Anonymous wrote:
Yes! This is my DH- won’t register as a Dem to vote in the primary, but he’s essentially a moderate Dem. I think his dissatisfaction with Elrich may have finally convinced him to do so.

Same here. I dont' really identify with either party (like 1/3 of voters in MoCo). I won't register dem as I don't feel they represent me.

This is all nibbling at the margins. Nine seats, whether all allocated by district or a split between district/at large, are far too few. Montgomery County has more than 1.05 million residents; even if all nine seats were allocated by district, that's each council member representing more than 110,000 people. That's absurd for what is the lowest level of local government most of us have, and guarantees that the council members can't, and don't, represent truly local interests. If you would like the council to more accurately represent the citizens of Montgomery County, advocate for 50 districts, each representing approximately 20,000 residents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't make it any more rational to know that multiple people (including big downcounty developers) are saying that the council reps WHO ARE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE don't represent much of the county.

Capital letters for emphasis, not shouting.

Well, for one, they don't represent (not even at all) anyone who isn't a registered Democrat in MoCo (currently 40% of the population) because we didn't get to vote for them in the Primary.

There is no reason to be registered as republican in maryland. If you want your vote to count, be a democrat and start voting for some moderate democrats.

1/3 of registered voters in MoCo have no party affiliation (independents).

And THAT's why we have super-liberals as our councilmembers and executive. The hard core liberals are the majority of those who can vote in the primaries.

Imagine if those independents and even moderate republicans had been registered as democrats. We would probably have Blair now as a County Exec. And probably Marilyn Balcomb as a councilmember.

Independents and moderate Republicans could have voted for Nancy Floreen for County Exec. But they didn't. She couldn't crack 20%.

Floreen was too little too late- the contest is in the primary. The sooner people accept that and participate, the better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't make it any more rational to know that multiple people (including big downcounty developers) are saying that the council reps WHO ARE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE don't represent much of the county.

Capital letters for emphasis, not shouting.

Well, for one, they don't represent (not even at all) anyone who isn't a registered Democrat in MoCo (currently 40% of the population) because we didn't get to vote for them in the Primary.

There is no reason to be registered as republican in maryland. If you want your vote to count, be a democrat and start voting for some moderate democrats.

1/3 of registered voters in MoCo have no party affiliation (independents).

And THAT's why we have super-liberals as our councilmembers and executive. The hard core liberals are the majority of those who can vote in the primaries.

Imagine if those independents and even moderate republicans had been registered as democrats. We would probably have Blair now as a County Exec. And probably Marilyn Balcomb as a councilmember.

Yes! This is my DH- won’t register as a Dem to vote in the primary, but he’s essentially a moderate Dem. I think his dissatisfaction with Elrich may have finally convinced him to do so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't make it any more rational to know that multiple people (including big downcounty developers) are saying that the council reps WHO ARE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE don't represent much of the county.

Capital letters for emphasis, not shouting.

Well, for one, they don't represent (not even at all) anyone who isn't a registered Democrat in MoCo (currently 40% of the population) because we didn't get to vote for them in the Primary.

There is no reason to be registered as republican in maryland. If you want your vote to count, be a democrat and start voting for some moderate democrats.

1/3 of registered voters in MoCo have no party affiliation (independents).

And THAT's why we have super-liberals as our councilmembers and executive. The hard core liberals are the majority of those who can vote in the primaries.

Imagine if those independents and even moderate republicans had been registered as democrats. We would probably have Blair now as a County Exec. And probably Marilyn Balcomb as a councilmember.

Independents and moderate Republicans could have voted for Nancy Floreen for County Exec. But they didn't. She couldn't crack 20%.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't make it any more rational to know that multiple people (including big downcounty developers) are saying that the council reps WHO ARE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE don't represent much of the county.

Capital letters for emphasis, not shouting.

Well, for one, they don't represent (not even at all) anyone who isn't a registered Democrat in MoCo (currently 40% of the population) because we didn't get to vote for them in the Primary.

There is no reason to be registered as republican in maryland. If you want your vote to count, be a democrat and start voting for some moderate democrats.

1/3 of registered voters in MoCo have no party affiliation (independents).

And THAT's why we have super-liberals as our councilmembers and executive. The hard core liberals are the majority of those who can vote in the primaries.

Imagine if those independents and even moderate republicans had been registered as democrats. We would probably have Blair now as a County Exec. And probably Marilyn Balcomb as a councilmember.

This problem would be solved with open primaries. 28 states have partially (indepenents can vote also, but Dems can't vote for Repubs and vice versa) or fully-open primaries.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't make it any more rational to know that multiple people (including big downcounty developers) are saying that the council reps WHO ARE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE don't represent much of the county.

Capital letters for emphasis, not shouting.

Well, for one, they don't represent (not even at all) anyone who isn't a registered Democrat in MoCo (currently 40% of the population) because we didn't get to vote for them in the Primary.

There is no reason to be registered as republican in maryland. If you want your vote to count, be a democrat and start voting for some moderate democrats.

1/3 of registered voters in MoCo have no party affiliation (independents).

It makes life easier if you only get to vote once (in the general election) instead of twice (in the primary and the general election), I guess.

Independents can vote in the primary, but only for non-partisan offices, mainly Board of Education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't make it any more rational to know that multiple people (including big downcounty developers) are saying that the council reps WHO ARE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE don't represent much of the county.

Capital letters for emphasis, not shouting.

Well, for one, they don't represent (not even at all) anyone who isn't a registered Democrat in MoCo (currently 40% of the population) because we didn't get to vote for them in the Primary.

No, that's not how elections work. Or are you going to say that [insert Democratic president of your choice] didn't represent you because you didn't get to vote for him in the primary?

In MoCo, the Democratic primary is the general election. Don't be obtuse. So the PP is who is just shocked that some people don't feel represented needs to come out of the bubble.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't make it any more rational to know that multiple people (including big downcounty developers) are saying that the council reps WHO ARE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE don't represent much of the county.

Capital letters for emphasis, not shouting.

Well, for one, they don't represent (not even at all) anyone who isn't a registered Democrat in MoCo (currently 40% of the population) because we didn't get to vote for them in the Primary.

There is no reason to be registered as republican in maryland. If you want your vote to count, be a democrat and start voting for some moderate democrats.

1/3 of registered voters in MoCo have no party affiliation (independents).

And THAT's why we have super-liberals as our councilmembers and executive. The hard core liberals are the majority of those who can vote in the primaries.

Imagine if those independents and even moderate republicans had been registered as democrats. We would probably have Blair now as a County Exec. And probably Marilyn Balcomb as a councilmember.

I particularly favor term limits in local elections. For a lot of reasons, incumbents hold a tremendous advantage for getting reelected. It means that incumbents tend to stick around after the electorate has changed through migration and changing values.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not naive- I know that Republicans are pushing for 9 districts. I don't particularly want to see Republicans on the council, but I don't think that's a good reason to support or oppose this measure.

Agreed. Term limits on council members and the county exec was pushed by Republicans, but it was also a good idea, and 75% voted in favor of it.

Term limits was a good idea, why?

Montgomery County Republicans (mostly meaning Robin Ficker) spend most of their time and energy trying to take power away from voters and their elected representatives. A person might wonder why.

Dem here again and I am for term limits. Presidents have term limits. I think all elected politicians should too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not naive- I know that Republicans are pushing for 9 districts. I don't particularly want to see Republicans on the council, but I don't think that's a good reason to support or oppose this measure.

Agreed. Term limits on council members and the county exec was pushed by Republicans, but it was also a good idea, and 75% voted in favor of it.

Term limits was a good idea, why?

Montgomery County Republicans (mostly meaning Robin Ficker) spend most of their time and energy trying to take power away from voters and their elected representatives. A person might wonder why.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't make it any more rational to know that multiple people (including big downcounty developers) are saying that the council reps WHO ARE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE don't represent much of the county.

Capital letters for emphasis, not shouting.

Well, for one, they don't represent (not even at all) anyone who isn't a registered Democrat in MoCo (currently 40% of the population) because we didn't get to vote for them in the Primary.

There is no reason to be registered as republican in maryland. If you want your vote to count, be a democrat and start voting for some moderate democrats.

1/3 of registered voters in MoCo have no party affiliation (independents).

It makes life easier if you only get to vote once (in the general election) instead of twice (in the primary and the general election), I guess.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not naive- I know that Republicans are pushing for 9 districts. I don't particularly want to see Republicans on the council, but I don't think that's a good reason to support or oppose this measure.

Agreed. Term limits on council members and the county exec was pushed by Republicans, but it was also a good idea, and 75% voted in favor of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't make it any more rational to know that multiple people (including big downcounty developers) are saying that the council reps WHO ARE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE don't represent much of the county.

Capital letters for emphasis, not shouting.

Well, for one, they don't represent (not even at all) anyone who isn't a registered Democrat in MoCo (currently 40% of the population) because we didn't get to vote for them in the Primary.

There is no reason to be registered as republican in maryland. If you want your vote to count, be a democrat and start voting for some moderate democrats.

1/3 of registered voters in MoCo have no party affiliation (independents).