Why are all the county executive candidates so SMARMY

[Anonymous]

Why are liberals so nimby?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait -- did I write that first post in my sleep last night? Of the new candidates I dislike Hucker the least. Riemer's entire track record is about cozying up to developers. Blair has nothing in his background to suggest that he can be successful as a politician (that's what the county executive is -- this is not the same as running a business). He has no experience in dealing with complex policy issues in a diverse county with a powerful legislative branch. I'm trying to learn more about Hucker. But, in the end, I'm probably going with Elrich -- the devil you know.

LOL as if a teacher has done any better…Moco needs to attract business. For goodness sakes, PG county is cleaning its clock. I know MoCo wants to compare itself to N VA but those days are long gone. Blair is the only sane choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait -- did I write that first post in my sleep last night? Of the new candidates I dislike Hucker the least. Riemer's entire track record is about cozying up to developers. Blair has nothing in his background to suggest that he can be successful as a politician (that's what the county executive is -- this is not the same as running a business). He has no experience in dealing with complex policy issues in a diverse county with a powerful legislative branch. I'm trying to learn more about Hucker. But, in the end, I'm probably going with Elrich -- the devil you know.

County employee here, and this could not be more wrong. The County Exec needs to be more than a politician - this is Elrich's biggest failing as a CE. He has lots of political ideas, but he can't make the trains run on time, and that's his job now. Policy making is for the Council. The Executive has to run the government. It's an incredibly important distinction that Elrich still hasn't grasped. What's worse, is that he is actively dismissive of the people who do the actual work and know what is needed. He gave an interview calling them "we be's" as in "we be here before you and we be here after you."

It's a terrible attitude because these are voices that should be heavily considered. They aren't driven by politics, or influences by unions or donors. And they KNOW how things work on the ground. These are the people who actually administer all these programs and provide the services. Elrich runs around popping off at the mouth without any understanding of the nuts and bolts of the running of the government. He makes grand pronouncements without talking to anyone to find out what is doable.

Hucker is worse. He is just not intelligent and has very few opinions or ideas of his own. All his platforms are handed to him by special interests, and he'll jump on any bandwagon that passes, consistency be damned. Forget making the trains run on time - I'm not convinced that Hucker knows there are trains.

Reimer is beholden to developers but at least he's smart and has a better grasp of the administrative stuff that may be boring but is what actually gets things done.

Blair's a wild card, but seems to have common sense and isn't financed by special interests. Given the other options, I'll take my chances.

For me, its Blair - Reimer - Elrich - Hucker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Riemer and Hucker are both term-limited as Councilmembers, so they have no choice but to run for CoExec or get a real job.

Hucker isn't. He could run for a 3rd term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elrich is like a left-wing version of Trump, but with a sense of ethics.

Different county employee here. Elrich does not have any ethics. He is a horrible person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's a terrible attitude because these are voices that should be heavily considered. They aren't driven by politics, or influences by unions or donors. And they KNOW how things work on the ground. These are the people who actually administer all these programs and provide the services. Elrich runs around popping off at the mouth without any understanding of the nuts and bolts of the running of the government. He makes grand pronouncements without talking to anyone to find out what is doable.

Sounds a lot like our last president!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are liberals so nimby?

I’m not a NIMBY. I’m a PIINBY - put it in YOUR backyard. Not mine.

[Anonymous]

Reimer is beholden to developers but at least he's smart and has a better grasp of the administrative stuff that may be boring but is what actually gets things done.

lol, Reimer smart. Reimer panders to developers, and, actually, whatever group he is speaking to at the moment. An accomplished liar who likes to point out Erlich's problems, but he has been on the Council for 12 years, he IS the problem!

Personally not a fan of any of the slimy, swarmy, white men running.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reimer is beholden to developers but at least he's smart and has a better grasp of the administrative stuff that may be boring but is what actually gets things done.

lol, Reimer smart. Reimer panders to developers, and, actually, whatever group he is speaking to at the moment. An accomplished liar who likes to point out Erlich's problems, but he has been on the Council for 12 years, he IS the problem!

Personally not a fan of any of the slimy, swarmy, white men running.

In what world do you believe that there is a man named Hans Riemer who is smart?

He cannot talk without sounding like a moron. The guy is an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are liberals so nimby?

I’m not a NIMBY. I’m a PIINBY - put it in YOUR backyard. Not mine.

So a NIMBY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reimer is beholden to developers but at least he's smart and has a better grasp of the administrative stuff that may be boring but is what actually gets things done.

lol, Reimer smart. Reimer panders to developers, and, actually, whatever group he is speaking to at the moment. An accomplished liar who likes to point out Erlich's problems, but he has been on the Council for 12 years, he IS the problem!

Personally not a fan of any of the slimy, swarmy, white men running.

I’ve never understood why so many people view developers as evil in the DMV- MoCo and DC in particular. Want housing? Then you need people to build/sell/rent it. With local laws leaning so heavily in favor of tenants, most private citizens aren’t going to be willing to take on that role. I know multiple people that let homes sit empty rather than rent it out, usually after bad eviction exerpeiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reimer is beholden to developers but at least he's smart and has a better grasp of the administrative stuff that may be boring but is what actually gets things done.

lol, Reimer smart. Reimer panders to developers, and, actually, whatever group he is speaking to at the moment. An accomplished liar who likes to point out Erlich's problems, but he has been on the Council for 12 years, he IS the problem!

Personally not a fan of any of the slimy, swarmy, white men running.

I’ve never understood why so many people view developers as evil in the DMV- MoCo and DC in particular. Want housing? Then you need people to build/sell/rent it. With local laws leaning so heavily in favor of tenants, most private citizens aren’t going to be willing to take on that role. I know multiple people that let homes sit empty rather than rent it out, usually after bad eviction exerpeiences.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reimer is beholden to developers but at least he's smart and has a better grasp of the administrative stuff that may be boring but is what actually gets things done.

lol, Reimer smart. Reimer panders to developers, and, actually, whatever group he is speaking to at the moment. An accomplished liar who likes to point out Erlich's problems, but he has been on the Council for 12 years, he IS the problem!

Personally not a fan of any of the slimy, swarmy, white men running.

I’ve never understood why so many people view developers as evil in the DMV- MoCo and DC in particular. Want housing? Then you need people to build/sell/rent it. With local laws leaning so heavily in favor of tenants, most private citizens aren’t going to be willing to take on that role. I know multiple people that let homes sit empty rather than rent it out, usually after bad eviction exerpeiences.

This.

Yup. Someday (probably too late) people will learn you have to foster business and investment in order to raise the tax revenue you want to pay for all the social programs.

There is a balance that works. MoCo never seeks balance. They just seek to create more and more social support programs (which are fine and laudable), but don't bother to think about how to foster long-term sustainable economic growth to support it.

To these politicians, twitter and Instagram photo ops, with catchy headlines, matter FAR more than actually helping the county.

[Anonymous]

Giving developers tax breaks to build housing is not going to bring businesses to MoCo. If it is profitable for them to build, they will build. The
reason they are EVIL in MoCo is because they line the Council's pockets in exchange for special favors. Favors that give them tax breaks but don't solve our housing crisis for example.

Fixing the schools and doing something about transportation (public transit, for those driving cars, and for those walking/biking) will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Giving developers tax breaks to build housing is not going to bring businesses to MoCo. If it is profitable for them to build, they will build. The
reason they are EVIL in MoCo is because they line the Council's pockets in exchange for special favors. Favors that give them tax breaks but don't solve our housing crisis for example.

Fixing the schools and doing something about transportation (public transit, for those driving cars, and for those walking/biking) will.

You haven’t been paying attention to local politics much, have you. The boomers and gen Xers that own homes always fight attempts to build more housing, except when it goes up in the boonies.