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.
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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