No Recap, No Precap

Greetings. Some quick updates:

My professional and academic schedules are going to continue to demand the vast majority of my non-slumbering hours between now and early May.  As the recently and dearly departed David Ogden Stiers, in the role of Major Charles Emerson Winchester III, once remarked about himself, “I do one thing at a time.  I do it very well.  And then, I move on.”  Amen, brother.

So unlike 2014, when the present author was all about being “in the room” at every gathering involving two or more candidates, 2018 has been tough sledding.  My current election cycle forum attendance count has maintained at a steady zero.  I find myself more reliant on social media, on traditional media, and on word-of-mouth for news I can use.  So, I would like to thank the folks who are doing the heavy lifting there. It is my hope that I can re-join the fray in a matter of weeks.

Of course, there have been some interesting developments.  My comrades in Our Revolution Howard (note: I belong to the national chapter, I have not been active with the local group) have made some interesting endorsements for state and local office. 

Specifically, Ben Jealous for the Democratic nomination for Governor (which makes sense given the Bernie-tendencies of this group and his involvement in the Sanders campaign, and related efforts, in 2016…and beyond).  That is old news. 

More recently, on March 12, the local chapter announced their backing of Jen Terrasa for District 13 Delegate (Yes!), Hiruy Hadgu for County Council District 3 (well, I can see why they would make that choice, but I have already expressed my own preference in that district), and J. Ward Morrow for Orphans' Court Judge. 

Let’s first acknowledge the raise of the eyebrow and smirking chuckle involved with some endorsements in the Orphans' Court race.  I’ve read his bio, Morrow seems extremely well-qualified for the position.  All of the six candidates who filed appear qualified. I am already supporting two incumbents, Leslie Smith Turner and Nicole Bormel Miller, so I don’t wish to comment further. I will say that I haven’t seen much from the third incumbent this cycle, Anne Dodd.  Meanwhile, Morrow and Elizabeth Ann Fitch have been quite active communicating via social media platforms.  And kudos to them for doing so.  The remaining candidate, Ajile Brown, I haven’t seen as much from her campaign yet. 

As I commented on extensively in past cycles, the Apple ballot is a huge deal in Democratic primaries (signed, Captain Obvious).  I am curious to see what happens with the HCEA in races such as HoCo Council D3, D4 (do the right thing!), and (surprisingly) D1.

Beyond that, I wanted to thank – formally – Corey Andrews for developing and sending out those HoCo Board of Education candidate questionnaires.  The responses have been…illuminating.  I am still going through them.  I am hoping to have some initial thoughts in decent enough form for me to do a write up…perhaps as early as this weekend but we shall see.  And thanks to Scott Ewart for aggregating the content for easy viewing.  A bucket of kudos all around.   

Have to conduct an in-depth interview in 20 minutes.  Just in time…

In solidarity.

First Principles

While I am not a journalist, I believe that public affairs blogs in the early 21^st century have a duty to perform a role similar to the one historically exercised by newspapers, as described by Finley Peter Dunne, the writer of the Mr. Dooley column that was “one of the first nationally syndicated newspaper features.”  Specifically, the newspaper “comforts th’ afflicted, afflicts th’ comfortable.”

This author takes his First Amendment rights very seriously.  In a time when traditional journalism is facing severe challenges (financial, reputational, etc…), it is imperative for “citizen journalists” (although I think the phrase is a bit of a misnomer) to tell their stories to help inform the public.  And if not “educate” in a classic sense, at least entertain in a thought-provoking manner.

Going back to the quote in the first paragraph, this blog will not “punch down.”  It will, however, vigorously defend itself, our principles, our friends and our comrades (when they are right, and I, of course, reserve the right to point out when they are wrong). 

This is a self-appointed standard, but it is the standard that Spartan Considerations has maintained, and will continue to abide by, as long as this blog covers national, state, and local politics.

In solidarity.

First Draft (III) – Binge Writing, Binge Reading

The Howard County Board of Education is losing a great deal of institutional knowledge, with the decisions of Cynthia Vaillancourt and Sandra French to not seek re-election.  Moreover, with Dr. Bess Altwerger opting to not run for a second term and with Ananta Hejeebu (appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the Christine O’Connor resignation) also not appearing on the ballot in 2018, there will be four newcomers to the Board this year.  This is worth emphasizing given that the other Class (the three Board Members elected in 2016) is comprised entirely of first-termers.

I am not going to delve into substantive issues or my BoE preferences at this point, as more research is required; although I will acknowledge that Robert Wayne Miller will probably receive one of my votes in the Primary Election.  Beyond that, he and Vicky Cutroneo are most likely the only two near-mortal locks to finish in the top 8 in the primary (and thus move on to the General Election).  Beyond those two, and in alphabetical order, the Spartan Considerations Wisdom of the Hour ™ deems it likely that the following candidates will move on to the General Election:

-       Danny Mackey

-       Anita Pandey

-       Saif Rehman

-       Sabina Taj

-       Chao Wu

Yes, I know that adds up to seven.  I don’t know yet who is most likely to round out the field.

Note: this is not an endorsement of anyone for BoE (except for Miller) …so don’t read it that way.

Democratic Central Committee (Female)

I am extremely high on Maureen Evans Arthurs and Candace Dodson-Reed.  Smart and hard-working, they bring some serious mettle to the electoral battlefield.  Both women receive my unqualified support.

I will also be supporting several other distinguished candidates for the Committee:  Mae Beale, Ethel Brown-Hill, Mary Catherine Cochran, Jennifer Jones, and Margaret Weinstein. 

Democratic Central Committee (Male)

There are several well-known names with established credentials along with some new-comers who have entered the fray.  As of this writing, I can’t say I have many strong preferences, but the candidates who I believe are most likely to be elected or re-elected include:

-       Bill Adams

-       Najee Bailey

-       Rich Corkran

-       Jeremy Eldridge

-       Bob Ford

-       Josh Friedman

-       David Grabowski

-       Pravin Ponnuri

-       Shahan Rizvi

-       Dhaval Shah

-       Peter Spann

Wait, that is 11 of the 18 men running…and only 10 can be elected.  Correct.  Someone on this list will find himself sans chair when the music stops. Who? Stay tuned.

In solidarity.