What's Going On With Early Voting Sites in MoCo?

Some people appear to be confused about reports of controversy concerning early voting locations in Montgomery County. Here are the basic facts.

Starting in 2010, as the result of a Maryland Constitutional amendment, voters in our state were permitted to vote early at certain sites to be selected by county and state Boards of Election. About 2/3 of the states now have early voting.

At first the early voting period was 6 day but that was expanded to 8 days starting with the 2014 elections. The number of early voting locations was also increased. Montgomery County has 9 of them.

Under Maryland law, the Governor appoints the members of each county's Board of Elections, with no more than a majority from any party. Therefore, when our state had a Democratic governor all the boards of election had Democratic majorities. Now that we have a Republican governor, MoCo and all other counties have a Republican majority.

On September 21, 2015, the MoCo Board of Elections voted 3-2 (3 Republicans and 2 Democrats) to eliminate 2 of the early voting centers that had been used in the past, particularly the one at the Marilyn J. Praisner Center, which in the 2014 general election early voting period had the second highest number of voters. On top of that, the Praisner center is located in an area where it can cater to voters from minority groups who live nearby. The Board of Elections retained an early voting center in Damascus, which had the lowest number of early voters in 2014.

Those who oppose what the MoCo Board of Elections did support having early voting sites where most people live or work. Those who support what the MoCo Board of Education did support early voting sites in areas that have fewer voters, to see if they can increase the number of voters.

That's what the current dispute it about. Should early voting centers be located where the greatest number of voters can and do use them, or should they be located in places that might increase their number of voters.

Bloodiest Day in American History

On what day did more Americans die than any other? 9/11 when terrorists attacked the Twin Towers? Pearl Harbor? D-Day?

No. It was September 17, 1862, at the Battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg (the Union army usually named battles after things such as streams, as in Antietam Creek, while Confederates usually named them after towns, such as Sharpsburg). The death toll in that one-day battle, which many consider to have been a draw, was far larger than 9/11, Pearl Harbor, D-Day, or any other before or since. About 23,000 were killed, wounded, or missing, with almost 4,000 killed.

What happened that day that changed America? Robert E. Lee for the first time felt his army was strong enough to bring the war into the north, thinking if he could defeat the largest Union army in the north then Abraham Lincoln might be forced to give in to those who demanded peace and allowing the Confederacy to be independent. He was probably right. And we know that Britain and France were ready to recognize the Confederacy if Lee had won at Antietam.

The United States army was led by George McClellan, who was said by Lincoln to have “the slows.” Amazingly, McClellan’s men found and gave him a copy of Lee’s orders to his army so McClellan knew exactly what Lee was doing, and McClellan still managed to almost lose because he delayed. 

McClellan’s army attacked Lee’s army on several different parts of the battlefield but lost in all areas. Still the slaughter continued from dawn to dusk, finally ending when a part of Lee’s army that had been at Harpers Ferry arrived at the Antietam Battlefield.

The Confederacy didn’t get recognized by Britain and France. Lincoln wasn’t forced to negotiate peace with the south. And most importantly Abraham Lincoln was able to take from his desk a document he had been waiting for a victory to announce, the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation that led to the complete end of slavery in the United States, the largest freeing of slaves in the history of the world.

Doug Duncan Spoke at Leisure World about Depression

Doug Duncan, former 3-term MoCo Executive, spoke to a packed house of hundreds at Leisure World today.

He described, candidly and courageously, how he came to realize he was suffering from depression in 2006 and how he left the race for Governor and obtained treatment for his disease.

His message was that depression can affect anyone and anyone who is affected by it should seek treatment rather than continue to suffer, or take worse action. Medicine and other treatments are effective, as proven by how Doug Duncan is now enjoying his life.

Duncan answered many questions and didn't avoid talking about any aspect of his disease. He even answer questions about his future political plans (none at the moment) and his opinion of Donald Trump (you can guess what that was).

It is likely that Doug Duncan's talk today, and his previous openness about his disease, helped many people who are suffering to seek treatment and a better life. That is probably one of the greatest achievements of Doug Duncan's career.

Kathleen Matthews at the District 18 Democratic Breakfast Club

This morning (Sept. 15) the excellent District 18 Democratic Breakfast Club had as its speaker Kathleen Matthews, who is a candidate in Maryland's 8th congressional district.

In my opinion Ms. Matthews made a very good impression. She talked about her background and her progressive Democratic policy positions. She said she knows that this will be a tough campaign and she wants to use her background in television and the Marriott Corporation to be an effective person in Congress.

There are several other experienced candidates running to replace Chris Van Hollen, who is running for U.S. Senator. Kathleen Matthews proved to me today that she will do well in candidate forums with other candidates.

Winners of the Next 9 Presidential Elections are Already Alive

Assuming that no one over the age of 75 will be elected President --- the oldest so far, Reagan, was 69 (just short of 70) when first elected and 77 when he left office --- the winners of the next 9 presidential elections, 2016 through 2048, are already alive. You must be 35 to take office as President.

Possibly coincidentally, in 2048 Barack Obama's two daughters will be 52 and 47.

Charter Review Commission Meeting

The MoCo CRC (Charter Review Commission) will be meeting today, Wed, Sep 9, 2015, at 8am (morning) in the County Council building (100 Maryland Ave) in the 6th floor conference room. The meeting is open to the public. 

The tentative agenda calls for discussing how to amend the MoCo Charter to allow elections to fill any vacancies in the office of County Executive, and review any other Charter issues. 

More info about the CRC is available at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/crc/ andhttp://bessel.org/charter/

Happy Birthday, Montgomery County

Sorry to be a day late. I was at the convention of the National Association of Parliamentarians that ended today.

September 6 --- or October 1 --- is the birthdate of Montgomery County, Maryland. 

On September 6, 1776, our state's Constitutional Convention voted to create our county, carving it out of Frederick County. That action became effective on October 1, 1776. So we can celebrate either September 6 or October 1, or both, as our County birthday.

Happy MoCo birthday!