Rainy Sunday creates Angst and Relief
With two days left before the election on Tuesday, today’s rain creates both angst and relief. The worries are due to the desire to use every minute of daylight to walk precincts and meet voters–and we’ve been forced to sit out the game and watch. Yesterday, everyone was out in force. I walked three different precincts and found literature for Susan Hoffman, Tom Moore, Bridget Newton, and Piotr Gajewski on the doors I visited and when I stopped by Carl Henn’s house during my swing through Hungerford, he was out campaigning. I’m sure everyone else was as well. Today offered the last weekend day to campaign, so the incessant rain will cause some anxiety.
Most people don’t realize that if you’re campaigning seriously, Continue reading →
What a Week–and It’s Not Over
I took this week off from work to devote my energies fulltime to the campaign. I spent five days walking precincts (I think I visited two thousand homes), attended three forums, and responded to questionnaires in the time remaining. I’m exhausted–I don’t know how the other candidates did it (Piotr Gajewski seemed incredibly peppy at the King Farm Forum, but perhaps that’s because he was on home turf). I was elated that it rained this afternoon and I forced off the streets.
Tomorrow is the penultimate forum, this time with Rockville Central at the new Thomas Farm Community Center on the west side of 270 starting at 9:30 am. From the description of format, it should be a bit unusual (at one point, we’ll draw names from a hat and ask another candidate a question–should I be nice or naughty?). The eighth and last forum for this election season will be next Thursday, October 29 at the Rockville Senior Center. They’ve all been well attended so if you haven’t been to one, you have two more chances.
Gazette Calls Max van Balgooy a Standout
The Gazette listed its endorsement for Rockville Mayor and City Council in today’s issue (October 21, 2009) and although I wasn’t among its finalists, it did recognize me as a “standout” (is that the same as “outstanding”?):
It is worthwhile to note two other standouts, Max van Balgooy and Virginia Onley. A Twinbrook resident and historic preservationist, van Balgooy believes it is critical to draw in residents to participate in government, especially with changing demographics. He also believes new technology should be used to effectively disseminate information.
I am delighted to be considered a serious candidate by the Gazette despite my underdog status and look forward to November 3 (and I suspect their endorsement will seriously color the rest of the campaign).
Questions for Candidates from Community Ministries
Community Ministries of Rockville, a coalition of 21 faith communities, have asked all the candidates to respond to a questionnaire, a tradition they’ve followed since 1980. They’re due today and will be distributed to their members the weekend before the election, but I thought you’d like to see their interests and concerns: Continue reading →
Questions for Candidates at the West End Citizens Association Forum
The West End Citizens Association (WECA) held its Candidates Forum last Thursday, October 8, 2009 and attracted a large crowd. The room was pretty full and we had an excellent moderator, although I think we all were stumbling over our responses to say what we wanted in the short time allowed (it was our second Forum, so please be patient with us!). In case you missed it, it was televised on Channel 11 and available on the RockvilleMD.gov Web site.
It’s always interesting to see the concerns of citizens so I wanted to share the questions we received at the Forum, as well as those we didn’t address due to lack of time. How would you have answered them? Continue reading →
It’s Official–I’m an Underdog!
Funds Raised by September 25, 2009 in the Rockville election.
The first round of financial reports were submitted on October 1 and based on funds raised by September 25, I’m officially an underdog! Finally, I know where I stand in the race and can act accordingly.
Early in the campaign, I found myself continually fussing over small details to ensure I would garner a stranger’s support and avoid offending anyone. Should I sign my letters in blue or black ink? Thick or thin pen? How should I state my opinion on Town Square parking, Red Gate Golf Course, or the series of tax cuts? But now that I’m an underdog, I feel liberated!
Years ago I was talking with a wealthy philanthropist about his success, when he mentioned Continue reading →
Candidate Forums?
If you want to hear the candidates discuss various issues and meet them in person, various neighborhood and community groups are sponsoring forums throughout the city. These forums are public and everyone is welcome to attend. Some people have called these “debates” but with a baker’s dozen running for office, I regret they are going to be more like brief statements with no discussion (I’m not even sure how they’re going to fit everyone on stage).
At this moment (October 4 at 8 p.m.), here’s what I am aware of (it does keep changing and I’ll try to update this post through the comments, but there are no guarantees or warranties):
- Tuesday, October 7 at 7 pm: Legacy at Lincoln Park Homeowners Association at the Lincoln Park Community Center.
- Thursday, October 8 at 7 pm: West End at the Rockville Senior Center (televised, not confirmed)
- Tuesday, October 13 at 7 pm: Rockville Chamber of Commerce at the Legacy Hotel and Conference Center (televised, not confirmed). I will be unable to attend due to work-related scheduling conflicts.
- Tuesday, October 20 at 7 pm: Twinbrook Citizens Association at the Twinbrook Recreation Center (televised, not confirmed).
- Wednesday, October 21 from 7:30-10 pm: College Gardens Civic Association, Plymouth Woods Homeowners Association, and Woodley Gardens Civic Association at the College Gardens Elementary School (1700 Yale Place)
- Thursday, October 22 at 7 pm: King Farm Candidates Forum at the Saddle Ridge Community Center (300 Saddle Ridge Circle).
- Saturday, October 24 from 9:30-11:30 am: Rockville Central at the Thomas Farm Community Center.
- Thursday, October 29 from 1-3 pm: Rockville Seniors at the Senior Center.
Rockville safe from politicians this weekend
With the rain and the Redskins game (or whatever you call that fiasco), the candidates had little opportunity to knock on doors to meet voters. I was only able to find a couple hours to visit Woodley Gardens, a very charming 1960s neighborhood in the northwest corner of the city. Surrounded by a forest preserve and set on gently curving roads with mature trees, it’s hard to believe that downtown is just a mile or so away. The residents I met were gracious and Aster Boulevard was peppered with families of various ages and political leanings. And given my interests, I enjoyed the architectural variety of the houses, including a small row of contemporary ones on Nelson Avenue. How did those get there?
While it was raining and the Redskins were losing, I suspect all the candidates were at home as I was, Continue reading →
Who Decides the Future of Rockville?
2007 Rockville Election Trends by Age
If you want to influence the government of Rockville, you need to recognize who makes the decisions. Usually it’s the Mayor and Council, and you need to persuade just three of the five. In an election, it’s voters. Although there are 60,000 residents in Rockville, only about half are registered to vote. As much as we talk about “democracy” and “the power of the people,” ultimately, people who can’t vote, can’t decide.
So if you want to make a difference in your community, state, or nation, Rule #1 is register to vote. Two centuries ago, only white men who owned real estate had the right to vote. Since then, the rules have changed thanks to the battles fought by our predecessors. Today, the only citizens who are ineligible to vote in Maryland are imprisoned felons, the mentally disabled, and those under 18.
Now here’s the rub: Continue reading →
Max for Rockville 