Dear (Contact First Name)
What is next in the Tax-and-Spend Game? Keep your eye on Montgomery County Council Sessions this week
Now that the Legislative Session in Annapolis is about to adjourn, the Montgomery County Council is making sure that there is little breathing space for individuals or families who hope to make some spending decisions of their own.
We all have a stake in how the County Council decides to tax and spend our families' resources. You have an opportunity to watch them up close and personal this week as they hold hearings on the FY 2010 budget, every evening at 7:00 p.m. April 13-16.
The Montgomery County budget has grown from $2.1 billion in 1998 to $4.3 billion in 2008, a 7.4% compound annual growth rate, yet County residents' personal incomes, including population growth, has grown at a slower 5.7% per year.
By growing at a rate 30% faster than residents' actual incomes, over $600 million in "extra" annual spending has been added to the county budget.
We want to change this and we need your help.
There is also a session scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday April 15 -- yes, a special session for a "special" day. Meetings are to be held at the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in downtown Rockville, If you are interested in testifying at County Council hearings now or in the future, check this link: Public Participation
And if you'd like to personally contact your councilmembers, click here for a handy list of their phone numbers and e-mails:
Contact the Council
Don't forget the upcoming anti-tax "tea party" protest being planned right here in Montgomery County on April 18. Check these websites for further information: MCFRW
or Montgomery County Republican Party
See more Tea Party details below.
Mark Uncapher
Montgomery County Republican Chairman |
Are you tired of the all the "Pork" at the Federal/State/County level? Come to the April 18 Tea Party in Rockville
Are you tired of current elected officials saying "we have a budget problem" when we all know it's really a spending problem? If so, please come out and help us fix this crisis:
Saturday, April 18, 2009
from 10:00 am until 11:30 am
Location:
101 Monroe Street (in the driveway circle)
Rockville, MD20850
Event Program:
Introduction - Mark Uncapher
Speeches by County Council District 4 Special Election Candidates.
· Lou August
· Robin Ficker
· Andrew Padula
|
|
County District 4 Residents: Make Sure you vote in your Special Election Primary April 21 and General Election May 17!
If you are not sure if you or Republicans you know live in Council District 4, please click on this link to zoom in on this map:
County Council Districts with Roads
This Special Election affords a rare opportunity for Republicans to gain a voice in our county government. Since turnout tends to be light, it is important that we work to Get Out the Republican Vote for this election.
There are three Republican Candidates running for the County Council District 4 seat: Lou August, Andrew Padula, and Robin Ficker. Find out more about the candidates by clicking here:
Republican Candidates for District 4 Special Election
Whoever wins the Republican primary, we will need people from all over the county to help him in this race. There are many different ways to participate such as going door-to-door, calling in phone banks and taking part in other campaign efforts that will take place between April 21st and May 17th. We hope many people will take some time during that period to work for this important cause.
Remaining candidate forums which will include all Republican and Democratic District 4 candidates:
- Monday, April 13 @ 4:00pm - Leisure World, Clubhouse 1, (doors open at 3:00pm);
- Wednesday, April 15 @ 7:30pm - Aspen Hill Civic Assoc., Aspen Hill Library (240) 773-9410;
- Thursday, April 16 @ 2:00pm - 3:30pm, Riderwood Candidate Forum, Performance Hall, Montgomery Station, Calverton.
The Republican candidates:
Louis August - Republican
301-879-3331
13605 Mills Avenue,
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Lou August website
Robin Ficker - Republican
301-652-1500
1300 Peaceful Lane,
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Robin Ficker
Robin Ficker website
Andrew L. Padula - Republican
301-384-5609
300 Soapstone Lane,
Silver Spring, MD 20905
apbluebass@erols.com
Andrew Padula website
If you live in one of the following precincts, mark your calendar to vote:
Leg Dist Cong Dist Co Csl Dist Scl Bd Dist Pct Pct location
14 8 4 99 05-001 Good Hope Com Ctr
14 4 4 5 05-002 Greencastle ES
14 4 4 5 05-004 Riderwood Village
14 8 4 5 05-008 Page ES
14 8 4 5 05-009 Westover ES
14 8 4 5 05-012 PAINT BRANCH HS
14 4 4 5 05-015 Cloverly ES -additional Pct
14 8 4 5 05-016 Stonegate ES
14 4 4 5 05-017 Fairland School Ctr t
14 4 4 5 05-018 Burtonsville ES
14 4 4 5 05-019 Banneker MS
14 4 4 99 05-020 Marilyn J. Praisner CCtr
14 4 4 5 05-021 Eastern Montgomery Region
14 4 4 5 05-023 Marilyn J. Praisner Com. Ctr.
14 4 4 5 08-006 Sherwood High
14 4 4 5 08-007 Sherwood ES
18 8 4 4 13-028 Wheaton High School
18 8 4 4 13-036 Sargent Shriver ES
19 4 4 5 08-003 Flower Valley ES
19 4 4 5 08-004 Sequoyah ES
19 4 4 5 08-008 Magruder HS
19 4 4 5 08-012 Rosa Parks Middle School
19 8 4 4 13-001 Georgian Forest ES
19 8 4 4 13-002 JFK HS
19 8 4 4 13-011 Forest Knolls ES
19 8 4 4 13-020 Brooke Lee MS
19 8 4 4 13-033 Kemp Mill ES
19 8 4 2 13-034 Weller Road ES
19 8 4 2 13-035 Weller Rd ES
19 8 4 2 13-037 St. John's Lutheran
19 8 4 2 13-043 Wheaton Woods ES
19 8 4 2 13-045 PARKLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL
19 4 4 5 13-046 Children's Learning Ctr.
19 8 4 4 13-048 Bel Pre ES
19 8 4 4 13-049 Wheaton Moose L
19 4 4 2 13-051 Rock Creek Valley ES
19 4 4 2 13-052 Earl B Wood MS
19 8 4 5 13-054 Leisure World Clubhouse
19 8 4 4 13-055 Strathmore ES
19 8 4 4 13-056 Argyle MS
19 8 4 5 13-061 Blake High School
19 8 4 5 13-064 St. Matthews Presb.
20 8 4 5 05-005 Springbrook HS
20 4 4 5 05-006 White Oak MS
20 8 4 5 05-011 Cannon Road ES
|
How are Congressional Districts Drawn? The 2010 Elections will be Critical
The winners of statewide elections in 2010 will be the ones who redistrict the state after the 2010 census. Redistricting is required by the Constitution. Its purpose is to reconfigure congress to reflect population shifts. But the redistricting in 2000 did not reflect population shifts as much as it constituted a grab for power by the Democrats. As a result, Montgomery County, previously represented by one Congressperson, is now represented by three, two of whom do not live on our county.
The more heavily Republican vote in up county was taken out of the county and put into Congressman Bartlett's (R) huge District 6, encompassing five full counties and parts of three others, including Republican votes from Montgomery County. Congressman Bartlett lives in Frederick County. Congressional District 4 snakes from Upper Montgomery County to lower Prince George's County and as a result, its Montgomery County constituents are represented by Donna Edwards (D) who lives in Fort Washington far from Montgomery County. District 6 represented by Chris Van Hollen (D) also has Prince George's votes thrown in to help secure a Democrat victory.
The same case can be made for state districts, the electorate in up county is represented by people who live no where near them and do not understand the issues affecting them. Districts are carved by voter's parties rather than by fair representation. The state of California recently voted to have its redistricting done by a panel of citizens made up of both parties. This move strikes a blow on behalf of good government. We need to strike a blow here too. So, yes we have work to do.
Although there may be satisfaction in shouting from the rooftops "I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" all that noise does not get us anywhere.
The time to get involved with your local Republican party is now! Fired by the angst we see, the county party has program to increase grassroots activities.
Remember: There are over 120,000 registered Republican voters in Montgomery County. If we work together we can be a force to be reckoned with. Instead of being discouraged, we must become more energized for the up coming 2010 election. This election is critical.
Yes we face strong opposition ... but it is not impossible. We can and must prevail in the next election so we can once again have our voices heard.
Get to know fellow Republicans in your own precinct! To get started in grassroots efforts, call and leave a message at County Headquarters (301) 417-9256 or email Pat Fenati, Organization Chair, fenati@verizon.netshe will get you in touch with the chair of your Legislative District and Precinct Chair. Also take Precinct Training offered in twice in May: Sunday, May 3rd from 2:00 to 4:00 and Saturday May 9th from 10:00 to noon at GOP Headquarters, 15833 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville. |
 | |
|
|
|
|
|
The Montgomery County Republican Party Annual Lincoln Day Dinner
Thursday April 30, 6:30 pm.
Join us at the Hilton Rockville Executive Meeting Center, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, conveniently located in front of the Twinbrook Metro Station (red line accessible).
Our speaker is Republican National Chairman Michael Steele and we will honor former Congresswoman Connie Morella for her career of distinguished public service.
Tickets -$125, VIP Reception, with photograph - $250.
|
|
Backdoor Tax Increase by Council
The County Council is proposing to raise your property taxes again!
In the April 2nd edition of the Montgomery County Sentinel Newspaper, the County Council announced its intentions to increase real property taxes from $0.661 of $100 of assessment to $0.704 of $100 of assessment. That would be a 6.5% property tax increase and will be in effect July 1, 2009, if passed! If you don't receive a subscription to the Sentinel or frequent Metro stations in Germantown, Rockville, Gaithersburg or Bethesda, you would not know of this proposed increase!
The Council is required by law to advertise in a newspaper of "general circulation" to distinct jurisdictions or send individual notices through the mail. In my opinion, neither have been done in this case, therefore, I have called on the media to investigate the legality of the dissemination.
Also on the rise will be personal property taxes, which directly affect business owners. According to the MD Department of Assessments and Taxation, "the tax rate on personal property must be 2.5 times the rate on real property." Therefore, if the real property rate increase is passed, the personal property rate will automatically go up from 1.652% to 1.760%. This has been confirmed by legislative staff at the County Council.
A public hearing on the proposed property tax increase will be held on Tuesday, April 21 at 1:30 pm at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, 3rd floor hearing room. For more information on the hearing or to schedule to testify, call 240-777-7900. If you cannot attend the hearing, please consider writing a letter to the editor of the Post or Gazette.
To learn more about the County budget, you could watch Channel 6, County Cable Montgomery, on Tuesday, April 14 (agenda item #10, scheduled for 10:45 am). The Council staff director will give the Council a briefing on the FY10 operating budget. A packet will be available from the Montgomery County Council website (www.montgomerycountymd.gov) late Friday afternoon (April 10).
Glynis R. Kazanjian
|
| Governor Bob Ehrlich to speak at Leisure World
Monday, April 20
10:00 a.m. reception
10:30 a.m. program
The Republican Club of Leisure World cordially invites you to its meeting
with Special Guest Speaker Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. in the
Maryland Room of Clubhouse One in Leisure World. Doughnuts and coffee at 10:00 a.m., Program begins at 10:30 a.m. For further information, please call 301-598-3049
|
New Precinct Training Sessions at
MCGOP HQS.
15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville
Sunday, May 3, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
and Saturday, May 9, 10:00-12:00 noon
This training is open to any one who is interested in grass roots efforts at the precinct level. You will learn about the voting districts in Montgomery County, understand what is needed to build a successful precinct, and much more. The training is informative, fun and FREE and includes group participation and role playing. To enroll please email your name, phone number and precinct number or address to mdmcrp@comcast.net, email Pat Fenati at fenati@verizon.net or call MCGOP Headquarters at (301) 417-9256. If you have been doing precinct work for a while, your experience will be welcome.
Nearly 200 people have completed the program so far. We are asking every current Montgomery County Republican Precinct Chair that has not yet taken the course to do so in 2009. |
|
CONTACT YOUR CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
| |
