D20 Watch

[OnBackground]

State Senator Jennie Forehand mentioned the 20th Legislative District's Ida <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/11/AR2005051101035_pf.html">Ruben</a> in a debate about how inactivity and lack of grassroots support can impact how a senior Senator serves her district.

And the first public mention of a candidate (fmr Council Member Blair Ewing) for D20's legislative race was made in the same Post article:
<blockquote>As for his own political future, Ewing said he is seriously considering running for the House of Delegates in District 20, which includes the Takoma Park area. With Del. Peter Franchot (D) angling to possibly challenge Comptroller William Donald Schaefer (D) in next year's Democratic primary, Ewing said he expects a vacancy for one of the three delegate seats from District 20.</blockquote>
Mentions have also been made of late of the entry into D20 legislative races by a member of the Takoma Park City Council or two, at least three members of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, and at least one local community activist. Stay tuned for more.

[OnBackground]

1. Profiles

In addition to all of the great stuff available through Google, check out http://www.suburbannewsline.umd.edu/profiles/profilesindex.htm for a dated, presumably student-run set of profiles on many of our local politicos.

[OnBackground]

2. Sen. Ruben: Great glasses!

Take a look at this photo: http://www.takoma.com/archives/copy/2003/01/lookingback.html

Truly a gem!

[OnBackground]

3. Austin-Lane

According to the Post's local section, the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/18/AR2005051801457_4.html">D20</a> House of Delegates' race now includes Takoma Park City Council member Joy Austin-Lane. Her announcement of an exploratory committee and a fundraiser puts her into a likely race with former County Council Member Blair Ewing, current Delegates Hixson and Murray and Austin-Lane, Silver Spring Citizens' Advisory Board member Jose Vasquez, and at least two other Democrats for three seats.

[OnBackground]

4. How they vote

It seems to have largely passed us by, but did you notice that an awful lot of Democrats in Montgomery County voted for the Inter-County Connector? In particular, <a href="http://www.marypirg.org/">MaryPIRG's scorecard</a> indicates that all four of the D20 legislators: Ida Ruben, Sheila Hixson, Peter Franchot, and Gareth Murray voted to run an unnecessary road across the land at fantastic expense to us, the taxpayers.

[OnBackground]

5. Mizeur

The state Democratic Party State Committee elected Heather Mizeur, a Takoma Park City Council member, to Democratic National Committeewoman from Maryland. This probably takes her out of the race for a D20 delegate spot, as had been rumored.

[LocalDem]

6. Out of the Race?

Why?

[DaveinMD]

7. it doesn't

I think she'll still run.

[OnBackground]

8. rumors

The talk was that local Democrats were telling her that since she just got onto the council she should build some credentials, wait a bit before running for higher office. They were going to offer this to her as a way to get her to holdoff. Who knows if that takes her out of the race for sure?