District 17's Diversity, Part One

Post #62

Of Montgomery County's eight legislative districts, I feel very lucky to live in the 17^th. Its diversity offers special opportunities to communicate and learn as I campaign from neighborhood to neighborhood.

When I was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1994, the district was 70% white, with African-Americans, Asians, and Hispanics each representing roughly 10% of the population. As Rockville and Gaithersburg have grown, the population has become ever more diverse. The Latino population has grown to nearly 16%; Asians are approaching 15%, and the African-American presence is over 12%. More than 10% identified themselves in the most recent census as either “some other race” or as “two or more races.”

Think of the richness of languages, cultures, religious observances, social customs and points of view represented by such a diverse array of residents! Whether your family has lived in Rockville for generations, like many African-American residents of Lincoln Park, or you just moved into an apartment in Gaithersburg from the West Coast or from Korea, you provide a unique perspective on the District’s strengths and on what needs improvement.

Before I got hooked on politics in college, I was planning on a career that would put my foreign language skills to use. I have a facility with language that serves me well when traveling abroad. It's a source of pride to me that I don't fit the stereotype of the American who demands that the rest of the world speak English.

I don't need to pull out my passport to practice my linguistic skills, though. Just recently, while campaigning in Gaithersburg, I had a conversation in French with a woman originally from Chad. A few days later, I was invited in to speak with an 84-year old King Farm resident who wasn't very confident of his English language proficiency. I assured him that we could have our conversation in Spanish. Although I needed coaching on some words like “deficit” that I never learned in my high school Spanish classes, he apparently understand me-- and liked what he heard-- well enough to pledge his support for my campaign. (In fact, he even sent me a donation a few days later!)

Communities only thrive when we communicate with one another. My being able to speak well enough in other languages to share thoughts and ideas-- if only at a basic level-- with the district’s most recent residents allows me to hear experiences and opinions that might not otherwise be shared. And that’s worth celebrating in any language-- si?

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader! Is English your first language? If so, how do you communicate with neighbors who are less fluent in the language? 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 (#62) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading. I will post again soon.

How Fun is Fundraising?

Post #61

For most political candidates (including me), raising money is the least favorite part of the job.  It takes time and can entail awkward conversations with friends and family.  I would much rather be out talking to voters, attending events, and working with our volunteers.  But until there’s public financing (an idea I have long supported), raising money will be a necessity for candidates--at least candidates like me who aren’t rich enough to fund our own campaigns.  

This Sunday is my big dinner and concert featuring John Flynn.  It will be held at Growlers brew pub in Olde Towne Gaithersburg and is sure to be a terrific evening of music, food, and politics.  Despite the busy beach/wedding/graduation party weekend, we are expecting to have a very successful event.  Part of that is due to our “dialing for dollars.” 

For countless hours, I (and some of my terrific volunteers) have been on the phone.  We have been calling supporters who have already donated as well as friends and colleagues who have not yet joined our campaign.

In these challenging times, many people can’t afford to give what they might have in the past.  For some inexplicable reason, they are sometimes apologetic about that!  Of course, from both a practical and principled viewpoint, contributions of any size are valuable.  Not only is a donation of, say, $10 more than we had before, but it also broadens the donor base, making it that much less necessary to rely on just a few big givers.  That expands our base of grass roots support and is better for the idea of participatory democracy.

When I was first ran for the House of Delegates, I raised about $50,000 for my campaign.  Most of that was from individual small donors.  One supporter I called initially declined to make a contribution.  He was feeling cynical about the undue influence of big money in politics.  I responded that if I was unable to get my supporters to donate $25, $50, or $100 (or more!), it would be likely that I would have to become like many other candidates and rely on large special interests in order to communicate with my prospective constituents.  He called me back a few minutes later.  After reflection, he agreed with my argument and decided to send $100.

My “Clean Seventeen” pledge of a voluntary cap at 50% of the legal contribution limit means that I have to work harder to raise the money I need to communicate effectively with the voters of the 17th District.  But it’s worth it, to be sure that no single voice or sector speaks too loudly.

Now, I must get back to my phone calling!  Please try to join us this Sunday at Growlers.  We want as many of my friends and supporters there as possible, so if the ticket price seems daunting in these tough economic times, just let me know. 

     I’d also love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  What do you think about election year fundraising?  Have you ever donated to one of your preferred candidates?   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 (#61) you're addressing.

 Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

Bloggin-Hearted

Post #60

This morning, Adam Pagnucco, the driving force behind Maryland Politics Watch, announced that he would be ceasing most work on this most widely read blog in the state.

Since launching in July 2006, MPW has become a major go-to source of political, fiscal, and legislative information.  Adam’s research is impeccable; his sources (‘spies’) are diverse enough to offer a balanced perspective; and his ironic wit has always made it a fun read.  Certainly, he has a bias, but don’t all of us?  By allowing comments (as long as they were signed), there could be push-back by organizations or individuals who thought they weren’t being treated fairly.

The ever-increasing number of ‘hits’ on the MPW site is evidence of the respect and influence that Adam and colleagues Marc Korman, David Lublin and others have achieved.  Kudos to everyone who has been a regular contributor, commentator, or reader.  Together, MPW has allowed us to build a community of Marylanders who care about the details of governing and the challenges and progress of our region.

Personally, this “Energizer Bunny” (my MPW moniker that others have taken to calling me) will have to hop to many more sites to try to stay as up-to-the-minute informed.  Even if photos, videos, and press releases are still posted, it is the critical commentary and independent reporting and research that made the blog such a vital source of information.

As a blogger myself (albeit only since last fall and only twice each week), I know how difficult it is to add researching, writing and editing to all the other demands of our busy lives.  Adam is making a wise decision for his family (son Andres and wife Holly), but we will miss his regular online presence at MPW.  We all owe him a debt of gratitude for setting the bar so high for quality blogging on local campaigns and governing, providing us the insights we need to be informed voters and citizens.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!   Have you been a regular reader of Maryland Politics Watch?  Where will you turn now?  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 (#60) you're addressing. 

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

Grooming Leaders in Montgomery

Post #59

Last week, Leadership Montgomery celebrated the graduation of its 21st class.  There are now some 1,500 alumni of this unique institution.  As a proud member of the Class of 2002, I have stayed involved, publicizing the program among my friends and neighbors, and helping recruit applicants for future years.

What is Leadership Montgomery?  It’s a year-long program that brings together existing and aspiring leaders in diverse fields-- including business, government, academia, and the non-profit world-- who live or work in Montgomery County.  It does not teach tips for becoming an effective leader.  There's no executive coaching, assistance with giving a speech, working with a Board of Directors, or supervising employees.  Most participants have already mastered these skills.

What it does offer is an in-depth learning opportunity in the various sectors and issues that make Montgomery County a special place.  Spending one full day each month investigating the challenges and opportunities around growth and development, public safety, transportation, education and other public issues provides participants with a more sophisticated understanding of our county and inspires ideas for how to most effectively contribute to our community. 

In addition, it offers a chance to develop deep connections with leaders from other sectors whose paths you would likely never otherwise cross.  Founder and Executive Director Esther Newman stresses the importance of diversity as well as excellence in the participant selection process.  In addition to race or ethnicity, the Selection Committee looks for political, professional, geographic, economic, age, and gender balance in each class.  The result is a program that “looks like Montgomery County”-- surely the best way of ensuring that the ideas that emerge from it benefit us all.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  Are you a graduate of Leadership Montgomery, or do you know someone who is?  What contributions do you think this organization has made to our community?  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 (#59) you're addressing. 

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

A Green “Thumbs-Up” for the Environment

Post #58

Yesterday, I was honored to receive the endorsement of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (LCV).  As one of the premiere political groups in Maryland whose mission is advocating for the environment, LCV is serious about choosing candidates whom they feel would best protect and defend our state's future. 

First, they sent each of us an eight-page questionnaire.  Topics ranged from the Bay to stormwater management, clean energy, and mass transit.  My campaign manager and I spent countless hours researching the various questions, wanting to fully understand some of the issues that have come up since I left the House of Delegates.

Second, there were endorsement interviews.  Representatives from LCV and the Sierra Club asked for further details on both legislative and political topics.  I was impressed by the amount of time that some of these lay leaders were investing in ensuring that only the best champions of the environment would be selected.

When I got the call that the LCV board had voted to endorse my candidacy as the preferred choice in District 17, I was delighted and very grateful for their vote of confidence. 

During my tenure in the House, I never had the chance to serve on a committee whose jurisdiction dealt directly with the environment.  Every legislator, however, has a chance to consider legislation and vote in the full body.  For example, I am proud of having been one of only 37 legislators to vote against deregulating electricity.  In fact, I earned a 100% voting record on environmental issues as a freshman Delegate and proudly wore the green “#1” pin I was awarded as a result.

There are two things this endorsement means for me.  In a Democratic primary, a 'thumbs-up' from a key environmental group will have a significant impact.  More than that, the endorsement process has given me a greater understanding of the issues and enhanced  relationships with leaders in this community when/if I am serving in the State Senate in January.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  How important are environmental issues as you  make your candidate choices before this September's primary election?  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 (#58) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.