Voting Problems . . . Again

by: David Lublin

Tue Nov 06, 2007 at 04:28 PM EST

(Crossposted at Maryland Politics Watch.)

The Washington Post reports:

Scores of voters in Rockville, who are choosing a new mayor and four City Council members today, were mistakenly identified as having already voted by absentee ballot when they arrived this morning at polling places throughout the city.

Budget, Election, and Fighting for Open Space

by: David Lublin

Mon Nov 05, 2007 at 12:49 PM EST

We have oodles of budget and election stories over at Maryland Politics Watch.

I finally weigh in with some Thoughts on Taxes, Slots, and the Special Session with a discussion of whether the Gov's plan is progressive and a gaze into my crystal ball as to what will happen in the special session.  Other posts look more closely at Is O'Malley's Plan Progressive? and why the Teachers are Ambivalent on O'Malley's Budget.

Election races are heating up in Gaithersburg and Rockville.   In Gaithersburg, One Gaithersburg is campaigning for a City Council slate with the support of various progressive and union organizations.

Meanwhile, one post discusses why schools may still get more crowded even if developer fees are hiked in crowded Montgomery school districts.

Last but far from least, I want to alert people to an important fight over one of the last bits of green space in downtown Bethesda.  This post also contains a call for action to press the Planning Board to hold the hearing when the community can attend and to get a fair deal for the community.

The Budget, Slots, and MoCo Muni Elections

by: David Lublin

Thu Nov 01, 2007 at 09:41 AM EDT

Adam Pagnucco presents the second part of his three-part series on the Governor's budget proposal over at Maryland Politics Watch:  His bottom-line conclusion:

The deficit reduction package is primarily regressive, principally because of its heavy reliance on the sales tax.  The situation would be worse in FY 2012 as slots rise to 24% of the deficit reduction package, making it 70% regressive overall.

Meanwhile, Paul Gordon dissects what's wrong with the Republican approach on the budget in his first post on MPW.

We also have a roundup of who is getting the money from slots as well as the municipal elections in Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Takoma Park.

Rockville Mayoral

by: OnBackground

Mon May 14, 2007 at 09:42 AM EDT

In March, youthful Mayor Larry Giammo surprised political observers by announcing that he wouldn't run for reelection as head of one of the largest cities in both Montgomery County and Maryland.  That set off a furious scramble to succeed him.

Today at 12:30 PM at Rockville City Hall Drew Powell will kick of his campaign for Mayor, touting prominent supporters and speaking "about issues facing the city, solutions and his vision for a more citizen-friendly Rockville."  Powell has been a key leader in the effort to make Montgomery County government more accountable and transparent, while exposing developer influence and financing of candidates in Montgomery County, as chair of Neighbors for a Better Montgomery. http://www.washingto...

Other candidates to succeed the mayor, include Silver Spring marketing staff/Rockville City Council member Susan Hoffman http://www.takoma.co... 

Words have already started flying... http://www.thesentin...