Archive for the 'Free Vote 2007' Category
Maryand needs money and The Baltimore Sun is reporting that an internal document they received has state Budget Secretary T. Eloise Foster proposing a cut to the tune of $66 million in local aid, including cuts to schools, community colleges, health departments and local police.
The governor has to cut $415 million and Maryland must have a budget that is balanced by sine die, period. NO decisions have not been made yet according to O’Malley’s spokesman. O’Malley has been dealing with declining tax revenues since elected. While the economy was starting to go south in the latter part of 2007, things seem to have gone worse after taxes were raised in the 2007 special session.
If that wasn’t enough, the Maryland Transportation Authority is looking to raise an extra $60 million in operating funds through EZ-Pass customers. The Sun says that if the MdTA has their way, EZ-Pass holders will be charged $1.50 a month regardless of if they use their pass or not. In addition, new or replacement transponders will cost you $21, toll violations will go from $15 to $25, commerical or heavy vehicles will be charged anywhere from 33-80 percent more and if you us an EZ-Pass lane with a non working transponder, that will cost you $3. If you have a commuter plan, look for tighter requirements for those plans.
If the proposal is approved, look for the changes to take place in July. Transportation officials point out that unlike other states, Maryland is not raising their toll prices. The MdTA board will be taking public comments on the proposal through the end of the month.
Continue reading ‘We Need Money’
Aberdeen, Harford County…the HOMETOWN OF CAL RIPKEN (who lives in Baltimore County now) and where Democracy reigns supreme. That is unless you are bitter because you were ruled ineligible for an election and sued to have a proper review. Guess what happened…
Steven Johnson was ruled ineligible to run for Aberdeen City Council. The election board ruled that Johnson did not meet residential requirements. Johnson sued and the judge in the case said that he can’t touch it yet. The ruling of the elections board must be appealed through the city council first.
The Baltimore Sun saying that the Mayor and City Council would stay in office until new members are sworn in, meaning that Free Vote 2007 Aberdeen could be FreeVote 2008 Aberdeen. People in the campaign none the happier, who said that this amounts to meddling from people outside the city.
Election officials well WBAL (1090AM) that the election turnout was disappointing because it rained for most of the day. Only 28 percent of registered voters turned out to make their choices for mayor and city council.
Sheila Dixon not only became the first woman mayor of Baltimore (Black Woman in addition,) but she also became the first ELECTED woman to front Charm City avoid the surprise that could of happened back in 1987. Back then Clarence “Du” Burns became the first black mayor of Baltimore, but not the first elected. That goes to Kurt Schmoke who was mayor from 1987-1999. Dixon she that she stood in front of every person in the city as their humble servant who would work for their interest whether she was their choice or not.
Kieffer Mitchell Jr. (seen above with his father) pledged to support Dixon as mayor for the next four years. In regards to Senior, Mitchell said to WBAL that he loves his dad and that his was supportive of him, the junior Mitchell took him to vote yesterday. Mitchell Jr. added that his campaign dealt with the spat up front and it wasn’t a distraction.
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in her victory told WJZ-TV (Channel 13) that while she won, there’s work to do. She also tells WBAL of last night’s election results, you have four experienced leaders who are “perfectly positioned to do the job.”
Here are the results of the primary election in Baltimore City. Remember, Baltimore City is virtually all Democratic which means that yesterday for all intents and purposes means that these people have won election to office, making the upcoming general election a mere formality. Now the results as of 11:30p.m. last night. First the mayor’s race…
The city council president race offer a surprised in a way. Community Activist Michael Sarbanes had been leading in both Sun Polls, albeit barely. He captured the endorsements of the police and firefighters unions and as well as The Baltimore Sun, but it doesn’t matter because not only did incumbent Stephanie Rawlings-Blake pull ahead, but she also took a comfortable lead as the night continued. This is a good example of how the power of incumbency can help a candidate. But in the end…
 And now the individual winners for each of the the council districts…
 
Based on the preliminary numbers from WBAL (AM1090/TV Channel 11) It looks like Sheila Dixon is starting to command her presence in the results. Stephanie Rawlings black as of this post has a 7 percent edge over Michael Sarbanes.
More to follow.
In the final days of the primary stage of Free Vote 2007 in Baltimore City…it might as well be the wanning days of the election. In Baltimore City, Republicans are still on the extinction list, causing the primary to serve as the general election.
The candidates are making their final push which is very important if you are one City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (who is running for a full term and is endorsed by Gov. Martin O’Malley) and one Michael Sarbanes (son of former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and is endorsed by the Police Officers, Firefighters and The Baltimore Sun.)
The Baltimore Sun follows the Rawlings-Blake rally, which features Mayor Sheila Dixon and O’Malley, as well as Sarbanes campaigning in Pigtown.
In the first of a number of articles going into the Tuesday primary in Baltimore City where the largest voting bloc is Black Women. It’s starting to show in the positions being held.
Keep in mind that the top four positions in the city are held by black women:
- Mayor Sheila Dixon
- City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
- Comptroller Joan Pratt
- State’s Attorney Pat Jessamy
Candidates whose last names are not Dixon and Rawlings-Blake are trying to engage the city’s biggest bloc. City Councilman and Mayoral Candidate Kieffer Mitchell and City Council Presidential Candidate Michael Sarbanes (who is barely the front runner) have a group of women trying to turn the vote out for their choice in candidates.
But The Baltimore Sun says that the “Women for Sheila Dixon” group appears to be the most organized.
Before you go to the polls make sure you do us a favor….know who you are voting for. I cannot express this any better than I can, voting is not a popularity contest. If you think that, I point to my county as an example of how an election can become a popularity contest and the aftermath. In any event, the League of Women Voters for Baltimore City has posted a primary voters guide on their website.
In the final week heading into the Democratic primary on this coming Tuesday, Dr. Kieffer Mitchell Sr. is telling the mayoral campaign of his son to “get’s to steppin’.”
The Baltimore Sun says that City Councilman and Mayoral candidate Kieffer Mitchell Jr. (D) was using the second floor of an office building owned by the elder Mitchell for the campaign. The two men agreed to a flat fee for the office, which came into question once it was discovered that the financial practices of Dr. Mitchell came into to question.
A spokesman for the campaign said that they intend to keep that office in Bolton Hill open, along with it’s office on York Road, which the campaign said is used as it’s main staging area.
According to a letter from Dr. Mitchell, the younger Mitchell’s campaign owes over $13,000 in back rent.
No surprises here, The Baltimore Sun, which endorsed Martin O’Malley for Governor last year, has endorsed Sheila Dixon as the next Mayor of Baltimore.
The Sun Editorial Board said that Dixon has matured as a public official, developing a keen ear with a cooler head without sacrificing passion for the job. They add that Dixon may have inherited the job but she has earned the chance to do it her way.
Now the surprise, The Sun has endorsed Michael Sarbanes as the next president of the City 
Council.
The Sun’s editors said that Sarbanes is the favorite in the two of the three things they would like to see in a candidate, which is a sharp eye to checks and balances and insight into “the whirl of issues” facing the city and then some. They feel that Sarbanes will eventually master the third, wisdom of being an effective guide through the legislative process and be the mayor’s partner, when appropriate.
A new poll from The Baltimore Sun is indicating that while Mayor Sheila Dixon has a very comfortable lead over her closest opponent, City Councilman Kieffer Mitchell, Jr., she as lost her lead….a little bit….like one percent.
Although Kieffer Mitchell Jr. has edged up, it’s still an uphill fight for the councilman if he wants to win the primary, which is happening in nine days. It’s interesting to see that there is still a huge percentage in the undecided column.
The poll also produced a contradiction.  Although Dixon has a comfortable in the poll and a job approval rating of over 50 percent, when you break down the performance on four issues, the only issue that people seem to think that Dixon is doing a good job on is making the city cleaner. When it comes to controlling crime, improving schools and making government honest, she is mostly rated fair or poor.
It’s no secret that a healthy Baltimore is a big part of a healthy Maryland, so do the two top contenders in a crowded field for the Mayoral race in Baltimore.
Mayor Sheila Dixon (D) has already done rounds in Baltimore and Howard Counties. As of this past Thursday, Prince George’s County at the home of Aging Secretary and former State Senator Gloria Lawlah. Among the A-List politicos in the area, Senate President Thomas Mike Miller (D-Dist. 27), County Executive Jack Johnson, State Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Dist. 25) and Prince George’s County Council Chairwoman Camille Exum (D-Dist. 7.)
Analysts telling The Gazette that reaching out beyond the city makes sense in order to forge alliances.
