JUICE: Speaker Mike Busch Announces New Maryland House Leadership, Gansler Heads to Firm & Hogan for Public Finance?

Below Maryland Juice provides some post-election updates regarding leadership shuffles in Annapolis and more:

JUICE #1: MEET THE NEW DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES - Due to retirements and election losses, the House of Delegates was bound to go through a reshuffling of leadership and committee assignments. Speaker Mike Busch just sent out the following press release announcing some of the changes:

SPEAKER BUSCH ANNOUNCES
NEW COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS

ANNAPOLIS, MD – House Speaker Michael E. Busch today announced his first round of leadership appointments following the 2014 general election.   Speaker Busch describes the group collectively as “the right additions to the existing House leadership team to help move us forward into the coming term.”    He adds, “We are fortunate to have such a talented group of individuals to help lead the House.”   Speaker Busch plans to announce additional leadership appointments and committee moves in the coming weeks.

Delegate Maggie McIntosh (Baltimore City, D43) will become Chairman of the Appropriations Committee.   Delegate McIntosh has chaired the Environmental Matters Committee since 2003, but served on the Appropriations Committee early on in her legislative career.  Said Speaker Busch, “Maggie McIntosh is one of the most well respected leaders in Annapolis and I have total confidence in her ability to manage the myriad of subjects that fall within the jurisdiction of the committee, most importantly legislative review and oversight of the State’s annual budget.  She is the right person to take the lead on budget issues as we continue to provide critical services to the citizens of our State and to use our resources to foster a growing economy.”  

Delegate Kumar Barve (Montgomery County, D17) will become the Chairman of the newly designated Environment & Transportation Committee (formerly Environmental Matters).   Moving forward, transportation policy issues will be consolidated within the Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction.   Delegate Barve has served as Majority Leader since 2003 and prior to that served on the House Economic Matters Committee under then-Chairman Busch.  He currently sits on the Ways and Means Committee.   Said Speaker Busch, “Delegate Barve has demonstrated time and time again his command of complex issues and he is a natural choice of someone to guide State environment and transportation policy.”  

Delegate Adrienne Jones (Baltimore County, D10) will remain Speaker Pro Tem and will now oversee State higher education policy as Chairman of the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee in the Appropriations Committee.   Delegate Jones was Busch’s first appointment as a newly elected Speaker in 2003.   Said Speaker Busch, “Delegate Jones is one of the most versatile leaders in the House.  She is a consensus builder and an extremely hard worker.  With job growth and economic development at the forefront of our agenda in the coming term, I can think of no better person to lead on policy and budget issues related to our system of higher education.”   Delegate Jones will also continue to serve as the Chairman of the Capital Budget Subcommittee.

Having served as an instrumental member of the Ways and Means Committee since 2003 and as the Chair of the Education Subcommittee since 2007, Delegate Anne R. Kaiser (Montgomery County, D14) has been appointed as the Majority Leader.  Delegate Kaiser will also maintain her roles on the Ways and Means Committee. “Anne Kaiser has worked tirelessly for the House Democratic Caucus and demonstrated leadership capabilities on crucial legislative priorities,” said Speaker Busch.

Assuming the role of Vice Chairman of the Environment and Transportation Committee will be Delegate Dana Stein (Baltimore County, D11).   Stein was first elected to the House in 2006 and serves on the Environmental Matters Committee.   Said Speaker Busch, “Delegate Stein is a thoughtful legislator whose considerable knowledge and even temperament make him an ideal choice for Vice Chairman.”

Delegate Sally Jameson (Charles County, D28) will become Vice Chairman of the Economic Matters Committee.   Delegate Jameson is a long-time member of the Committee (since 2003) and is known for her work on energy issues.   Said Speaker Busch, “Delegate Jameson brings a business background and a pragmatic approach to the important workforce and economic development issues handled in the Economic Matters Committee.”

Delegate Marvin Holmes (Prince George’s County, D23B) will become Chairman of the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics.    Delegate Holmes has been a member of the House since 2003 and has served in a number of leadership roles.   “Delegate Holmes is a model public servant and a person of great integrity.   He is the clear choice to Chair this important committee,” said Speaker Busch.

Delegate James Proctor (Prince Georges and Charles Counties, D27A), Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, will remain in that role and also assume the House Chairmanship of the Spending Affordability Committee.     The Committee plays a critical role in the budgeting process as it annually establishes State spending guidelines based on current and projected economic conditions.   Said Speaker Busch, “Delegate Proctor’s commitment to public service and his budgetary experience is unparalleled and I look forward to his continued leadership in this new role.”

# # # 

JUICE #2: ATTORNEY GENERAL DOUG GANSLER TO BECOME PARTNER AT DC LAW FIRM - Doug Gansler will wait out the next four years until the 2018 cycle as a partner at a downtown law firm. He announced the move in a press release yesterday (excerpt below):

Attorney General Doug Gansler Announces Post-Term Plans

Law firm partnership fits with AG’s extensive litigation experience

Baltimore, MD (Nov. 18, 2014) – Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that he will be joining the law firm, BuckleySandler LLP, when he completes his second term as Maryland Attorney General on January 12, 2015. AG Gansler will step into BuckleySandler as a Partner in its Washington, DC office where he will play a leading role in the firm’s government enforcement and litigation practices. The former President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) will also assist firm clients in complying with and managing increased regulatory expectations on issues ranging from consumer protection to cybersecurity and privacy. 

“I am extremely proud of the great things we’ve been able to accomplish during my eight years as Maryland’s Attorney General,” said Attorney General Gansler. “I will be leaving this office satisfied that our efforts made a positive impact on Maryland and across the country.”

“Joining BuckleySandler gives me the opportunity to practice law with longtime friends at one of the nation’s preeminent litigation and enforcement law firms. I am looking forward to putting those years of litigation experience to work on a regular basis.”

JUICE #3: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMERS SEE OPPORTUNITY IN HOGAN WIN - This week Common Cause MD and Progressive MD convened campaign finance reformers for a panel discussion in Silver Spring, MD. Speaking toward the opportunities to tackle the problem of money-in-politics were gubernatorial candidate Heather Mizeur, Congressman John Sarbanes, Montgomery Councilmember Phil Andrews, and Delegate Eric Luedtke. The packed house heard interesting commentary indicating reformers are hopeful that incoming Governor Larry Hogan (who is the first candidate to win a Governor's race with public financing) may embrace their cause:

Early Vote Turnout Analysis, Hillary Clinton in MD, Brown vs. Hogan Polls, Raskin vs. Zirkin for JPR Committee Chair & More!

Below Maryland Juice provides a roundup of news and analyses of key races of interest to politicos:

JUICE #1: DUELING POLLS IN THE RACE BETWEEN ANTHONY BROWN VS. LARRY HOGAN - Maryland's top race this cycle is undoubtedly the gubernatorial match-up between Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and former Ehrlich-administration official Larry Hogan. Here is a quick round-up of recent polls in the race. Note: the Gonzalez poll below was commissioned by supporters of Larry Hogan:

NEW YORK TIMES-CBS-YOUGOV (10/23/14) - BROWN +13

• Anthony Brown (D) - 51%
• Larry Hogan (R) - 38%

BALTIMORE SUN (10/11/14) - BROWN +7%

• Anthony Brown (D) - 49%
• Larry Hogan (R) - 42%

WASHINGTON POST (10/6/14) - BROWN +9%

• Anthony Brown (D) - 47%
• Larry Hogan (R) - 38%
• Shawn Quinn (L) - 4%

GONZALEZ RESEARCH (10/1/14) - BROWN +4%

• Anthony Brown (D) - 47%
• Larry Hogan (R) - 43%
• Shawn Quinn (L) - 1%

JUICE #2: MARYLAND JUICE EARLY VOTE TURNOUT ANALYSIS // WHO'S BEEN VOTING? - Below Maryland Juice takes a deep dive into early vote turnout data by party, gender, and county -- and we also give breakdowns in all Montgomery County state races, a few swing districts and in key Maryland counties. Early voting is currently underway in Maryland, as voters can cast early ballots until Thursday, October 30, 2014. Polls are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm at early vote centers across the state. Who has been voting early in the Free State? Below you can see some of our findings from turnout data for the first three days of early voting (Thursday, Friday & Saturday).

EARLY VOTE TURNOUT BY COUNTY & PARTY: Below we take a look at early vote turnout by raw party advantage and by county turnout. Not surprisingly, Democrats are turning out at an almost 2-1 rate over Republicans, reflecting their statewide registration advantage. As a result, the top raw turnout counties are not surprising (Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, etc). But in terms of the % of eligible voters casting ballots, Montgomery County is near the bottom of the state, along with Baltimore City. Though you cannot assume all Democrats will vote for Brown and all Republicans will vote for Hogan, the data reflect mixed news for Democrats. The party can try and coast on its registration advantage, but the low turnout %'s in heavy Democratic counties should be seen as a call to arms. Montgomery County is seriously lagging in % turnout (again, probably owing to the fact that the large numbers of new MoCo voters who registered over the last few years are not turning out at the polls):

2014 Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Democrats = 62,765
2. Republicans = 29,533
3. Independents = 8,275

2010 Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Democrats = 60,547
2. Republicans = 26,146
3. Independents = 7,508

2014 Early Vote Turnout - Top 8 Counties by Raw Turnout (First 3 Days):

1. Baltimore County = 16,893 (3.25%)
2. Prince George's = 14,004 (2.58%)
3. Anne Arundel = 12,930 (3.7%)
4. Montgomery = 11,271 (1.78%)
5. Baltimore City = 8,413 (2.25%)
6. Howard = 7,064 (3.62%)
7. Harford = 6,301 (3.83%)
8. Frederick = 3,712 (2.46%)

2014 Early Vote Turnout - All Counties Ranked by % Eligible Turnout (First 3 Days):

1. Talbot = 1,651 (6.43%)
2. Queen Anne's = 1,885 (5.68%)
3. Kent = 719 (5.65%)
4. Worcester = 1,415 (3.96%)
5. Harford = 6,301 (3.83%)
6. Somerset = 486 (3.74%)
7. Anne Arundel = 12,930 (3.7%)
8. Howard = 7,064 (3.62%)
9. Wicomico = 1,859 (3.28%)
10. Baltimore County = 16,893 (3.25%)
11. Caroline = 577 (3.14%)
12. Dorchester = 582 (2.84%)
13. Calvert = 1,672 (2.79%)
14. Prince George's = 14,004 (2.58%)
15. Frederick = 3,712 (2.46%)
16. Carroll = 2,751 (2.44%)
17. Cecil = 1,491 (2.41%)
18. Garrett = 460 (2.38%)
19. Saint Mary's = 1,466 (2.27%)
20. Baltimore City = 8,413 (2.25%)
21. Charles = 2,069 (2.06%)
22. Montgomery = 11,271 (1.78%)
23. Washington = 1,279 (1.42%)
24. Allegany = 587 (1.38%)

EARLY VOTE BY GENDER & PARTY: Below we take a look at the first three days of early vote turnout by gender and party. Statewide, women are turning out in larger numbers than men, a trend which clearly benefits Democrats. Women make up almost 60% of the Democrats early voting electorate, while men are a majority of Republican and Independent early vote turnout:

2014 Early Vote Turnout by Gender (First 3 Days):

1. Women = 54,759
2. Men = 46,778

2014 Early Vote Turnout - Democrats by Gender = 62,765:

1. Democrats Female = 36,787 (58.6%)
2. Democrats Male = 25,967 (41.1%)

2014 Early Vote Turnout - Republicans by Gender = 29,533 

1. Republicans Female = 14,078 (47.7%)
2. Republicans Male = 15,447 (52.3%)

2014 Early Vote Turnout - Independents by Gender = 8,275 

1. Independents Female = 3,522 (42.6%)
2. Independents Male = 4,747 (57.4%)

EARLY VOTE TURNOUT BY AGE AND PARTY: Below we take a look at the first three days of early vote turnout, sorted by age and party. The largest block of early voters is age 65+, with almost equal numbers of early voters from the large 45-64 demographic. In every age category, Democrats are turning out in larger numbers than Republicans. But again, you cannot assume that voters are going to vote party-line:

2014 Early Vote Turnout - Ages 18-24 = 2,363

1. Democrats 18-24 = 1,249
2. Republicans 18-24 = 736
3. Independents 18-24 = 349
4. Libertarians 18-24 = 15
5. Greens 18-24 = 4

2014 Early Vote Turnout - Ages 25-44 = 10,775 

1. Democrats 25-44 = 6,170
2. Republicans 25-44 = 2,992
3. Independents 25-44 = 1,459
4. Libertarians 25-44 = 64
5. Greens 25-44 = 23

2014 Early Vote Turnout - Ages 45-64 = 43,605

1. Democrats 45-64 = 26,465
2. Republicans 45-64 = 13,057
3. Independents 45-64 = 3,668
4. Libertarians 45-64 = 75
5. Greens 25-44 = 55

2014 Early Vote Turnout - Ages 65+ = 44,794 

1. Democrats 65+ = 28,881
2. Republicans 65+ = 12,748
3. Independents 65+ = 2,799
4. Libertarians 65+ = 36
5. Greens 65+ = 14

EARLY VOTE BY PARTY IN THE TOP 8 TURNOUT COUNTIES: Below we take a look at early vote turnout in the top 8 highest turnout counties. In 7 of 8 of these counties, Democrats are turning out in much higher numbers than Republicans. In Harford County, Republicans have a slight edge of roughly 300 votes over the Democrats. Though you can't quite assume that all Democrats will vote for their County Executive candidates, the county-level turnout may be reassuring news for Democrats in some of the competitive County Exec races. Some of the turnout numbers are tight enough to warrant extra energy from Dems:

Anne Arundel Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Democrats = 6,169
2. Republicans = 5,282
3. Independents = 1,433

Baltimore City Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Democrats = 7,636
2. Republicans = 417
3. Independents = 326

Baltimore County Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Democrats = 11,259
2. Republicans = 4,334
3. Independents = 1,090

Frederick County Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Democrats = 1,698
2. Republicans = 1,538
3. Independents = 460

Harford County Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Republicans = 2,967
2. Democrats = 2,657
3. Independents = 602

Howard County Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Democrats = 4,167
2. Republicans = 2,035
3. Independents = 775

Montgomery County Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Democrats = 7,909
2. Republicans = 1,962
3. Independents = 1,295

Prince George's County Early Vote Turnout by Party (First 3 Days):

1. Democrats = 12,443
2. Republicans = 878
3. Independents = 507

EARLY VOTE TURNOUT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY DELEGATE RACES: In all 8 of Montgomery County's House of Delegate Districts, Democrats are turning out in far greater numbers than Republicans. My home District 20 has the highest Democratic turnout in MoCo, and here Independents are tied with Republicans for turnout. Meanwhile District 14 has the highest overall turnout (counting all parties):

Maryland House District 14 Early Vote Turnout by Party = 1,953 Total Votes

1. Democrats = 1,258
2. Republicans = 472
3. Independents = 317
4. Libertarians = 3
5. Greens = 0

Maryland House District 15 Early Vote Turnout by Party = 1,161 Total Votes 

1. Democrats = 709
2. Republicans = 275
3. Independents = 163
4. Libertarians = 5
5. Greens = 1

Maryland House District 16 Early Vote Turnout by Party = 1,092 Total Votes 

1. Democrats = 796
2. Republicans = 171
3. Independents = 119
4. Libertarians = 2
5. Greens = 0

Maryland House District 17 Early Vote Turnout by Party = 1,242 Total Votes 

1. Democrats = 835
2. Republicans = 234
3. Independents = 161
4. Libertarians = 2
5. Greens = 2

Maryland House District 18 Early Vote Turnout by Party = 1,335 Total Votes 

1. Democrats = 999
2. Republicans = 182
3. Independents = 136
4. Greens = 6
5. Libertarians = 0

Maryland House District 19 Early Vote Turnout by Party = 1,676 Total Votes 

1. Democrats = 1,220
2. Republicans = 257
3. Independents = 183
4. Greens = 4
5. Libertarians = 3

Maryland House District 20 Early Vote Turnout by Party = 1,741 Total Votes 

1. Democrats = 1,425
2. Republicans = 148
3. Independents = 148
4. Greens = 7
5. Libertarians = 3

Maryland House District 39 Early Vote Turnout by Party = 1,070 Total Votes 

1. Democrats = 666
2. Republicans = 222
3. Independents = 170
4. Libertarians = 3
5. Greens = 1

EARLY VOTE TURNOUT IN A FEW SWING RACES: Below we provide early vote turnout figures and party breakdowns in a few key races on the November ballot. Democratic turnout from the first three days of early voting looks okay across the board, but there are a couple districts where the party needs to turn up the heat!

Senate District 3 Early Vote Turnout by Party (Ron Young vs. Corey Stottlemyer) 

1. Democrats = 1,091
2. Republicans = 719
3. Independents = 246

Senate District 42 Early Vote Turnout by Party (Jim Brochin vs. Tim Robinson)

1. Democrats = 1,062
2. Republicans = 683
3. Independents = 153

Delegate District 9B Early Vote Turnout by Party (Tom Coale vs. Bob Flanagan) 

1. Democrats = 742
2. Republicans = 506
3. Independents = 158

Delegate District 12 (Eric Ebersole/Terri Hill/Clarence Lam vs. Gordon Bull/Joe Hooe/Rick Martel)

1. Democrats = 1,773
2. Republicans = 566
3. Independents = 220

Delegate District 29B (John Bohanan vs. Deb Rey)

1. Democrats = 190
2. Republicans = 158
3. Independents = 40

Delegate District 30A Early Vote Turnout by Party (Mike Busch/Chuck Ferrar vs. Herb McMillan/Genevieve Lindner)

1. Democrats = 1,384
2. Republicans = 839
3. Independents = 257

Delegate District 38B Early Vote Turnout by Party (Norm Conway vs. Carl Anderton Jr) 

1. Democrats = 430
2. Republicans = 388
3. Independents = 85

JUICE #3: NATIONAL PARTIES NOW SPENDING IN MARYLAND // PLUS: OBAMA, CHRIS CHRISTIE & THE CLINTONS CAMPAIGN IN MD - As we head into the homestretch for Maryland's gubernatorial race, the national Democrats & Republicans are engaging in a proxy battle in the Free State. Here are a few signs of activity from national politicians:

HILLARY CLINTON TO RALLY FOR ANTHONY BROWN THIS THURSDAY: So far Lt. Governor Anthony Brown's campaign has brought President Obama and former President Bill Clinton onto the campaign trail in Maryland. This Thursday, they are continuing the proxy battle with a rally with Hillary Clinton (press release excerpt below). You can RSVP at: http://www.anthonybrown.com/Oct30

This event is free – supporters will be admitted on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited and supporters must RSVP at www.anthonybrown.com/Oct30, or pick up tickets at a Democratic office listed here: www.anthonybrown.com/offices.

Who: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, County Executive Ken Ulman, and the Maryland Democratic Team

What: Early Vote event – Final push before polls close at 8 p.m. (Nearest Early Vote location is the College Park Community Center at 5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park, MD)

When: Thursday, October 30th, Doors open to the public at 2:45 pm

Where: University of Maryland College Park, Ritchie Coliseum, 4533 Rossborough Lane, College 

Hillary Clinton's visit comes on the heels of an Anthony Brown rally with President Obama (see TV news coverage) and a fundraiser with President Bill Clinton (see TV ad w/ Bill Clinton). Meanwhile, Larry Hogan has enlisted New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (see TV coverage) to campaign for him in the Free State.

NATIONAL PARTY TV AD WARS: Meanwhile, the Democratic Governor's Association (aka DGA) has now spent at least $1.15 million in deep Blue Maryland to shore up the Brown campaign. The Washington Post reported on the ad buys (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: The DGA previously spent about $750,000 on three weeks of ads in the Baltimore market that attack Hogan’s record on social issues, including his past opposition to abortion rights.... The latest DGA outlay in the heavily Democratic state will keep ads on the air on Baltimore stations through mid-October. The purchase appears to be roughly $400,000, based on publicly available records and people familiar with the buy....

To counter the DGA, the Republican Governor's Association (aka the RGA) has bought airtime in Maryland. The Baltimore Sun reported on the news (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: The RGA's intervention in the race in deep-blue Maryland reflects a growing hope in GOP circles that Hogan can score an upset despite the state's 2-1 Democratic registration advantage. The RGA's chairman, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, campaigned and raised funds for Hogan this week on his second visit to Maryland on Hogan's behalf. lRelated Distortions fly in race for governor POLITICS Distortions fly in race for governor SEE ALL RELATED 8 According to filings with the Federal Communication Commission, the RGA will spend $166,515 to advertise on WJZ-TV. The ad the group released Thursday is a 30-second spot rattling off taxes, fares and other charges that have gone up under Brown and Gov. Martin O'Malley....

JUICE #4: SENATORS RASKIN & ZIRKIN BATTLING FOR CHAIR OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE - One of the non-election stories politicos are currently following is the battle between State Senators Jamie Raskin & Bobby Zirkin for Chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. After all, not all of the hot races this year are electoral battles -- some of them relate to the assignment of leadership posts. This November, State Senator Brian Frosh is all but certain to be elected Maryland's next Attorney General, but Frosh also chairs the Senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee (aka JPR). With his looming departure from that post, Senate President Mike Miller will soon have to choose a replacement. Center Maryland columnist Josh Kurtz recently highlighted the basics of the JPR battle (excerpt below):

JOSH KURTZ VIA CENTER MARYLAND: At first glance – and maybe even at second and third glance – it’s a no-brainer: A Harvard-educated constitutional scholar vs. a guy who advertises his ability to win dog bite cases prominently on his law firm website. Put another way, it’s a choice between a lawyer who wrote a best-selling book about the Supreme Court and a lawmaker who introduced a bill that would have prevented the wife of an Annapolis lobbyist from serving on the Baltimore County school board because the lawmaker didn’t like a natural gas pipeline project in his neighborhood that the lobbyist’s firm was promoting....

By all accounts, the battle is between Montgomery County Sen. Jamie Raskin (D), an American University law professor and constitutional scholar, and Baltimore County Sen. Bobby Zirkin (D), the trial lawyer and pipeline foe. But [Senate President Mike] Miller’s decision isn’t as easy as one might expect given the two contenders’ credentials, because this is not an academic exercise – and the chairmanship of JPR is anything but an academic position. In fact, it’s become a major dilemma for Miller, the longest-serving Senate president on Planet Earth who once held the JPR gavel himself....

WILL MOCO & LIBERALS HAVE A ROLE IN THE STATE SENATE? - But there is much more to the JPR battle than just the resumes of Senators Raskin & Zirkin. The decision has much to do with the trajectory of the chamber, and Montgomery County's role in the future of the State Senate. With the exit of Senator Brian Frosh and the retirement of former Majority Leader Rob Garagiola, Montgomery County may soon be without any Senator in a senior leadership position in the state's upper chamber.

Moreover, with the ever-increasing liberal bent to Maryland's Democratic electorate, the JPR battle foreshadows whether progressives in the State Senate will be given a correspondingly larger voice in the body. On this point, there are some similarities and some differences in voting record between Raskin & Zirkin. Most notably, Zirkin voted against the Dream Act while Raskin supported the bill. The two Senators also disagree on whether landlords should be able to discriminate against tenants based on the form of payment for rent (eg: housing vouchers for veterans and low income residents). Raskin opposes discrimination against form of payment, while Zirkin supports it.

That being said, both Senators voted for marriage equality and both support marijuana legalization. Both Senators also voted against corporate welfare for Lockheed Martin, and Zirkin ultimately joined Raskin in supporting death penalty repeal and transgender non-discrimination. In any case, we will likely not know how this story plays out until after the General Election is concluded.


JUICE #5: LOW PROFILE BALLOT QUESTIONS FACING VOTERS IN NOVEMBER // TRANSPORTATION LOCK BOX, COUNTY EXEC SPECIAL ELECTIONS & MORE - In addition to the state and county races on the ballot this year, there are some fairly interesting (albeit low-profile) ballot questions facing voters. We discuss the two statewide ballot questions and a Montgomery County-specific ballot question below:

QUESTION 1: SHOULD MARYLAND LOCK-BOX ITS TRANSPORTATION FUNDS? - This ballot question asks voters whether state lawmakers should be prohibited from spending transportation dollars on non-transportation budget items. The measure was placed on the ballot by the General Assembly as part of the gas tax negotiations during the last legislative session. The lockbox on the transportation trust fund dollars could be overturned through at 60% vote of the legislature during a fiscal emergency. A vote "for" Question 1, is a vote for the lockbox and is recommended by a diverse range of groups including the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, Progressive Neighbors, The Baltimore Sun, The Gazette, various Chambers of Commerce, the carpenters union and supporters of the Red Line, Purple Line and CCT.

QUESTION 2: SHOULD MARYLAND ALLOW COUNTIES TO FILL COUNTY EXEC VACANCIES THROUGH SPECIAL ELECTIONS? - This ballot question asks voters whether Maryland should authorize counties to fill vacancies in the office of County Executive through special elections instead of appointments. In Montgomery County, for example, a County Exec vacancy would currently be filled through a vote of five members of the County Council. A vote "for" Question 2 is a vote to allow counties to use special elections and is recommended by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee and Progressive Neighbors.

MOCO QUESTION A: SHOULD MOCO REQUIRE COUNCILMEMBERS TO LIVE IN THEIR DISTRICT AT THE TIME OF A PRIMARY, GENERAL & VACANCY? - This ballot question asks voters in Montgomery County whether candidates for District-based County Council seats must reside in their district at the time of a Primary Election and General Election or at the time a vacancy occurs. A vote "for" Question A is a vote to require residency and is recommended by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee and Progressive Neighbors.

JUICE #6: MONTGOMERY COUNTY APPROVES PUBLIC FINANCING FOR COUNTY RACES STARTING IN THE 2018 CYCLE - One major game-changer to local politics is that Montgomery County Councilmembers recently voted unanimously to adopt a "clean elections" public financing system for county races. The County Council sent the following press release discussing how the new system works (excerpt below):

MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL: The Montgomery County Council today unanimously enacted Bill 16-14, which will allow candidates for County Council and County Executive to qualify for partial public financing for their campaigns. This is the first measure of its type for County elective offices in the Washington Region and in the State of Maryland.... The bill would establish a Public Election Fund. To qualify for public financing, a candidate would have to:

• File a Notice of Intent prior to collecting qualifying contributions
• Establish a publicly funded campaign account
• Only accept contributions from an individual of between $5 and $150
• Refuse to accept a contribution from any group or organization, including a political action committee, a corporation, a labor organization or a State or local central action committee of a political party
• Collect a qualifying number of contributions from County residents: 500 for County Executive candidates, 250 for at-large Council candidates and 125 for district Council candidates
• Meet qualifying dollar thresholds of $40,000 for County Executive, $20,000 for at-large Councilmember and $10,000 for district CouncilmemberLimits are indexed to inflation
• Only contributions from County residents are eligible for matching funds

The plan provides strong incentives for candidates to seek out many small individual contributors. Matching public dollars for County Executive candidates would be $6 for each dollar of the first $50 of a qualifying contribution received from a County resident, $4 for each dollar for the second $50 and $2 for each remaining dollar received up to the maximum contribution. Matching dollars for County Council candidates would be $4 for each dollar of the first $50 received from a County resident, $3 for each dollar for the second $50 and $2 for each remaining dollar received up to the maximum contribution.

The maximum limit on public funds per candidate for either the primary election or the general election will be $750,000 for a County Executive candidate, $250,000 for a Council at-large candidate and $125,000 for a district Council candidate. Matching dollars would not be distributed for self/spouse contributions or to candidates running unopposed.

Advocates are hopeful that the "clean elections" push will soon spread to other states and hopefully be adopted for state elections in coming years.

That's it until next time!

JUICE: Branson for Ervin's Seat, MoCo Public Financing, LCV Endorses, NARAL 4 Kagan, Van Hollen 4 Leggett, Delaney 4 Gov

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

Cherri Branson

JUICE #1: CHERRI BRANSON IS THE LIKELY REPLACEMENT FOR VALERIE ERVIN'S MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL SEAT -  Montgomery County Councilmembers are poised to appoint a replacement for Valerie Ervin's vacant District 5 seat. Knowledgeable sources close to the appointment process believe that Cherri Branson will soon be selected by the 8 voting Councilmembers (Note: Ervin cannot vote for her replacement). Ms. Branson is an attorney who serves as Chief Counsel for Oversight at the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee. She formerly served as President of the MoCo African American Democratic Club.

Sources also tell us that Branson is a consensus candidate who emerged after a stalemate between Andrew Kleine and former Delegate Herman Taylor. Citing an anti-choice voting record in Annapolis, reproductive rights advocates apparently succeeded in pushing back against a potential Taylor appointment.

The vote for a Council appointee has not yet been taken (so anything can still happen), but our sources sound pretty clear that we've likely got the scoop!


JUICE #2: MORE SPECULATION ABOUT WHETHER REP. JOHN DELANEY WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR // PLUS: ANALYSES FROM JOURNALISTS & BLOGGERS - Maryland Juice recently reported that it appears Congressman John Delaney conducted a poll to gauge his chances in a campaign for Governor. But since then, The Washington Post asked Delaney about the matter, and he (sort-of) dispelled the rumors (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Rep. John K. Delaney (D-Md.) on Saturday addressed rumors that he is considering running for governor of Maryland by issuing a statement that did not categorically rule out the possibility out but said he expects to continue serving in Congress next year.

“Many people I trust and respect have asked me to consider running for governor, and of course I always think about where I may best serve,” Delaney said. “But I love my job, and my expectation is that I will continue to serve in Congress and represent my district....”

Some journalists think Delaney's response is not a definitive statement that he won't enter the Governor's race. Take, for example, the following comment from Matt Bush of WAMU on Twitter:

The Front Line State blog began gaming out how the dominoes may fall if Delaney runs for governor, and they have a bit of wild speculation about the race (excerpt below):

FRONT LINE STATE: Sources are telling Front Line State that a major shakeup in Maryland electoral politics is in the offing. We reported earlier in the week that Representative John Delaney (D) might be jumping into the Governor’s race. Now we are hearing from sources in Annapolis that John Delaney is definitely going after the Democrat nomination for governor and will be announcing the move as early as next week. The new wrinkle to the story is that District 16 Delegate Bill Frick (D) will be running for Congress in MD-6 in place of Delaney....

For now, I would take the Front Line State story with a huge pound of salt, because Delaney running for governor is a big "if," and the theorizing about Frick is likely just speculation. In the meantime, Bruce DePuyt of News Channel 8 provided his take on the state of the race in a Washington Post op-ed this weekend (excerpt below):

BRUCE DEPUYT (VIA WASHINGTON POST): To make history, Anthony G. Brown (D) must buck history. Brown’s campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor of Maryland has significant momentum. He has pulled ahead of his primary rival — Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler — in fundraising. He’s racked up a formidable list of endorsements from big-name politicians and influential organizations. And his political partner for the past eight years, Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), has a vested interest in helping the Prince George’s resident prevail in the Democratic primary in June....

But a cautionary note is needed: No lieutenant governor has ever managed to grab the top spot in Maryland. It happens in other states, of course, but in Maryland, the office has not served as a steppingstone to the governor’s mansion.

Maryland’s primary is still five months off, and a lot will happen. Brown must weather the negative headlines generated by the balky health-insurance exchange Web portal set up in Maryland as part of the Affordable Care Act, which he was assigned to oversee by O’Malley...

JUICE #3: REP. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN ENDORSES IKE LEGGETT FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXECUTIVE - Maryland Juice received the following email blast from the re-election campaign of MoCo Executive Ike Leggett announcing an endorsement from Rep. Chris Van Hollen (excerpt below):

CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I proudly endorse Ike Leggett for reelection as Montgomery County Executive. As we move into the future, Montgomery County continues to need a visionary and principled leader who can deliver results. Our County Executive, Ike Leggett, has demonstrated that, time and again, he is that leader.

During the recent recession, Ike guided our County with a firm and balanced hand. He showed that he was not afraid to make the hard choices that would lead our County out of the recession, build a stronger economic foundation, maintain the highest financial reserves in our history, and preserve our AAA bond rating. Today, the County has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, has strong job growth, remains committed to a top-rated school system, and has embraced a vision for a global economy for the future....

Working hand-in-hand with State legislators last year, Ike’s leadership was instrumental in bringing home an unprecedented amount of State funding for County transportation projects. And even during the most challenging fiscal years, Ike was resolute in his commitment to Montgomery County Public Schools, funding nearly 100 percent of its budget requests....

JUICE #4: MOCO COUNCILMEMBER PHIL ANDREWS INTRODUCES PUBLIC FINANCING BILL FOR COUNTY CAMPAIGNS - The Washington Post's Bill Turque reported this week that Montgomery County Councilmember Phil Andrews (also a candidate for County Executive) introduced legislation to establish a public financing system for MoCo elections (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: ... Andrews (D-Rockville-Gaithersburg), a candidate in the June Democratic primary for county executive, said he sees public financing as an essential counter­weight to the influence of special-interest money in Montgomery elections, primarily from real estate developers and public employee unions....

Andrews’s plan is completely voluntary. Candidates who want to raise money in the traditional manner could do so without penalty. Those opting into the public system would have to raise an initial amount of “seed money” to qualify: $40,000 for a county executive candidate, $20,000 for an at-large council candidate, $10,000 for a district council seat. The maximum individual donation would be $150. No PAC money or corporate donations would be allowed.... Small donations would be matched at a higher rate — as high as a 6-to-1 ratio in some cases — to encourage many modest individual donations.

“I think we absolutely need to do this,” said council member Marc Elrich (D-At Large).... Council member Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda) said he wants to know more about the details but believes the county needs to take advantage of the opportunity the General Assembly has provided....

JUICE #5: DOUG GANSLER ENDORSES MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION // FLOOR VOTE NEEDED: ALL THREE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS SUPPORT ZIRKIN-MIZEUR-SMIGIEL BILL - All three Democratic gubernatorial candidates now support reform of Maryland's marijuana laws. Delegate Heather Mizeur favors taxing and regulating pot similar to alcohol, while Lt. Governor Anthony Brown recently endorsed removing the 90-day jail penalty attached to marijuana possession. Over the weekend, Maryland Juice finally pinned down the positions of Attorney General Doug Gansler and his runningmate Del. Jolene Ivey:

ACT NOW: URGE YOUR MARYLAND LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT MARIJUANA REFORM - Momentum is surging to roll back the expensive and failed War on Drugs in Maryland, and now all of the Democratic candidates for Governor and Attorney General have endorsed either decriminalization or legalization of pot. There are two simple actions you can take right now to help capitalize on this political opportunity:

1. TELL YOUR DELEGATES TO URGE A FLOOR VOTE FOR MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION - State Senator Bobby Zirkin and Delegates Heather Mizeur & Mike Smigiel have introduced a marijuana decriminalization bill this session. The measure passed the State Senate last year, but it is stuck in the House of Delegates. Many politicos believe the bill would pass in the House if it was released for a floor vote. Please contact your members in the Maryland House of Delegates and urge them to call for a floor vote for marijuana decriminalization legislation:

[ CONTACT YOUR DELEGATES FOR A DECRIM FLOOR VOTE ] 

2. URGE STATE LEGISLATORS TO CO-SPONSOR LEGISLATION TO TAX & REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL - Removing jail penalties associated with simple marijuana possession (aka decriminalization) is just the first step toward creating public interest drug reform in Maryland. But we should all be aware that this a compromise position on the road to moving Maryland to tax and regulate marijuana like it does with alcohol. The legalization movement is quickly picking up steam in Maryland, as legislation to achieve this has been introduced by State Senator Jamie Raskin and Delegate Curt Anderson. The effort has support from powerful Democratic lawmakers including Senate President Mike Miller, House Ways & Means committee Chair Sheila Hixson, House Environmental Matters committee Chair Maggie McIntosh and more. Please urge your state legislators to co-sponsor the "tax and regulate" legislation:

[ CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TO CO-SPONSOR LEGALIZATION ]

UPDATE: Below you can read a letter Delegate Heather Mizeur sent to her colleagues urging them to get behind the effort to remove jail time as a penalty for pot possession this year:

Del. Heather Mizeur Letter to MD Lawmakers Urging Support for Marijuana Decriminalization

JUICE #6: MARYLAND LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS MAKES ENDORSEMENTS IN D6, D13, D26, D27C & D46 - Maryland Juice received the following press release from the League of Conservation Voters announcing the following endorsements in open seat and contested races (excerpt below, "bold" emphasis added):

PRESS RELEASE

Maryland League of Conservation Voters Announces Key Endorsements for New Green Maryland Senators and Delegates

Candidates Are the Clear Choice for the Environment

                                                                                                                                                          

(Annapolis, MD) Today the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Maryland LCV) released its next round of endorsed candidates for General Assembly 2014 state primary elections. The organization said the 3 Senate seats and 2 delegate seats are priority races for the organization and present exciting opportunities to put candidates with much stronger environmental records in all of these seats.

“These candidates will increase the conservation majority in the General Assembly,” said Karla Raettig, Executive Director of Maryland LCV. “Marylanders care about our air, land and water and vote for candidates who lead on the environment. These candidates are, without a doubt, the best choice for the environment in the Maryland General Assembly.”

Raettig went on to say:

• “Maryland LCV endorses Johnny Olszewski for District 6 Senate.  He holds a 88% lifetime score and Senator Stone is retiring with a 66% score.  He’s a champion for clean energy and we’re excited to endorse his move to the Senate.”
• “Maryland LCV endorses Guy Guzzone for his bid to the District 13 Senate which is also open.  Delegate Guzzone holds a 93% lifetime score while the predecessor, Senator Robey held a 70%.  He’s a big champion on environmental budget issues.”
• “Maryland LCV endorses Veronica Turner for her bid against Anthony Muse in District 26.  Delegate Turner holds a 92% lifetime score while Senator Muse has a 62% lifetime score.  We’re looking forward to helping her move to the Senate chamber.”
• “Maryland LCV endorses Sue Kullen for delegate in district 27C in Calvert County.  It’s an open seat and with her previous environmental lifetime score of 88%, we’re elated to endorse her to re-enter the Maryland General Assembly.”
• “Maryland LCV endorses Brooke Lierman for delegate in district 46 in Baltimore City.  She will replace retiring Delegate McHale with a lifetime score of 75%.  While this will be her first bid to the Maryland General Assembly, she is strongly prioritizing the environment and we’re proud to endorse her.”

###

JUICE #7: NARAL ENDORSES CHERYL KAGAN FOR DISTRICT 17 STATE SENATE - Maryland Juice received the following press release from D17 Senate candidate Cheryl Kagan announcing an endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland (excerpt below):

PRESS RELEASE

Cheryl Kagan Announces Senate Endorsement by NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland on 

41st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Today, former Delegate Cheryl Kagan announced that she has been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland PAC for State Senate, District 17.

"On behalf of the members of the NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland PAC, I am pleased to announce our organization's endorsement of your candidacy," said Wendy Royalty, NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland PAC Chair. "Your leadership as a member of the House of Delegates and your ongoing commitment to women's reproductive choice and to women's health and safety made this an easy decision for our board."

Cheryl has worked on reproductive rights and privacy issues for almost 30 years on the state and federal levels, both as a staffer for NARAL Pro-Choice America and as a leader on reproductive choice while serving in the House of Delegates....

###

JUICE: Gansler Loses Endorsements, Mizeur's Financing & FOP Support, Brown Under Fire, Simmons vs. Kagan, Ervin & D18

Below Maryland Juice provides a round-up of news that may be of interest to politicos (sorry for the brief hiatus during the recent holiday period):

JUICE #1: DOUG GANSLER LOSING A COUPLE MOCO ENDORSEMENTS? - The last few months of mayhem in Maryland's gubernatorial race may be beginning to have some impact. First, Maryland Juice just caught the following Center Maryland interview of Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin announcing that he's switched his support in the race from Doug Gansler to Anthony Brown. I cut a video excerpting Slavin's comments below:


Maryland Juice had also been hearing murmurs that Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown was due to announce endorsements from Montgomery County officials this Saturday. Today we received the following press release confirming the news (excerpt below):

PRESS RELEASE

Montgomery County Endorsement Event

What: Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown and County Executive Ken Ulman to unveil Montgomery County endorsers

When: Saturday, December 7th at 1:30 p.m.

Where: Jane E. Lawton Community Center
4301 Willow Ln., Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Click here for a Google Map

###

But interestingly, Delegate Kirill Reznik appears to be one of the MoCo endorsers for Anthony Brown this Saturday. He sent the following email to his state legislative colleagues this week:

KIRILL REZNIK: Dear Friends and Colleagues, This coming Saturday, I will formally announce my endorsement and support of Anthony Brown and Ken Ulman to be our next Governor and Lt. Governor of Maryland.

I'm writing this email to make a personal appeal to my fellow elected officials in Montgomery County to ask you to join me in that announcement.

Over the last 7 years, we've all witnessed Anthony's leadership, commitment to our State, and dedication to progressive politics and policies.  For those of you who served with him in the House of Delegate, prior to his time as Lt. Governor, you've likely seen it earlier.

I have personally done a lot of soul-searching to come to this point, and though I have great respect for Anthony's competitors in this race, and count them amongst my friends, I believe that the best choice for both the people of Maryland and the people of Montgomery County is to have the Brown/Ulman team elected as our State's top executives.

It is my hope that we can come together as elected officials in Montgomery County and support Anthony and Ken for both the Primary and General election in 2014.  I hope to hear from you and look forward to you joining me this coming Saturday.

Reznik's endorsement is interesting, because a couple Maryland Juice sources told us they were under the impression that was going to be supporting Doug Gansler in the Governor's race. We asked Delegate Reznik for background on his endorsement, and he provided the following commentary:

KIRILL REZNIK: Yes, I am endorsing Anthony Brown. I wouldn't characterize myself as switching, at least not officially.  I had previously expected to endorse Gansler, but hadn't actually done it.  My choice is based primarily on who I believe I am more compatible with policy-wise.  Gansler has taken a position on a number of issues that run counter to my votes in the Legislature.  Things like gas tax, death penalty, etc, just made me realize that from my perspective Anthony is the better choice. I actually made this decision personally before any of Doug's issues arose, but that also didn't help. I am supporting Brown not just opposing Gansler.  I think Anthony is the best candidate.

JUICE #2: HEATHER MIZUER OPTS FOR PUBLIC FINANCING IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND ALSO EARNS THE MOCO FOP ENDORSEMENT - Two months ago, Maryland Juice predicted that Delegate Heather Mizeur would opt into Maryland's public financing system for gubernatorial campaigns. Though the decision would limit her campaign expenditures to about $2.5 million, it would also allow her to receive public matching funds from contributions she has already raised. This week Mizeur released the following press release announcing that our prediction was correct (excerpt below):

PRESS RELEASE

Mizeur proposes sweeping campaign finance reform;
will accept public funding

SILVER SPRING, Maryland – This morning, Heather Mizeur, Democratic candidate for governor, will walk interested members of the press through several proposals for campaign finance reform that she would enact as Governor.

Mizeur will also answer questions about her plans to participate in public financing and limit some other contributions to her campaign....

Details on plan

Mizeur’s public funding plan creates a voluntary matching fund system for all legislative and statewide candidates. Under the proposal, the state would provide one-to-one matching funds for participating candidates on all contributions of $250 or below. Candidates who opt into the system would be limited to maximum public match levels and prohibited from accepting contributions over $250.

“A voluntary public financing option will encourage more diverse candidates and serious options for voters,” Mizeur said. “Our elections should focus on issues, not purse strings.”

Mizeur will also propose several additional reforms aimed at limiting special interest influence and increasing transparency. The reforms include a ban on corporation and state contractor contributions, a stop to the lobbyist “revolving door,” and a requirement that municipal candidates abide by state finance reporting laws.

“I want to be Governor to ensure that all Marylanders have a voice in Annapolis. I can’t think of a better way to do that than by eradicating special interest control over campaign finance.”

Mizeur will participate in the current gubernatorial public financing system.

“I believe in leading by example so I will be accepting the current model of public financing. It’s time for politicians to start walking the walk. If we want to take the money out of politics, we need to prove that it can be done.” 

Key Facts about Maryland’s Current Public Financing System:

Campaigns participating in public financing receive eligible and ineligible funds. Eligible funds are those that qualify for matching--contributions up to $250 from individuals--and ineligible are all other contributions compliant with regular Maryland state law.

Participating campaigns must abide by a spending cap determined by the State Board of Elections using a calculation based on the state's population and adjusted for inflation. The exact number won't be available until early 2014. The estimate from the board is approximately $2.5 million.

Publicly financed campaigns are able to accept eligible funds during legislative session.

Every time a campaign opting for public financing raises $250,000 in eligible funds, the campaign can apply to the Maryland State Board of Elections to have those funds matched.

The fund is regulated by the State Board of Elections and controlled by the Comptroller's office.

Public financing is currently only available to candidates running for Governor.

To read Heather’s full campaign finance reform plan, please visit: www.heathermizeur.com/cleancampaigns

###

Meanwhile, this week Mizeur also announced the endorsement of MoCo's police union (FOP Lodge 35):

PRESS RELEASE

Mizeur-Coates Campaign Endorsed by Montgomery County Police Union

SILVER SPRING, Maryland – This morning, Heather Mizeur, Democratic candidate for Governor, earned the endorsement of the Montgomery County Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 35.

“I am honored to have the support of the brave men and women from Lodge 35,” said Mizeur. “Together, we will change the status quo in Annapolis and get to work to on sensible reforms to our criminal justice system that improve public safety and protect our officers in the line of duty.

Leaders of Lodge 35 were impressed by Mizeur’s governing vision and her commitment to improving Maryland’s communities.

“After hearing Heather speak, her selection was a no-brainer for us,” said member and County Detective Jim Peacock. “Maryland has had enough politics-as-usual. Heather is a breath of fresh air, and she far outshined her competition with her knowledge of the issues, passion for public service, and commitment to making a difference.”

“Heather is a capable leader and will bring fresh ideas rather than maintaining the status quo,” said Torrie Cooke, Lodge 35 President.

FOP Lodge 35 represents approximately 1,200 police officers in Montgomery County. This is the first local FOP endorsement and the first Montgomery County local endorsement in the Maryland Democratic gubernatorial primary election.

FOP Lodge 35 joins Progressive Neighbors, Women’s Campaign Fund, and Blue America in endorsing Mizeur’s candidacy for governor. She has also earned the backing of more than three-dozen current and former elected officials, including former Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, Baltimore City Councilmember Mary Pat Clarke, and Montgomery County Delegate Shane Robinson (D-39). 

For additional comment from FOP Lodge 35, please contact Jim Peacock – (301) 948-4286.

###

JUICE #3: ANTHONY BROWN UNDER FIRE FOR MARYLAND OBAMACARE ROLL-OUT - In our last item about the Maryland Governor's race, Anthony Brown is facing fire for the state's bungled Obamacare roll-out. The Gansler campaign sent out the following press release calling for a response from Brown and highlighting recent press coverage over the issue:

PRESS RELEASE

Statement by Lt. Governor candidate Jolene Ivey on Maryland Health Exchange problems and accountability failure

"The Washington Post recently called Maryland's Health Exchange an 'embarrassment' and Congressman Chris Van Hollen has called it a 'mess' yet Lieutenant Governor Brown, responsible for overseeing it, continues to dodge the press and the public when asked to explain the problems with the health exchange, including how he spent close to $170 million of taxpayers money. The people of Maryland, and all of us who supported the Affordable Care Act, deserve a full accounting, not a Lt. Governor who touts his title in rolling out the health exchange on his campaign website but ducks responsibility in his job. It's no wonder Governor O'Malley has taken this back under his control."

WBALTV11: Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown target of mounting criticism over healthcare

Washington Post: Maryland's Health Exchange needs a doctor

###

JUICE #4: D17 SENATE RACE HEATS UP: LUIZ SIMMONS ANNOUNCES TEAMSTERS ENDORSEMENTS, WHILE CHERYL KAGAN HIGHLIGHTS SIMMONS' RECORD - The race for the District 17 State Senate seat currently held by Jennie Forehand is heating up. Delegate Luiz Simmons and former Delegate Cheryl Kagan are vying for the seat, and this week, both campaigns released interesting statements. Simmons announced the endorsement of the Teamsters, while Kagan highlighted a new column from Center Maryland's Josh Kurtz pointing out items in Simmons' voting record. See both statements below:

PRESS RELEASE

Del. Luiz Simmons Endorsed by Teamsters for State Senate

Rockville, MD – Today, Del. Luiz Simmons received the endorsement of Teamsters Local 730 in his bid to be District 17’s next State Senator.

Teamsters Local 730 has many members who reside in Montgomery County.  Richie Brooks, President of Local 730 said in a letter received by the campaign, “It is with great pleasure that I inform you that Teamsters Local 730 will proudly endorse you for the office of State Senate in Montgomery County in next years election.”

“I am honored to have the support of the Teamsters. I admire these hardworking men and women who often perform the tough and dangerous jobs that make our community a better and safer place to live and raise children,” said Del. Luiz Simmons. “I will continue to support our shared values when I am elected to the State Senate.”

The endorsement of the Teamsters follows Congressman John Delaney’s backing of Simmons and a poll showing Simmons with a 70% approval rating in district 17, while leading his opponent Cheryl Kagan by 16%.

To learn more about Del. Luiz Simmons and his campaign visit www.LuizSimmons.com

###

Today, Cheryl Kagan's State Senate campaign also launched the following email blast highlighting criticism of Delegate Simmons' record that appeared in Center Maryland:

CHERYL KAGAN: Dear Juice, I wanted to make sure you saw this breaking news.  One of Maryland's most respected journalists just published an in-depth profile of my opponent for State Senate.  The article's conclusions are troubling:

"[Luiz Simmons'] candidacy...may raise all kinds of red flags for women's groups and organizations that work with victims of domestic violence, for gun control advocates, for people concerned about clean government..."

And that's not all!

"Questions can be raised about Simmons' legislative record, about the fact that he seems to be using government property for political purposes, and about whether Simmons is temperamentally suited to work in a collegial environment."

As a Montgomery County native, former legislator, and lifelong advocate, I am deeply concerned that this kind of representation would hurt our community-- and hurt the causes we all care about so much.

I'm running for State Senate because we need a more positive vision of leadership for Rockville and Gaithersburg.  I've dedicated my career in public service to bringing people together and building coalitions to get things done on issues like strong protections for victims of domestic violence, tough gun control laws, and improving our quality of life.

I hope you'll agree with me that we deserve a progressive, independent-minded Democrat in the State Senate who will stand up for our shared interests and values.  So many of you have already demonstrated your support for my candidacy, and for that I am grateful.  If you haven't had a chance, please consider making a contribution today to keep the momentum going.

Eight years as a member of the legislature taught me the importance of working well with others without abandoning one's principles.  With your help, I'm confident that we can make a real difference for Maryland's future.

Best,

Cheryl  

 
JUICE #5: MOCO COUNCILMEMBER VALERIE ERVIN TO ANNOUNCE "FUTURE PLANS" ON TUESDAY - Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin released a press statement today announcing that she would be announcing her "future plans" next Tuesday. You can read her press release below:

PRESS RELEASE

Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin to Announce Future Plans At Announcement on Tuesday, Dec. 10

She Will Be Joined by Council President Craig Rice, Councilmember Nancy Navarro

ROCKVILLE, Md., December 6, 2013—Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin will announce her future plans at a news conference at 12 noon on Tuesday, Dec. 10, in the Third Floor Conference Room of the County Council Office Building in Rockville. After nearly a decade as an elected leader in Montgomery County and much speculation about her political future, Councilmember Ervin—who is in her second term on the Council—will be joined by Council President Craig Rice and Councilmember Nancy Navarro to share some exciting news.

Councilmember Ervin, who was first elected to the Council in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010, is best known for her work on issues including establishing a County minimum wage; increasing child care subsidies for working parents; ensuring that prevailing wages are paid on construction projects; providing contract protections for service workers; expanding summer food and universal breakfast programs for children; and creating the first County-wide food recovery network in the nation.

Councilmember Ervin, who served as Council president from 2010-11, is chair of the Council’s Education Committee and also serves on its Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee. She is a former member of the Montgomery County Board of Education (elected in 2004) and has been committed to major initiatives to close the achievement gap.  Ervin has also been a strong advocate for marriage equality.

# # #

JUICE #6: DISTRICT 18 TEA LEAVES // SIERRA CLUB ENDORSES D18 DELEGATES ANA SOL GUTIERREZ, JEFF WALDSTREICHER & AL CARR FOR RE-ELECTION - Numerous potential challengers are lining up for District 18's 2014 Delegate race, in the event one of the three incumbents, Ana Sol Gutierrez might retire. While she has not yet announced her plans, Maryland Juice received the following press release from the District 18 team this week indicating that the incumbents have been endorsed for re-election by the Sierra Club. Is the press release below a clue about Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez's future plans?

PRESS RELEASE

Senator Madaleno, Delegates Carr, Gutiérrez, & Waldstreicher Endorsed by Sierra Club
(Kensington, MD) The District 18 Democratic Team announced today that each member—Senator Rich Madaleno and Delegates Al Carr, Ana Sol Gutiérrez, and Jeff Waldstreicher—was endorsed by the Sierra Club for the 2014 election.

The Sierra Club is one of Maryland’s leading environmental organizations.  Their endorsements cited each member’s “strong support for the environment and proven track record on environmental issues.”

Although the Sierra Club endorsed each member of the District 18 Democrats, the Sierra Club endorses individual environmental champions, not slates.

“I am proud to serve with fierce environmental advocates on my team,” Senator Madaleno stated.  “Delegates Carr, Gutiérrez, Waldstreicher, and I work day-in and day-out to ensure Marylanders have clear air, clean water, and a green future for our children.  The Sierra Club’s endorsement reflects the progress we’ve made together curbing global warming, preserving open space, and protecting the Chesapeake Bay.”

An official announcement regarding each member’s 2014 plans will be forthcoming.  To learn more about the District 18 Democratic Team, please visit facebook.com/distric18democrats.

###

ANALYSIS: MD Public Financing May Impact Gubernatorial Race // Fundraising Predictions for Brown, Gansler & Mizeur

Maryland Juice has been pondering the dynamics of our escalating race for Governor in 2014. But after talking with Free State political insiders today, I now have a better read on how the top statewide races might shape up this January. You see, Maryland campaigns will have to file campaign finance reports in January 2014, and we will then have a better sense of the amount of resources that will be available to contenders in various races. But I thought it might be worthwhile to clue in Maryland Juice readers to some potentially interesting scenarios that may emerge in coming months. In particular, it seems possible that Maryland's little-used public financing matching fund for gubernatorial campaigns may get used this cycle. Details and speculation below:

BROWN-ULMAN CASH ON HAND: Lt. Governor Anthony Brown started the current campaign cycle with $1.6 million cash on hand in January 2013. His running-mate Ken Ulman started 2013 with $2.1 million cash on hand. So the Brown-Ulman ticket had $3.7 million cash on hand in January, and The Gazette reports that Anthony Brown expects to post nearly $6 million when the next campaign finance reports (due January 2014) are released (excerpt below):

GAZETTE: Brown raised $2 million between the close of the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly in April and now, according to his campaign.

Added to the bank rolls both Brown and running mate Howard County Executive Kenneth S. Ulman brought into the election, the Brown-Ulman ticket now has $5.8 million, said campaign manager Justin Schall....

DOUG GANSLER CASH ON HAND: Attorney General Doug Gansler has not had a competitive race for years, and so he has been able to bank cash for his current gubernatorial race. That combined with his successful major donor fundraising means he started January 2013 with a war chest of $5.2 million. Assuming he's kept his fundraising moving at a similar pace, we could expect Gansler to start 2014 with $6-8 million cash on hand.

HEATHER MIZEUR'S POTENTIAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE MATCH: Perhaps the most interesting unknown in the upcoming gubernatorial fundraising cycle will be how much money Delegate Heather Mizeur has raised. Mizeur started January 2013 with about $350,000 cash on hand, but she has been aggressively fundraising since launching her bid for statewide office.

While some assume Mizeur may not be able to catch up to the large multi-million dollar war chests of Brown and Gansler, Maryland Juice is aware of an interesting wrinkle to this story. Maryland has a public campaign finance matching system available to candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor, and it seems quite plausible that Mizeur may take advantage of public funds for her gubernatorial effort. Here's how I understand the system to work (per Maryland Election Code § 15-101 to § 15-111):

• Maryland established a public financing matching system that is open only to gubernatorial campaigns in the state. 
• Candidates who participate in public financing are capped at how much they can spend in the election, based on the population of the state. In 2006, the expenditure cap was set at roughly $2.1 million, so in 2014 the cap will be set higher than that, given our state's population growth.
• In order to qualify, gubernatorial tickets must raise "seed money" (eg: individual contributions up to $250) starting March of the year prior to the election (that means after March 2013 in this instance).
• In order to be eligible for public financing, a gubernatorial ticket must raise seed money equaling at least 10% of the amount of the expenditure cap set for publicly financed candidates (example: in 2006, candidates would've had to raise about $210,000  -- or 10% of the $2.1 million expenditure cap established that year).
• Candidates who raise the required amount of seed money (eg: at least $210,000 starting March 2013) are eligible to receive $1 in public financing matching funds for every $1 raised for the primary, up to $250 per individual donor.
• Public matching funds will be provided no later than February of the year of the election (eg: February 2014).

BOTTOM LINE: Let's say (for purposes of example) that Heather Mizeur raises $1 million between March 2013 and January 2014, and most of that money came from donors of $250 or less, she could plausibly double-up those funds through a public financing match.  Common Cause notes that this public finance system has been in place since 1974, but was only used once in the 1994 gubernatorial cycle. We have no way of knowing how much Mizeur is likely to have raised this year, but my hunch is we could see a final spread of cash-on-hand that looks something like this:

• Doug Gansler: $6-8 million
• Anthony Brown: $6 million
• Heather Mizeur: $1.5-2.5 million

While there is likely to be a cash disparity between gubernatorial contenders next year, $2 million would be nothing to sneeze at. And of course, I may be completely wrong in my predictions, so maybe Mizeur will actually raise more than that.

MORE ON THE 2014 GUBERNATORIAL RACE SOON!

Rep. John Sarbanes Announces Self-Imposed Campaign Finance Restrictions // New Project Highlights Public Financing Effort

UPDATE: I just finished participating in Rep. Sarbanes Facebook Town Hall meeting. Very interesting. It was sort of a telethon-style format where he explained his new fundraising concept, along with the policy reasons driving the experiment. But, he also started answering live questions from people online. Once I saw that, I couldn't resist tossing some legislative advocacy into the mix (see screencap of my question below). But kudos to Mr. Sarbanes for trying something different!

The HoCo Rising blog recently wrote about a interesting new effort from Rep. John Sarbanes to highlight legislation calling for publicly financed, clean elections:

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with Congressman John Sarbanes.  After explaining how the constant treadmill of fund-raising is ruining politics and preventing legislators from doing much more than vote and chase additional funds, he presented the Grassroots Donor project.  In essence, Con. Sarbanes is imposing the public financing model on himself to show it works and focus more on grassroots campaigning....  Essentially, John is cutting himself off from his own funds, raised in the normal course of fund-raising, which will only be available once he has over 1,000 donors of $100 or less.

Rep. Sarbanes new fundraising website, www.GrassrootsDonor.com, explains his new project and asks the following question:

What if we could find a better way to fund Congressional campaigns that puts the grassroots donor ahead of the special interests?