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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But there’s still much work to be done.

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,

Brian Frosh 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,

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

Sen. Roger Manno & Maricé Morales

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JUICE: Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown's Shortlist of Running-Mates // PLUS: Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger Weighs Run for MD Governor

The 2014 Maryland Governor's race is just about to enter into high gear. Maryland Juice recently reported that Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown has scheduled a May 10th kickoff for his 2014 gubernatorial campaign. We also mentioned that rumors indicate Brown will appear at his Prince George's campaign rally with a running-mate beside him. Below we leak a few names on Anthony Brown's shortlist for Lt. Governor. But first another development is threatening to seriously alter the playing field in 2014. Indeed, there may be a new entrant on the battle field! We knew that a dark horse candidate for statewide office might emerge eventually....

CONGRESSMAN DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER IS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR - In a surprise move, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger is apparently thinking about leaving Congress to run for Governor in 2014. The Baltimore Sun's Dan Rodricks reported on the wild development this evening (excerpt below):

DAN RODRICKS (VIA BALTIMORE SUN) - Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, the six-term congressman and former Baltimore County executive, "is considering it," says his spokeswoman, Jaime Lennon.

Ruppersberger is the ranking Democratic member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, a great assignment but one that has a term limit and ends when the current Congress does, in two years....

INCOMPLETE SHORTLIST OF ANTHONY BROWN'S POSSIBLE RUNNING-MATES - Below Maryland Juice provides a shortlist of several possible 2014 running-mates for Anthony Brown's gubernatorial campaign. NOTE: This is not a complete list of all of the possible candidates on Brown's shortlist. However, each of the names below have been mentioned to me by knowledgeable sources, and at least some of them appear to be going through some level of vetting.

Rival gubernatorial candidate Ken Ulman's name is included below for obvious reasons, but it is unclear if he's even considering teaming up with Brown for the #2 spot. Similarly, Howard County Councilmember Courtney Watson is listed below, but she is also a candidate for Howard County Executive in 2014. It is therefore also unclear whether she would be willing to abandon her campaign for an unplanned run for LG. Okay, enough blabbering on my part. Without further ado here are some of the possible running-mates for Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown:

• OPTION #1:  Vicki Almond - Baltimore County Councilmember
• OPTION #2:  Bill Cole - Baltimore City Councilmember

• OPTION #3:  Kathleen Dumais - District 15 Delegate (Montgomery County)

• OPTION #4:  Nancy King - District 39 State Senator (Montgomery County)

• OPTION #5:  Roger Manno - District 19 State Senator (Montgomery County)

• OPTION #6:  Nancy Navarro - Montgomery County Council President

• OPTION #7:  Ken Ulman - Howard County Executive

• OPTION #8:  Courtney Watson - Howard County Council

QUICK NOTES: Of the eight names listed above, it is worth noting that five are women. It is also worth noting that only one option would be history-making for any racial or ethnic group. On the geographic front, 50% of the names on my shortlist are from Montgomery County, and the next runner-up is Howard County with two possible running-mates (if you count Ken Ulman). Baltimore City and County each have one name on my list, but remember that there could be more candidates on the shortlist than I have been able to discover. In any case, the names above still provide an interesting window into the considerations Brown's team might be making. None of their choices so far are shocking though, given that the DC suburbs alone could make up almost 40% of the Democratic Primary electorate, and women outnumber men in the Democratic Party.


OPTION #1:  VICKI ALMOND, BALTIMORE COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER - Baltimore County Councilmember Vicki Almond provides the following biography on her website:

Councilwoman Vicki Almond took the oath of office on December 6, 2010, to represent the Second District on the Baltimore County Council. She became the first woman to hold this seat and only the third woman to serve on the Baltimore County Council. She made history, along with Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, by being the first women to serve together on the Baltimore County Council. In January 2012, she became the first woman to Chair the Baltimore County Council in more than 20 years.

Vicki Almond, Baltimore County Council

Vicki Almond's 30 years of leadership in public schools, working with our police and fire departments, leading community groups, in state government and in Baltimore County Democratic politics, prepared her to provide our community with thoughtful, responsible, and ethical leadership.

Prior to her campaign, Councilwoman Almond served as Chief of Staff to Senator Bobby Zirkin. She also managed Delegate Dana Stein's successful campaign for his first term in 2006. County Executive Dutch Ruppersberger appointed her to the Baltimore County Women's Commission and she served on the Rosewood Advisory Board. She also was instrumental in the creation of Baltimore County's School Resource Officer (SRO) Program which places a police officer in our public middle and high schools.

Councilwoman Almond has an extensive community resume. She served as PTA President at both Franklin Middle School and Franklin High School. She was the President of the Reisterstown-Owings Mills-Glyndon Coordinating Council on two occasions. She has been a leader in the Garrision and Franklin Police Community Relations Councils and an organizer of the Reister's Towne Festival.

Through serving the community all of these years Councilwoman Almond has had the opportunity to not only get to know the people of the community, but to fully understand their needs. She is committed to Baltimore County's future and believes that the key to a prosperous community is one in which people want to live and raise a family, where companies both large and small want to locate, where our seniors are treated with the respect and dignity, and where we are strengthened by our religious, cultural and ethnic diversity.

She believes in a balanced approach to development that encourages growth in our commercial corridors while both protecting the integrity of our existing residential communities and preserving our district's sensitive environmental areas.

Councilwoman Almond currently lives in Reisterstown with her husband Joe. She has two daughters, both of whom attended Cedarmere Elementary, Franklin Middle and Franklin High Schools, and now has six beautiful grandchildren.

OPTION #2:  BILL COLE, BALTIMORE CITY COUNCILMEMBER - Councilmember Bill Cole provides the following biography on his website:

Councilman Bill Cole began his career in government as an intern in the Maryland State Senate in 1994, then served two sessions as  a legislative aide to former State Senator Walter Baker. In 1996, he was hired by newly elected Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) as Staff Assistant and later Special Assistant.  Cole managed one of three district offices, remaining on the Congressman’s staff until 2003. 

Bill Cole, Baltimore City Council

In 1998, Bill was elected to the Democratic State Central Committee and a few months later selected to fill the District 47 Maryland House of Delegates seat vacated by Judge Timothy D. Murphy.  The 2002 legislative redistricting process eliminated Baltimore’s 47th Legislative District and Bill lost to three incumbents in the newly formed 46th Legislative District. 

Bill was first elected to the Baltimore City Council in 2007, and re-elected in 2011 wining 75% of the vote. 

After receiving a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland College Park in 1994, and a M.A. in Legal and Ethical Studies from the University of Baltimore in 1996, Bill was admitted to Alpha Epsilon Lambda, the national honor society for graduate and professional students. 

Born  in Cecil County, Bill has lived in downtown Baltimore for more than 25 years. He and his wife Michelle, an assistant Maryland Attorney General, live in the Otterbein neighborhood where he has served as president of the community association. Their three children attend Baltimore City Public Schools.

OPTION #3:  KATHLEEN DUMAIS, DISTRICT 15 DELEGATE - District 15 Delegate Kathleen Dumais provides the following biography on her website:

Kathleen M. Dumais is a member of the Litigation Practice Group of Ethridge, Quinn, Kemp, McAuliffe, Rowan & Hartinger in Rockville, Maryland and concentrates in family law. Her practice includes complex divorce and custody matters. Kathleen often serves as a court-appointed Best Interest Attorney for children in custody disputes. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Additionally, Kathleen is an elected member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 15 in Montgomery County. Speaker Michael Busch appointed Kathleen as the Parliamentarian for the House of Delegates in 2006. She also serves as a member of the House Judiciary Committee and is the Chair of the Family Law subcommittee.

Kathleen Dumais, District 15 Delegate

Recently, Kathleen received the prestigious 2010 Beverly A. Groner Family Law Award from the Maryland State Bar Association Family & Juvenile Law Section. She will also receive the 2010 Rita C. Davidson Award from the Women’s Bar Association of Maryland and the 2010 Dorothy Beatty Memorial Award from the Women’s Law Center of Maryland, Inc.

Kathleen was included in the May/June 2010 “Top Divorce Lawyers” article in Bethesda Magazine. She was named one of the top 50 divorce lawyers in the Washington Metropolitan area by the Washingtonian magazine in February 2000 and February 2004, and was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2005, 2007 and 2009 by the Daily Record. Kathleen is now a member of the Daily Record’s “Circle of Excellence.” She was named the “2005 Woman of the Year” by the Montgomery County Business and Professional Women (BPW). In 2006, she received the Professionalism Award from the Montgomery County Bar Association.

Additionally, Ms. Dumais received the 2005 Legislative Award from the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV); the 2007 Public Policy Award from the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA); the 2008 Legislator of the Year Award from the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW); and the 2009 Public Policy Award from the Maryland Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

She also served on the Board of the Montgomery County Bar Foundation and was formerly the Treasurer of the Foundation and the Montgomery County Bar Association. She was Co-Chair of the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association during 1997-98. Further, she is a past president of the Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, Montgomery County Chapter, and was an elected member of that Executive Committee from 1995 to 2006. She formerly chaired the New Practitioner’s Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association, and has been a member of numerous Bar Association special committees and task forces.

As a former high school teacher, she continues to work with young adults through the High School Mock Trial program, a joint effort of the Montgomery County Public Schools and Bar Association. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors of St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland, her alma mater.

Ms. Dumais received her undergraduate degree (cum laude) from Mount Vernon College in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and her J.D. from the University of Maryland, School of Law in 1983. She is a member of the Maryland Bar, 1987; the bar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1990; and the District of Columbia Bar, 1993.

OPTION #4:  NANCY KING, DISTRICT 39 STATE SENATOR - District 39 State Senator Nancy King provides the following biography on her website:

Senator Nancy King was born and raised in Niagara Falls, New York. She graduated from the Niagara Falls public school system and attended Niagara County Community College.

Nancy King, District 39 State Senate

Upon moving to Maryland in 1981, King became involved in a number of civic organizations. In 1987 she became Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Trecor, Inc., a family-owned consulting and forensic engineering company. Senator King continues in that position today.

King's children attended Montgomery County public schools, and it was during that time that she began volunteering in the school system. In 1993, she became President of the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs).

In 1994, King was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Education representing District 1 and quickly rose through the leadership ranks, and served for two years as President. Mrs. King continued to serve on the School Board until 2002, until she was elected to Maryland's House of Delegates representing District 39.

As a member of the House of Delegates, King served on the Ways and Means Committee where, in 2006, she became the Chair of the Education sub-committee. In August of 2007, King was elected by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee to fill the seat left vacant by the retirement of Senator P.J. Hogan. Subsequently, Governor Martin O'Malley approved the appointment and she was sworn in as Senator for District 39 on September 6, 2007. In November of 2010 Senator King won the election to continue representing District 39 in the Senate.

King has become an active leader in the Senate and was recognized as the State Legislator of the Year by the National Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Technology Advocate of the Year by the Tech Council of Maryland in 2011. Senator King was chosen to serve on the Budget and Taxation Committee including the Capital Budget and Education, Business, & Administration sub-committees. King is also the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Youth & Families.

OPTION #5:  ROGER MANNO, DISTRICT 19 STATE SENATOR - District 19 State Senator Roger Manno provides the following biography on his website (excerpt below):

Senator Roger Manno was sworn-in to the Maryland State Senate on January 12th, 2011, after previously serving four years in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Roger Manno, District 19 Senate

Roger is a member of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, serves as one of four Senators on the Health and Human Services Subcommittee, and is a member of the Pension Subcommittee. He is the only freshman Senator on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the only attorney, and the first Senator from the 19th District to ever serve on the important committee.

Roger also serves on the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing, the Joint Committee on Federal Relations, the Joint Committee on Pensions, the State Advisory Council on Hereditary and Congenital Disorders, the Maryland Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission, and is the Senate Chairman of both the Maryland Task Force to Study Financial Matters Relation to Long-Term Care Facilities, and the Maryland Youth Advisory Council.

In 2009, Roger was appointed to serve on the Working Group of State Legislators for Health Reform. Convened by President Obama's White House, the Working Group played an active role in advising the White House during the development and implementation of the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" -- the largest expansion of health care since the implementation of Medicare -- and the group continues to serve as an advisory panel to facilitate implementation of the pending health care Exchanges. Outside of the legislature, Roger serves on the national steering committee of the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care, and the board of B'nai B'rith International (Chesapeake Bay Region)....

Prior to his election to the legislature, Roger served as a Legislative Director and Legislative Counsel/Senior Counsel in the United States Congress.   In that capacity Roger drafted numerous legislative initiatives, including:  legislation ensuring thorough health care screenings for all U.S. troops; several post-9/11 Homeland Security bills and amendments strengthening security and civil rights; alternative U.S. Budgets sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus; and was an organizer of issue forums for the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference.  Additionally, as a staff member handling International Relations issues and Foreign Operations Appropriations, in 2005 Roger traveled to Israel with a congressional staff delegation during Israel’s "Disengagement" from Israel's West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Immediately following the attacks on September 11, 2001, Roger served as a key staff member on the House of Representatives Homeland Security Task Force (Democratic Caucus), drafting Homeland Security amendments and alternatives to The Patriot Act. While his work dealt with a broad range of Homeland Security issues, his specific contributions were in the area of Domestic Law Enforcement.

Prior to law school Roger worked in public schools with academically, emotionally, and socially challenged special-needs students....

Roger earned his law degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center (University of New Hampshire) and was the Chair of the Democratic Law Caucus. In addition, Roger earned a Masters in Intellectual Property Law, an area of the law dealing with prescription drug patents and obtaining affordable prescription drugs....

Roger is married to his childhood sweetheart, Marjorie.  Roger's parents, Bea and John reside in New York City, and Roger's sister, Shana, lives in Israel. Roger, Marjorie, and their two cats, Chester and Ms. LuLu, live in the Silver Spring area bordering Olney and Sandy Spring. They are members of Temple Emanuel in Kensington, Maryland.

OPTION #6:  NANCY NAVARRO, MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL PRESIDENT - Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro provides the following biography on her website:

Nancy Navarro currently serves as President of the Montgomery County Council. She was elected to represent District 4 on the Council in a special election on May 19, 2009 and re-elected in the general election on November 4, 2010. Since December 2010, she has chaired the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee and serves on the Health and Human Services Committee. She served as Council Vice President for the 2011-2012 session, and has been elected Council President for the 2012-2013 session of the Council.

Nancy Navarro, Montgomery County Council

In October 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Nancy as a member of the President’s Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, where she serves on the Early Childhood Education Committee.

Prior to joining the Council, Nancy was a member of the Montgomery County Board of Education, where she served two consecutive terms as Board President. She was first appointed to the Board of Education in October 2004 to fill a vacant seat. On Nov. 7, 2006, she was elected to a full four-year term. Nancy was a member of the Board’s Strategic Planning Committee and chaired the Communications and Public Engagement Committee.

Before entering public office, Nancy co-founded a non-profit, community-based organization with a mission to assist the economic and educational development of Latino and other immigrant communities. School readiness, healthy family development, and academic achievement was the primary focus of the organization. During the summers of 2007 and 2008, she participated in the Public Education Leadership Project (PELP) at Harvard University, where the Montgomery County Public Schools team focused on race, poverty and the academic achievement gap.

Nancy has served in a number of volunteer leadership roles, including PTSA co-president; chair of the Youth, Schools, and Childcare Work Group of the Long Branch Revitalization Task Force; co-founder of the Montgomery County Non-Profit Village; member of the Montgomery County Gang Prevention Task Force; member of the National Child Care Action Campaign; Member of the Advisory Committee for the Washington Area Foundation Portrait Project. She also served as a bilingual classroom parent volunteer.

Nancy has received numerous awards and recognitions, including: the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County’s Leadership Award; the Maryland State Department of Education’s Women Who Dare Leadership Award; the Hispanic Democratic Club of Montgomery County’s Poder con Ganas Award; the U.S. Hispanic Youth Entrepreneur Education’s Hispanic Hero Award; the Montgomery County Business and Professional Women Association’s Women of Achievement 2007 Award; the Community Teachers Institute’s Heart of the Community Award; the 2009 and 2013 Maryland’s Top 100 Women Award; and the Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Elected Local Government Official of the Year Award.

Nancy graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri (Columbia). She was born in Caracas, Venezuela and has lived in Montgomery County for more than two decades with her husband, Reginald, and two daughters.

OPTION #7:  KEN ULMAN, HOWARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE - Howard County Executive Ken Ulman provides the following biography on his website (excerpt below):

On Dec. 6, 2010, Ulman was sworn in as County Executive for a second term, reaffirming his commitment to the citizens of Howard County with energy, passion, and innovation.

Ken Ulman, Howard County Executive

Ulman’s practical approach to governing and fiscal responsibility saves taxpayers dollars without sacrificing core public services, while also allowing his administration to focus on initiatives in strategic areas like environmental sustainability, healthcare, technology, and economic development efforts.

In one of his first actions as County Executive, Ulman created the Howard County Office of Environmental Sustainability with a mission to protect and enhance natural resources and the quality of life in our community through the conservation, preservation and restoration of our land, air and water. Through this office, Ulman has enacted many measures that have reduced the County’s environmental footprint, such as the transformation of the County’s fleet of vehicles to hybrids wherever possible, enactment of green building standards and a single-stream recycling program that serves as a model for neighboring jurisdictions.

In addition to environmental issues, Ulman has a strong commitment to public health. At a young age, he witnessed his younger brother battle and beat cancer.  Driven by this personal experience and the belief that everyone should have access to affordable and preventive healthcare, Ulman and Health Officer Dr. Peter Beilenson launched Healthy Howard.

In 2008, Howard County became one of the first in the nation to offer affordable access to health care for uninsured residents. The Healthy Howard Access Plan has earned numerous awards, including the “Government Innovation Award” from the Maryland Society of Public Administration and was the winner of the “Bright Ideas” award from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.  In 2008 The Daily Record recognized Ulman and Health Officer Dr. Peter Beilenson with the “Innovator of the Year Award"....

Ulman currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), an organization that makes sure Maryland’s 23 counties and the City of Baltimore are heard when decisions are made in the state’s capital....

Ulman is a graduate of The University of Maryland, College Park and earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.  He and his wife, Jacqueline, reside in Columbia with their two daughters, Maddie and Lily.

Ulman is also the Vice-Chair of Health Policy for the National Association of Counties, Treasurer for the National Democratic County Officials, and a member of the Democratic National Committee.

OPTION #8:  COURTNEY WATSON, HOWARD COUNTY COUNCIL - Howard County Councilmember Courtney Watson provides the following biography on her website (excerpt below):

Courtney Watson was first elected to the County Council in November, 2006 to represent the First Council District which includes portions of Ellicott City, Elkridge and Hanover. She has also served as Council Chairperson.

Courtney Watson, Howard County Council

Mrs. Watson is a lifelong Howard County resident raised in Clarksville. She was educated in the Howard County Public School System and graduated from Atholton High School.

After several years as a community activist, Mrs. Watson was elected in 2002 to the Board of Education, completing a four year term and serving two years as Chairman. During this time a new superintendent, Dr. Sydney L. Cousin, was hired, the cultural proficiency program was begun, and six new schools were constructed.

Mrs. Watson served on the county’s Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Committee, the Ellicott City Master Plan Steering Committee, and the Economic Development Authority Strategic Plan Committee. She has served on the Spending and Bond Affordability Committee.  Ms. Watson serves as the President of the Women of MACo (Maryland Association of Counties).  She served on the 2007 MACo Education Subcommittee.

Mrs. Watson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University, and holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from The Sellinger School of Business at Loyola.

Mrs. Watson and her husband, Richard, have lived in Ellicott City for over 20 years. They have three children.

 More on the 2014 Battle for Governor soon!

Maryland Senate Votes to Decriminalize Pot Possession While House Approves Medical Marijuana // ROLL CALL ANALYSIS

UPDATE: Maryland Juice just received the following legislative tidbit from a reader on Facebook encouraging Marylanders to contact Delegate Joe Vallario and urge him to stop holding up marijuana decriminalization:  joseph.vallario@house.state.md.us or (410) 841-3488.

READER: Students for Sensible Drug Policy sent out an email blast calling on its MD members to "Urge Chairman Vallario to pass marijuana decriminalization in Maryland" etc. with some indication that he as the committee chairman "has been the main obstacle to passing positive marijuana legislation in Maryland." Let's hope this common sense reform makes it through!

Reforms to Maryland's draconian laws regarding marijuana are finally advancing in the State Senate and House of Delegates. After years of severe lag-time, Maryland Democrats have finally caught on that the world is moving on after blindly experimenting with the last generation's failed "War on Drugs."

Maryland currently spends roughly $226 million a year on marijuana enforcement -- with little meaningful impact on the public's use of recreational drugs.  Meanwhile, young Marylanders and people of color are arbitrarily and disproportionately welcomed into the criminal justice system, subjecting them to potential ineligibility for student loans and persistent problems finding employment.

MARYLAND SENATE APPROVES MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION - Last week the Maryland Senate approved a bill to eliminate the possibility of jail terms for "de minimis" marijuana possession (aka a few joints or less). A bill sponsored by Senator Bobby Zirkin proposes to reduce the penalty for minor pot possession to no more than a $100 fine with no jail time at all. The bill was approved by a vote of 30-16 in a surprisingly smooth vote, and The Washington Post editorial board recently encouraged the House of Delegates to join the Senate in decriminalizing pot (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: The Maryland Senate’s vote to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana would not, as some critics warn, make it okay to use the drug. Such use would still be illegal, but it would be a civil offense, punishable by fines rather than imprisonment. Not only would this save law enforcement valuable resources but also prevent the lives of many young people from being ruined. We hope the House of Delegates follows the Senate’s lead and that Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) signs this sensible measure into law....

Currently Maryland law allows for up to a shocking 90 days in prison and a $500 fine for possession of minor amounts of pot. But despite the common-sense nature of this "decriminalization" law, the vote to start ending the War on Drugs in Maryland revealed interesting divisions between lawmakers. You can see the full roll call online, but below Maryland Juice highlights a few notable tidbits.

NINE SENATE DEMOCRATS VOTED TO MAINTAIN 90 DAY JAIL TERMS FOR MARIJUANA - The vast majority of Senate Democrats voted to eliminate the possibility of 90 day jail terms for residents caught with small amounts of marijuana.  Democratic leaders --  including Senate President Mike Miller -- voted for marijuana decriminalization, and only nine of Maryland's thirty-five Democratic Senators voted to support continued incarceration of people caught with pot. But surprisingly, two of the "no" votes came from Senators Nancy King and Roger Manno, who represent liberal Montgomery County. Below you can see the nine Democratic Senators who voted against peeling back the War on Drugs in Maryland:

1. John Astle (Anne Arundel County)
2. Ed Degrange (Anne Arundel County)
3. Roy Dyson (Calvert, Charles & St. Mary's Counties)
4. Nancy King (Montgomery County)
5. Katherine Klausmeier (Baltimore County)
6. Roger Manno (Montgomery County)
7. Jim Mathias (Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties)
8. Jim Robey (Howard County)
9. Norm Stone (Baltimore County)

SENATOR ROGER MANNO EXPLAINS VOTE TO MAINTAIN POSSIBILITY OF JAIL FOR POT POSSESSION - Interestingly, shortly after the historic marijuana reform vote, Senator Roger Manno explained to Maryland Juice why he voted to maintain possible 90 day jail terms for minor pot possession. Manno stated that he thought the War on Drugs was a failure but that it was arbitrary to only roll back penalties on marijuana. I'm still a little confused by this argument, but if drug reform advocates take Senator Manno at his word, that means he should be approached to sponsor an even larger unraveling of the War on Drugs in Maryland  -- perhaps a bill that comprehensively audits and revisits jail terms assigned to all cases of simple possession?


NEARLY 50% OF REPUBLICAN SENATORS VOTED AGAINST 90 DAY JAIL TERMS FOR POT - While some Democrats struggled to stay on top of shifting public sentiment on marijuana, the Republicans are beginning to catch on. Notably, five out of twelve Republican Senators (or nearly 50%) voted to eliminate the threat of 90 day jail terms for minor pot possession:

1. David Brinkley (Carroll & Frederick Counties)
2. Richard Colburn (Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot & Wicomico Counties)
3. Nancy Jacobs (Cecil & Harford Counties)
4. Alan Kittleman (Carroll & Howard Counties)
5. Ed Reilly (Anne Arundel County)

MEANWHILE, MD SENATE VOTES TO MAKE POSSESSION OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA PUNISHABLE BY FOUR YEARS IN JAIL - In one of the signs of how dysfunctional and irrational drug policy is in America, only days after the Maryland Senate voted overwhelmingly to decriminalize pot possession -- Senators also voted unanimously to make possession of synthetic marijuana punishable by up to four years in prison. Last week, Maryland Senators voted to add synthetic marijuana to the state's list of "Schedule I" substances -- making simple possession a crime that could land you in jail for years. This may have been a pro-forma step to conform Maryland's criminal code with the Federal Schedule I, but we are already beginning to move away from compliance with Barack Obama's broken campaign promises on drug reform. One step forward, two steps back on ending the failed War on Drugs in Maryland? Oy!


MARYLAND HOUSE FINALLY APPROVES MODEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW - While the Maryland Senate was busy decriminalizing possession of minor amounts of pot, the House of Delegates was debating whether to allow medical marijuana in Maryland. But today they finally voted to approve a modest program to allow distribution of marijuana for medical purposes. The medical marijuana bill passed by a whopping margin in a 108 to 28 vote. The Capital Gazette reported on the break in the logjam (excerpt below):

CAPITAL GAZETTE: The House of Delegates passed a bill Monday to allow a small number of academic medical centers to distribute marijuana to patients beginning in 2016. Delegates voted 108-28 to pass House Bill 1101, introduced by Del. Dan K. Morhaim, D-Baltimore County. The bill would create a commission through which academic medical research centers could apply to operate medical marijuana programs. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it could get a hearing as soon as this week....

With just 15 days left in the General Assembly's 90-day session, marijuana will be an important issue in both chambers. On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee is expected to take up Senate Bill 297, which would decriminalize possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana. The Senate passed that bill on March 19....

THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING IN THE AIR - Most Americans consider the War on Drugs a policy failure, and Maryland Juice has been pointing out for months that a super-majority of Democrats and liberals nationally now support full-on taxation and regulation of pot (even Senate President Mike Miller). Indeed, a 2012 Huffington Post/YouGov opinion survey confirmed the clear shift in attitudes:

HUFFINGTON POST: A solid majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana, either with or without taxes and regulations similar to those imposed on alcoholic beverages, according to a new survey conducted by YouGov for The Huffington Post.

The poll found that 51 percent of adults support legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol.... Only 26 percent of respondents said that marijuana should not be legalized.... Those under age 29 and between ages 45 and 64 were most likely to support legalization pure and simple...

The poll found more variation among people of different political parties. Sixty-four percent of Democrats ...  said they supported legalization with taxes and regulations. Overall, opposition was highest among Republicans, but even so, more Republicans favored one of the two legalization options (47 percent) than opposed legalization entirely (44 percent).

A 2011 Gallup poll also verified new majority support for marijuana reform and noted that a whopping 69% of liberals support the legalization effort. Check out a few summary tables below:

Are Maryland politicians figuring out that public sentiment has changed? More on the War on Drugs soon!

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

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

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

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

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

MoCo Question B Update: Labor Leaders Urge County Voters to Oppose "Effects Bargaining" Repeal & "Scott Walker" Efforts

Yesterday, labor leaders and some MoCo Democratic politicos held a press event to urge residents to "vote against" Question B on Montgomery County's November ballot and to fight "Scott Walker" efforts. A "vote against" would protect "effects bargaining" rights for MoCo police officers. See an excerpt from The Gazette's coverage, as well as a press statement from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35:

GAZETTE: Union advocates Wednesday urged residents to vote against ballot Question B this November, and retain the process by which the Montgomery County police union negotiates the effects of management decisions.

“The [Fraternal Order of Police], the [International Association of] Fire Fighters and every other union that represents individuals in the state of Maryland are part of the greater Maryland labor family. And if you attack one, you are going to fight us all,” said Gino Renne, president of the county employee’s union....

Thirty years ago Montgomery County made a promise to its police when it established a process for negotiating the effects management decisions have on police and their families, said state Sen. Roger Manno (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring....

Below you can also read the police union's press statement about the event:

Marriage Equality JuiceBlender // Maryland Senate Final Vote Today @ 4, More Sam Arora Fallout, O'Malley Weighs Platform

Here's a random blend of political tidbits relating to marriage equality, starting with an update on the bill's status in the State Senate:

JUICE #1: SENATE VOTE TODAY // WATCH IT HERE: Baltimore Sun reporter Annie Linskey tweets that the State Senate is likely to take up a final vote on marriage equality at 4:00 pm today:

Maryland Juice is hosting a live, real-time Twitter feed of the historic State Senate vote below. You can also listen to the proceedings at the same time.



JUICE #2: SAM ARORA'S SENATOR ROGER MANNO DETAILS BEHIND-THE-SCENES EFFORTS: Yes, people are still pissed about temporary Delegate Sam Arora's betrayal on marriage equality. For example, a column in today's UMD Diamondback notes that the Internet has created a new form of accountability for politicians:

DIAMONDBACK: Years ago, before the netroots and social media were prominent in politics, Arora's betrayal would've been unknown to those who don't follow the minutiae of legislation and political leaders. However, in today's world of Change petitions, Twitter feeds and Facebook pages, there's nowhere for cowardly politicians to hide. Every political issue has dedicated bloggers who closely follow political developments. In short, Arora isn't going to get away with his betrayal.  

The Washington Blade today also published an interview with District 19 State Senator Roger Manno, who shares a district with temporary Delegate Sam Arora (excerpt below):

Sen. Manno (D-District 19), in a lengthy interview with the Blade, recalled his ultimately unsuccessful efforts to persuade Arora to support the bill, stretching back to last year.

Sam Arora Breaks His Silence, Moves On to Other Issues // State Senator Roger Manno "Disappointed," No Decisions on Slate

WJLA/ABC7 might be the only news outlet that has managed to get a response from temporary Maryland lawmaker Sam Arora. He refused to respond to previous media requests from WTOP at the time of his "no" vote on marriage equality. Last night WJLA printed an email response from Montgomery County's backstabber:

Montgomery County Democrat Sam Arora seems to be getting the brunt of the backlash. Arora, who campaigned in 2010 in support of same sex marriage and co-sponsored last years bill, voted No this year, even after repeatedly being lobbied by Gov. Martin O'Malley and former President Bill Clinton.

Because of that vote, Arora's legislative director immediately resigned and the delegate's Facebook wall has been peppered with dozens of angry messages, calling Arora a coward and his vote a betrayal.

There's even an online petition demanding Arora resign or refund campaign dollars....

Despite repeated requests for an on-camera interview, Arora said he was too busy but he did respond via email:

"This has been an emotional debate and I understand that there re those who disagree with my vote. Now that the bill has passed, I've turned my focus to my efforts [on other issues] in Maryland."