Donna Edwards breaks with labor, endorses Delaney and labor responds

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Earlier today Maryland Juice reported that Rep. Donna Edwards and Montgomery County Councilwoman Valerie Ervin had endorsed businessman John Delaney over State Senator Rob Garagiola in the Democratic Primary for the 6th Congressional District. Problem is the AFL-CIO, huge supporters of Donna Edwards, aren’t too happy about it.

Here is an emailed statement from State President Fred G. Mason.

 

MEMO

TO:                  ALL AFFILIATES

FROM:            Fred D. Mason, Jr.

SUBJECT:      CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA EDWARDS

 

LEADERS:

We are greatly disappointed to learn that Congresswoman Donna Edwards came out this morning and endorsed a candidate in Maryland’s 6^th Congressional District Democratic Primary.

She was well aware of who the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO’s endorsed candidate is, Rob Garagiola.  She had been asked to endorse Rob Garagiola, and barring that to endorse no one. 

Yet, she chose to endorse someone other than our candidate.  What makes her endorsement so perplexing is that she knows the importance of labors endorsement.  She certainly ‘appeared’ to understand the importance in November of 2011 when we endorsed her re-election at our Convention.  It is widely believed that that endorsement helped stave off a contested primary for her.

By endorsing John Delaney, Congresswoman Donna Edwards has chosen to oppose the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO in its efforts to elect Rob Garagiola to the United States Congress representing Maryland’s 6^th Congressional District.  This action on her part will certainly be considered in our future relationships.

While we are disappointed in Congresswoman Edwards’ actions, we will not be dismayed.  We will use her actions as fuel to fire up even greater action and enthusiasm, and increase our efforts to insure victory for Rob Garagiola on April 3, 2012.

For Progress

Fred D. Mason, Jr.
President, MD/DC AFL-CIO
Office
Mobile

Rep. Edwards puts herself also at odds, again, with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-5) who has endorsed Garagiola and been rumored to be pressing representatives Van Hollen and Sarbanes to do the same. Edwards and Hoyer have bunted heads with each other a few other times over the last two years on strategy dealing with the debt negotiations, redistricting, and almost came to a head when after the party lost the majority, Edwards refused to endorse Hoyer’s bid to keep his leadership post against fellow Congressional Black Caucus member Jim Clyburn.

It should come as no surprise that Edwards is not supporting Senator Garagiola since as majority leader in the State Senate he supported a redistricting map she fought hard to oppose.

This is getting interesting…

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Our Endorsements

For the Prince George’s County Board of Education

District 1

David Murray is clearly the most experienced and connected candidate for the vacant seat being left by Rosalind Johnson. Two years ago Murray came close to defeating Johnson in her reelection bid and since that time has remained connected and in touch with the community he wants to represent. His drive and vision for a system that aggressively pursues innovation as a way to improve student achievement is what the Board of Education needs. Additionally he will join a board that has failed to hold senior administrators accountable and deliver on a real reform package everyone says they want. Prince George’s needs new energy as well as new ideas and David Murray is the best chance we have to do that in the 1^st District.

District 4

None of the candidates in the race for this seat currently held by Patricia Eubanks brings the experience or vision we believe is necessary to improve Prince George’s County Public Schools. However, one of them is at least more prepared than the others, Micah Watson. As the former Vice Mayor of Cheverly and member of the Democratic Central Committee, Watson does come with a wealth of budget experience unmatched by the other contenders. While Dennis Smith also served as a member of the Glenarden City Council in the past, during his time as a leader in the city he never distinguished himself in fiscal or program matters. Watson played instrumental roles in developing and passing the Cheverly budget as Vice Mayor and a councilman. What concerns us is a disturbingly detached community outreach strategy and real educational experience.

District 5

For the last five years Verjeana Jacobs has been the chair of the Board of Education and should be reelected. None of the candidates running against her have been able to layout a clear vision of why she should be replaced or what they would do better. Jacobs has made a lot of mistakes in her two terms on the school board, but as chair she has been able to bring a diverse group of people together that has done a lot of good. Jacobs has not been as tough on Dr. Hite as she could have been but she has been effective.

District 7

No Endorsement

District 8

Edward Burroughs has been the most outspoken and passionate member of the school board on issues of community involvement, transparency, and most importantly accountability. He has been criticized for not voting the party line and often being the lone voice of dissent but we recommend is reelection. The problem has not been that Burroughs votes no on things like changes to the popular Reading Recovery Program, a budget that grows class sizes, or retaining a lawyer making millions of dollars who donated to the reelection of another board member, the problem is that not enough of his colleagues are joining him. That will change when he is joined by people like his best friend David Murray.

United States House of Representatives

District 4

We support Rep. Donna Edwards for re-nomination to the United States Congress as a Democrat.

No Endorsement in the Republican nomination race.

District 5

We support Rep. Steny Hoyer for re-nomination to the United States Congress as a Democrat.

We believe Delegate Tony O’Donnell has the best chance to give Rep. Hoyer a run for his money. We therefore support his nomination in the Republican Primary.

United States Senate

State Senator C. Anthony Muse (Democrat)

Ben Cardin has been in Washington for over two decades. In that time the support this county has received from the federal government, including the six years he’s been in the Senate has been poor. His casework for the county has been almost as equal to his presence in the county, non-existent. About six years ago Cardin was handed his hat by fmr. Representative Kwesi Mfume by voters in Prince George’s County, but after beating Mfume statewide the best any county resident has seen of their junior senator was likely in their church this year now that he is up for reelection. Senator Muse is not an excellent candidate but he is a better candidate more in touch with the needs of county residents. A strong vote for Muse, even if he does lose to Cardin, will send the message that we as a county are dissatisfied with our representation and we demand more.

Republican Primary (No Endorsement)

For President of the United States of America

Democratic Primary

We support the re-nomination of President Barack Obama

Republican Primary

We support fmr. Governor Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination

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Governor’s Redistricting Commission Map Leaked

The blogs Maryland Juice and Red Maryland both obtained leaked copies of the proposed maps Governor Martin O’Malley is expected to release today and we embed the presentation below. Special notes for Prince George’s County, Steny Hoyer will not give up parts of his district to the first congressional district and Donna Edwards will give up her Montgomery County areas and instead represent parts of Ann Arundel.

Check out the entire presentation by clicking here.

Baker using official accounts for political activity? Plus What’s Happen Now Updates

Remember last week when United States Senator Ben Cardin made one of his rare visits to Prince George’s County? On one of the hottest days of the year he, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith, and Executive Rushern Baker all took to enjoying ice cream with residents in Bowie at Simple Pleasures. From sources at the event it was a great time despite the heat.

The day before and of the event, Executive Baker, took to social media to promote that he would be attending and encouraged others to come as well. The problem as some community members see it is he appears to have used his official account for partisan political purposes.

On the below freeze frames of the Executive’s twitter accounts his @CountyExecBaker account said, “Come 2 Simple Pleasures Cafe, 8519 Chestnut Ave, Bowie @ 6:30. Will be w/ @SenatorCardin & @WhipHoyer. We all need ice cream in this #heat!” Most people wouldn’t see any problem with that at all except that it was a political event and the bio of the @CountyExecBaker says the account is the “Official Twitter site for Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.” That means that partisan and political messages that promote events of one party over an other would be banned. However in thinking about this it does appear possible that the twitter account could not be his official executive account but instead his political account. The problem would be then what is the @RushernBaker account for and even more why does neither one of them appear to comply with the new ruling from the State Board of Elections requiring the name of the committee and campaign treasurer?

“This is the a foggy line that in all honesty Mr. Baker may have intentionally drawn,” said a member of the Republican Central Committee who asked not to be named because they aren’t authorized to speak on behalf of the party. “I know I plan to ask the committee to look into this and request the Board of Elections to look into as well.”

A review of Senator Ben Cardin’s @SenatorCardin account and Rep. Steny Hoyer’s @WhipHoyer feed neither mention the Bowie event. Most of them only make mention to their official duties in congress.

Happening this Week

This appears to be a busy week in Prince George’s County politics.

On Monday Councilwoman Karen Toles will appear before the Chamber of Commerce to defend her Project Labor Agreement bill at 8:30AM.

The District Council (County Council) will meet to review planning decisions at 9:30AM (we assume Toles will be late)

On Tuesday the County Council Transportation Committee will meet before the full council meeting at 11:30AM to see their agenda check out the Community Calendar Page.

At 1:30PM the full County Council will meet to consider a number of items but also hear a briefing from State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks and Interim Chief of Police Mark Magaw on summer public safety and youth programs. Their full agenda can be seen on our Community Calendar Page too.

At 7:00PM the County Council will hold a public meeting at Northwestern High School to discuss workforce development education.

On Wednesday the County Council Planning and Zoning Committee will meet at 10AM and their agenda can be seen on the Community Calendar Page.

At 1:30PM the County Council Public Safety and Fiscal Management Committee will meet to hear a range of bills including Councilwoman Toles’ PLA legislation. View their entire agenda on our Community Calendar Page.

At 4:00PM the Board of Education will hold a FAB and CIP meeting to among other things review a revised budget proposal from Dr. Hite. Click here to see that presentation.

At 6:00PM the Board of Appeals (County Council) will meet to hear appeals on planning decisions. View their agenda on our Community Calendar Page.

Also at 6:00PM the Prince George’s County Young Democrats, Town of Edmonston, and others will join Adam Ortiz for a Thank You/Goodbye Party at Franklin’s.

At 6:30PM the Fannie Lou Hamer PAC will host an educational forum to discuss redistricting in Lanham at UFCW Local 400.

On Thursday the Prince George’s County Board of Planning will meet at 8:30AM, and

On Friday the Prince George’s Branch of the NAACP will host their annual fundraiser.

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Steny Hoyer to be awarded National Bipartisan Award

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer on Face the Nation

(From the Press Advisory) House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) will be awarded the National Bipartisan Leadership Award from the Bradley University Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the Capitol Visitor Center room HVC-201. The award recognizes a national public servant who has modeled ethical, civil and bipartisan leadership. Whip Hoyer will be just the second recipient of the award, following Secretary of Transportation and Bradley alumnus Ray LaHood in 2009.

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