Rockville has been Ground Zero for one of the harder-fought election campaigns in the state, the race for democratic nomination to the District 17 Senate seat, which is currently held by Jennie Forehand. Forehand is opposed by former state Delegate Cheryl Kagan. The election is September 14.

While this is a primary election, the winner is for all intents and purposes the ultimate victor, as this is a solidly democratic district.

This campaign has been energetic for some time, as Kagan filed her candidacy in May but had been campaigning before then. However, now is the time that voters are making up their minds so we thought we would provide links to relevant information so readers can easily research.

In addition to everything below, we’ve asked each candidate to provide a statement of their choosing by the end of the day. We will publish those on Saturday.

(Note that Rockville Central does not endorse candidates and we work hard to provide a balanced forum for all.)

The Candidates’ Online Identities

• Jennie Forehand:
  • Main web site
  • Facebook page
• Cheryl Kagan
  • Main web site
  • Facebook page
  • Twitter account (@CherylKagan)

Endorsements

• Jennie Forehand
  • Endorsed by The Gazette
  • List of endorsements on candidate site
• Cheryl Kagan
  • Endorsed by the Washington Post
  • List of endorsements on candidate site

Debates

While there have been a number of debates in this campaign, the most recent was August 31, held in Rockville Memorial Library. The candidates questioned each other, and responded to written questions from the audience. Rockville Central had complete coverage:

• Forehand, Kagan Question Each Other
• Forehand, Kagan Respond to Audience Quatsions:
  • Part One
  • Part Two
  • Part Three

Our friends at TBD.com also hosted a brief (less than 10 minute) debate between the two candidates, and provided us with full video. You can see that here.

Contributor Opinions

A number of readers have submitted contributor opinion pieces in support of either Forehand or Kagan. Here they all are, organized.

• Contributor Opinion pieces in favor of Jennie Forehand:
  • Contributor Opinion By Sen. Brian Frosh: Setting The Record Straight On Jennie Forehand
  • Contributor Opinion by Richard Arkin: Kagan Goes Negative
  • Reader Note by Kevin Brooks: Forehand Kagan…Pretty Simple
  • Contributor Opinion by John Moser: I Support Sen. Jennie Forehand
  • Contributor Opinion By Richard Arkin: Forehand The More Successful Legislator
  • Contributor Opinion By Laura Berthiaume: What I Know
    

• Contributor Opinion pieces in favor of Cheryl Kagan:
  • Contributor Opinion by John Cooper-Martin: Cheryl Kagan Will Make a Great State Senator for District 17
  • Contributor Opinion By Scott Maravilla: Cheryl Kagan Is Our Future
  • Contributor Opinion By Sima Osdoby: Why I am Supporting Cheryl Kagan
  • Contributor Opinion By Bob Wright: Kagan Followed Letter And Spirit Of The Law
  • Contributor Opinion By Paul Carlson: Cheryl Kagan, The Hardest Working Public Servant I have Ever Known
  • Contributor Opinion by Frederick Beckner: Cheryl Kagan Helping to Keep Big Money Out of Politics
  • Contributor Opinion By David Spitzer: A Response to Richard Arkin
  • Contributor Opinion By Arthur Katz: Forehand’s Mailer, Cover Their Eyes
  • Contributor Opinion By Anne Robbins: My Support For Cheryl Kagan
  • Contributor Opinion By Eileen McGuckian: Why I Support Cheryl Kagan
  • Reader Note By Jim Coyle: Support For Kagan
  • Reader Note By Dick Strombotne: Why I Support Cheryl Kagan
  • Contributor Opinion By John Britton: My Preference For Cheryl Kagan

So, there you have it.

If circumstances change materially, we will update this page and mark it.

Happy voting!

 

To read the article from its source, click here.