US Senate Race in Maryland: Will Jawando

(Baltimore, MD) Before arriving at a forum, featuring a Democratic Candidate for United States Senate, Will Jawando from Montgomery County, I see a note announcing Representative Jamie Raskin of Montgomery County will not seek the seat vacated by Sen. Ben Cardin.

“It’s a big day for us. A lot of his voters were my voters.” A number of voters were hesitant to support Jawando. This is not uncommon, especially because it’s early, and those who are eligible to vote don’t know much about the race, “We’re kinda waiting to see what Jamie’s gonna do.” Things have changed since his exit.

“When I leave here, I’m going to be calling them all day.” For the Montgomery Council Member, he now needs those who were on the fence to make a decision, “So here we are.”

Several things come into play with  Congressman Raskin not in the race. With his absence,  Candidate Jawando hopes to see more money come into the race. In a pronouncement that will not shock anyone, “I’m the only bold progressive candidate in this race.”

“As you know, I use to work in the Obama Administration,” the Democratic proudly proclaims. He isn’t the only person who worked for the 44^th President. During Governor Wes Moore’s primary run there were at least four people who boasted claims to working with the former President. Let me tell you how that worked out, none them bested the eventually nominee.

What this tells me is you have to have a track record which sews together the state’s Democratic Party constituents.

From Montgomery there are a mixture of old residents (who are dyed in the wool Democrats – think – those living in Leisure Village).

There is also an energic Jewish community with ties to former jobs in the federal government. They extend from inside the Beltway along the I-270 corridor, stretching from Rockville to Olney. 

The toughest electorate to peg are those in the Potomac region, commonly known as Mac-Mansionville. They can fund a campaign and give you entry into wealth. How do I know? A number of families have hosted fund-raisers in their homes for President Joe Biden.

People have made fortunes in Montgomery County speculating on land, construction, and development. They are the drivers of campaign funds in suburban Washington, D.C. They are unabashed in their desire to keep funds following from the County, State and the Federal Government.

The newest player, ethnic minorities from Latin America, India, Pakistan, Africa (Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrean etc.…) and Mediterranean Countries. They are unique. Most are first generation arrivals who are self-made. They thrive in the tech areas. Some have advanced degrees and came into their own in the last ten years. You will pass them on the Metro and think nothing of them.

“I am the only candidate in this race who has garnered the most votes (than my rivals),” says Jawando. The claim was made before a group of Black Baltimore men on a Saturday morning at the Next Phaze Café, a Black owned establishment.

“This race is going to be won in the Baltimore region (city and county),” says the candidate. The thirty men assembled nod in approval. “You know we’ve heard this before from candidates,” says Michael Johnson, the host of “Straight No Chaser” on WBFF Fox 45. “We see funds flowing from the federal government, but they never reach us,” as he host chides the presenter.  

“Look, as a Senator I can make sure federal funds get to communities. I can’t tell someone like the Mayor how to spend those dollars…but I can look over their shoulder to ask how they are  being allocated.” A politically sophisticated way to placate those who are looking for answers.

The fifth year Montgomery County Councilman lays out what he’s done. “Guaranteed income for those who qualify…creating the largest summer jobs program…and putting a cap on rents.” The last one he says has lost him some developer support. “But I still talk to them.”

There is much support from this group about his proposal to term limit Justices of the Supreme Court and consideration of expanding the number of members on highest court in the land. When it comes to reparations, he says he is not opposed to the idea on the federal level. He points out what’s going on in California. “Here, I’m planning to introduce a reparations study in Montgomery County.

Juggernaut

Juwando, who is biracial faces long odds with Congressman David Throne and Princess George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the race.

Congressman Trone who has financed his own two congressional runs was the first up with campaign ads. It was introduction of sorts touting what he did to help a relative who was addicted to drugs. “I want to do the same thing for Baltimore,” was the tag line. Noting, the Baltimore Metro Area is where this race is likely to be decided. He’s already sunk more than a million dollars in ads.

County Executive Alsobrooks, the soft but steady hand leading Prince George’s County is in a unique position. The former Prosecutor turned County Executive easily cruised to re-election. On election night in Baltimore, I did ask her if she would run for the U.S. Senate in Maryland. “Charles, I just won re-election!”

Fast-forward, here she is with her “hat in the ring.” If elected she would become only the third woman (Sen. Barbara Milkuski and Representative Connie Morella) to serve in the Maryland Congressional Delegation.

Democrat women will tell you they have delivered for the party, but there has been little reciprocation from the electorate to put them in statewide office on either side of the aisle. The why is a lot more complicated than it would seem from the outside.

The first is fundraising. A U.S. Senate race is likely to cost more than 10 million dollars. If you don’t have that kind of personal wealth, then you have to find causes which will net you dollars.

For Alsobrooks, she comes at a time when the state’s Governor Wes Moore, literally, owes her for support. Prince Georges County rang up the most votes for Governor Moore. Alsobrooks also served on his transition team. In politics, this is called payback. I think in the primary, I expect the Governor to open his rolodex and suggest she call a number of his “special friends.”

Alsobrooks is likely to get looks from national organizations with ties to women’s issues such as Planned Parenthood, NOW, and Moms Demand Action, just to name a few.

For the last two Maryland U.S. Senate races, women who have “thrown the hat in the ring” have not done well. The most recent is former Congresswomen Donna Edwards. Congresswoman Edwards kept being sullied by a rumor she had supported groups who were against Israel. It doomed any chance she could succeed. 

There is a sense in the electorate that “we want someone like ‘Sen. Milkuski.’” Her brashness endeared her to a generation of women who had to “kick-down” doors just to be heard. Is County Executive Alsobrooks up to a similar task?

This is way too early to speculate. I will watch as these candidates hone their message.

I’m still waiting to see who will jump into the race on the Republican side.

CFR3

Maryland Stories of the Year 2018

Maryland and it’s a proximity to Washington, DC means were are inevitably in the national spotlight. This year the Attorney General sued the Trump administration on several occasions. The violence of urban areas also consumed the state. We continue to buck trends by re-electing a Republican for Governor. I wrote earlier about how “Maryland is Different.” I am happy to note the opening of  the Harriet Tubman Trail. Was shocked when the UMBC Basketball Team a  #16 seed knocked off a #1 seed. On the horizon are the challenges everywhere. So now for the annual disclaimer, you don’t have to agree with my list, so make your own. As always comments are welcomed.

Rev. Jamal Bryant with Sen. Bernie Saunders in Baltimore

10. Rev. Jamal Bryant Leaves Empowerment Temple – Clergy in Baltimore not only preach to their “flock,” but also have a broader message to society. Reverend Bryant of Empowerment Temple in Baltimore used his position to champion the cause of Black men dying at the hands of police (Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Freddie Gray). He preached at the funeral of Gray and that same day an “uprising” occurred on Pennsylvania and North Avenues. Leaving a CVS and other businesses torched at the hands of protesters.  Rev. Bryant joined with civic leaders the next day to call for calm. He even names a community center for Gray. His famed parishioners include former Raven football player, Ray Lewis and was a spiritual advisor to Omarosa Manigualt. So when word comes he’s leaving Baltimore a number of people were puzzled. He’s headed to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta to take over the church once presided over by Bishop Eddie Long.

9. Opioids – When Governor Larry Hogan called the opioid crisis a statewide emergency four years ago, the focus was on pain pills like Oxycontin.  As their supplies were scrutinized users replaced the legal drug with heroin. Today heroin is being replaced by a drug called fentanyl. Its ramifications are deadly. There are more fentanyl deaths in the state and they are outpacing heroin overdoses. Naloxone which is used to revive overdose victims has been a godsend. The price however is growing and may put this drug out of the reach of those who need it most.

8. Baltimore Police Chiefs – Over this year Baltimore had three Police Commissioners. They include Kevin Davis, Darryl De Sousa, and Joe Tuggle. This isn’t a good look no matter how you spin it. The city has challenges, problems, financial issues and is a under a consent decree. So next up is Joel Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, is the former Chief of Police in Fort Worth, Texas, His selection was kept under wraps until a Fort Worth Councilman leaked it to a Dallas Newspaper. His confirmation starts in January. Here’s what he faces not enough officers, record breaking overtime, murder rate over 300 people and a consent decree that still leaves the community distrusting the police.

7. Det. Sean Suiters death – There is something that just doesn’t feel right about this Detective’s death. He dies a day before he was supposed to testify in the Gun Trace Taskforce federal grand jury case 2017. The shooting happen in the Harlem Park neighborhood of Baltimore. Detective Suiter was investigating a cold case when he was allegedly shot by an unknown assailant. Police shutdown the neighborhood for a week, a $215,000 reward was offered, and conflicting statements from police. An independent panel of police from outside the city said, it appears he died from a “self-inflicted wound.” His widow is not buying the story.

6. The Gun Trace Task Force – people in Baltimore were not surprised when eight members of this elite force were indicted and found guilty of federal racketeering. It was as if they were a gang, robbing drug dealers, keeping money collected in raids, setting up people for illegal arrest and reselling the drugs. The stories told on the witness stand were unbelievable. It has allowed a number of people who were convicted by this group to go free. The irony, no one in the command staff knew it was occurring.

5. Women in Power – When the Maryland Legislature convenes in January there will be more female legislators than ever before. Many of these ladies are new comers who ran not because they are of a different gender but because they are looking to make change. Once again there is this irony, the entire United States Congressional delegation is made up of men. What’s wrong with this picture?

4. Election Results 2018 – While Governor Hogan was able to remain in office, the same cannot be said for members of the GOP who thought they may succeed him. In County Executive races, several large jurisdictions Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties were able to beat back Republican candidates. In Prince Georges and Howard Counties there were first. Prince Georges County elected its first Black female leader, Angela Alsobrooks and Howard County elected its first African-American chief executive Calvin Ball.

3. Governor Larry Hogan – “Aw Shucks,” is how I have described the current Maryland Governor’s demeanor. There was never any doubt Governor Hogan was going to re-elected (an average of polls showed he had between 60-70% approval ratings). He amassed campaign contributions, understood the Presidents lack of popularity in the state, and getting a candidate he could easily define. I actually think he enjoys being Governor (at least for the next four years). The Governor hoped to bring in additional Republican legislators to help with governing, but it didn’t happen. He is the first Republican Governor to be re-elected since the 1960’s

2. Ellicott City Flooding – It started as a bright sunny afternoon on May 27, 2018 at Patapsco State Park celebrating my son’s dual graduations (one from Tennessee State University – B.S., and Wagner College – Masters). The sky darkened, rain and lightning came. We were lucky, we continued under a shelter. An hour before things ended a ranger came to the shelter. She suggested we might want to end early because a bridge across the Patapsco River was washed out and there was flash flooding. When we arrived home we watched in horror as flooding from the Patapsco River and its tributaries washed out large parts of the Ellicott City Main Street and Oella. A former military officer who was trying to save a woman from the raging waters was sweep away and drowned. This wasn’t supposed to happen a second according to County Executive Alan Kittleman. One person died and it’s likely what cause Kittleman to lose re-election.

1. Capital Gazette Shooting – Time Magazine chose the Journalist who were killed and those who survived at the Annapolis newspaper as their Person(s) of the Year. I concur. As a journalist, I look over my shoulder often. The President has given license to those whose mental capacities may be diminished. I hope as you read this, and you assess what do to make ends meet you never have to wonder if someone will take your life away.