Reply to Unpopular Opinion: I like Marc Elrich

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]He's a good old fashioned Union guy, and I think it's become much too ingrained in America to slam labor unions which have done so much for workers' rights. Like weekends? The 40 hour work week? Thank a labor union.

He's not sold on the trendy "smart growth" or "urbanist" arguments when it comes to developments or basing housing policy on blogs like Greater Greater Washington. I don't think you have to choose between YIMBY (build everything) and NIMBY (build nothing), but I think so-called "smart growth" is really just a bunch of developer bros trying to wrap gentrification in social justice rhetoric.

He's doing an awesome job handling the pandemic. Montgomery County has held its case increase rate to below one percent for over two weeks, thanks to his measured and cautious reopening. It's nice to have someone put science before politics. Red states are seeing a rise in cases after their hasty reopening, and we're probably going to see that in Maryland since Ocean City is a zoo right now.

He's also walking a very careful line on the policing issue. It's a very tough task to try and maintain a relationship with the police department so that you can try to work with them to reform, which is a very difficult task. Last year he tried really hard to bring in a new police chief from the outside, which didn't work, so it's important to be very careful with a carrots and sticks measure when you have some people whining over the Thin Blue Line flag and other people calling to Defund the Police.

Lastly, and most controversially - I am glad that a 70 year old with no future political ambitions is in charge at a time like this. We need someone who can make unpopular political decisions with no self-serving incentives. Harsh budget cuts will have to be made, future lockdown restrictions might be in store in the fall which will make people angry in the short term, and he will find himself on the wrong side of the issue du jour when it's the right decision for the long term. We need someone with the reverse side of a lame duck mentality who will just do the right thing to help the county when there is no personal or political benefit. Elrich will either win one more term (probably more likely than you think, given a pandemic and a crisis and the advantage of incumbency) or he will retire. He won't be running for governor, he won't be setting up a consulting firm, he won't be looking or a payout from a lobbyist career. So if anyone is going to take the fall for making unpopular but necessary decisions like lockdowns and budget cuts during a bad time, it's Elrich. Sounds perverse, but not really. I think he's just trying to be the best County Executive he can be, rather than a stepping stone to becoming a Governor or Congressman. [/quote]

Are you his wife?  [/quote]

side chick[/quote]

That explains his recent weight loss.[/quote]

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