Happy Fourth of July
Message from the Chairman
But we in the Montgomery County Republican Party are hopeful about the future because we know that more and more citizens are catching on to the fiscal irresponsibility and bad policies that put big government interests before the interests of the families and businesses in our communities. As they consider their recent property tax bills and the over-regulation that prevents businesses from hiring, county citizens will have to take a second look at the Democrat monopolies that keep passing such laws. Another issue citizens may be looking at is the dysfunction of agencies such as the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. There are lingering questions about the role played by the newly appointed WSSC head in controlling the message to the public about lead contamination in the water during 2001-04. You can read that story in the Gazette at this link: http://www.gazette.net/stories/07012009/montnew190543_32526.shtml
With the 2010 elections just around the corner, we hope you will become more active in the county GOP. A great place to start is with the precinct training session on July 11 at our headquarters in Rockville. The details about that and more are in this newsletter.
May you and yours enjoy a wonderful Fourth,
Mark Uncapher, Chairman
mark@uncapher.net
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How does your Property Tax bill look this year? Assessment gone down, but taxes still gone up?
 
Hmmmm. That was my feeling upon opening the envelope from the Montgomery County Department of Assessments and Taxation. It came to my mailbox -- and likely to yours -- this past week. Hope springs eternal: Because I knew that my assessment decreased substantially since last year's, I initially dared to wonder: Might there be any corresponding good news on my tax bill?
Of course not.
My bill is still at least five percent higher than last year's. Sure, it could have been worse. But the decrease in my assessment was 16 percent while the tax rate went up by "only" four percent. So how does this compute? Well, the lower assessment makes me no longer eligible for the homestead credit. And, of course, this is Montgomery County. So one way or another, there is always a formula to make certain your taxes will always increase.
The best course for all of us is to trace the path of our hard-earned money by investigating how our county tax dollars are being spent. You can start this process by taking a look at the county budget. The County Council 2010 "budget in brief" is available by clicking here: Budget in Brief
For more in depth budget information, click here:
County Budget
In it you will find plenty of ways to spark discussions with your neighbors. So please talk to them and get them thinking about the need for political balance on our County Council in 2010!
--Stella Green
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Contacts and Training with Maryland Republican Women's Clubs help Mongolian Women Activists elect first non-Communist President
Republicans in Montgomery County and throughout the state may well know the names of Ambassador Ellen Sauerbrey as well as Patt Parker, president of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women. But they may not know the role that these women played -- as well as many others such Marie Ciliberti of the Montgomery County Federation of Republican Women -- in nurturing true democracy abroad by hosting delegations of women activists from Mongolia over the past few years. The mission of the Mongolian women was -- and continues to be -- to acquire the knowledge and training to run campaigns and get elected to office.
Worchestor County Republican activist Ann Granados got to know the Mongolian women well and was very active in initiating the project and hosting the delegation. She wrote to the Maryland Federation of Republican Women: "What a great thing for our Mongolian
Sisters!! They got the job done!
They are working and running campaigns; every few months they come to
the Leadership Institute en masse, learn and use their knowledge and
are so successful and now have helped elect the first Democratic
President in Mongolia. I am really proud of them. . . . They are VERY SERIOUS in
their task."
Press Release from the Leadership Institute:
As Speaker Pelosi Heads To Asia, So Do LI-Trained Activists
It
was a high-profile visit. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, traveling with a
large Congressional delegation, headed to China last month, receiving
much public fanfare. While the mainstream media
focused on the travels
of Speaker Pelosi, an equally historic event was taking place in
bordering Mongolia partly thanks to the Leadership Institute. In
a free and fair election, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, a Western-educated,
libertarian candidate won a presidential election in Mongolia, a
country where the radical left has dominated politics for nearly a
hundred years. Elbegdorj won the Presidential election weeks ago, the first person to hold the office having never
been a member of the communist People's Revolutionary Party. In a part
of the world still blighted by the corrupting influence of communism,
this election result is welcome indeed. Elbegdorj's
victory is thanks, in part, to the Leadership Institute, which provided
vital training to dozens of his grassroots activists. Over the course
of twelve months, more than 50 key regional leaders of Elbegdorj's
campaign traveled to the Steven P.J. Wood Building in Arlington, VA,
where LI's expert faculty were on hand to provide training in such
topics as get-out-the-vote, fundraising, and internet activism. "The
results of the election are still being finalized," said Miguel Moreno,
the Leadership Institute's Director of International Training, "but it
seems that our training provided President-elect Elbegdorj's campaign
with the edge." Since
the founding of the Leadership Institute in 1979, LI has helped train
conservative activists in dozens of countries around the world, and in
every state in the US. LI's 44 different types of training programs can
help you win your election, drive media coverage, and organize the
grassroots - even if you're not planning to run for the Mongolian
Presidency. The
Leadership Institute's summer schedule includes many power-packed
seminars designed for conservatives like you. Seminars in public
relations, direct mail, and youth leadership are now enrolling.
For more information about opportunities at the Leadership Institute, click here: The Leadership Institute - For Conservatives who want to win
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Montgomery County Republican Central Committee elects Three New Members
At its regularly scheduled meeting on June 23, the Central Committee filled vacancies in its District 19 and District 39 seats, as well as for one at-large position. Moshe Starkman, Denise Siegel and Derrick LaRosa have joined the other 16 members of the Central Committee to work towards electing Republicans to office and growing the GOP in Montgomery County.
Denise Siegel is a resident of Gaithersburg in legislative district 39. She currently serves as Corporate Accounting Manager at Coventry Health Care. Denise was born and raised in Maryland and is a
lifelong Republican. She started volunteering for the Republican Party while in
college and more recently was active in the George W. Bush and John McCain
presidential campaigns. She has also held the position of second vice president of the Upper Montgomery Republican Women's Club, and has planned numerous political
events such as candidate fundraisers, debate watching parties, and the April 18th
Tea Party in Rockville. Her chief goals are to work closely with elected officials
at all levels in order to promote a more fiscally responsible and efficient
government and to advance the conservative agenda in the face of a challenging
political climate. desiegel@cvty.com
Michael "Moshe" Starkman, a resident of Aspen Hill in Legislative District 19, serves as the newly elected President of Maryland Young Republicans. Prior to that he was the President of the Montgomery county Young Republicans. He is owner of Moshe Technologies, LLC, specializing in Web 2.0 systems. Before politics Moshe was instrumental in establishing a new Congregation in Rockville and in founding a multi-state not-for-profit to promote youth development. He received the Montgomery County GOP's 2007 "Man of the Year" award and is currently building a national network of Republican activists. mstarkman@moshetechnologies.com
Derrick LaRosa currently lives in Bethesda, and was raised in Potomac. He has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Boston College. Derrick began his career in
investment banking and has worked for Bank of America, FleetBoston Financial
and JPMorgan Securities over a six year period.
In 2004 Derrick started Energy One Group, LLC, specializing in business
development for coal properties. He
currently is involved in his second start-up a real estate investment firm. Derrick currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the Montgomery County Young Republicans as well as the Young Republican National Committeeman representing Maryland. As a member of the Young Republicans, Derrick
worked closely to engage and promote the use of technology and web networking
to touch Republicans and Young Republicans from across Maryland and
nationwide. As a member of Future Leaders for McCain, he sought to leverage the
use of technology and the power of voters of all ages in Montgomery County and
Maryland to fundraise for the Maryland GOP. Derrick has advocated for increased
Young Republican focus in community development and involvement helping to coordinate several events for the Young Republicans. In addition to these initiatives he has
participated on several levels fundraising for the MDGOP, MYR and Republican
candidates in Virginia, California and Michigan. dlvent@hotmail.com
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Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 11 10:00-12:00 Noon Precinct Training at GOP HQS.
15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville
Prepare to Elect Republicans in 2010!
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 her at 301-253-5205. If you have been doing precinct work for a while, your experience will be welcome.
Two hundred have completed the program so far. We are asking every current Montgomery County Precinct Chair who has not yet taken the course to do so in 2009. |
Come to Maryland GOP Baseball and Fireworks Night at Frederick Keys Stadium July 10! With special guest Congressman Roscoe Bartlett.  Picnic under the tent at 6:00 p.m. with grilled hot dogs and burgers, "Doc Geiser's Famous Original Chicken," watermelon and more. Baseball game: Frederick Keys Vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Also: Unlimited kidzone bracelet for the kids, pack of baseball cards, free parking and game program! $40.
Please
contact the MD GOP at 410-263-2125, email
arose@mdgop.org or call 410-259-9824 to reserve your
tickets or for more information about sponsorship opportunities! |
Republican Central Committee Seeks Bookkeeper
The Montgomery County Central Central Committee is currently looking for a
part-time bookkeeper.
The candidate should be experienced with Intuit QuickBooks, able to maintain the
Committee's contributor database and familiar with Maryland State Board
of Elections 'ELECTrack' filing system.
Send resumes to: mdmcrp@comcast.net
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It's a New Day for Maryland! Get involved in the renewal of our state at newdaymd.org
Maryland's tax ranking went from 26th highest (in 2008) to the 5th highest of all 50 states this year. That's a dubious accomplishment for Gov. O'Malley and the Democrats in the Legislature to be proud of.
Concerned Citizens for a Better Maryland have launched an exciting new grassroots effort to engage Marylanders in bringing the Free State back to fiscal and social responsibility.
Charles Lollar, Chairman of Concerned Citizens for a Better Maryland, launched in May 2009.
Chairman Charles Lollar says of the group, "We have always been compassionate, caring and supporters of the underdog. By and large, we value a free economy, personal freedoms and minimal government involvement. Click here:
New Day Maryland
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Come Visit or Volunteer at the GOP Tent at the Montgomery County Fair, August 14-22
What a great way to meet Republican neighbors from all over Montgomery County! Get involved and have fun at the Fair. To sign up for a two-hour slot at the Republican Tent, contact Ruth Melson at rockinruth@verizon.net
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CONTACT YOUR CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Hon. Moshe Starkman - 19
Treasurer
mstarkman@moshetechnologies.com
Hon. Gus Alzona - 16 augustus@alzona.com
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