Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Hall: ‘I've never totally abandoned public service, even when I've moved from elected office to something else. I'll just say that.’
On Monday, Rockville City Councilman John F. Hall Jr. announced that he’s not running for re-election this fall, and he is leaving the question of “what’s next” open-ended. “I've never totally abandoned public service, even when I've moved from elected office to something else,” Hall told Patch. “I'll just say that.” Hall made the announcement during the City Council meeting on Monday. “In large part, my reasons are my own," Hall told Patch. "But I think this is an appropriate time, at least for now, to step aside.” Hall returned to the City Council in 2011 after a six-year hiatus. He served two terms after he was elected in 2001, but took a break in 2005, he said, to be with family. The timing of his announcement syncs with early timing …
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Announcement was made at meeting Monday night
Though Rockville's campaign season is already off to an early start, there will be at least one name voters will not see among the field of candidates in November. Councilman John F. Hall Jr. told his colleagues Monday that he did not plan to seek re-election: “I wish you all well and I invite the members of our community who have a similar desire, commitment and acumen to serve in this way to please enter the contest and work to serve Rockville in the way that she deserves to be served—with time, care, balance, selflessness, openness, respect, discernment and devotion to our laws, principles, and the goodness that have always made Rockville the outstanding community [that] it is.” Hall was elected to the Council in 2011, having served two…
Monday, May 20, 2013
Delaney: 'Doug Duncan’s record speaks for itself and his values and expertise are well-known around our county.'
U.S. Rep. John Delaney on Saturday endorsed Douglas M. Duncan at the former Montgomery County Executive's first major campaign event in his bid to regain his old job. “Doug Duncan’s record speaks for itself and his values and expertise are well-known around our county,” Delaney (D-Dist. 6) of Potomac said in a statement released by Duncan’s campaign. “I know Doug has the long term vision to make our county a great place to work, live, start a business, raise a family, and he has a plan to make Montgomery work.” Duncan, a Democrat, served three terms as county executive from 1994 to 2006. In 2006, he sought the Democratic nomination for governor, before dropping out of the race, citing depression. After a hiatus, Duncan has decided to re-…
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The New England College poll previewing the 2016 Presidential primary shows Hillary Clinton with a commanding lead.
Gov. Martin O'Malley finished last among a field of 2016 Democratic Presidential hopefuls, according to a poll released by New England College. The poll released Tuesday by the New Hampshire-based college found that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led the field with 65 percent of those surveyed saying they would vote for her in 2016. O'Malley finished last among the field of six with zero percent saying they would vote for the two-term Democratic Maryland governor. Rounding out the field is Vice President Joseph Biden with 10 percent, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 5 percent, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 4 percent and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick with 3 percent. The college surveyed 314 New Hampshire Democratic …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Advisory referenda on November ballot will survey interest in the Charter Review Commission’s recommendations.
The city will use the upcoming November election to gauge public support for making Council terms longer, making the Council body bigger and changing when city elections are held. In a unanimous (5-0) vote during its regular meeting Monday, the mayor and Council approved placing a set of questions on the ballot as advisory referenda—questions meant only for informational purposes. The feedback would be used to help the Council determine how it should handle the Charter Review Commission’s three main recommendations: City elections will be held on Nov. 5.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Hundreds gather at Prince George's Community College in Largo, MD for Brown's gubernatorial campaign announcement.
Follow @UMarlboroPatch for live coverage of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown's announcement.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The results of the Quinnipiac University poll come as proponents of reinstating the death penalty in Maryland say the law is needed because of incidents such as the Boston Marathon bombing.
Americans support the death penalty for terrorists, according to a national poll released by Quinnipiac University. The national survey found that 63 percent favored the death penalty for someone convicted of murder involving an act of terrorism compared to 32 percent who said they opposed capital punishment. The results of the poll come as political leaders including Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger, a Democrat, and Washington County Republican Del. Neil Parrott announced a plan to collect more than 55,000 signatures in order to reinstate the death penalty in Maryland. "One only has to look back to Oklahoma City, Aurora, CO, Newtown, CT, and the recent massacre in Boston to recognize that if these crimes were …
Duane Davis, known for leaving toilets as political protest outside the Historic Courthouse in Towson, is running as a Republican in 2014.
A Milford Mill man known for political protests involving putting toilets in front of a county government building in Towson has filed as a candidate for Lt. Governor in 2014. Duane "Shorty" Davis has filed as the running mate with Brian Vaeth, a Perry Hall man. Davis was charged in February 2011 with planting a fake destructive device in the form of a toilet outside the Historic Courthouse in Towson and making false statements about a fake destructive device. He was acquitted of those charges seven months later. Davis, a caterer, said in a February 2013 article that the incident in 2011 was a protest of alleged corruption in Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration. He claims that he had made political statements using toilets previously, …
Monday, May 6, 2013
A Quinnipiac University poll shows the Maryland governor in the back of the pack regardless of whether or not Hillary Clinton decides to run in 2016.
The early prospects for 2016 White House bid for Gov. Martin O'Malley are dim, according to one national poll. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would get 65 percent of the vote in a Democratic primary, according to a poll released last week by Quinnipiac University. Trailing Clinton is current Vice President Joseph Biden and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 13 and 4 percent of the vote respectively, according to the poll. O'Malley joins Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner at the back of the pack. Each polled with 1 percent of less of the support in the national poll. If Clinton were to decide not to run, Biden becomes the frontrunner with 45 percent of those polled saying they would support the vice …
Friday, May 3, 2013
The effort to place the issue on the ballot will be led by Democratic Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger and Washington County Republican Del. Neil Parrott.
Proponents of the death penalty in Maryland will attempt to overturn at the ballot box a new law repealing capital punishment. The effort to place the issue before voters in 2014 will be spearheaded by Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger and Washington County Del. Neil Parrott. The pair is expected to make the effort to collect the required 55,736 official during a Friday morning announcement near Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Shellenberger said the death penalty is an important tool for prosecutors. "One only has to look at what has taken place in our country in the last 10 years—Virginia Tech; Aurora, CO; Boston," Shellenberger said. "We don't know what is going to happen in the future but we should at least have the …
Tom Moore
1:39 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Though Councilmember Hall and I have scrapped on numerous issues during this term -- *almost* always respectfully -- John Hall and I have been friends for much longer. I am sad to see him leave the City Council. I salute my colleague on his service to his City, and I thank my friend for everything he has taught me over the years and everything he has yet to teach me. John's presence will be … more ›