Go To Hell?!

Post #72

Earlier this week, a supporter and I were campaigning door-to-door in part of District 17.  A man was outside, working in his garden.  I approached him and introduced myself and indicated that I was running for the State Senate.  He asked whether I was “one of those baby-killers.”  I stated my belief that women should have reproductive choices, and that I suspected that we could find many other issues on which to agree.  After I offered a few examples, he replied that none of those programs would be needed if we kept killing all the babies.  This conversation was clearly not going to get any better or any more constructive.  I wished him well and started to walk away.  He then shouted out to my friend and me that we should both “go to hell.”  Two children (presumably his) were playing in the yard.

This so-called exchange surprised and disappointed us both.  Surely, people of strong convictions on any side of any issue can still be civil.  We can respect another viewpoint or agree to disagree and change the topic to a less inflammatory one.  He chose to do neither, though I gave him the opportunity.

Instead, his belligerence and disrespect provided his impressionable school-aged kids with an unfortunate role-model for rudeness and close-mindedness.  Are we then surprised when neighbors have trouble resolving disputes about pets, trees, boundaries, or noise amicably?  That people have trouble listening and seeking to understand a person from another faith, race, or ideology?

This incident emphasizes the importance I have placed on running a civil campaign, avoiding “going negative” as much as possible.  My opponent and I disagree on several key topics – many involving this tough economy and job situation too many of us face.  For example, I strongly feel that Montgomery County has too long been allowed to be the “piggy bank” to address the state’s economy woes.  Nonetheless, I’ve always tried to emphasize what positive attributes I’d bring to the Maryland Senate – rather than beat the drum about shortcomings of the incumbent.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  What do you think prevents people from acting in a respectful manner towards others when they disagree?  How have we reached the point where issues are so polarizing that compromise is virtually impossible?  Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#72) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

Door to door to door to…

Post #71

For over a year, I have spent countless hours walking throughout District 17, knocking on doors.  When I am lucky to find someone home and available to chat for a few minutes, I’ve been able to hear their concerns and ideas as well as share my own. 

Sometimes, people feel put on the spot when I ask which issues particularly concern them.  Unlike some of us who constantly focus on policies, politics, and budgets, most people are too busy living their lives.  How are the kids doing in school?  Will I get caught in traffic on the way to work?  Is my job secure?  Will my health insurance cover the procedure my doctor is recommending?

Once you get someone talking, it’s amazing how passionate and well-informed they tend to be!  On a recent outing, I heard about issues ranging from mental health to Medicaid coverage to funding for Metro to transportation to magnet school programs… and so much more.  Sometimes, I have personal experience on an issue and can share my background.  Often, I just listen and try to learn as much as possible.

Separate from the issues, I am privileged to catch a glimpse of prospective constituents’ lives.  I meet their (usually!) friendly pets, greet their adorable children, and get a sense of the priorities in their household.  Sometimes, there are toys and books scattered everywhere in a happy, kid-centric home. Other times, I’m see the cherished photos showing loved ones grown and on their own.  Elsewhere, a large home renovation project might leave them apologetic for not inviting me inside. Our wonderfully diverse community is often reflected in the ethnic smells and sounds drifting to the doorway.

When I first ran for (and was elected to) the House of Delegates, a mentor who served in both the state legislature and in Congress gave me great advice.  He told me that I would enjoy the opportunity to learn more about my neighbors and the broader community during the campaign than at almost any other time.  He was right.  And while it’s time-consuming and sometimes pretty tiring, I just love it.  So when I ring your doorbell, I hope you’ll answer it and we can chat!

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  Is your voice being heard by your elected officials?  Do you see them in your neighborhood (and at your door) or mostly at ceremonial events?  Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#71) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

Most Common Questions, Part Two

Post #70

In this post, I’ll discuss the second of the two most common questions I’m asked while campaigning:  Why am I running?  The brief answer is the tough times we’re facing.  I believe we need a more energetic, effective advocate to work on behalf of the voters of Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Garrett Park. 

We’re facing what may be a $2 billion state budget shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year. The governor and legislature will have to cut programs and raise revenues.  But which ones, and by how much?  Also: if history is any guide, Annapolis will look to Montgomery County-- the state’s traditional “piggy bank”-- for extra sacrifice at both ends of the budget equation.

I want to be part of those budget decisions, to protect our County, our interests, and our values.  Spending should be scrutinized closely, but public investments in education, economic development, roads and mass transit, and the environment must be defended.  Taxes and fees should be carefully targeted and be borne by those best able to pay.

We have to look after the fundamental needs of Montgomery County.  We face challenges here that we didn’t have just a few decades ago, and can no longer be expected to bear such an outsized share of the state budget burden.

I’m gratified that the need I perceive for more effective advocacy has been echoed by countless voters, scores of current and former elected officials, and ten important organizations.  These endorsements are particularly significant considering that my opponent is a 32-year incumbent.  Concerns about public safety prompted my endorsement by police and fire fighters.  Concerns about the economy and jobs prompted my endorsement by the SEIU.  Concerns about the environment prompted my endorsement by the Sierra Club and Maryland League of Conservation Voters.  (The full list of my endorsements is displayed in a rotating list on each page of this website.)

In my interactions with the public, I am always surprised by how many voters don’t know and/or have never met our current State Senator.  How can you lead if you aren’t even known?  So that’s why I’m running: to be a State Senator the people of District 17 will know, trust, and count on.  Especially in tough times like these.

Please join me in these final weeks of the race: by donating, volunteering, displaying a lawn sign.  And I hope I can count on you for your vote September 14.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader.  Have you ever felt prompted to take a more public role because the times demanded it?  Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#70) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

Most Common Questions, Part One

Post #69

While knocking on doors the past 13 months, two questions were asked most often.  In this post, I'll deal with the first: why I left elective office after (only) two four-year terms in the state legislature. 

I was honored to win election to the House of Delegates in 1994.  I enjoyed being an enthusiastic advocate for people, and making a difference on key issues affecting both mid-Montgomery County and the State of Maryland.  (Click “About Cheryl” on my website to learn more.)  After completing my eighth session/year, I decided not to seek re-election.  It surprised many; a strong track record of accomplishments was reflected in my facing no serious opposition, as well as having raised sufficient campaign funds to help ensure re-election. 

Don’t get me wrong: I loved my time in the legislature.  It’s just that I’ve witnessed how often elected officials presume that, once elected, the seat is “theirs” for life.  To me, this ignores my experience that most voters say they dislike “career politicians” and support term limits.  I've always said that elected officials can limit their own terms – if the voters don’t do it for them!  Therefore, I saw my election victory as though the voters had hired me for a four-year contract.  It wasn't until my third year of my first, four-year term that I decided to seek re-election, and essentially ask the voters for a renewal of my four-year “contract” in the House of Delegates.  As my second term wound down, I decided to “walk the walk” about letting someone else take a turn working on our state's issues.

My activities since leaving the legislature showed that there are other ways of making a difference in our community.  First, I helped elect Chris Van Hollen as our Congressman.  Then, as Executive Director of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, we contributed over $1 million annually to hundreds of local, nonprofit community groups.  We expanded food pantries, helped recovering addicts get jobs, trained day-care workers in life-saving techniques, sponsored training for hospice volunteers, underwrote a bilingual play on the immigrant experience, and provided art classes for senior citizens.  In addition to the satisfaction I got from these financial grants, we also collaborated with Montgomery College to create a Nonprofit Leadership Training Institute.  We identified outstanding, emerging leaders in the sector and provided networking, skills training, and practical learning opportunities. 

Did I miss being a member of the House of Delegates?  Not very often.  The friends I made there were (and still are!) in my life.  I still worked for progressive causes and candidates.  I trusted others to work on important issues.

So, why am I seeking an opportunity to return to Annapolis?  That’s the second most commonly asked question!  Look for my next posting to read the answer.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader.  Do you think it’s the responsibility of elected officials or the voter to determine how long someone stays in office?  Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#69) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

Remembering Carl

Post #68

Today, Carl Henn died.  Whether or not you knew him, if you lived in Rockville, he made your world a better place.

Carl was a preeminent advocate for bike trails.

He was instrumental in the establishment of Rockville’s three community gardens.

He led the Hungerford Citizens’ Association as its president for the past 3 years and was just reelected.

He ran for the City Council three times—credibly but unsuccessfully both times. 

He was passionate about our environmental future and about ‘peak oil’ as policy issues.

He was an introvert who forced himself to knock on doors, testify before Mayor and Council, and build relationships with other leaders.

In politics and community activism, it’s rare to have the privilege of working with someone who operates 100% of the time from principle.  He wasn’t focused on narrow self-interest or any agenda other than what was right for the greater good of the broader community.

I was honored to have Carl’s support in my State Senate race.  We knocked on doors together in his neighborhood just a few weeks ago.  I saw firsthand the respect with which his neighbors held him.  Nearly all welcomed him warmly and trusted his judgment implicitly.

Carl Henn was a loving husband and father, a committed employee at NIH, and a community leader who made measurable improvements in his neighborhood and in the whole City.

For him to be taken from us all at the age of 48 is just so sad.  Perhaps we can take comfort in the fact that he was outside, had been biking that day, and was celebrating one of his proud achievements, the City’s community garden in King Farm.  Unfortunately, I can’t find much comfort in any of those things right now.  I was hoping to rely on his counsel and ideological purity for many years to come.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!   Did you know Carl?  How will you most remember him?  Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#68) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.