Is there a voting guide for Maryland moderate democrats? I’m looking for both county and state level.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/05/01/montgomery-maryland-marc-elrich-primary/

In 2018, Elrich said Montgomery had the “the worst business climate in … possibly the universe” and that he hoped to fix it by the end of his first year. There have been some improvements, business leaders say, but regulations remain onerous. “We haven’t moved the needle forward by much,” said Lori Graf, chief executive of the Maryland Builders Association.

None of this is really his fault, Elrich said.

On the Dickerson incinerator: Leggett extended a contract with the operator until 2026 and there aren’t great alternatives on where the waste should go, he said.

On climate action: He sent the council legislation to require existing buildings to cut their emissions but it took them a year to approve it.

On affordable housing: “I don’t control the housing,” he said; the county’s planning board and County Council decide zoning laws.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: Blair has run before for County Executive. One of my concerns about him was his lack of actual government experience— at least as far as I could tell. That doesn’t seem to have changed. Have I missed something fantastic or even substantive that would strongly suggest that he’d be an excellent County Executive— over and above working for his family business? I also wonder what will happen to the business if he wins, but I can wait until late July to look into that — if it still matters.

So, multiple, often detailed, anti-Elrich comments that are pro-Blair, but none of them include any specific reasons to vote for Blair. Surely Blair has done something specific and substantive that his supporters can point to? I’m actually willing to give him serious consideration, and even a vote — if I can find good reasons to do so.

Blair will trust his department directors to do their jobs. Based on their decades of subject matter expertise. He won't hire unethical weirdos like Kleine and Facciolo. Or hire Fleet managers with no HR experience to run Human Resources. What do we get from that? A county website that doesn't prominently feature a "Careers" or "Jobs" button. Anywhere. No wonder we have a months long backlog of open positions that nobody is applying for.

That type of stuff may not matter very much to regular county residents, but when the day comes they can't collect your trash, you might feel a bit differently. And that day is coming.

And just look at the Inspector General site for all the fraud, waste, and abuse they have investigated since Elrich became CE.

Anonymous wrote:Question: Blair has run before for County Executive. One of my concerns about him was his lack of actual government experience— at least as far as I could tell. That doesn’t seem to have changed. Have I missed something fantastic or even substantive that would strongly suggest that he’d be an excellent County Executive— over and above working for his family business? I also wonder what will happen to the business if he wins, but I can wait until late July to look into that — if it still matters.

So, multiple, often detailed, anti-Elrich comments that are pro-Blair, but none of them include any specific reasons to vote for Blair. Surely Blair has done something specific and substantive that his supporters can point to? I’m actually willing to give him serious consideration, and even a vote — if I can find good reasons to do so.

Blair

BLaIr

BLAIR

Make Montgomery County Functional Again.

I changed from unaffiliated to Dem just to vote against Elrich. I'll take anyone but Elrich. My vote is for Blair. He seems competent and moderate.

Elrich is great at always blaming someone else, be it the county council (where he served for 12+ years), the state, the governor, etc. Never seen him admit fault.

My husband still likes Reiner - always been farther left than me. I’m voting for Blair- we need better white collar businesses in MoCo. My volunteer firefighter teen daughter is voting for Elrich- felt appreciated for continuing to volunteer during the height of the pandemic when there wasn’t a vaccine and she was running nursing home Covid calls every shift. The stipend was a surprise and hugely appreciated- help with college etc. she’d do it for free- and does all the time- but it felt good to be appreciated.

I would like to know how Elrich is paying for all the undocumented immigrants he's accepting from the Texas and Arizona buses. I know they don't stay in county care for very long, but how much is this costing us? or is it covered with federal money? News reports from other states say almost 3,000 have been bused up to DC.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in moco but don’t live there anymore and the more I hear about how it is now the more I’m glad to have left for NoVa. Elrich sounds like an absolute radical leftist loon

He is. And he's proud of it.

Anonymous wrote:Elrich.

Most of what I've seen about the mismanagement folks are claiming seems to come down to the county council being idiots as a group, on the one hand pushing unnecessary breaks for development and on the other pushing many of the less workable progressive ideas. That or just not listening to the justifications Elrich has provided. If you bother to give those a read, they're pretty good.

Developers make plenty as it is, and Elrich is willing to horse trade to get an overall good deal for us where the council is practically giving the farm away to get the milk. With developer and billionaire super PACs backing Blair, I don't see his being likely to step up to fight for current residents.

A lot of the other stuff the council has prioritized has been similarly short sighted bread and circus efforts. Things that will please one or other special interest at the expense of the common good. There are things that need to change and groups that need support of one kind or another, but there are far more effective and efficient ways of achieving those ends. Elrich has to deal with what the council foists on us when they override his vetos.

OMG Elrich is the king of "less workable progressive ideas." That's all he does.

I grew up in moco but don’t live there anymore and the more I hear about how it is now the more I’m glad to have left for NoVa. Elrich sounds like an absolute radical leftist loon

Elrich.

Most of what I've seen about the mismanagement folks are claiming seems to come down to the county council being idiots as a group, on the one hand pushing unnecessary breaks for development and on the other pushing many of the less workable progressive ideas. That or just not listening to the justifications Elrich has provided. If you bother to give those a read, they're pretty good.

Developers make plenty as it is, and Elrich is willing to horse trade to get an overall good deal for us where the council is practically giving the farm away to get the milk. With developer and billionaire super PACs backing Blair, I don't see his being likely to step up to fight for current residents.

A lot of the other stuff the council has prioritized has been similarly short sighted bread and circus efforts. Things that will please one or other special interest at the expense of the common good. There are things that need to change and groups that need support of one kind or another, but there are far more effective and efficient ways of achieving those ends. Elrich has to deal with what the council foists on us when they override his vetos.

I'm voting Riemer

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: Blair has run before for County Executive. One of my concerns about him was his lack of actual government experience— at least as far as I could tell. That doesn’t seem to have changed. Have I missed something fantastic or even substantive that would strongly suggest that he’d be an excellent County Executive— over and above working for his family business? I also wonder what will happen to the business if he wins, but I can wait until late July to look into that — if it still matters.

Well Elrich had many years in the council prior to becoming CE but that didn’t make him a good manager. Riemer is a mess so I can’t see him being effective either.

True. 12 years and never elected president by his peers. The only Councilmember that hasn't been president.

Anonymous wrote:Question: Blair has run before for County Executive. One of my concerns about him was his lack of actual government experience— at least as far as I could tell. That doesn’t seem to have changed. Have I missed something fantastic or even substantive that would strongly suggest that he’d be an excellent County Executive— over and above working for his family business? I also wonder what will happen to the business if he wins, but I can wait until late July to look into that — if it still matters.

Well Elrich had many years in the council prior to becoming CE but that didn’t make him a good manager. Riemer is a mess so I can’t see him being effective either.