9 Comments

1. Doug Reimel

   Is there any place to watch this online? I looked at the “TBD.com” site and didn’t see it available there. I am conflicted in this contest and as a new person in the area really don’t know how I’ll vote. I didn’t appreciate Ms. Forehand’s accusation that Ms. Kagan was “age-ist” from the TBD.com article, but I’ve also not been totally impressed with Ms. Kagan’s campaign so far (what very, very little I’ve seen-my voter registration is brand new however and that may be why….).

   At any rate, on the issues, I can’t really detect that much that separates the two, so far….hence the struggle….anyone else have any thoughts on why they support a particular candidate and why?

2. Temperance Blalock

   My political philosophy has been “when in doubt, vote against the incumbent”. As far as policies go, Forehand and Kagan are both liberal Democrats, and they essentially have no major differences in policy points. And, truthfully, we don’t know what political issues our representatives in Annapolis will be confronted with in the upcoming legislative sessions, but we do know that “business as usual” simply isn’t effective anymore.

   A lot of things about Montgomery County and Maryland are changing very significantly, including demographics and the expectations of what the citizens are going to have to deal with in a diminished economic budget. On that basis, I’m throwing my support behind Cheryl Kagan, and I intend to work as hard as possible to get her elected. I’m not under any delusions that Cheryl, or anyone else, can wave a magic wand and make our problems go away, and I know that I may well disagree significantly with how she ends up voting, but after living in this city for 35 years I think that “the usual suspects” need to step aside and allow a new crop of people to deal with the issues. I don’t believe it’s discriminatory to say that people have been in office for a long time.

3. Cheryl Kagan

   Doug:

   Thanks for your interest in this race. Yes, we have posted the entire debate that took place at Channel 8 (now called TBD.com). It’s just under 11 minutes and can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzjw2rNXvCo or through my Facebook page. There is also video from other debates on my web site: http://www.CherylKagan.org.

   Cheryl

4. Michael Salgaller

   I am a voter who, admittedly, usually doesn’t get to the polls in off-year primary elections. I’m only moderately involved with local politics. But all this only partially explains why i have never met the incumbent D/17 Senator, and know little of what she has been doing - despiite living in Rockville for 7 years. In contrast, I’ve seen Kagan and heard her views (and, more importantly, seen her listen) at several events just in the past year. So, I believe that if Kagan is this engaged and involved - and she isn’t even IN public office - I feel comfortable that I’ll have a more visible and active advocate on my behalf when she gets to Annapolis.

   I’m tired of Montgomery County being looked up by the rest of the state as the cure for financing difficulties. I want someone more actively engaged with the environment and minority rights. There are some key differences between the candidates. So, this year I will vote in an off-year primary, and I’ll be showing up to vote for Kagan on 9/14.

5. Ken Sandin

   Eschewing intemperate response to some of the preceding comments, I would only invite readers to compare the Annapolis records of Senator Forehand at http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/msa12166.html
   and her challenger at http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/former/html/msa12251.html

   Senator Forehand’s record of involvement and leadership in the Maryland legislative process and her accomplishments, at http://www.jennieforehand.com/bills.html, suggest to me someone who has that indispensible quality for a legislator and an effective representative of her district: works well with others.

6. Theresa Defino

   ken, the webpages you site through the state do not give you an idea of either leader’s accomplishments; they are simply like a CV or bio. cheryl’s ends 8 years ago as it reflects only her time in office.

   having worked with cheryl for several years on more than one issue, i find it unfair of you to suggest that cheryl doesn’t work well with others or would not be effective. to the contrary.

   it’s time for effective independent leadership that isn’t beholden to the current senate leader-and that to me is cheryl.

7. Ken Sandin

   Theresa, it was painful to read your comment; I usually agree with most of your comments, and I have no desire to be in conflict with you. I thought readers would be better informed and served by the record than by non-substantive comments such as “when in doubt, vote against the incumbent” and “’the usual suspects’ need to step aside,” even while conceding that the two candidates “have no major differences in policy points.”

   You raised the issue of independence; I am familiar with legislation on which Senator Forehand differed with the senate leader, and I find your phrase ”beholden to the current senate leader” provocative and prejudicial. Although I have no evidence on which to dispute your belief that Ms. Kagan would be effective in Annapolis, I don’t see that as reason to oust Senator Forehand, who I think has been effective. And perhaps Ms. Kagan would “work as well with others,” but I am disappointed by her current “attack ad” mailing, a tactic that has always repelled me.

8. Theresa Defino

   Here’s is a link to their recent debate:

   http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/08/forehand-vs-kagan-on-news-channel-8.html

   This blog also said both women were running “classy” campaigns.

   http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/08/classiest-race-in-moco.html

   Nothing personal, Art. We can come together on some issues and not others, like this one. I do think that the comments some make about this race are discriminatory-i don’t think two men running against each other would be described in this way. One person can run against another without it being deemed an “ouster”- which implies some sort of royalty position that should not be challenged. Ms. Forehand has never faced a serious opponent before now.

9. Theresa Defino

   The Washington Post yesterday endorsed Cheryl. Here’s what the editorial board said:

   DISTRICT 17: Sen. Jennie M. Forehand is a beloved figure, or rather fixture, in Annapolis, having served 16 years in the state Senate and, before that, 16 years in the House of Delegates. Alas, she is not really an influential one, despite good work on human trafficking, transportation and other issues. The county would be better served by Cheryl C. Kagan, a hard-charging former state delegate and nonprofit executive.

   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/22/AR2010082202584.html

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