By Adam Pagnucco. This year has four hotly contested county ballot questions and at least one legitimately contested school board election. But here is something folks tend to forget: not everyone votes on these so-called “down ballot” races. And the question of who is not voting is almost as important as the question of who … Continue reading Undervoting on School Board Races and Ballot Questions
By Adam Pagnucco. The six committees formed to advocate for and against MoCo’s ballot questions have filed campaign finance reports through October 4. Let’s see who is paying for all of this – so far. First, a quick summary of the ballot questions. Question A: Would freeze the property tax rate but allow a unanimous … Continue reading Who is Spending Money on the Ballot Questions?
By Adam Pagnucco. As MoCo faces a crippling financial shortfall projected at $190 million this year and a billion dollars over the next six years, the county council will be considering increased spending in legislation tomorrow – on political campaigns. The issue at hand is a change in public financing matching formulas that would send … Continue reading Will the Council Make Public Financing More Expensive for Taxpayers?
By Adam Pagnucco. Former County Executive Ike Leggett, who is chairing a ballot question committee opposing Question B (Robin Ficker’s tax limiting charter amendment) and Question D (a charter amendment for nine council districts), gave the interview below to MCM. Leggett previously wrote a guest blog for Seventh State on the subject.
By Adam Pagnucco. The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce has announced that it is supporting Question A (Council Member Andrew Friedson’s tax limit charter amendment), opposing Question B (Robin Ficker’s tax limit charter amendment) and opposing Question D (nine council districts). The chamber took no position on Question C, which would keep the at-large council … Continue reading County Chamber of Commerce Takes Positions on Ballot Questions
By Adam Pagnucco. This past primary saw the first use of public campaign financing in local elections in Maryland. Many people both inside and outside Montgomery County have been watching the system’s performance. For the benefit of both MoCo policy makers as well as those in other jurisdictions who are considering adoption of this system, … Continue reading What We Learned About Public Campaign Financing
By Adam Pagnucco. Mailboxes across MoCo are reeling from fatigue as they are crushed daily by tidal waves of political mail. On Friday, your author received mailers from Action Committee for Transit, the sitting judges, Council At-Large candidate Will Jawando, District 18 Senate candidate Dana Beyer and District 18 House candidate Emily Shetty. The next … Continue reading MoCo Mailboxes: “God Help Us”
By Adam Pagnucco. In addition to the wild and woolly Executive and Council At-Large races, MoCo has two competitive District County Council elections. Let’s have a look. Council District 1 In District 1, which stretches from Kensington in the east to Poolesville in the west, nine candidates are vying to succeed incumbent Roger Berliner, who … Continue reading Campaign Finance Reports: District County Council, January 2018
By Adam Pagnucco. Unfortunately for those Council Members who voted in its favor, last year’s 9% property tax hike won’t go away. The issue came up at the first County Executive forum, at which the three Council Members who voted for it defended it under heavy criticism from their Republican rival, Robin Ficker. It is … Continue reading Lessons Learned from the Giant Tax Hike, Part One
By Adam Pagnucco. Real estate agents in Takoma Park report that home values in the City have doubled in the last month as local candidates swarm in to buy houses. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said local realtor Walt Simonson. “They say they want to win their next election and they’re beating out all … Continue reading Certain of Victory, Candidates Move to Takoma Park
