Korman Releases Campaign Video As D-16 Race Heats Up — The two Bethesda residents many thought were frontrunners for two open District 16 delegate seats will have a bit more work to do after incumbent Bill Frick dropped out of the attorney general’s race and filed to continue in his delegate seat.
Marc Korman this week released a campaign video in a race that has heated up thanks to Frick’s reversal.
In the video, Korman emphasizes getting school construction dollars for Montgomery County, creating a dedicated funding source for Metro, raising the minimum wage and attracting green jobs.
“Our economic success and quality of life depends on maintaining our excellent school system and improving our transportation network,” says Korman, who also touts an endorsement from the Sierra Club.
Korman and Hrant Jamgochian, who narrowly lost the 2010 Democratic primary for House delegate, were thought to have the most support and best chance of replacing Frick and Del. Susan Lee, who’s running for Brian Frosh’s vacant D-16 state Senate seat.
But trailing in attorney general polls, Frick made a filing day decision to file for re-election, meaning there are now two incumbents running for three D-16 delegate seats. Del. Ariana Kelly is also up for re-election.
Mizeur Gets Intriguing National Endorsement — Not to be forgotten in the Democratic gubernatorial campaign is Heather Mizeur. The state delegate from Takoma Park has been pushing herself as a true progressive compared to opponents Doug Gansler and Anthony Brown.
On Wednesday, a national political action organization founded by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean gave Mizeur its support:
“Heather Mizeur won’t just make history as Maryland’s first woman governor and the first gay governor in American history. She’ll make history as an unabashed progressive champion with the vision and leadership needed to get things done in Annapolis. From her fight to raise the minimum wage to her battle to make the Old Line State a leader in marriage equality, Heather has always stood strong for Maryland’s working families and, today, Democracy for America’s members in Maryland and across the country are proud to stand with her in the race for Governor.” – Charles Chamberlain, Executive Director, Democracy for America
It’s Democracy for America’s first gubernatorial endorsement of the 2014 election cycle. The group has raised more than $5 million for candidates since Dean founded it in 2004.
Trachtenberg Hosting Campaign Kick-off at Strathmore — The other local contest of great interest is incumbent District 1 County Councilmember Roger Berliner against former ally and at-large Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg.
Trachtenberg, the North Bethesda resident who narrowly lost a heated at-large re-election campaign in 2010, surprised many by filing for Berliner’s seat on filing deadline day. There’s reason for animosity. Berliner backed Trachtenberg in the 2010 race before backing Hans Riemer, her chief challenger who won one of four at-large seats. Trachtenberg has gone on the record saying that has nothing to do with her bid for the District 1 seat.
She’ll kick-off her campaign with a free event set for Thursday, March 27 at the Strathmore Mansion:
Too many folks in Montgomery County have stopped believing we can change our politics and improve our county. Our campaign is about proving that we can!
Join us at our campaign kick-off event. We expect a large crowd and some very special guests.
Upcounty Challenger Gets Upcounty Endorsement — This year’s at-large Council race will match incumbents Riemer, Marc Elrich, George Leventhal and Nancy Floreen against a few challengers, including Dickerson resident Beth Daly.
Daly on Tuesday announced the endorsement of longtime state Del. Charles Barkley, who represents Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village in District 39:
“Beth has the ability to bring people together,” said Barkley. “She is willing to listen to all the different sides, but if she believes in something strongly, she will certainly be there with you…that is true of the Ten Mile Creek Coalition…The other thing that makes Beth stand out is that she is from what we call the up county. We need some up county representation in that group [of at-large council members].” Barkley added, “And it would not hurt to have another female’s perspective on the Council.”
Riemer, Elrich and Leventhal happen to all live in Takoma Park. Floreen lives in Garrett Park.
Video via Marc Korman
