Frederick area churches organized their own rally this Sunday to fight back against propaganda claiming that marriage equality is a religious issue, rather than a social justice issue.

Here is a quick round-up of updates to these stories, along with new coverage of Maryland marriage equality:

JUICE #1 - GANSLER SAYS PLAN FOR REFERENDUM: The Metro Weekly today posted two articles discussing yesterday's marriage equality rally in Frederick, Maryland. The first article (excerpt below) flags Attorney General Doug Gansler's remarks about the possibility of a referendum. We previously noted that rumors are circulating that the law may avoid the ballot this November.

METRO WEEKLY: Maryland's Attorney General, Doug Gansler, joined a standing-room only crowd at a church in Frederick on Sunday to support gay marriage....

"Obviously the law that we have -- marriage between a man and a woman -- is unconstitutional. It defies the equal protection, it's against due process, and it will change...."

TONIGHT @ 5 PM: Frederick Rally for Marriage Equality w/ Doug Gansler, Ron Young & Galen Clagett

Maryland Juice just received the following invitation to a Frederick County marriage equality rally tonight from 5 to 6 pm. The notice comes from a new coalition of churches in Frederick. Sorry for the late notice, but I'm currently on the road:

Media Advisory

A new coalition of five downtown Frederick congregations will bring together more than 100 clergy, lay leaders, and members for a public accountability session on Sunday, January 29th, on the issue of marriage equality in Maryland.

Guests include the city’s representatives to the General Assembly: Sen. RonYoung, Del. Galen Clagett. (Del. Patrick Hogan was invited but declined). Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler will also join the event. The five congregations include All Saints Episcopal, Evangelical Reformed UCC, Grace UCC, Congregation Kol Ami, and Unity in Frederick.

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012

Time: 5 – 6 p.m.

Place: Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, 15 W. Church Street, Frederick [map]

BREAKING: Delegate Heather Mizeur Announces $247,500 Cash on Hand ... for 2014 Comptroller?

Maryland Juice hopes that the other 2014 Comptroller hopefuls have been busy fundraising, because we just received a press release from Delegate Heather Mizeur announcing $247,500 cash on hand. At this point, the buzz I am hearing (though not from her) is that she is looking at the 2014 Democratic nomination for Comptroller. Any other candidates who care to send in fundraising numbers can do so at david@marylandjuice.com.

For a point of comparison, this cash haul means that Ms. Mizeur has basically caught up to former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan (unless he reports a sudden influx of new cash in 2011). He was previously caught weighing a run himself, but will the stiff competition keep him out of the race? Take a look at the cash on hand totals from the other Comptroller's candidates at the start of last year:

Prior Fundraising Period Cash On-Hand (@ January 2011)

• Doug Duncan $294,967.13
• Heather Mizeur $166,424.19
• Kumar Barve $18,175.87
• Jim Rosapepe $8,537.84
• Galen Clagett $-4,544.09

We are still waiting to see what their current reports will show -- hopefully, any day now! In the meantime, see Del. Mizeur's self-reported numbers below: 

Heather Mizeur Reports $247,500 Cash on Hand

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland – In campaign finance reports filed with the State Board of Elections this week, Delegate Heather R. Mizeur (D – Montgomery) reported $247,537 cash on hand for the report ending January 18, 2011.

Guest Pundit: An Anonymous Legislator Highlights Fallout from MD Redistricting // Who is Leaving the Statehouse?

UPDATE: Yesterday, Maryland Reporter highlighted a few notable redistricting tidbits, including this comment about Mr. Busch's district: 

His new two-member district 30A moves Republican Del. Ron George out of the district where he got more votes than Busch, into another district where George may have to run against other Republicans.

The new district lines will also make it more difficult for Republican Del. Herb McMillan to win reelection since it moves GOP voters south into a heavily Republican single-member district now represented by Republican Del. Bob Costa, chair of the Anne Arundel County delegation now controlled by the GOP.... 

In Carroll County, the new District 5 includes almost all of the county, now represented by Republican Sen. Joe Getty, and packs four GOP incumbent delegates into a three-member district.

Yesterday, Maryland Juice wrote about how House Speaker Mike Busch's legislative district was becoming more Democratic in 2012. We also mentioned that Busch staying in office would reduce opportunities for politicians to move up the leadership ladder in Annapolis. An anonymous legislator has responded with a more nuanced view, highlighting that some politicians will benefit from Mr. Busch's extended stay:

Guest Pundit: Sure, Busch running again is bad for people at the top of the food chain (ie: those whose only real way up is if Busch doesn't stay speaker until 2018). That is why a lot of those people are looking elsewhere: think Kumar Barve, Maggie McIntosh, and Dereck Davis. Those were the three names in the wings for speaker, although Davis is definitely young enough that he'll still be in the running in 2018 if he sticks around.

But Busch running for office again is also good for people in the middle and lower ranks. As people higher up the chain begin leaving because they lack opportunities to move up, that opens up spots for the middle and lower ranks of the Democratic caucus. The Democratic members of the House of Delegates who are thinking of moving on or are rumored to be thinking about it are:

2014 Comptroller: Frederick Del. Clagett Forms Exploratory Committee // Plus, Mike Miller on Dogs?

The Frederick News Post is reporting that retiring State Delegate Galen Clagett is one step closer to a run for Maryland Comptroller. Clagett previously stated he was considering a run for Comptroller or Frederick County Executive (should the position be created). Today we discover Clagett has formed an exploratory committee for Comptroller:

"Clagett said an exploratory committee was formed about two weeks ago to get a feel for his chances of election."

What happened roughly two weeks ago? Del. Kumar Barve announced he was "all in" for the Comptroller's race (assuming Peter Franchot vacates the seat). Clagett appears to be not quite as convinced as Barve, given that the News Post clarified:

Comptroller's Race Making News

Del. Kumar Barve's early confirmation of his entry into the Comptroller's race has kicked off the next round of Comptroller 2014 coverage. Our take on the race is here, but here's what others are saying.

Only 1,034 Days Until the Maryland Comptroller's Race

The usually frumpy ambiance around the Office of the Maryland Comptroller seems to be getting a re-boot, as numerous lawmakers express interest in the race -- only 1,034 days in advance of the Democratic Primary.

In an earlier post, we explained a few reasons why this race might be generating such interest. Here, we discuss a few other figures from around Maryland who are rumored to be weighing a run for Comptroller.

Breaking: Delegate Kumar Barve is "All In" for Comptroller

Last month, Washington Post writer John Wagner, posted this interview with Delegate Kumar Barve, indicating his interest in the Maryland Comptroller's race:

“If it’s an open position, I’d definitely be interested,” Barve said. “You’re in a position to really work on issues like efficiency in government.”

That article was published on June 17, 2011. It is nearly one month later, so we decided to check in with Delegate Barve on the status of his decision-making. His response: if incumbent Comptroller Peter Franchot vacates his position, Mr. Barve is "all in" for the race.

I'm honestly a little surprised to see the Comptroller's race drawing serious candidates so quickly, but there are a couple of factors at play: