PRIMARY VOTERS GUIDE: The Local News Network at the University of Maryland reached out to all 235 candidates for Maryland’s General Assembly primaries to understand their perspectives through a comprehensive questionnaire. The gathered responses are summarized below. Candidates without a competitive primary were not included in this outreach. Maryland’s primary election is scheduled for June 23, with early voting commencing on June 11. Explore the Local News Network’s extensive coverage on the pertinent issues emerging from the General Assembly primaries in Maryland.
THREE DEMOCRATS ROUND UP FOR ANNE ARUNDEL EXECUTIVE: Pete Smith, James Kitchin, and Allison Piackard are vying for the role of Anne Arundel County Executive, challenging incumbent Democrat Steuart Pittman, who is unable to run again due to term limits. The Democratic primary winner will move on to the November general election, where they will confront Dave Crawford, a Republican volunteer fire chief, who is currently unopposed in his primary. WBAL’s Tommie Clark offers detailed profiles of the candidates in the running.
SIZZLING WEATHER SPARKS STRONG VOTER SENTIMENT ON FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING: Highly competitive and financially significant races for Maryland’s 5th and 6th Congressional Districts are at the forefront of voters’ minds this election season. Voter engagement appears to be high, with opinions heating up in the face of rising temperatures. William J. Ford and Mayah Nachman/Maryland Matters
ETHICS COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST HOWARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE CANDIDATE: A complaint has been lodged with the Howard County Ethics Commission against County Council member Deb Jung, alleging she misappropriated her public office to gain political advantages by using scrutiny surrounding The Source community center project to enhance her county executive campaign. The complaint, submitted by Brian Kim, managing member of Columbia Concepts – Flier LLC, responsible for the community center’s construction, claims Jung exploited her county office’s status and processes to lend credibility to campaign allegations, violating the county’s Public Ethics Law. “They’re trying to undermine my campaign as I seek to eliminate the pay-to-play politics that have overshadowed Howard County for far too long,” stated Jung. Kiersten Hacker/Baltimore Sun
ICE ARRESTS TWO ADULTS AT A BALTIMORE PRESCHOOL: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained two adults at a Baltimore public school on Thursday, according to confirmation from school and city officials. JT Moodee Lockman/WJZ
- This incident marks reportedly the first occurrence of ICE arrests taking place on school grounds within the city. Maya Lora, Liz Bowie, Shayla Colon/Baltimore Banner
MARYLAND UNDER Drought WATCH: The Maryland Department of the Environment has declared a drought watch or warning for the entire state, with recent rainfall providing minimal relief. This marks Maryland’s fourth consecutive year of a drought cycle, and up to May, average monthly precipitation has been one inch short of the state’s usual four-inch threshold. Sarah Petrowich/WYPR
AUDITS UNCOVER $1.2B IN QUESTIONABLE EXPENDITURES: Recent audits have revealed significant financial discrepancies, amounting to over $1.2 billion in questionable spending and improper payments within Maryland’s state government. This alarming figure, illuminated across various state agencies, has sparked discussions in the state capital regarding a systemic failure to address recurring financial issues. With similar concerns appearing in repeated audit reports, lawmakers and advocacy groups are questioning whether the state can do more than just identify problems. Tessa Bentulan, Spotlight/Baltimore Sun
RASKIN AND LEGGETT WITHHOLD ENDORSEMENTS FOR MOCO EXEC: U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin and former County Executive Ike Leggett, two prominent figures in Montgomery County, announced on Wednesday that they will refrain from providing endorsements during this year’s fiercely contested Democratic primary for county executive. “I have no intentions to endorse,” Raskin conveyed to Bethesda Today in a phone interview, following the circulation of favorable statements about each of the three leading Democratic candidates—causing initial confusion regarding his support. Meanwhile, Leggett, who has remained neutral in the county executive race since concluding his third term in 2018, also reaffirmed he would not endorse any candidate, despite ongoing calls for him to take a stance. Lou Peck/Bethesda Today
GOP CONDEMNES ‘UNETHICAL CAMPAIGN PRACTICES’ IN CAROLINE COUNTY: A competitive race for the clerk of the Circuit Court in Caroline County took a contentious turn this week, with residents receiving mailings condemned by the Caroline County Republican Central Committee as “dirty political tricks.” Three Republican candidates, Peggy Gallagher, Margie Hannawald, and Stephanie Ramsey, are competing for the position, while the current Clerk, Terry Lord, is retiring, and no Democrats are contending for the role. Ahmad Garnett/Easton Star-Democrat
APRIL FREEZE IMPACTS LOCAL WINE PRODUCTION: The late-season freeze has been described as one of the most severe in Maryland’s history, according to Sara Kidd, agriculture educator for the University of Maryland Extension Frederick County office. This freeze has affected the growth cycles of tree fruits, strawberries, Christmas trees, and most notably, grapes. At this point in the season, grapevines are on their third growth cycle, showing plenty of foliage but lacking fruit. Typically, vines would have reached their trellises, but they have not even reached half that height. Katelynn Winebrenner/Frederick News-Post
CONTROVERSY IN AFSCME ELECTION CONTINUES:Allegations of unfair election practices have emerged once again within an AFSCME Council 3 local, echoing the chaotic situation surrounding the election at Local 44, which represents Baltimore sanitation workers, is manifesting in the upcoming election at Local 6368, a new unit for Maryland Department of Transportation supervisors. Mark Reuter/Baltimore Brew
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