SAQIB ALI: I'm Saqib Ali and I'm running for the Maryland State Legislature from Upper Montgomery County in the Democratic Primary Elections in June 2014.
I served for four years (2006-2010) as a State Delegate representing Montgomery County. During that time, I was an outspoken supporter for civil rights, government transparency and consumer protections. I believe that government should improve public health, safety, education etc -- while at the same time respecting our privacy and civil liberties. I'm looking forward to returning to Annapolis to continue persuing such reforms.
Since leaving the legislature, I have remained active in local politics and have become deeply engaged in advocating for civil rights and human rights in America and around the world. My writings have appeared in the Baltimore Sun, the Washington Post and multiple other places.
WASHINGTON POST: Maryland Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Montgomery), one of the General Assembly’s longest-serving members, survived a tough primary challenge in her last election. She could be in for another one next year. Forehand, 77, said in an interview this week that she is planning to run again and attributed recent speculation about her possible retirement to “people who want my seat.”
At least two other Democrats are considering the District 17 race: Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons (D-Mongtomery) and former delegate Cheryl Kagan, who narrowly lost to Forehand in 2010. Forehand said Simmons has been “going absolutely apoplectic about wanting to be in the Senate”....
Dear Juice,
Please join MCYD for the 2nd installment of our Better American Dream series focused on Labor and the Economy.The discussion will be moderated by MCYD member Maricé Morales, and feature State Delegate Bonnie Cullison, MCDCC Chair Gabe Albornoz, and BEST Democratic Club founder Cory McCray.
Attend MCYD's Labor & the Economy Panel Discussion Bonnie Cullison
State DelegateGabe Albornoz
MCDCC ChairCory McCray
BEST Democratic Club FounderMaricé Morales
Panel Moderator & MCYD Member
We will be discussing private and public sector labor unions, and their role in our county's economy and our party. We will also discuss current proposals, local economic justice issues, and what Young Democrats can do to fight for income equality and greater opportunity.
See you there on Tuesday, July 23rd at 7:00pm in the Silver Spring Civic Center. Click here to RSVP!
Sincerely,
Dave Kunes, President
Montgomery County Young Democrats
HEATHER MIZEUR: There was much to celebrate when the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) last month....
While we celebrate, we must not forget that just one day earlier the court also struck a major blow to equality, tearing down key parts of the Voting Rights Act, which ensures that minority communities have a voice in America's legislative bodies.
The Voting Rights Act prohibits state and local governments from enacting voting restrictions or procedures that discriminate based on race. To enforce these protections, the act requires jurisdictions with a history of race-based voting discrimination to clear any changes in voting laws with the Department of Justice. But the Supreme Court struck down the formula that determines who needs clearance, meaning these jurisdictions are free to enact discriminatory laws. Any federal oversight will come after the fact when the damage has already been done. Since the ruling, seven states have announced plans to enact stricter voting rules....
All of us who celebrated this great victory on DOMA must now join together to work and to organize until all forms of injustice are eradicated from our society.
AFL-CIO: Political Support Building for MCDCC Spring Ball Boycott/Picket: All four Democrats reportedly seeking the Maryland Governor's office in 2014 are now supporting the Metro Washington Council’s boycott/picket of Saturday’s MCDCC Spring Ball. Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman have joined Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and Maryland Delegate Heather Mizeur on the growing list of political leaders boycotting the Ball. The boycott and picket have been organized to protest the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee’s support last year for the Question B referendum, which took away the police union’s right to bargain the effects of management decisions. “Real Democrats walk picket lines,” said Metro Council President Jos Williams. “We’re very heartened by the leadership shown by those who are supporting us and their messages of solidarity.” Also on board are FOP Lodge 35, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, IAFF Local 1664, CWA Local 2108, the Montgomery County Young Democrats, Prince Georges County Young Democrats, Progressive Maryland, Fund Our Communities, retired Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, who join U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Maryland senators Brian Frosh, Rob Garagiola, Roger Manno, Karen Montgomery and Jamie Raskin, and Maryland delegates Charles Barkley, Aisha Braveboy, Bill Frick, Tom Hucker, Ben Kramer and Eric Luedtke. The picket starts at 5:30p on Saturday in Rockville.
WASHINGTON POST: Some Democrats say they will not cross a picket line “on principle.” But exactly what is the principle they’re upholding? An absurd rule, unmatched in other police departments, that was rejected by 60 percent of Montgomery voters? In this case, the “principle” at stake looks more like political cowardice....
It is particularly troubling in the case of Mr. Brown. If he can’t stand up to bullying by arrogant special interests — even to attend a fundraiser by his own party — what kind of spine can Marylanders expect from him as chief executive?
YOUNG DEMOCRATS PICKET ANNUAL SPRING BALL
Prince George’s County and Montgomery County Young Democrats stand against Montgomery County Democrat Central Committee’s decision on 2012 Question B referendum
Prince George's County, MD (May 8, 2013)- Prince George’s County Young Democrats (PGCYD) collaborate with Montgomery County Young Democrats (MCYD) in an acclaimed support to picket and boycott the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee’s (MCDCC) Spring Ball held on Saturday, May 11th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.
Their decision to picket and boycott has come after MCDCC voted in favor of the 2012 Question B referendum, which discards police union’s right to bargain the effects of management decisions. Furthermore, this political uproar caused County residents to question MCDCC’s integrity. “MCDCC has gone against our Democratic principles and have shown they are no better than Republicans in Wisconsin when it comes to economic policy,” said Larry Stafford, President of PGCYD.
With statewide officials set to cancel their attendance and donors to seek refunds, the picket and boycott could bankrupt the Montgomery County Democratic Party.
For more information on this boycott, please contact Larry Stafford, President of PGCYD at 202-907-9597 or via e-mail at Lstaffordjr@gmail.com.
About Prince George’s County Young Democrats
The Prince George's County Young Democrats is an organization devoted to inspiring the young residents of its county to increase political engagement through voter registration, education, and commitment in engaging young residents to take a stance on the local issues and to participate in political campaigns; local or national. For more information on PGCYD visit www.PGCYD.com or contact Maurielle Stewart, Vice President of
Communications at Mhstewart17@gmail.com.
About Montgomery County Young Democrats
The Montgomery County Young Democrats is an organization committed to engaging and developing young residents into future leaders through political action to working for sustainable just communities. For more information on MCYD visit www.MCYD.org or contact Nik Sushka, Director of Communications at Nik.sushka@mcyd.org.
About Question B Referendum
In 2012, Montgomery County Democrat Central Committee voted for Question B Referendum, which includes the distribution of significant police equipment and the revision of “Use of Force” policy. Many residents found the bill to actually hinder the Police Department's mission to protect officers, county residents and property. For More information on Question B Referendum, visit Support MOCO Police Officers.
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On Saturday, June 16, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., please join us at the White House Hispanic Community Action Summit in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The summit will connect senior Obama Administration officials from diverse policy areas with community leaders, business owners, and other stakeholders to discuss issues critical to the Hispanic community, Maryland, and the nation.
Event informationDate: Saturday, June 16, 2012
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Address: Montgomery Blair High School
51 University Boulevard East
Silver Spring, MD 20901
The focus of the Action Summit is to accomplish three key goals:
1. Establish a space where community leaders can meaningfully engage and interact with key decision and policy makers in the Obama Administration on matters involving diverse policy areas that affect the Hispanic community;
2. Identify policy and programmatic areas of concern, receive and respond to constructive criticism and feedback, and identify local success stories and practices in policy areas that benefit the Hispanic community and our nation;
3. Identify and develop opportunities for Hispanic leaders and stakeholders to collaborate with the Obama administration and other leaders from across the country in addressing the interests and concerns of the Hispanic community.
[ REGISTER ONLINE ]
May 24th membership meeting in the Downtown Silver Spring Civic Building’s Colesville Room from 7-8:30pm. See details here.
We have exciting announcements to share, plus a great program about the Maryland DREAM Act, co-sponsored by the Hispanic Democratic Club, with:
- Ana Sol Gutierrez, Maryland State Delegate (D-18)
- Hans Riemer, Montgomery County Councilmember
- Flavia Jimenez, National Immigration Forum, Naturalization and Workforce Integration Project Director
- Justice for Students in America
- Shola Ajayi, CASA de Maryland, Advocacy and Elections Specialist
- Travis Tazelaar, Educating Maryland's Kids, Campaign Coordinator
If you’re already committed to helping MCYD defend the MD Dream Act, let us know: www.mcyd.org/dreamact.
Event: Conversation and Wine and Chocolate Reception with John Podesta
Date: Thursday, May 24
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Pyramid Atlantic, 8230 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD
Cost: Regular Cost $ 20
John Podesta, former White House Chief of Staff and Chairman and Founder of the Center for American Progress, leads a discussion on The American Way To Change written by Shirley Sagawa, Montgomery County resident and “a founding mother” of the modern service movement in America.
Join Mr. Podesta, Ms. Sagawa and community leaders Jenny Brody (Founder and President of the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project), Bruce Adams (Director of County Executive Ike Leggett's Office of Community Partnerships) and Jose Dominguez (Executive Director of Pyramid Atlantic) as they invite you to discuss the integral roles volunteers play in leading and contributing to groundbreaking organizations that improve our livese and offer important services to people in need.
Space in limited, so please RSVP to: jdominguez@pyramid-atlantic.org
O'Malley's March - Performance Date: 05/28/2012, 7:00 pm
Monday, May 28 @ 7pm - $25
Artist's Website: www.omalleysmarch.com
Why They're Worth Watching: The region's favorite Celtic rockers are back for a rollicking evening of traditional and original tunes, seasonal classics, and general merriment. Martin and the boys are coming to Rams Head ready to forget about their day jobs with a show that'll be Irish down to the last drop!
Tickets Online
...As the president travels to Colorado today to kick off a tour of college campuses to promote the extension of lower interest rates for student loans ... it’s worth re-examining what happened among young people in the 2008 election and whether he can re-create that magic in 2012.
The most common misconception about 2008 is that Obama grew the youth vote — defined for our purposes as those between 18 and 29 years old — by any significant measure as compared to past elections. He didn’t....
Young voters comprised 18 percent of the electorate in 2008, a one-point improvement from their share of the electorate in 2004, 2000 and 1996, but nowhere near the heights they reached in the 1980s.
What Obama did do — good grammar! — is win young voters by a far greater margin than any Democratic presidential nominee in modern times.
Again, we turn to a chart looking at the percentages the Democratic and Republican nominees won among 18-29-year-old voters:
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| Source: Washington Post, The Fix 4/24/12 |
Obama’s 34-point margin among young people was almost double the next best showing by a Democratic nominee; Bill Clinton won 18-29-year-old voters by 19 points in his sweeping 1996 reelection victory.
The youth turnout then was far less consequential to Obama’s victory than the consolidation of the 18-29-year-old vote behind his candidacy....
Polling provides a muddled picture of whether Obama can hope to recreate that sort of margin.
Obama’s favorable ratings among young people have fallen since 2009, but they have fallen less quickly and less precipitously than with other age groups.
WASHINGTON POST: The president of the Council of Prince George’s County PTAs said her phone has been ringing nonstop since final results from Tuesday’s primary election were reported.
The main topic of conversation: Edward Burroughs III, Raaheela Ahmed and David Murray, two teenagers and a 20-year-old who crushed their opponents in the school board races and are now the front-runners heading into November’s general election.
Burroughs, 19, a student at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, won 67 percent of the vote in his reelection bid. Murray, 20, also a UMBC student, captured 56 percent of the vote in his race. And in one of the county’s most closely watched races, Ahmed, a student at the University of Maryland at College Park and the youngest of the trio at 18, received 34 percent of the vote, beating her closest opponent, school board Chairman Jeana Jacobs, who got 25 percent of the vote.
“The voting is a reflection of a strong desire for change,” said Theresa Saunders, the head of the county PTA group, characterizing the sentiments of some parents who called her about the outcome. “I don’t think they [were] looking at the age. They [were] looking at change.”
All of the incumbents facing challengers, except Burroughs, lost their races....
“I think it’s terrific,” said Anne L. Bryant, the executive director of the National School Boards Association. “We teach civics in our schools and I think it’s a great sign of a new generation of involvement.”
Carl W. Smith, the executive director of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, agreed, saying, “That’s what we’re trying to get in a democracy. We practically harangue them to get out and vote.”
The young candidates used their recent experience in the school system as part of the focus of their campaigns.
“My thirteen years in Prince George’s schools is fresh in my mind,” Ahmed said. “I believe that is a good asset to base my decisions in the future.”
Ahmed, who is gearing up for her general campaign, said she realizes she and her fellow college students may have a tough battle ahead....
Camilla R. Marshall, a parent who lives in Mitchellville, said the young candidates should be commended for their involvement. “I think the youth are crying out because of the failures of the adults,” Marshall said. “They see what is wrong. . . . I think they want to be a part of the solution.”
GAZETTE: Legislation that would grant full voting rights to the student member of the Montgomery County Board of Education passed the House of Delegates on Monday afternoon, but still faces resistance in the Senate....
Several student government leaders appealed to the Senate delegation last week to pass the bill so it can be considered by the full chamber, but a vote on the measure was delayed. The House vote in favor of the measure was 92-39.
