Major County Labor Union Does 180 On Trachtenberg – Four years ago, members of some of the county’s major public employee unions happily took responsibility for Duchy Trachtenberg’s failure to get re-elected as an at-large member of the County Council.
On Monday, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO — known as one of the most politically aggressive unions — said it will endorse Trachtenberg in her District 1 Council campaign against incumbent Roger Berliner.
The union actively campaigned against Trachtenberg in 2010. This time around, MCGEO President Gino Renne said it will back her and at-large Council challenger Beth Daly. It also endorsed incumbent at-large member Marc Elrich and Ryan Spiegel and Tom Hucker, who are running for open seats in District 3 and District 5, respectively.
Trachtenberg also received the backing of the AFL-CIO Washington DC Metro Council. It appears her attempt to mend relations with labor interests has worked, to a degree. Service Employees International Union Local 500 last week endorsed Berliner, who also got the endorsement of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Fighters group.
Trachtenberg and Berliner will debate each other for the first time on Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m at the Town of Chevy Chase Town Hall (4301 Willow Lane).
O’Malley, Cardin and Van Hollen Headline Leggett Fundraiser – County Executive Isiah Leggett will have three of the state’s biggest political names in his corner during a fundraiser set for May 14 in Potomac.
Gov. Martin O’Malley, Sen. Ben Cardin and Rep. Chris Van Hollen are expected guests at the event. It will be held at Norton Manor, the 47,000-square-foot home of businessman Frank Islam. Donation levels are $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $250.
D-18 Candidate Starts Online Ad Campaign – District 18 House of Delegates candidate Rick Kessler has started an online ad campaign with four pieces you might have seen courtesy of Google ads.
Each ad reads “Rick Kessler is Tired of Annapolis Treating Montgomery County Like an ATM.” It’s the latest in the Forest Glen resident’s aggressive campaign to unseat one of the three incumbent delegates for the district, which covers parts of Chevy Chase and Bethesda.
