Petition to Reconfigure MoCo Districts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/elrich-squeezes-out-win-in-democratic-primary-for-county-executive/

Think pp meant Elrich won narrowly in primary which if discussion is on progressive to moderate Democrat - more applicable especially in a county that is primarily democrat

He won by 80 votes in a crowded democratic primary.

Yes, he won by 80 votes in a crowded Democratic primary - and then he got 65% in a crowded general election, against a long-time Democratic politician.

...who was not running as a Democrat.

You need to read up on the history and fate of third party candidates in general elections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/elrich-squeezes-out-win-in-democratic-primary-for-county-executive/

Think pp meant Elrich won narrowly in primary which if discussion is on progressive to moderate Democrat - more applicable especially in a county that is primarily democrat

He won by 80 votes in a crowded democratic primary.

Yes, he won by 80 votes in a crowded Democratic primary - and then he got 65% in a crowded general election, against a long-time Democratic politician.

...who was not running as a Democrat.

You need to read up on the history and fate of third party candidates in general elections.

Correct. After decades holding public elective office as a Democrat, she changed her party registration to independent a few months before the general election, in order to run against Elrich.

Are you saying that Montgomery County voters didn't know she was a Democrat? Or that she didn't run as a Democrat, aside from the (I) after her name on the ballot?

The experiences of Victoria Woodhull, Lyndon LaRouche, and Ralph Nader really are not relevant to the Elrich vs. Floreen county executive race in Montgomery County in 2018.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can see why people in upcounty would feel underserved, if all the at-large members are not from there. I wonder how often Elrich (yes, I know he's CoExec) even gets to Germantown and Damascus and Clarksburg.

I'm signing the petition. All that does it put it on the ballot for voters to decide. Let's see what they think.

I agree. Over time, the progressive Takoma Park and SS politicians have really taken over the county council and Clarksburg especially has not had a voice in local politics.

Let the voters decide.

The current system IS letting the voters decide. IF someone from Clarksburg wants to run, and can secure enough votes, they can also be an at-large representative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/elrich-squeezes-out-win-in-democratic-primary-for-county-executive/

Think pp meant Elrich won narrowly in primary which if discussion is on progressive to moderate Democrat - more applicable especially in a county that is primarily democrat

He won by 80 votes in a crowded democratic primary.

Yes, he won by 80 votes in a crowded Democratic primary - and then he got 65% in a crowded general election, against a long-time Democratic politician.

...who was not running as a Democrat.

You need to read up on the history and fate of third party candidates in general elections.

Correct. After decades holding public elective office as a Democrat, she changed her party registration to independent a few months before the general election, in order to run against Elrich.

Are you saying that Montgomery County voters didn't know she was a Democrat? Or that she didn't run as a Democrat, aside from the (I) after her name on the ballot?

The experiences of Victoria Woodhull, Lyndon LaRouche, and Ralph Nader really are not relevant to the Elrich vs. Floreen county executive race in Montgomery County in 2018.

The die was cast in the primary. Floreen could be beloved by all, but she still was never going to be a threat to win as a third party candidate in the general election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/elrich-squeezes-out-win-in-democratic-primary-for-county-executive/

Think pp meant Elrich won narrowly in primary which if discussion is on progressive to moderate Democrat - more applicable especially in a county that is primarily democrat

He won by 80 votes in a crowded democratic primary.

Yes, he won by 80 votes in a crowded Democratic primary - and then he got 65% in a crowded general election, against a long-time Democratic politician.

...who was not running as a Democrat.

You need to read up on the history and fate of third party candidates in general elections.

Correct. After decades holding public elective office as a Democrat, she changed her party registration to independent a few months before the general election, in order to run against Elrich.

Are you saying that Montgomery County voters didn't know she was a Democrat? Or that she didn't run as a Democrat, aside from the (I) after her name on the ballot?

The experiences of Victoria Woodhull, Lyndon LaRouche, and Ralph Nader really are not relevant to the Elrich vs. Floreen county executive race in Montgomery County in 2018.

The die was cast in the primary. Floreen could be beloved by all, but she still was never going to be a threat to win as a third party candidate in the general election.

She didn't run in the primary. Plus if she had been beloved by all, she would have won.

[Anonymous]

Floreen had the endorsement of The Washington Post, all the business groups and developers, and a $1 million developer-funded PAC. She couldn't crack 20%.

Larry Hogan, a Republican, won over 40% of the vote and came within 10 points of the Democratic nominee Ben Jealous, who was not even as left as Elrich.

There were people who consciously voted for Hogan and voted for Elrich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can see why people in upcounty would feel underserved, if all the at-large members are not from there. I wonder how often Elrich (yes, I know he's CoExec) even gets to Germantown and Damascus and Clarksburg.

I'm signing the petition. All that does it put it on the ballot for voters to decide. Let's see what they think.

I agree. Over time, the progressive Takoma Park and SS politicians have really taken over the county council and Clarksburg especially has not had a voice in local politics.

Let the voters decide.

The current system IS letting the voters decide. IF someone from Clarksburg wants to run, and can secure enough votes, they can also be an at-large representative.

Yeah, that's Clarksburg's problem, politically. At full build-out (which there isn't), Clarksburg was only supposed to have 43,000 people. Montgomery County currently has a population of over 1 million. If it's true that downcounty people have more of a voice, then that's because there are a lot more downcounty people than Clarksburg people. I think it's easy to forget this, if you live in Clarksburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be in favor of a petition to secede from MoCo. There is no need for the entire county to continue to be shut down because an irresponsible few can't stay home for a few days. Been home for 9 1/2 weeks now, and not lovin' it.

I think that's great. Then we won't have to have a 3-day snow day in winter 2020 and beyond because some road in Clarksburg is icy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Most people DID vote for him because of the D. That’s the way it is in general elections. Again, not a valid argument about Floreen.

Repeating this statement doesn't make it more true.

I'm a NP, and third party candidates in general elections have no relevance to anything in this discussion. They're not indicative of other political trends, because of the political apathy and tendency to vote based on party affiliation of a huge number of voters.

You are, very vehemently, making a silly point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Most people DID vote for him because of the D. That’s the way it is in general elections. Again, not a valid argument about Floreen.

Repeating this statement doesn't make it more true.

I'm a NP, and third party candidates in general elections have no relevance to anything in this discussion. They're not indicative of other political trends, because of the political apathy and tendency to vote based on party affiliation of a huge number of voters.

You are, very vehemently, making a silly point.

Who said anything about political trends?

The point is that Elrich is county executive because a substantial majority of county voters voted for him, in 2018. Not because he had a D after his name, but because they preferred him to the alternatives (another Democrat, and a crank, respectively).

As the PP said, there were plenty of voters who voted for Hogan and Elrich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can see why people in upcounty would feel underserved, if all the at-large members are not from there. I wonder how often Elrich (yes, I know he's CoExec) even gets to Germantown and Damascus and Clarksburg.

I'm signing the petition. All that does it put it on the ballot for voters to decide. Let's see what they think.

I agree. Over time, the progressive Takoma Park and SS politicians have really taken over the county council and Clarksburg especially has not had a voice in local politics.

Let the voters decide.

The current system IS letting the voters decide. IF someone from Clarksburg wants to run, and can secure enough votes, they can also be an at-large representative.

Yeah, that's Clarksburg's problem, politically. At full build-out (which there isn't), Clarksburg was only supposed to have 43,000 people. Montgomery County currently has a population of over 1 million. If it's true that downcounty people have more of a voice, then that's because there are a lot more downcounty people than Clarksburg people. I think it's easy to forget this, if you live in Clarksburg.

I mean, the City of Takoma Park is only 18,000. So this isn't really a numbers game - it is a matter of viable candidates who want the job, and making a case that your priorities align with the priorities of voters who may not live in your enclave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/elrich-squeezes-out-win-in-democratic-primary-for-county-executive/

Think pp meant Elrich won narrowly in primary which if discussion is on progressive to moderate Democrat - more applicable especially in a county that is primarily democrat

He won by 80 votes in a crowded democratic primary.

Yes, he won by 80 votes in a crowded Democratic primary - and then he got 65% in a crowded general election, against a long-time Democratic politician.

...who was not running as a Democrat.

You need to read up on the history and fate of third party candidates in general elections.

Correct. After decades holding public elective office as a Democrat, she changed her party registration to independent a few months before the general election, in order to run against Elrich.

Are you saying that Montgomery County voters didn't know she was a Democrat? Or that she didn't run as a Democrat, aside from the (I) after her name on the ballot?

The experiences of Victoria Woodhull, Lyndon LaRouche, and Ralph Nader really are not relevant to the Elrich vs. Floreen county executive race in Montgomery County in 2018.

The die was cast in the primary. Floreen could be beloved by all, but she still was never going to be a threat to win as a third party candidate in the general election.

She didn't run in the primary. Plus if she had been beloved by all, she would have won.

I didn’t say she ran in the primary. The progressive-moderate near-tie in the primary is what is relevant to the discussion on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Most people DID vote for him because of the D. That’s the way it is in general elections. Again, not a valid argument about Floreen.

Repeating this statement doesn't make it more true.

I'm a NP, and third party candidates in general elections have no relevance to anything in this discussion. They're not indicative of other political trends, because of the political apathy and tendency to vote based on party affiliation of a huge number of voters.

You are, very vehemently, making a silly point.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/elrich-squeezes-out-win-in-democratic-primary-for-county-executive/

Think pp meant Elrich won narrowly in primary which if discussion is on progressive to moderate Democrat - more applicable especially in a county that is primarily democrat

He won by 80 votes in a crowded democratic primary.

Yes, he won by 80 votes in a crowded Democratic primary - and then he got 65% in a crowded general election, against a long-time Democratic politician.

...who was not running as a Democrat.

You need to read up on the history and fate of third party candidates in general elections.

Correct. After decades holding public elective office as a Democrat, she changed her party registration to independent a few months before the general election, in order to run against Elrich.

Are you saying that Montgomery County voters didn't know she was a Democrat? Or that she didn't run as a Democrat, aside from the (I) after her name on the ballot?

The experiences of Victoria Woodhull, Lyndon LaRouche, and Ralph Nader really are not relevant to the Elrich vs. Floreen county executive race in Montgomery County in 2018.

The die was cast in the primary. Floreen could be beloved by all, but she still was never going to be a threat to win as a third party candidate in the general election.

She didn't run in the primary. Plus if she had been beloved by all, she would have won.

I didn’t say she ran in the primary. The progressive-moderate near-tie in the primary is what is relevant to the discussion on this thread.

The progressive-moderate nowhere-near-tie in the general election is also relevant.

To the extent that Elrich actually even is a progressive, of course. In many ways, he's not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yeah, that's Clarksburg's problem, politically. At full build-out (which there isn't), Clarksburg was only supposed to have 43,000 people. Montgomery County currently has a population of over 1 million. If it's true that downcounty people have more of a voice, then that's because there are a lot more downcounty people than Clarksburg people. I think it's easy to forget this, if you live in Clarksburg.

I mean, the City of Takoma Park is only 18,000. So this isn't really a numbers game - it is a matter of viable candidates who want the job, and making a case that your priorities align with the priorities of voters who may not live in your enclave.

True, and politically-active Clarksburg residents so far have not done a good job with this.

The outcome of the at-large Board of Education primary will be interesting.