JUICE: Gansler's MoCo Endorsers (& Misfire), Gaithersburg Mayor Sid Katz for Council, Caretaker to Replace Valerie Ervin

Below Maryland Juice provides a quick round-up of news items that may interest politicos:

JUICE #1: MOCO COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAYS BODY WILL APPOINT A CARETAKER TO REPLACE VALERIE ERVIN - Yesterday we speculated that Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin's seat would be filled by a caretaker appointee who would agree not to run in the 2014 election cycle. At Large Councilmember George Leventhal disagreed with the decision on Facebook:

Nevertheless, today, MoCo Council President Craig Rice confirmed the new consensus decision in the following press release:

PRESS RELEASE

Statement of Montgomery County Council President Craig Rice on Process to Fill District 5 Vacancy
Councilmember Valerie Ervin announced on Dec. 10 that she will resign from the Council on Jan. 3, 2014 to become executive director of the Center for Working Families.  We wish her the best in this new position.

Under Section 106 of the County Charter (shown below), the Council intends to appoint a new Councilmember for District 5 by Jan. 31, 2014 to complete Councilmember Ervin’s unexpired term, which ends on Dec. 1, 2014.  The Council intends to select a person who has shown a clear understanding of the issues that are important to residents of District 5.  To assure a level playing field for all persons interested in seeking election to the next full term from District 5, the Council intends to appoint a person who does not intend to run for election to that term.

Excerpt from Section 106 of the County Charter regarding a vacancy on the Council in the final year of a term:

When a vacancy has occurred, a majority of the remaining members of the Council shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy within thirty days. An appointee to fill a vacancy, when succeeding a party member, shall be a member of the same political party as the person elected to such office at the time of election.

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JUICE #2: GAITHERSBURG MAYOR SIDNEY KATZ WEIGHING RUN FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL - Yesterday, Montgomery County Community Media reported that Gaithersburg Mayor Sid Katz is weighing a run for the District 3 County Council seat being vacated by Phil Andrews (excerpt below):

MOCO COMMUNITY MEDIA: Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz has confirmed he is considering a run for Montgomery County Council. In a telephone conversation today (Dec. 10), Katz said he will make his decision about running for the District 3 seat shortly after the holidays.

Montgomery County Councilmember Phil Andrews currently holds the seat but has previously announced that he is running for county executive in 2014, and would not seek reelection to his Council seat....

Although he has not officially filed, Gaithersburg City Councilmember Ryan Spiegel, an attorney, said earlier this month he plans to seek the District 3 seat....

JUICE #3: DOUG GANSLER ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS FROM MOCO OFFICIALS // PLUS: 2 ENDORSERS REMOVED FROM GANSLER'S LIST - Yesterday, Attorney General Doug Gansler announced a list of over 40 MoCo endorsers for his gubernatorial campaign (see below). Two of the officials on the list were listed in a transcription error (Sen. Roger Manno & Del. Jeff Waldstreicher), however one of them quickly released an email blast clarifying that he had in fact endorsed Anthony Brown. The initial press release from Gansler is below:

PRESS RELEASE

Gansler Announces Endorsements From Over Forty Montgomery County Officials

Silver Spring, MARYLAND – Today, candidate for Governor Douglas Gansler and his running mate Jolene Ivey, announced the endorsements of over forty current and former Montgomery County elected officials, including, among others, state senators and delegates, the "Courthouse Team," and the current sheriff and former sheriff.

"I am pleased to have the support of so many Montgomery County elected officials, present and past.  Ours is a relationship forged over many years and I am proud of the accomplishments we have achieved together for the people of Maryland; but there is still more to do with respect to education, transportation and job creation. As Governor, I will continue working with the leaders of the county to best serve the people, because, in the end, it is the people's endorsement and only their endorsement that truly matters," said Gansler.

Montgomery County Endorsements (as of 12/9/13)

Former Congressman Michael Barnes

State Senator Brian J. Feldman (Dist. 15)
State Senator Jennie M. Forehand (Dist. 17)
State Senator Richard S. Madaleno, Jr. (Dist. 18)
State Senator Roger Manno (Dist. 19)
State Senator Karen S. Montgomery (Dist. 14)
Former State Senator Sharon M. Grosfeld (Dist. 18)
Former State Senator Laurence Levitan (Dist. 15)
Former State Senator Leonard H. Teitelbaum (Dist. 19)

State Delegate Sam Arora (Dist. 19)
State Delegate Charles E. Barkley (Dist. 39)
State Delegate Alfred C. Carr, Jr. (Dist. 18)
State Delegate Kathleen Dumais (Dist. 15)
State Delegate David Fraser-Hildalgo (Dist. 15)
State Delegate James W. Gilchrist (Dist. 17)
State Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez (Dist. 18)
State Delegate Ariana B. Kelly (Dist. 16)
State Delegate Susan C. Lee (Dist. 16)
State Delegate Aruna Miller (Dist. 15)
State Delegate Luiz R.S. Simmons (Dist. 17)
State Delegate Jeffrey D Waldstreicher (Dist. 26)
State Delegate Craig J. Zucker (Dist. 14)
Former State Delegate Saqib Ali (Dist. 39)
Former State Delegate Leon G. Billings (Dist. 18)
Former State Delegate Marilyn R. Goldwater (Dist. 16)
Former State Delegate Henry B. Heller (Dist. 19)
Former State Delegate Adrienne A. Mandel (Dist. 19)
Former State Delegate Carol S. Petzold (Dist. 19)
Former State Delegate Tod D. Sher (Dist 14A)

State’s Attorney John J. McCarthy
Sheriff Darren M. Popkin
Clerk of the Court Loretta E. Knight
Register of Wills Joseph M. Griffin
Former Sheriff Ray Kight
Former Clerk of the Court Molly Ruhl

Former Montgomery County Councilmember Bill Sher

Board of Education Member Patricia O’Neill (District 3)
Board of Education Member Rebecca Smondrowski (District 2)

Former Mayor of Rockville Rose Krasnow
Former Mayor of Rockville Steve Van Grack

Former MCDCC Chair Jay Bernstein
Former MCDCC Chair Stanton Gildenhorn
Former MCDCC Chair Michael Gildea

Note: Current county council, municipal, and central committee endorsements to be released at a separate occasion.

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The Washington Post's John Wagner caught the errors in Gansler's list (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Hours after the initial list was released, two names were removed: Del. Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher and Sen. Roger Manno. In an interview, Waldstreicher said his name was “erroneously listed.” “I have not endorsed Doug Gansler for governor,” Waldstreicher said. “In fact, I’m endorsing Anthony Brown.”

Manno did not immediately return a call seeking comment. A Gansler aide conceded that Manno’s inclusion was a mistake as well....

Several hours after Gansler's erroneous press release went out, Delegate Jeff Waldstreicher sent out the following email alert announcing an endorsement of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown:

JEFF WALDSTREICHER: Dear Juice, Today I made an important decision.  I'm proud to endorse Anthony Brown for Governor of our great state.  Anthony represents the same brand of progressive politics that I do, including strong support for public education and decisive leadership for economic justice.  Make no mistake, I know and respect Anthony's competitors, and count them among my friends.  I believe that when it comes to both Montgomery County and the State of Maryland, Anthony is the best choice.  Please see my official announcement below.

Yours,

Delegate Jeff Waldstreicher

PRESS RELEASE

Del. Jeff Waldstreicher Endorses Anthony Brown for Governor

Del. Waldstreicher: Brown’s leadership in education, economic justice make him best choice for Montgomery County
SILVER SPRING, MD. – Today, Del. Jeff Waldstreicher endorsed Anthony Brown for Governor and Ken Ulman for Lt. Governor, citing Brown’s strong commitment to public education and bold support for economic justice as key to his decision. Earlier in the day, another candidate for Governor issued a release erroneously claiming Waldstreicher’s backing in his bid for Governor.

“Supporting Anthony Brown for Governor was the right decision, as his fierce leadership in public education and decisive commitment to increasing the minimum wage makes him the best choice for Montgomery County,” said Del. Jeff Waldstreicher. “Anthony has worked hard to ensure Maryland’s schools have remained the best in the country for five years running, and his commitment to economic justice is key to the vitality of our county. I look forward to joining with so many other Montgomery County leaders in working to elect Anthony and Ken Ulman over the next year.”

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I'll be working hard to elect Anthony Brown.  Want to support Anthony, too?  Click the logo below to learn more, contribute, or volunteer on Anthony's campaign.

HELP: Transportation Funding Facing "Do or Die" Moment in Maryland House // PLUS: O'Malley & Robin Ficker Ready to Duel

CRITICAL MOMENT TO HELP FUND THE PURPLE LINE, RED LINE & MORE!

HELP: MARYLAND HOUSE ON THE VERGE OF APPROVING CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, BUT SOME LAWMAKERS WAVERING - Last night, the Maryland House of Delegates moved forward with a much-needed plan to raise transportation funds for the state's numerous stalled projects (think everything from highway maintenance to new transit lines like the Purple Line & Red Line). Even our neighbors in anti-tax Virginia have approved tax increases to pay for their transportation improvements & transit (details below).

But it appears that some Maryland Democrats are wavering and may need some encouragement.  Nobody wants to increase the cost of prices at the pump, but this is the only legislative vehicle we have to finally get transportation funds flowing in Maryland -- a prerequisite to boosting economic development in the places that drive Maryland's economy (like say Montgomery County).

The Maryland House could take a final vote on the transportation funding plan as early as tomorrow, and every vote will be needed. A knowledgeable source has indicated that the following Montgomery County lawmakers may need some encouragement. Please tap these folks on the shoulder and encourage them to support the Governor's transportation funding plan:

• Del. Al Carr - alfred.carr@house.state.md.us
• Del. Ben Kramer - benjamin.kramer@house.state.md.us
• Del. Luiz Simmons - luiz.simmons@house.state.md.us
• Del. Jeff Waldstreicher - jeff.waldstreicher@house.state.md.us

LINES BEING DRAWN OVER GAS TAX ISSUE - Yesterday The Washington Post reported that supporters of Gov. Martin O'Malley's transportation funding package are getting ready to go to battle to defend the plan. O'Malley's allies are apparently raising money for a voter engagement effort (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: A group led by some allies of Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has been raising money and trying to mobilize public support for legislation to increase transportation funding.

The group, known as Broad Stripes/Bright Stars, has helped pay for ads on the Web sites of both The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun. And it has coordinated phone calls to lawmakers weighing a bill sponsored by O’Malley to boost funding for road and mass transit projects, according to organizers.... O’Malley’s plan, which was tweaked this week by a House committee, relies heavily on a new sales tax on gasoline. It is projected to yield $3.4 billion over five years....

A recent fundraising solicitation sent out by the group, obtained by The Post, says that “all monies will be directed into voter engagement about the once-in-a-generation opportunity to get Maryland moving again....”

ROBIN FICKER DEPLOYS ROBOCALLS AND LAWNSIGNS AGAINST GAS TAX - Maryland transportation boosters are likely wise to be preparing for political battle over the gas tax. After all, Montgomery County's persistent anti-tax activist Robin Ficker is already making noise over the issue. I spied the lawnsign below in Montgomery County recently, and several sources recently reported receiving robocalls about the gas tax, purportedly from Ficker:

• REPORT #1: Talked with someone just now who got a robocall asking them to oppose "Governor O'Malley's 18-cent gas tax."  Unfortunately, they hung up before the end and didn't hear whether it gave any sponsoring name.

• REPORT #2: Yes, my Aunt here in Potomac must have received that same phone call. She only heard the message once, but she's pretty sure the message said it was from Robin Ficker.

It does appear that Robin Ficker is behind the robocalls, as he posted the following Facebook message right around the time the reports started coming in:

TRANSIT PROJECTS ARE TOP PRIORITIES FOR DEMOCRATS - Robin Ficker notwithstanding, transportation projects (and transit lines in particular) are becoming top priorities for ambitious Democrats. A Maryland Juice source noted, for example, that Howard County Executive Ken Ulman recently spoke to members of the Action Committee for Transit and pledged support for the Prince George's & Montgomery County Purple Line (a light rail line that would run East-West from New Carrollton to Bethesda). Notably, Ulman's visit comes after fellow gubernatorial candidates Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Del. Heather Mizeur also met with the group and pledged similar support for the Purple Line.

Indeed, a large community of advocates is quickly emerging to try and bolster chances that Maryland will raise a significant amount of funds for transportation this year. Many of these advocates are specifically hoping to see a surge in funding for Maryland's stalled transit projects. To be sure, Maryland has been underfunding transportation for years, but the state's transit projects have been disproportionately affected. Meanwhile, voters around the state seem unaware that taxpayers and transit-riders have been subsidizing auto use for decades (and continue to do so). But times are changing....


THE FUTURE IS HERE: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PREFER TRANSIT-ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES - Just Up the Pike blogger Dan Reed recently reported on how the younger demographics that communities need to attract to survive are increasingly seeking transit-accessible housing. Reed notes that Montgomery County's metro stations attract young professionals, but that more priority needs to be given to these issues:

JUST UP THE PIKE: Trends show that Millennials want an urban lifestyle, but are often stymied by limited funds and a dearth of affordable housing.... The county's largest concentrations of Millennials are along the Red Line in places like White Flint, downtown Bethesda and downtown Silver Spring, where young adults are a slim majority. Notably, these are also the places where walking, biking and taking transit to work are most common....

These maps have implications not just for Montgomery County, but the whole region. They show that the District and Arlington aren't the only places that can attract Millennials, so long as they can be near neighborhoods near transit, shopping and jobs. While many young families are choosing to live further out, they're still seeking a semi-urban experience.

They also show that one of Montgomery's greatest strengths remains its diversity of neighborhoods, allowing it to attract both singles and families. However, two distinct challenges lie ahead. One is to preserve a supply of affordably-priced housing in the county's urban areas, both established places like Bethesda or emerging ones like White Flint. The other is to create more walkable neighborhoods and improve access to jobs, shopping and transit in the Upcounty and East County, where young families continue to settle.

Of course, Millennials aren't the only ones who want an urban or semi-urban lifestyle. But if Montgomery County wants to attract a new generation of residents, it needs to start listening to young adults. Without us, the county doesn't have much of a future.

THE REAL THREAT FROM VIRGINIA IS NOT TAX RATES // THEY'RE CREATING LARGE AMOUNTS OF TRANSIT-ACCESSIBLE HOUSING IN QUALITY NEIGHBORHOODS - Maryland lawmakers have been complaining for years about how the state is becoming less competitive with neighboring Virginia for jobs, investment and residents. Time and again, politicians have pointed to Virginia's lower tax rates as evidence that Maryland is doing something wrong. They have used the threat of an aggressive and hostile neighbor on our border as reason to justify all manner of anti-tax hysteria in Maryland, including allowing our "millionaires tax" to expire.

But Northern Virginia residents and lawmakers have for years been plagued by problems relating to the state's rabid anti-tax political base, and policymakers have been exasperated by their inability to fund the state's growing transportation priorities..... until recently.

First, Virginia made a huge leap forward by finding funding to build a new Metro "Silver Line" to Dulles Airport. And now Virginia is raising billions of dollars for additional transportation improvements and transit funding. The reality is that the bread and butter for Maryland's revenues is our high quality of life and solid neighborhoods, which are obviously all aided by our proximity to the Federal government.
 
But now Virginia is moving forward with their own transportation improvements, and they are threatening to put Maryland to shame. The Richmond-Times Dispatch today explained what Virginia's transportation funding plan would mean for the state (excerpt below):

RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH: For the first time in four years, Virginia’s six-year plan for road construction will mean something. The state would receive an additional $4 billion for its six-year plan ... under legislation awaiting the signature of Gov. Bob McDonnell that would raise state tax revenues for transportation for the first time in 27 years....

The complex funding package would result in almost $3 billion for highway construction projects.... McDonnell has not said whether he will propose any changes in the legislation ... but his administration is moving ahead swiftly in planning for the new funding, which also would add about $1 billion for mass transit.... Cities and counties, for example, would receive an estimated $125.6 million in 2017-2019 for their priorities.

“The revenues generated by (the legislation) will breathe new life into Virginia’s transportation program,” [John W. Lawson, chief financial officer of the Virginia Department of Transportation] concluded.

Will Maryland politicians find the courage to fund our future?

P.S. LOCKHEED TAX CUT VS. GAS TAX INCREASE? - For those of you following the debate over the Lockheed Martin corporate welfare bill in Maryland, it should be noted that some politicos (and Robin Ficker) are already comparing the gas tax increase to the proposed Lockheed handout. Indeed, it would seem absurd for lawmakers to raise the gas tax on ordinary Marylanders at the same time they give Lockheed Martin millions of dollars in tax cuts. Thousands of Marylanders are watching Del. Sheila Hixson's handling of the Lockheed bill in the House Ways & Means committee - live on Facebook: