In Quest to Become 2014 MoCo Exec, Doug Duncan Assembling Slate of County Council Candidates to Challenge Incumbents

PLUS: DOUG DUNCAN WORKING FOR PRINCE GEORGE'S DEVELOPMENT EFFORT

UPDATE: A knowledgeable source alleges that Doug Duncan did not volunteer to The Gazette that he was assembling a slate of candidates; rather the comments that appear below were in response to a question from a reporter. Indeed, several MoCo politicos have expressed skepticism that Duncan was actually forming a team of County Council candidates. Hmm.

Maryland Juice recently noted that area journalists were wondering where former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan was hiding. Many felt that he disappeared from the public spotlight shortly after announcing a 2014 run for MoCo Executive. The Washington Post's Bill Turque, however, was able to track Duncan down for comment, and it turns out he's been hanging out at Cosi (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Duncan says he is alive, well and still running in 2014.... "I’m raising money, organizing a campaign and meeting a lot of people," he said in a phone interview Wednesday evening. "I find it a little odd that people say they haven’t seen me... We’re going to run the best campaign I’ve ever run...."

For the moment, those wondering where he’s been can probably catch him at the Cosi in downtown Rockville....

DUNCAN ASSEMBLING TEAM TO CHALLENGE COUNTY COUNCIL INCUMBENTS - Doug Duncan is not simply planning on running for County Executive in 2014; as in his past runs for office, he plans on assembling a slate of County Council candidates to team up with. Notably, Duncan does not want to slate with any incumbents and will instead be bringing challengers onto his slate. This is an interesting move, given that some of the County Council incumbents are previous Duncan slate-mates. Check out the report from The Gazette's Kate Alexander (excerpt below):

GAZETTE: Duncan is considering a slate of County Council candidates to share the ballot, but is not considering incumbents. "I’m taking a very close look at that, I’m giving that very close consideration, I’m considering that very heavily," he said of assembling a slate.

Two council members elected on the 2002 "End Gridlock" slate that nabbed Duncan his third term as executive still sit on the council, George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park and Nancy Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park. Current county Economic Development Director Steve Silverman and former county councilman Michael Subin were also on the 2002 slate.

But Duncan is looking elsewhere for his possible 2014 team. "I think we need a team of people who are working together with the same vision for the county," he said. "Right now I’m focusing on people that are outside of the council...."

DOUG DUNCAN CURRENTLY WORKING FOR PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY DEVELOPMENT EFFORT - Another mystery surrounding Doug Duncan has been solved by the media. Many had been wondering how Duncan was currently supporting himself financially. It turns out that the would-be leader of Montgomery County may be working against smart growth efforts in Prince George's County. The Washington Post's Jonathan O'Connell flagged Duncan's involvement in a recent article (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Smart growth advocates have applauded Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III’s commitment to support new projects near the county’s 15 Metro stations, but as the county executive considers the best place to put a new $650 million regional hospital, he is making them nervous.

Baker plans to hold a forum Feb. 28 at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex to begin vetting four possible sites for the hospital. Two of them, the shuttered Landover Mall and the newly built Woodmore Town Centre, are nearly three miles from a Metro station in locations that require pedestrians to cross a Capital Beltway interchange.

To the pro-transit crowd that has backed Baker as he presses the federal government on the importance of locating agencies near Metro stations, choosing either site would be a mistake...

The competition from other developers however, is likely to be stiff. Lerner Cos., owner of Landover Mall, has hired Doug Duncan, former (and maybe future) Montgomery County executive, to help sway the decision its way. Lerner executives did not respond to inquiries, and Duncan declined to comment. "That’s not what they hired me to do," he said....

MORE ON THE RETURN OF DOUG DUNCAN SOON!

HEAD START: Howard County Pols Launch Campaigns for 2014 // Candidates Enter County Exec, Council & State House Races

BACKGROUND: Maryland Juice has been somewhat surprised to see a surge in recent activity from a few politicians representing Howard County. Indeed, it seems that several would-be 2014 candidates are already aggressively launching campaign operations. Below we highlight a few items that came across our desk.

KEN ULMAN'S DEPARTURE FROM TRIGGERS HOWARD COUNTY DOMINOES: First, it is worth noting the circumstances that may be driving much of the political activity. There are several reasons for the early campaigning in HoCo. First of all, term-limited HoCo Executive Ken Ulman is off running for Governor right now, making his office available to ambitious politicians in the area. Political observers expect some number of the five HoCo Councilmembers to enter the County Exec race, which is going to trigger dominoes further down the political ladder. Indeed, it already appears that the County Exec jockeying could be causing folks to eye the soon-to-be-vacated HoCo Council seats.

Last June, The Baltimore Sun's "Explore Howard" website noted that Republican State Senator Allan Kittleman was gearing up for a 2014 run for County Executive. They also noted his likely Democratic competitors (excerpt below):

EXPLORE HOWARD: Asked if there were any other Republicans interested in running for county executive, [HoCo GOP Chair Loretta] Shields said: "No one has stepped forward to say they're interested."

In addition to the many people who have encouraged him to run, Kittleman said he commissioned a poll.... The poll showed Kittleman 20 points ahead of both Del. Guy Guzzone and County Council member Courtney Watson, widely considered the two most likely Democratic candidates.

"The results of that poll show that someone who's pro-business, a fiscal conservative and supports individual freedom can win in Howard County, even with an 'R' next to their name," Kittleman said....

A couple weeks ago, HoCo Rising blogger Tom Coale highlighted the status of fundraising for key Howard County politicians:

HOCO RISING: With many thanks to our local politicians for filing early, here are some of the more interesting fundraising totals for Howard County elected officials:

Courtney Watson -- $254,410 Raised; $374,457 On Hand
Guy Guzzone -- $61,600 Raised; $227,475 On Hand
Calvin Ball -- $85,425 Raised; $190,384 On Hand
Mary Kay Sigaty -- $753 Raised; $21,120 On Hand
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Allan Kittleman -- $170,655 Raised; $184,194 On Hand

It is not insignificant that right now Kittleman does not have a challenger in the 2014 Republican Primary, whereas Democrats appear to be headed into a contested primary. Nevertheless, Democratic HoCo Councilmember Courtney Watson has banked almost twice as much cash as Kittleman so far.

SEN. ALLAN KITTLEMAN ON THE ISSUES: HoCo Rising also noted recently that Sen. Kittleman is now promoting a good government agenda in Annapolis, ahead of his run for County Executive. Notably, Kittleman was also named Maryland Juice's 2011 "Marylander of the Year" after he stepped forward as the only GOP State Senator to support marriage equality, during the era of the Tea Party. This year Kittleman is also co-sponsoring the non-discrimination bill against transgender residents, and he is weighing whether to support repeal of the death penalty in Maryland. This issue positioning makes sense, given that Kittleman is running for office in an increasingly liberal county. Sadly, some of Kittleman's Democratic colleagues in the state legislature seem to be less savvy about electoral math.

LOOMING STATE HOUSE BATTLES: Turning our attention to HoCo's state legislative campaigns,  much of the action is being generated by the departure of progressive Delegate Liz Bobo from her HoCo-anchored District 12 House seat. Last September, Bobo announced she would be retiring at the end of her current term. A number of area politicos are expected to wage campaigns for her seat in 2014, but Bobo's retirement is only one of the factors drawing in new challengers. After all, in the last round of state legislative redistricting, two of Howard County's State House districts were merged into an at-large 3-member district. This could create unpredictable dynamics for the D12 incumbents, given that candidates running for Bobo's open seat will now also be challenging incumbent House members Steve Deboy and Jim Malone (both Democrats from the Baltimore County part of D12).

PRIMARY DEL. STEVE DEBOY: Notably, as Sen. Allan Kittleman is noticing, Howard County has become increasingly liberal and Democratic in its voting behavior. But Democratic elected officials like Delegate Deboy still voted against both marriage equality and the Dream Act. Maryland Juice would not be surprised to see this voting record become in issue in a 2014 Democratic Primary, especially with a flood of new voters in Deboy's redrawn district. After all, politicians like Deboy (a former cop) make advocates waste gobs of effort trying to persuade them to do the right thing. What an unnecessary waste of our time.


Here are a few bits of juice about Howard County politicians lining up for the 2014 battles:

JUICE #1: HOCO COUNCILMEMBER COURTNEY WATSON HIGHLIGHTS FUNDRAISING RESULTS - As noted above, HoCo Councilmember Courtney Watson is currently the fundraising leader in the race for 2014 Executive. A couple weeks ago, she put out the following press release touting her success (note: photo added by Juice):

PRESS RELEASE

Howard County Councilmember Courtney Watson Releases Fundraising Results

Courtney Watson

Ellicott City, MD.  Howard County Councilmember Courtney Watson is filing the annual Campaign Finance Report to the Maryland Board of Elections today and will show $254,000 raised during the past year with a $374,000 bank balance.

“I am working hard to make Howard County an even better place to live and work.  We should all be proud of the progress we are making.  Our schools continue to perform at the highest level, we are providing new recreation opportunities, and have attracted our first Whole Foods to Columbia’s downtown.  I am committed to continuing this progress in Howard County”.

Watson surpassed her fundraising goal this year and said she was particularly pleased that nearly 70% of the 574 contributions were of $250 less.  Watson was elected to the Board of Education in 2002 and was twice elected to the County Council in 2006 and 2010.

###

JUICE #2: FORMER DISTRICT 9A HOUSE CANDIDATE JON WEINSTEIN LAUNCHING CAMPAIGN FOR SOMETHING - Maryland Juice was recently invited to the campaign kickoff of former District 9A House candidate Jon Weinstein. In 2010, Weinstein was one of two Democrats nominated for the D9A race, but he came in fourth place against two Republicans and a fellow Democrat. His upcoming event is titled simply, "Jon Weinstein for Howard County," and doesn't specify what he is running for:

Notably, Weinstein no longer lives in House District 9A, as redistricting placed him in the new District 9B -- currently represented by GOP Delegate Susan Krebs. Weinstein does however live in Sen. Allan Kittleman's District 9 -- and as we noted above, that is likely to be an open seat in 2014. Moreover, Weinstein also lives in Courtney Watson's HoCo Council District 1. Which office is he running for?


JUICE #3: CLARENCE LAM CAMPAIGNING FOR DISTRICT 12 HOUSE SEAT - Previous rumors indicated HoCo Councilmember Mary Kay Sigaty might run for Liz Bobo's open House seat, and if that happens, there would obviously be another open seat on the County Council. Notably, Councilmembers face a three-term limit, while State House members have no term limits.

But in the meantime, HoCo Democratic activist Clarence Lam is already up and running with an exploratory campaign for Liz Bobo (and Steve Deboy's) District 12 House seats. On his campaign website, Lam describes himself as an President of the HoCo Young Democrats and co-director of the Maryland Dem's Asian American Outreach. He has also been sending out email blasts touting his early campaign organizing (see one example below):

Dear Friends,

Thank you to all of you who have supported me over the last few weeks as I explore a run to serve as your delegate in District 12 of the Maryland General Assembly.  Our event on Monday has been an overwhelming success, with over 120 attendees, a tremendous outpouring of diversity including many new faces, and a great deal of genuine excitement and enthusiasm.  Through your generous support, our campaign has exceeded our interim fundraising goal by raising over $15,000 in just a few short weeks.  I’m proud that our efforts so far have led a prominent local blogger to conclude, “Clarence Lam’s candidacy bears watching as time goes on.”

But there’s still much work left to be done, and here are a few things you can do to help:

1) Talk to your friends and neighbors about our campaign.  If you know of others who live in West Columbia, Elkridge, Catonsville, or other key constituency groups, please make them aware that we want to hear from them.
2) Reach out to your communities and contact me with any organization’s events or meetings that you would like me to attend so that we can continue our outreach efforts.
3) Organize house parties and meet & greet receptions in order to increase the awareness and visibility of our campaign.
4) Please consider making a donation at www.clarencelam.com/donate.  While we’re off to a great start in fundraising, your continued support is needed to ensure that we can run a successful campaign.

I hope to be able to count on your support as we work together in launching this campaign for District 12!

Thanks so much to all of you, and stay tuned for upcoming announcements,

-Clarence

More on HoCo's 2014 battles soon!

Sen. Brian Frosh Highlights Cash Lead for Attorney General // Del. Jon Cardin Talks Obesity, Speed Cameras, Clean Elections

Maryland Juice just received an email blast from State Senator Brian Frosh providing an update on his work in Annapolis, and also highlighting the status of his campaign for 2014 Attorney General. He notes that he has raised much more money than his rivals and that 90% of his $390,000 war chest was raised after President Obama was re-elected last November.

We've also been receiving a steady drumbeat of press releases and issue papers from Delegate Jon Cardin, another candidate for 2014 Attorney General. Below we highlight Cardin's comments on obesity, campaign finance reform, and speed cameras. Cardin and Frosh are currently jockeying to win the 2014 Democratic Primary and also face competition from Delegates Bill Frick and Aisha Braveboy. 

JUICE #1: SEN. BRIAN FROSH'S EMAIL BLAST HIGHLIGHTS FUNDRAISING LEAD FOR 2014 ATTORNEY GENERAL -

Dear Juice,

This is an update on the 2013 regular legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly and my exploration of the race for Attorney General in 2014.

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, which I chair, will be at the forefront of key public policy issues during the current session of the state legislature. A few of these issues are presented below.

Gun Violence:  The recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut made it clear that as responsible public officials and as a civil society we must reduce the potential for tragedy as a result of gun violence. As a longtime proponent of sensible gun legislation, I am proud to co-sponsor Governor O’Malley’s comprehensive Firearms Safety Act. In addition, I have introduced several other bills designed to prevent criminals from gaining access to dangerous weapons. These are common-sense measures designed to make our children, families, and communities safer. You can listen to my recent interview on WAMU here.

Death Penalty:  Although executions have been suspended in Maryland since 2006, the law permitting capital punishment remains. This finally may be the year that we see a full repeal in our state. Governor O’Malley has put his weight behind a repeal initiative, along with the NAACP and other advocates for repeal. I strongly support the repeal efforts.  

Pit Bulls:  In April 2012, the Maryland Court of Appeals rendered a decision (Tracey v. Solesky) that left many dog lovers in Maryland upset. The ruling declared pit bulls to be inherently dangerous and made pit bull owners, and their landlords, strictly liable for injuries inflicted by these animals. A recent agreement among key legislators led to the introduction of SB 160 and HB 78. These bills are fair to victims, landlords and pet owners. They set reasonable standards for dog owners and victims in dog bite cases, regardless of the dog’s breed, and make clear that landlords and other third parties are not liable for damages, unless they knew, or should have realized, that the dog was dangerous.

After announcing the formation of an exploratory committee last fall for the 2014 election for Attorney General, I have visited every region of Maryland meeting with citizens, political leaders and groups to discuss the issues confronting our state. At the end of the annual reporting period on January 9, 2013, the Citizens for Brian Frosh Committee reported more than $390,000 cash on hand. This amount is more than twice as much as anyone else currently considering the race. The largest share of these funds—90%—was received in the nine-week period after the re-election of President Obama and before the filing deadline. I’m very grateful for, and very encouraged by, the generous support I have received from my friends and the valuable advice I have received.

I will keep you up to date on the progress of the 2013 legislative session as well as any developments in the 2014 race for Attorney General of Maryland. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. If you would like to join the Brian Frosh for Attorney General Exploratory Committee, or would be willing to help in any way, please visit www.brianfrosh.com.

Many thanks,

Brian

JUICE #2: DEL. JON CARDIN WEIGHS IN ON MULTIPLE ISSUES -

#1 - MARYLAND MUST TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC

By Delegate Jon S. Cardin

73.4% of males in Maryland are overweight or obese. Healthcare costs have risen by $28.5 billion since 1997. According to the Coalition for a Healthy Maryland, the estimated percentage of overweight or obese males in Maryland came in at a mind blowing 73.4%. The Coalition also told us that since 1997, when obesity was recognized as a major public health problem in America and specifically in Maryland, our total healthcare costs have risen by almost $28.5 billion and are expected to increase another $3.3 billion by 2015.

Further, chronic obesity has been directly linked to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and certain types of cancer. Each year, these diseases, which are often times preventable, cost the State hundreds of billions of dollars. We cannot simply accept that Maryland will follow much of the rest of the nation into morbid, money draining obesity. I know that we can do better.

Maryland could prevent that $3.3 billion increase in healthcare spending if Marylanders began to make healthier life style choices. Some actions are to quit smoking, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and remain stress free. With so many internal and external pressures – ill nutrition, smoking, skipping exercise and engaging in unnecessarily stressful activities become the rule and not the exception.

One option to create healthier lifestyles is to monetarily incentivize healthy lifestyle choices. Given all the pressures to engage in negative lifestyle choices, creating a positive pressure to live healthy lifestyles may be just the intervention Maryland needs. There finally appears to be the critical mass of support necessary to create a pilot “Healthy Maryland” program for State employees, retirees and their families. With 78,000 employees, a Healthy Maryland pilot program could begin to turn the tide on Maryland’s obesity and healthcare spending epidemic.

Last week, I introduced a bill in the Maryland House of Delegates to create just such a pilot program. The one year pilot program is designed to create small monetary incentives for state employees and their families to live healthier life styles.  The idea is that if employees enroll in approved programs that promote exercise and weight loss or smoking cessation, they will save themselves and the state millions of dollars in healthcare each year. Specifically, the State will pay each employee $50 for enrolling and completing qualifying healthy lifestyle programs up to a maximum of $150 per year.

This program is not rocket science. It is already done in Canada, Texas, California and even Gaithersburg. This trailblazing bill makes Maryland’s focus on healthcare interventions pro-active instead of the failed reactive approach. I believe that many individuals who are on the margins can and will make positive lifestyle choices if given the opportunity; all they need is a small boost. This bill offers them that boost. I ask that the Governor, my colleagues in the Legislature and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene join me in passing this forward thinking legislation.

#2 - CARDIN, COLLEAGUES AND ADVOCACY GROUPS TO HOST CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND ELECTION LAW REFORM RALLY 2/7 @ 11AM

January 31st – Delegates Jon Cardin, Sandy Rosenberg, Elizabeth Bobo and Senators Joanne Benson and Bill Ferguson along with invited guests Common Cause Maryland, Maryland PIRG, Public Citizen, Progressive Maryland, the League of Women Voters and others will host a rally in support of campaign finance and election law reforms on Thursday February 7, 2013 at 11am on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis. The speakers will highlight upcoming legislation that increases transparency in campaign contributions, tempers the influence of large donors by closing the LLC loophole, expands early voting centers and opportunities, allows for same day voter registration in early voting and publicly funds local elections.

In a statement Delegate Cardin said, “I am thrilled to be joined by so many coalition partners and my colleagues from the House and Senate fighting for sunshine in campaign finance and expansion of the franchise to more eligible voters through simple, common sense laws such as same day voter registration and more stringent disclosures for large campaign donations. Ever since the Citizens United ruling, there has been a groundswell of grassroots support for long overdue campaign finance and election law reform. We must keep this momentum going and pass this important legislation immediately!”

###

#3 - CARDIN’S INTRODUCTION OF COMPREHENSIVE SPEED CAMERA LEGISLATION IS IMMINENT

January 23rd – Delegate Jon Cardin has crafted comprehensive speed camera legislation that addresses the significant problems in the current system while ensuring that citations are issued for the safety of schoolchildren, construction workers, bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists instead of for monetary gain.

The continued use of the so-called “bounty” or fee per ticket program by Baltimore City and other jurisdictions is unacceptable. Existing law states the practice of bounty programs is illegal but somehow, the counties have skirted the law on multiple occasions. Bounty programs undermine public confidence in the system by incentivizing camera operators to issue more tickets instead of ensuring safety and accuracy. Accordingly, Cardin’s bill closes the loophole jurisdictions have adopted to do an end-run around current State law.

Further, this bill is the only proposed legislation that holds speed camera operators responsible for the flaws in their systems. For every erroneous ticket issued, a $1,000 fine will be assessed to the camera operator. Delegate Cardin said, “I believe that if speed camera operators are going to make millions of dollars on the backs of our citizens, they must be held responsible for the accuracy of their cameras.

I am committed to making sure the program is fair to everyone and that citizens have complete confidence that the goal is safety over revenues. To this end, my proposed legislation requires a 30 day notice period for each new speed camera installation.”  Any violation recorded during this 30 day period will be enforced only as a warning. Finally, this bill creates a verifiable, two time stamped photo system that accurately demonstrates if driver was speeding, so that the driver can fairly and effectively challenge any erroneous violations in court.

Of the many speed camera bills being introduced this session, this bill is the most comprehensive and that it goes to the core of the significant problems in statewide speed camera programs.  My hope is that everyone in Baltimore and around the State will feel comfortable that they are being treated fairly and equally on the roadways.

###

 More on the 2014 Attorney General Race soon!

VIDEO: Transgender Marylanders Describe Hate Crimes & Discrimination // WAKE UP TO YOUR ROLE IN THE PROBLEM

Yesterday Maryland Juice noted that over twenty State Senators introduced a bill to prohibit discrimination against transgender individuals. To bolster the effort today, a number of transgender Maryland residents released a video describing the shameful, violent and inhumane treatment they are prone to receiving from members of our community.

But before I present their courageous statements, I wanted to pause and lament once again that we are even having a debate over this non-discrimination law. I admit that I should be excited to see that this common-sense bill may finally be signed into law, but I can't help but feel sad and angry that we are having to cyclically prove the worth of some group of humans to the rest of society. Indeed, I won't hold my breath for State Senator Norm Stone to get behind this effort, given that he represents the worst example of the kind of hateful policymaking I am talking about -- and he's a Democrat! As you are likely aware by now, Sen. Norm Stone previously voted against interracial marriage in Maryland and has since then continued voting against individual liberty and human rights. What a POS.


GET OVER YOURSELF: I get very tired of humanity's hateful impulses sometimes. Too many people seem to think they have some right to not be offended by the sight or lifestyles of other people -- even if they are not actually being affected by the people they are seemingly obsessed with. The law should not exist to give rise to personal discrimination or to protect people from the unrealized paranoia of their own views.  To be fair, the history of the United States (including today) is rife with examples where we have allowed our laws to become instruments of illogic. But over time members of the advocacy community often succeed in pointing out and correcting the injustices we as a society often create. The question I have is why the other members of society constantly force us to wage decades-long struggles in order to achieve policy results that are simply humane? Get over yourself.


LEAVE THE HOUSE MORE OFTEN: In particular, the resistance to anti-discrimination laws protecting transgender individuals makes me wish people in the United States would travel more. Every time I leave the country, I'm struck by the simple observation that ordinary people in every nation appear to want the same things we do (eg: good health, employment, security for their loved ones, etc), and they laugh, cry and fear things just as we in the U.S. do. But every once in a while when I leave the country, I am also struck by how the things that pass as "normal" in other societies can be so wildly different than at home. In particular, after a couple recent swings through Southeast Asia, I was astonished to see a decent number of transgender individuals going out about their lives and working without drama in various retail establishments. Guess what? The sky is not falling in those countries. I'm also tempted to point out that at least some of the victims of discrimination in the United States may have biological factors pushing their gender identity -- but that really seems besides the point.


FAIRNESS FOR ALL ACT OF 2013: The summary for the transgender anti-discrimination law currently moving in the Maryland Senate states the following goals:

BILL SUMMARY: Prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity with regard to public accommodations, housing, and employment and by specified licensed or regulated persons; prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity with regard to commercial leasing; altering an exception for employers relating to standards concerning dress and grooming; providing specified immunity; requiring State personnel actions to be made without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation; defining the term "gender identity"; etc.

TRANSGENDER MARYLAND RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT: A handful of brave transgender Marylanders produced the video below to explain their circumstances and support this bill:



SHOCKING REMINDERS: Lest you think the claims from these residents are exaggerated, let me provide you with some recent video exhibits to make the case.  WARNING: these videos are unpleasant:

APRIL 2011: Rosedale, Maryland Transgender Attack at McDonald's

FEBRUARY 2008: Memphis Cop Beats Up Transsexual Under Custody

AN INDIGNANT RESPONSE: The Memphis police beating led a number of people to post response videos on YouTube, and I appreciate the indignation expressed by this gentleman (Note: the video contains cursing, if that sort of thing bothers you):



One relieving aspect to these hate crimes is that communities tend to rally around the victims. Even still, the common nature of violent hate crimes against transgender residents leads me to wonder to what extent our collective (unwarranted) fears lay the groundwork for these assaults. Here's to hoping that Maryland passes the "Fairness for All Act."

INTERESTING: Controversial Obama Pastor Jeremiah Wright to Speak at Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's Church

Adam Meister, a Baltimore-based blogger and political activist, today reported that President Barack Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright is coming to Baltimore in February. Wright is scheduled to speak at Douglas Community Memorial Church, which is apparently where Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake worships. A press release for the event notes:

DOUGLAS COMMUNITY MEMORIAL CHURCH: Rev. Dr. S. Todd Yeary, Senior Pastor and the Douglas Church Family will welcome  Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.  as they celebrate the 88th Anniversary of the church’s founding. The Founders’ Day service will be held on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 10 A.M. at Douglas Memorial Community Church, located 1325 Madison Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217.

In a blog post today, Adam Meister reminds readers of some of Jeremiah Wright's more inflammatory and controversial comments regarding Jewish Americans. You may remember Wright from the conflicts he created during Barack Obama's 2008 run for President, when he began criticizing the candidate at public events during the campaign. Wikiepedia provides a quick description:

WIKIPEDIA: Wright, who was Barack Obama's former pastor, gained national attention in March 2008 when ABC News, after reviewing dozens of Wright's sermons, excerpted parts which were subject to intense media scrutiny. Obama denounced the statements in question, but after critics continued to press the issue of his relationship with Wright he gave a speech titled "A More Perfect Union", in which he denounced Wright's remarks, but did not disown him as a person. The controversy began to fade, but was renewed in late April when Wright made a series of media appearances, including an interview on Bill Moyers Journal, a speech at the NAACP and a speech at the National Press Club. After the last of these, Obama spoke more forcefully against his former pastor, saying that he was "outraged" and "saddened" by his behavior, and in May he resigned his membership in the church.

On June 9, 2009, in an interview with the Daily Press of Newport News, Wright indicated that he hadn't had contact with Obama up to that point because "Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he'll talk to me in five years when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when he's out of office."

Pastor Jeremiah Wright Comes to Baltimore, Maryland - February 2013

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown & Attorney General Doug Gansler Jockey on Gun Control // 2014 Rivals Host Dueling Events

PLUS: TEA PARTY ORGANIZES "DAY OF RESISTANCE" TO MARYLAND GUN CONTROL

Gun control appears to be an early issue priority for Maryland's 2014 gubernatorial candidates. Two rival candidates, Attorney General Doug Gansler and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown are both hosting events to highlight the issue. Below we provide some information and discussion about their dueling gun control efforts:

ANTHONY BROWN GUN CONTROL TOWN HALLS: Starting today, Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown will be hosting a series of gun control town halls throughout the state. By throughout the state, I mean in Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Baltimore City -- coincidentally, Maryland's big three Democratic strongholds. Brown will be fielding questions from the audience in his effort to build momentum for the administration's legislative package. The gatherings are being billed as discussions between Lt. Gov. Brown, cabinet officials, local electeds, and ordinary Marylanders about the O'Malley-Brown approach to gun control. Below you can see the town hall schedule:

Lt. Governor Brown to host public safety town halls around the state

In the coming weeks, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown will be hosting a series of town halls around the state to connect with community members about the O'Malley-Brown Administration's proposed public safety legislation, answer questions and hear ideas for continuing to build a safer Maryland together. At each town hall, the Lt. Governor will be joined by a panel made up of local elected officials, representatives from the Department of Education, Maryland State Police, Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

January 31, 2013 - Baltimore City Town Hall with Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
7:30pm - 9:00pm
University of Baltimore School of Law, Venable Baetjer Howard Moot Court Room
1415 Maryland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland
RSVP for Baltimore City Town Hall

February 5, 2013 - Prince George's County Town Hall
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Prince George's Community College, Marlboro Hall
301 Largo Road, Largo, Maryland
RSVP for Prince George's County Town Hall

February 6, 2013 - Montgomery County Town Hall with County Executive Ike Leggett & Council President Nancy Navarro
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Montgomery County Council Hearing Room, Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland
RSVP for Montgomery County Town Hall

DOUG GANSLER GUN VIOLENCE FORUM: Meanwhile, Monday Attorney General Doug Gansler is hosting a gun violence forum, and his event will be at the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore. Gansler is bringing together a range of community leaders, law enforcement figures, and other experts for what he is calling "The Attorney General's Forum on Gun Violence - A Conversation Among Law Enforcement and Community Leaders to Consider Practical Solutions." Details below: 

PRESS RELEASE   Attorney General Doug Gansler Convenes Forum on Gun Violence 

Local challenges, Maryland solutions to be the focus
Baltimore, MD ( Jan. 17, 2013) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that he will host a forum on gun violence in Maryland on Monday, February 4 at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. A prosecutor at the federal, state and local levels for over two decades, Attorney General Gansler is convening state and local community leaders, law enforcement, prosecutors, legal scholars and experts for the event entitled, The Attorney General's Forum on Gun Violence - A Conversation Among Law Enforcement and Community Leaders to Consider Practical Solutions.

"This is the right time to consider pragmatic, common-sense action to reduce gun violence and protect the safety of all Marylanders," said Attorney General Gansler. "We will explore solutions to effectively keep illegal guns off the street and stop guns from getting into the hands of those who seek to kill or harm others."

This week, Attorney General Gansler, currently serving as President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), was joined by other attorneys general from across the nation in a discussion of gun violence with the Office of Vice President Joe Biden and White House officials. The forum on February 4 will be an extension of that conversation, seeking to identify and define the many legal, law enforcement and systematic changes that will save lives and prevent injury to Marylanders.

"There are important and welcome developments on gun violence already underway in Annapolis and Washington," Attorney General Gansler added. "This event is intended to further that conversation as we continue to work with Governor O'Malley, members of the General Assembly, my colleagues in law enforcement, community leaders, and the people of Maryland to ensure that in 2013 our state makes progress on gun violence."

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TEA PARTY ORGANIZES "DAY OF RESISTANCE" TO MARYLAND GUN CONTROL - Maryland Juice just received an action alert from members of the Maryland Tea Party indicating that they don't plan on sitting on the sidelines during the gun control debate. They are now organizing a "day of resistance," and sent the following explanation:

POTOMAC TEA PARTY REPORT: Details will follow, but Hagerstown Tea Party board member Lynda Evans is taking the lead in organizing an event called The Western Maryland Day of Resistance  for the National Day of Resistance on February 23rd!

EVENT INFO: On January 16, 2013, President Barack Obama issued 23 executive actions against your 2nd amendment Constitutional right to bear arms. He did this without the consent of Congress which in itself, violates the foundation of the Constitution and the co-equal branches of government.

In response to these unconstitutional actions by the President, on .223, February 23, 2013 the American people will stand together in defiance to protect the right that protects ALL of our rights, the 2nd Amendment! They will organize locally so that they may band together neighbor to neighbor and reassert their community's right to determine their own destiny!

Meanwhile, gun control activists have created a new organization in Maryland called, Marylanders Against Gun Violence. Their mission states, "MDAGV is a grassroots organization advocating for sensible gun control legislation in the Maryland General Assembly and in Congress." You can find them on Facebook for more information.

JuiceBlender: Valerie Ervin Builds MoCo Exec Team, Anne Arundel Exec John Leopold Suspended & Transgender Rights

The late Del. Hattie Harrison

PLUS: WHY IS DOUG DUNCAN HIDING?

Below Maryland Juice highlights a few items of interest to politicos....

But before we begin the JuiceBlender, we note the recent passing of Delegate Hattie Harrison, a Democrat representing District 45 in the Maryland House. Maryland Democratic Party Chair Yvette Lewis commented, "From her appointment 40 years ago until today, Delegate Harrison served the people of Maryland with grace, honor, and distinction.

Delegate Harrison's legacy will live on in the lives of the many people she inspired. As the longest serving member of the House of Delegates, she broke though barriers time and again, including becoming the first African American woman to chair a major committee."


JUICE #1:  MOCO COUNCILMEMBER VALERIE ERVIN BEGINS ASSEMBLING 2014 COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAMPAIGN TEAM  - The Washington Post's Bill Turque yesterday reported that Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin has begun assembling a team for a County Executive run in 2014. Among the revelations in the article are rumors that Ervin is working with O'Malley-Brown pollster Fred Yang and political consultant Martha McKenna (formerly of the DSSC and EMILY's List). Morever, Ervin stated she would run regardless of incumbent Executive Ike Leggett's decision on his future (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Montgomery County Council member Valerie Ervin, long mentioned as a possible candidate for county executive in 2014 , is moving closer to running. Ervin (D-Silver Spring) said she is in "serious discussions" with two national Democratic operatives, pollster Fred Yang and media consultant Martha McKenna, about roles in the campaign. Incumbent Isiah Leggett (D) has yet to announce whether he will seek a third term. But Ervin said if she runs, it will be regardless of whether Leggett is in or out....

MARC ELRICH WEIGHING POTENTIAL COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAMPAIGN - Though Valerie Ervin is not making a run for County Executive contingent on the actions of Ike Leggett, At Large Councilmember Marc Elrich is suggesting he may be a candidate if Leggett retires. After hearing rumors yesterday that Elrich had publicly discussed his possible bid, Maryland Juice asked Elrich about the race. Here's what he had to say:

MARC ELRICH: If Ike does not run, it is likely that I will, but I expect that he will decide to run again, in which case I'll support him.

PHIL ANDREWS BEGINS CANVASSING - Notably, The Washington Post article also took note of where MoCo Councilmember Phil Andrews was in his County Exec campaign: "Andrews said Monday that he doesn’t expect to hire either a pollster or media consultant. 'I’m out knocking on doors right now. That’s the best kind of poll to have,' he said." Coincidentally, two days ago a Maryland Juice reader contacted us on Twitter to report being door-knocked by Phil Andrews:

WHERE IS DOUG DUNCAN?: Perhaps driven by all of this chatter from County Executive candidates, The Baltimore Sun's John Fritze Tweeted an interesting question yesterday:

Indeed, former Exec Doug Duncan has been awfully quiet lately, after previously announcing he was running for MoCo Executive in 2014. Maryland Juice asked a source close to Duncan about this, and our contact stated that he was indeed still in the race. But that's not stopping reporters from wondering about Duncan's whereabouts. The Gazette's Kate Alexander today noted this abensence in an amusing article headlined, "Doug Duncan spent $33,000 to find out people remember him" (excerpt below):

GAZETTE: January campaign finance reports showed Duncan’s campaign paid $33,000 last May to Hickman Analytics of Chevy Chase for “cell and landline sample polling.”

When Duncan announced his race to supporters at a November breakfast, sources said he referenced a poll that showed him with favorable ratings....

Duncan, who has not responded to requests for comment since announcing his campaign, did not return calls seeking comment.

Hat tip: Maryland Reporter. Lastly, At Large Councilmember George Leventhal is also actively pursuing the County Exec office right now. Still no word from Ike Leggett!


JUICE #2:  ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY EXEC JOHN LEOPOLD FOUND GUILTY OF MISCONDUCT & SUSPENDED FROM OFFICE  - Maryland Juice previously discussed the bizarre saga surrounding Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold. The Republican politician has been under siege for months, due to accusations he misused the powers of his office in numerous ways -- including using police officers and government employees to: conduct political activities, enable affairs and sexual encounters, and even to dispose of his urine. But The Baltimore Sun reported yesterday that Leopold was found guilty of two counts of misconduct and was suspended from office (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold has been suspended from office after being found guilty of two counts of misconduct Tuesday.

Circuit Court Judge Dennis M. Sweeney convicted the county executive for using his taxpayer-funded police protection detail to perform political duties and for requiring officers and an aide to empty the urinary catheter bag he used after back surgery.

County Attorney Jonathan A. Hodgson said Chief Administrative Officer John Hammond is now the acting county executive....

JUICE #3:  OVER TWENTY MARYLAND SENATORS CO-SPONSOR TRANSGENDER ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW // BILL POISED FOR PASSAGE  - After previously stalling in the Maryland State Senate, The Washington Blade yesterday reported that legislation to prohibit discrimination against transgender residents was introduced and already has over twenty co-sponsors (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON BLADE: Maryland lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a bill that would ban anti-transgender discrimination in the workplace, housing and public accommodations.

The Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2013 that gay state Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery County) and state Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery County) introduced has more than 20 co-sponsors. These include state Sen. Allan Kittleman (R-Howard County.)....

Metro Weekly followed up with coverage indicating that the bill may now be on track for passage (excerpt below):

METRO WEEKLY: This new bill will first receive a hearing in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee sometime in the next month, after which the committee is expected to approve it and send it to the floor for a vote, if Miller consents. Advocates are confident they have the requisite number of votes needed to pass it in the upper chamber. It would then go to the House, where it is expected to pass easily....

JUICE #4:  ACTIVISTS PETITION LEGISLATURE FOR EQUAL FUNDING FOR MARYLAND'S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES  - A few activists and organizations have contacted Maryland Juice regarding a renewed effort to seek equal funding for HBCU's in the Free State. The coalition of groups involved in the effort circulated the following action alert via BEST Democratic Club (excerpt below):

MARYLAND BLACK CAUCUS: On February 4, 2013 more than 2,000  students and supporters of Maryland’s four Historically Black Colleges and Universities – including Morgan State University, Bowie State University, Coppin State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore - will converge on the Maryland State House to lobby legislators for increased funding to support these historically underfunded universities....

Click Here to sign the petition to urge Governor O'Malley to stand with Maryland's HBCUs then share it with your friends

As part of the Caucus’ push, they are calling on Governor O’Malley to find a just end to the six-year legal battle between the Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education in Maryland, which represents the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the State of Maryland.

Additionally, given that both parties have indicated that they would seek an appeal should they not prevail in the lawsuit, which could result in an additional six years of litigation, the Caucus is asking that Governor O’Malley provide for a special appropriation of $14 million per year in funding over the next five years, beginning in 2014....

A diverse coalition of groups supports this call to action. The initiative is backed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), CASA de Maryland, B.E.S.T. Democratic Club, Maryland Young Democrats, and the Sierra Club.