Annapolis 2009 Elections
We extend our congratulations to all our candidates because they all ran strong campaigns and they all won. The ADCC will now help them keep in touch with Annapolitans and the problems in the City that need attention. Annapolitans are urged to inform us of the problems they see. We will be sure to pass them along to our elected officials for action.
Misinformation, Smears, and Hate Crimes — They have no business corrupting our campaigns. The election was marred by all three.
Zina Pierre’s campaign suffered charges that contained a good bit of misinformation, which not only helped end her candidacy but caused personal harm to her reputation. On the issue of her residency, she was a registered voter in Annapolis for two years, the legal requirement for running for mayor. She did not apply for a Homestead Exemption for an out-of-town house nor did she claim it as her primary residence. Her campaign expenditure to IQ Associates for handling a robo call by former president Bill Clinton, a mailer, and a lit drop was duly reported and was entirely legal. Other candidates had used this organization for campaign activity. Yes, she had financial problems, most of which had been resolved.
The smear affected the mayoral campaign of Trudy McFall. “The Trouble with Trudy” email sent to Democrats contained charges alleging financial missteps in the past, never confirmed, and other dubious claims about her role in public housing in Annapolis. Negative attacks can be expected in a campaign, but they are required by law to have an identified authority as the source. There was no authority line in the attack -- no one to contact to confirm the authenticity of the charges. This was a clear smear.
The hate crime during the campaign appeared as an anonymous racist flyer accusing Republican Ward 3 aldermanic candidate Scott Bowling of being a potential sexual abuser of kids. The flyer thus urged that Alderwoman Classie Hoyle be re-elected. Current alderman Sam Shropshire was also attacked. Bowling has not hidden his sexual orientation, and the charges were entirely bogus and without merit. Again, no authority line appeared on the flyer, and the Hoyle campaign stated that it had nothing to do with the flyer. This was clearly a hate crime as well as a smear.
The ADCC strongly condemns smears and hate crimes and supports legal action against their perpetrators. We will also aid candidates who supply us information on these infractions by adding our voice to theirs in condemnation. Although candidates themselves are primarily responsible for clearing up misinformation, we will assist when we can, although we cannot take sides in primary contests.
The ADCC is committed to clean campaigns and open, honest government.
Volunteer Opportunities
Mike Busch/Team 30 Campaign
The Mike Busch/Team 30 headquarters is now open at Suite 21 on the second floor of Clock Tower Place, 1410 Forest Drive in Annapolis. The phone number is 443-458-7998, and the website is www.speakerbusch.com. You can reach Sarah Flynn, Speaker Busch s campaign manager, at the office number, her cell phone (410-703-3990) or manager@speakerbusch.com. Volunteers are needed for phoning (all day, every weekday, and some evenings), canvassing (evenings and weekends), and office tasks. Please contact Sarah to find out more about how you can help.
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Monday through Friday from noon to 5:30 p.m., they are phoning people 65 and would love help. Just drop by the office when you can or, better yet, call and let them know you are coming.
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Monday and Wednesday evenings they are phoning from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Let phone bank captain Laurel Maury know if you can join by writing to her at laurel.maury@gmail.com. (They need to know whether to expect you because they have to instruct you on how to get in to the building after 6 p.m.)
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Canvassing: next date is Wednesday, August 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., but canvassing dates are being added all the time. If you can join in, write to field organizer Tucker Cavanagh at tuckercav@gmail.com, and he will send you a note about where to meet on which dates.
Frank Kratovil Campaign
Rep. Kratovil has opened his campaign headquarters at 1100 Butterworth Rd., Stevensville, Md. (In the Thompson Creek Business Park).
Chris Trumbauer Campaign - August Splash
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Mondays - The Campaign asks you to call your friends & neighbors to volunteer, put up a yard sign, and vote for Chris.
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Tuesdays - Canvassing: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Come to Café Pronto in the Festival at Riva Plaza and pick up a turf and a partner and go out to canvass or just pick up materials to canvass your own neighborhood another night.
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Wednesdays and Fridays- Sign waving: 6 - 9 a.m. or 4 - 7 p.m., For locations email Kate at volunteer.teamtrumbauer@gmail.com. Bring some bubbles, bring your kids or dogs, bring your biggest smile! Can't make it? Take a yard sign to some businesses in your area and ask if you can set it up.
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Thursdays and Saturdays- Phone Banking: 6 - 9 p.m., Teachers Association, Anne Arundel County building at 2521 Riva Road # L7
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Saturdays- Canvassing and Phone Banking: 2 - 4 p.m., Come to Teachers Association, Anne Arundel County building at 2521 Riva Road # L7 to make calls or pick up a turf and a partner and go out to canvass.
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Sundays - Postcard Day: Write postcards to your friends and neighbors and tell them that you are supporting Chris! Bring a friend join us to drink some wine (or other beverage) and write some postcards. For locations email Kate at volunteer.teamtrumbauer@gmail.com.
District 30 Democratic Club
The District 30 Democratic Club also supports our candidates and organizes volunteers. Please contact Warren Hamel, President, md30dems.org, warrenhamel@comcast.net. District 30 meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at 6:30 pm at the Asbury United Methodist Church, 87 West Street.
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The Maryland Democratic Party has a weekly newsletter, The Blue Crab, and we invite you to sign-up to receive this newsletter automatically each week. To sign-up, please visit www.mddems.org/ht/d/AssociateHome/tab/reminders and login to your account or create a new account. Then select to receive the "Blue Crab Weekly Newsletter" under Reminders.
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The Maryland Democratic Party has resumed sending out “Dem Clips,” a compendium of articles from newspapers around the state. If you wish to keep up with what is going on in the legislative session, the O’Malley administration, and other news, get on this email list. Just go to www.mddems.org and sign up.
