The Washington Post Editorial Board took a web page from its 2018 playbook by endorsing David Blair for Montgomery County govt.
“Mr. Blair is upbeat, even-tempered and proactive,” The Post Editorial Board wrote.
The Post Editorial Post launched its second endorsement for Mr. Blair on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
Read The Washington Post’s 2022 endorsement of David Blair for Montgomery County govt.
And you’ll be able to learn The Washington Post‘s 2018 endorsement of Mr. Blair.
The Washington Post 2022 Blair Endorsement Summarized
The Washington Post Editorial Board wrote glowingly concerning the prospects of Blair taking management of a county that’s unfocused on a rising financial system, reasonably priced housing, and rising crime.
“Mr. Blair is correct that except Montgomery steps up its financial growth sport, improves transportation options, and rebalances its reasonably priced housing provide to fulfill demand, the county’s prospects are anemic.
His detailed, proactive plan is the correct drugs to revitalize the county.
And his good strategy to rising crime — he would each assist and reform the police — could be an improve on Mr. Elrich, who bungled the hiring of a brand new police chief.”
These are “good qualities for an executive and exactly what the county needs to lift its flagging fortunes.”
Washington Post Editorial Critical Of County Executive Marc Elrich
The Post‘s newest Blair endorsement is a one-two punch:
- David Blair, please!
- Vote for anyone however Marc Elrich!
In equity to Marc Elrich, The Washington Post was not a fan of his for a few years.
The Post‘s Blair endorsement should come as no surprise to anyone who’s adopted Montgomery County politics for a while.
Nevertheless, the one shock from The Post’s endorsement is how a lot time the editorial board devoted to trashing Marc Elrich.
The Post might have simply as simply heaped deserving reward onto Mr. Blair in the identical quantity of column area because it spent ripping Mr. Elrich’s document.
Marc Elrich Deserves Credit For His COVID-19 Response
Elected officers are so usually deserving topics of stinging newspaper editorials.
County Executive Marc Elrich is not any exception.
But a lot of Mr. Elrich’s first time period as county govt was spent responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s greater than truthful to commend Mr. Elrich and his administration for his or her COVID-19 fast response.
The Elrich administration stored Montgomery Countians protected and certain saved numerous lives.
Mr. Elrich prioritized public security from the pandemic’s outset and steadfastly refused to cave to public strain from the small cabal of lunatic fringe anti-maskers.
But The Post Editorial Board’s Blair endorsement by no means even talked about the Elrich administration’s dealing with of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That was a mistake.
It’s their editorial, nevertheless; they will write no matter they need.
Instead, the Washington Post ignored Mr. Elrich’s pandemic response fully.
The editorial board even went as far as to reward Hans Riemer, certainly one of Mr. Blair and Mr. Elrich’s Democratic main opponents.
Here’s what The Post wrote:
“Montgomery County, Maryland’s most populous locality, is dwelling to greater than 1 million folks whose prime elected official (Marc Elrich) has mismanaged its $6 billion funds and workforce, subverted its prospects of attracting jobs and prosperity, pandered to his slim political base, and set the county up for failure.
In no unsure phrases, the Washington Post’s ominous political forecast – re-electing Marc Elrich to a second time period – is a clarion name to Montgomery County Democratic main voters:
“If Mr. Elrich is elected to a second four-year term, the results would likely be a quickening deterioration of the county’s tax and employment base, with severe implications for its ability to afford top-notch schools, services, public safety, housing, and transportation.”
The Post characterizes Mr. Elrich’s messaging as “toxic:”
“He attacked a brand new transit line as “ethnic cleaning“; threw chilly water on a $3 billion undertaking that might present hundreds of jobs within the japanese county, which badly wants them; and stated it was no large deal that Montgomery misplaced hundreds of jobs to Arlington County within the competitors for Amazon’s new headquarters. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Post.)
At the identical time, Mr. Elrich’s insistence on blaming others, and his venomous relationship with the County Council, have poisoned the general public debate.”
Marc Elrich Has No Traffic Relief Plan
Traffic aid is the place Elrich’s assist drops off for a lot of Montgomery Countians.
In 2019, Gov. Hogan and state transportation officers launched a public-private partnership visitors aid plan.
Here are the fundamentals of Mr. Hogan’s P3 Plan:
- Fix the American Legion Bridge;
- Widen the Capital Beltway (495);
- Add managed toll lanes to Interstate 270.
Finally!
Outgoing County Councilman Craig Rice will get it!
A Miner Detail Podcast hosted a panel dialogue about Gov. Hogan’s visitors aid plan.
Voters elect candidates to public workplace to “get stuff done.”
You’ve most likely heard Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Perez’s marketing campaign advert that performs on a loop each 5 minutes in the course of the FOX 5 weekday morning exhibits.
Mr. Perez says he’s from the Democratic Party’s “Get Stuff Done” wing.
Incidentally, The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun editorial boards have endorsed Tom Perez for Maryland governor.
Mr. Elrich is supporting Mr. Perez’s gubernatorial bid.
But Mr. Hogan’s visitors plan is extra vital proper now.
Guess who else thinks so?
Read the Washington Post editorial board endorsement of Larry Hogan’s visitors aid undertaking.
For years, Montgomery County politicians have complained concerning the county’s crumbling infrastructure and elevated visitors congestion.
What have these identical politicians executed to alleviate visitors congestion in Montgomery County?
Nothing.
Larry Hogan was executed with empty guarantees – so he took motion.
The governor and his administration launched an Interstate 495/270 visitors aid plan in 2019.
Hopefully, Mr. Hogan’s visitors aid plan strikes ahead and isn’t pushed into infinite litigation.
Though relying on who’s elected Maryland governor in November 2022, Mr. Hogan’s visitors congestion aid plan is seemingly on tenuous floor.
Take be aware, Mr. Elrich: 61% of space residents assist Governor Hogan’s commonsense visitors aid plan.
Traffic Relief Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
Mr. Hogan and his administration officers clearly perceive the finer factors of multi-modal transportation options.
It’s irritating that Marc Elrich and lots of of his mates dwelling in Silver Spring and Takoma Park assume to know what’s finest for county residents dwelling in Gaithersburg, Rockville, Germantown, Clarksburg, Poolesville, Darnestown, and Damascus.
Even worse, after almost 16 years in elected public workplace, Marc Elrich hasn’t proposed a lot within the type of visitors aid options.
Okay, Mr. County Executive, what’s your plan to mitigate visitors?
Hopefully, the Gaithersburg pothole on Interstate 270 is fastened by the July 4 vacation weekend.
For years, Marc Elrich has ignored commonsense visitors aid proposals.
Do you ever drive Maryland Route 200, the Intercounty Connector?
It makes life a lot simpler!
Can you guess who opposed the development of the ICC?
Marc Elrich was one of some native elected officers on the time who led a struggle towards the development of the 18.8-mile-long stretch of freeway that now connects Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
Lucky for us, The Washington Post publishes its archives from the early 2000s.
Read about Marc Elrich’s December 2005 try at a last-minute roadblock to the ICC.
Marc Elrich’s June 2019 Maryland Board of Public Works Appearance
After taking workplace in December 2018, County Executive Marc Elrich wasted no time burning a bridge between himself and Gov. Hogan.
(Let’s hope it wasn’t the American Legion bridge.)
Mr. Elrich, a progressive Democrat, hasn’t put a lot effort into constructing a constructive relationship with the reasonable Republican governor.
In reality, Mr. Elrich, not even six months into his new position as county govt, determined to heckle Mr. Hogan at a June 2019 Board of Public Works assembly.
So embarrassing.
Mr. Elrich’s Board of Public Works feedback begins round 1:08:00.
County Councilman Tom Hucker additionally spoke on the Board of Public Works assembly on the identical day.
Unlike Elrich, Mr. Hucker, the chairman of the County Council’s Transportation & Environment Committee, took a conciliatory strategy when sharing his issues about Mr. Hogan’s visitors aid plan.
Mr. Hucker briefly ran for county govt in the course of the 2022 election cycle however dropped out of the Democratic main.
He’s working for re-election to the County Council (at giant).
77 Votes, And David Blair Would Be County Executive
In 2018, Mr. Blair was certainly one of six Democrats who ran for Montgomery County govt.
Do you keep in mind Montgomery County’s 2018 Democratic govt candidates, along with Marc Elrich and David Blair?
- Roger Berliner
- Bill Frick
- Rose Krasnow
- George Leventhal
The June Democratic main was an actual nail-biter!
After all of the votes have been counted (and recounted), Elrich defeated Blair by solely 77 votes.
And the ultimate tally is:
- Elrich: 37,532 votes
- Blair: 37,455 votes
Check out the State Board of Elections web site to see Montgomery County’s 2018 election outcomes.
The Secret Ingredient
So, how did Marc Elrich win 4 countywide elections?
Mr. Elrich has a secret weapon: An rigid, left-leaning progressive base.
Mr. Elrich’s base, closely concentrated in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, isn’t persuadable; they’ll by no means transfer away from him.
It’s a fifth Avenue form of factor.
To higher perceive the mentality of a few of Elrich’s extra sycophantic loyalists, head over to Montgomery County progressive activist Ed Fischman’s Twitter page.
Have you seen sufficient?
Now take Ed Fischman’s obsequiousness to Elrich and add 35,521 to it.
That’s how Marc Elrich has gained 4 countywide elections.
You should marvel if The Washington Post realizes that it doesn’t matter what its editorial board writes about Marc Elrich, the Elrich base isn’t transferring away from him.
It won’t ever occur.
Then once more, The Post’s Elrich criticisms virtually caught in 2018 – however the hometown newspaper couldn’t persuade 78 folks to vote for David Blair.
Next, we’ll check out the 2022 county govt candidates.
The 2022 Montgomery County Executive Candidates
The Democrats
The Republicans
What Do The Polls Say About The 2022 Montgomery County Executive Election?
The polls?
What polls?
The Washington Post hasn’t launched any polling on the 2022 county govt race.
Political polling is just about nonexistent this election cycle.
The Blair marketing campaign, largely self-funded by Mr. Blair himself, hasn’t launched any polling information exhibiting him main Mr. Elrich – and that’s most likely not accidentally.
The Data for Progress Poll Showing Marc Elrich Winning Re-Election
A May 2022 impartial ballot carried out by Data for Progress, a progressive polling agency, exhibits County Executive Marc Elrich with a snug lead over Blair.
Here’s the background on the ballot:
- 529 Montgomery Democrats from May 19-23.
- The respondents have been chosen utilizing voter registration information and contacted by cellular phone.
- The survey had a 4-point margin of error.
And the outcomes are:
- 33% for Elrich
- 14% for Blair
- 14% for Hans Riemer
- 1 % for Peter James
- 38% undecided
Keep in thoughts that Data for Progress launched a memo explaining the way it’s engaged on updating its polling methodology to make sure its outcomes are as correct as potential.
Translation: Take the ballot critically and take it with a grain of salt.
Without different polling to check, it’s clear that David Blair and Hans Riemer are splitting the anti-Elrich vote in case you’re studying solely the Data for Progress ballot for context.
Blair’s 2022 Endorsements
About David Blair
In 2019, Mr. Blair launched the Council for Advocacy and Policy Solutions, a “nonprofit public policy institute” that educates the Montgomery County neighborhood on laws with native impacts.
From its founding in 1998 by 2012, Mr. Blair served as chairman and chief govt officer of Catalyst Health Solutions Inc., a Fortune 500 firm.
By 2006, Catalyst’s income greater than doubled to $1.3 billion.
SXC Health Solutions acquired Catalyst in 2012 for $4.8 billion.
HealthExtras
In 1997, Mr. Blair based HealthExtras, a Rockville-based firm that bought “primary and secondary insurance packages to individuals and small businesses at discounted prices,” based on an article written by The Washington Post.
HealthExtras represented lower than 1% of Catalyst’s whole combination revenues.
The firm supplied a choose group of distinctive advantages that offered further protections to people.
A Company Inspired By The Late Christopher Reeve
The firm’s formation was impressed by late actor Christopher Reeve, identified for his tv portrayal of Superman.
Mr. Reeve suffered a dramatic harm in 1995 as a result of a horse-riding accident, leaving him completely paralyzed.
He believed he had glorious well being protection by his actor’s union however found that there was a lifetime restrict that he exceeded after just a few years of care.
Consequently, Reeve was left with out medical insurance – regardless that his medical bills continued.
Reeve later turned the spokesperson for HealthExtras, rooted in his perception that the corporate’s merchandise have been life-altering.
HealthExtras offered extra protection to its sufferers – further protection over the bounds of an ordinary well being or incapacity plan.
In addition, roughly half a dozen different advantages – together with air ambulance providers, incapacity protection, and organ transplant advantages – have been included into the HealthExtras merchandise.
Don’t Forget To Vote
Maryland’s main election is July 19.
You have till Tuesday, June 28, to register to vote or change your voter registration.
David Blair is certainly one of 4 Democratic candidates within the 2022 Montgomery County govt race.
Ryan Miner is Editor & Founder of A Miner Detail, a Maryland Politics Blog.