MISSING: Montgomery County police seek Margaret Anyanso

Montgomery County police are asking for the public's help finding a woman who hasn't been seen in a week. Forty-six-year-old Margaret Anyanso was last seen at her Germantown home about 10 a.m. Nov. 28. She is described as a black female, five feet three inches tall, 140 pounds, with brown eyes, and short brown hair. Anyanso was last seen driving a silver 2007 Toyota Camry with Maryland registration 9CJD64. Police and her family are very concerned for her well-being. Foul play is not suspected, police said.. Anyone with information is asked to call the Montgomery County Police at 240-773-6237 or the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000. SOURCE: TBD

Republicans seeking officer positions for MDGOP

List of candidates running for officer positions with the Maryland Republican Party.

Chairman
Mary Kane MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Alex Mooney FREDERICK COUNTY
Sam Hale MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Bill Campbell HOWARD COUNTY
Mike Esteve BALTIMORE CITY

NOTE: Two credible people within the Maryland Republican Party have told me Alex Mooney is running for chairman

First Vice Chairman
Diana Waterman QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY
Moshe Starkman MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Debbie Rey ST. MARY'S COUNTY

Second Vice Chairman
Larry Helminiak CARROLL COUNTY
Brandon Butler GARRETT COUNTY
Debbie Rey ST. MARY'S COUNTY

Third Vice Chairman
Collins Bailey CHARLES COUNTY
Pat Parker CALVERT COUNTY
Brian Griffiths ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
Matt Teffeau CAROLINE COUNTY
Debbie Rey ST. MARY'S COUNTY
Meyer Marks MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Adol Owen-Williams MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Treasurer
Chris Rosenthal (incumbent) ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
Mark Uncapher MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Secretary
Nora Keenan ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
John Wafer HOWARD COUNTY

CANDIDATES: Please email me the links to each official page, so I can update them. Also, stay tuned for updates to this page. In addition, Debbie Rey is running for three positions (not for one).

Council Members Would Put Toto's Tether on a Timer

Tied-up dogs may soon feel some relief in Montgomery County, but not as much as sought by County Executive Ike Leggett. Leggett (D) hoped to prohibit owners from leaving their dogs tethered in their yards, unless the owner was outside with the animal and able to keep an eye on it. The county council's three-person public safety panel Thursday endorsed tightening the current regulations for tying up Toto, but it didn't go as far as Leggett hoped.

The committee wants the county to limit dog owners to two hours of outside tethering a day that must occur between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Current county law prohibits tethering animals outside between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

"That is an extraordinarily long time to have a dog tethered, it can raise all sorts of problems," Councilman Phil Andrews said of the 16-hour block of time between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

"There has been a lot of information provided that says that it is not only cruel to dogs but also detrimental to public safety because of the potential affect on a dog's behavior," he said.

Andrews, and fellow Council Members Marc Elrich and Roger Berliner—who make up the public safety panel—also want to require owners to use a swivel leash intended to avoid entanglement. SOURCE: North Potomac Patch

Inauguration Day for Montgomery County officials (all Democrats)

Good morning. It's Monday and it's inauguration day in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, where some new faces will join familiar ones on county councils and in the county executive's office. More details on the ceremonies and inaugural balls below. Leggett's second term. In Montgomery, County Executive Isiah Leggett will be sworn in for his second term. Montgomery held its inaugural ball Sunday night at the Hilton in Rockville. Money raised from the event will help fund arts and humanities programs in a county that's currently grappling with a budget shortfall of more than $300 million. We'll have live coverage of both swearing-in ceremonies so be sure to check back with us later in the day. SOURCE: Washington Post

Seniors mull over trademark license fee at Leisure World

Residents of Leisure World in Silver Spring might be forced to abandon the long-standing name of "active adult" community and its landmark steel globe if they aren't willing to pay for the right to use them. Leisure World has been a Montgomery County fixture for 44 years, and its 8,500 residents are considered one of Maryland's most potent political forces.

But the daughter of Leisure World's developer says her company owns the trademark to the globe and name. After providing more than 40 years of free use, the company needs to protect its rights to the brand, which earns fees from real estate agents around the country who advertise themselves as "Leisure World specialists," she says. Now the Leisure World board of directors is surveying residents to determine whether they want to pay a licensing fee or choose a new name. Both options would cost the community money, a recent letter to residents said, including $35,000 already spent in legal fees.

"We have a 45-year investment in the name," said Marian Altman, 65, chairwoman of Leisure World's board of directors.

Sure, she's heard the jokes about "Seizure World." Still, Altman said, "It's known across the state, especially with the politicians. . . . In Annapolis, they know Leisure World votes." SOURCE: Washington Post

LETTER: MCGOP chairman makes bid for MDGOP treasurer; demands financial transparency

As I hope you know, I am a candidate for State Party Treasurer at the State Party Convention on December 11. You are likely to have received an email last Wednesday night from Sharon Carrick of Queen Anne's County requesting that I provide additional details from me about my concerns about MD GOP's past financial transparency.  These are matters I take seriously.   Over the course of my professional career, in addition to being a lawyer, I have served in a variety of financial management positions in both the public and private sector.   My past work includes:  

·         Responsible for providing staff review of New York City's financial plan for the state's Financial Control Board as Assistant Counsel to the New York State Comptroller,
·         Executive at a publicly-held national newspaper and broadcasting company and counsel for and co-owner of a smaller market broadcast property,
·         Managing the technical accounting staff responsible for contractor financial reporting; compliance and financial audits for a $500 million entity, and
·         Serving as the principal staff member for congressional oversight of the federal Inspectors General and Chief Financial Officers as Counsel to the House Subcommittee on Government Management.  

While I appreciate that others may disagree with me, frankly I am not satisfied with the state party’s current status quo.  Given the financial and leadership turmoil the party faced during the past four year and results of the past election, an appeal to continue “past practice” seems out of place.  

Let me provide that information that Sharon requested.  

The attached series of emails below, beginning with Chris Cavey, but then between the incumbent Treasurer  and me highlights one significant aspect of my concerns about the current State Party leadership's continuing lack of transparency and candor with its own board members.   

In July 2009 prior to a critical Executive Committee meeting Chris Cavey encouraged State Executive Committee members to contact the incumbent Treasurer to learn more about the party's financial position.  Yet when I tried to do so, he effectively contradicted Chris Cavey.  At a time when the party leadership needed unvarnished information about our finances, as an Executive Committee member, I could not get the specific detail requested from the Treasurer.  

Yet just a few weeks later I learned that the incumbent Treasurer  was actively contemplating in the making a recommendation that the Maryland State Republican Party consider seek bankruptcy "protection."

Such an action would have placed our party at the complete mercy of a Federal bankruptcy judge. While the court could have left the existing leadership in place, a judge would also have had the full authority to place our state party under the control of a trustee appointed by the court.  In fact, the judge would have had very broad discretion in ordering this external control.  

This could have meant that every single expenditure made by Maryland State Republican Party in this election year would have subject to the control of an outside individual appointed by a judge.  In such an environment, it is hard for me to see how we could ever have done any further fund raising whatsoever. As dire our straits were at the outset of such a process, it could well have only gotten worse.   

A bankruptcy filing would also have presented some significant legal challenges concerning how Federal law would interact with our unique legal status under the Maryland State Election law.  That could have prevented a number of the remedies under bankruptcy law from being used.

There would also have been some significant additional governance challenges to our seeking bankruptcy given the subsidiary status of the Executive Committee and Executive Board to the full State Central Committee.  While a board of directors of corporation can act on its behalf, I do not believe that the two "Executive" entities enjoy a comparable status under state law in relationship to the State Central Committee.   

The political consequences would have been even worse.  Surely Maryland Republicans would have forfeited any credibility as advocates of financial discipline.  

More to the point, though, I do not understand how a Treasurer can go from declining to share requested financial information with a board member  immediately prior to a critical meeting taking up leadership issues to only a few weeks later exploring bankruptcy as an option.  

The State Party Treasurer’s responsibilities are much broader than that of a bookkeeper or financial record keeper.  Given both the compliance environment the party exists in and our party’s history of running afoul of those requirements,  our Treasurer should better understand the legal consequences of the choices we consider.  Second, the Treasurer needs to effectively communicate the party financial circumstances to all its stakeholders.      

Mark Uncapher
Montgomery County Republican Chairman

Chevy Chase sinkhole swallows car

CHEVY CHASE, Md. - When Peter De Gajary got to his Bethesda home Thursday night, all he wanted to do was find the best parking spot at his building.

"There was a woman in front of me coming out of North Park going to Friendship Boulevard and she got the parking space in the back of the line of cars that I would have gotten," said De Gajary.

So he parked in another spot that appeared to be even better. When he got up the next day, it started out as a typical morning, but the water was out.

"So you try to get ready for the day without any water. Do it, manage it somehow. I don't exactly look as if I took a shower and shaved, but that's par for the course," he said.

After breakfast, he grabbed his briefcase and headed to his car.

"When I kind of turned around, I knew with all the emergency vehicles there, that it was a pretty bad scene, that this is pretty bad and I parked there. More than likely, I’m somehow going to be the epicenter,” said De Gajary.

It turns out he was right. A giant sinkhole swallowed up his Toyota Corolla.

"It was shocking, stunning," he said about his reaction to the scene.

He says his boss laughed and his insurance agent told him she had never dealt with anything like this before so she had to get a supervisor. The Toyota Corolla, with more than 200,000 miles that was given to him five years ago by his late father, had been stuck for two hours in water in a sinkhole. But De Gajary isn't the least bit upset.

"At the end of the day, just have a good laugh no matter what it is that happens to you," he said.

On Monday, the insurance company will determine if the car is worth keeping.

POWER: Montgomery County schools trump City of Rockville

Superintendent Jerry Weast wants 2 more classroom trailers at College Gardens Elementary School.

The City of Rockville said no.

Superintendent Weast put the trailers on the school grounds anyway. He will have the Board of Education vote to open the trailers to children on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 in defiance of the City of Rockville. The only thing interesting about this is that the Superintendent is actually asking for the Board of Education to take a public vote. What will the vote be? 8-1 in favor? SOURCE: Parents' Coalition

MOCO Committee Recommends Amendments to Dog Tethering Regulation

ROCKVILLE, Md., December 3, 2010—The Montgomery County Council’s Public Safety Committee on Thursday, Dec. 2, recommended several amendments to Executive Regulation 10-10 that as originally proposed would have required dog owners to stay in the visual range of their tethered dogs. The committee’s recommendations aim to simultaneously provide adequate anti-cruelty protections for dogs and maintain a safe environment for County residents. The Public Safety Committee, which is chaired by Councilmember Phil Andrews and includes Councilmembers Roger Berliner and Marc Elrich, decided not to support aspects of County Executive Isiah Leggett’s original proposal that tightened tethering regulations. Because the committee deemed that requiring dog owners to stay outside and within visual contact of the dog was unreasonable, it made its own recommendations for how best to protect the public and the animals. The proposed amendments were as follows: • Dogs could only be tethered between 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. • Dogs could only be tethered for a maximum of two hours per day • No dog could be tethered between 8 p.m. – 8 a.m. • Owners must use swivels at the ends of the tether to avoid the dog’s entanglement “Our main concern is that if a dog is tethered in a cruel or harmful way, it is not only detrimental to the dog’s well being, but it also jeopardizes public safety,” Councilmember Andrews said. “A dog that has been treated cruelly will have a bad temperament, which will consequently endanger the public.” In addition to the provisions about staying within visual contact of a tethered dog, Executive Regulation 10-10 outlined the safe transportation of dogs, the sufficient shelter parameters and the conditions under which dogs may be tied to a stationary or immobile object. In 2009, residents reported to Animal Control 116 cases related to tethering violations. Animal Control also found unlawful tethering violations through calls related to other animal welfare violations. Since 2002, when the County adopted its first regulations regarding tethering, owners have been banned from continuously tethering their dogs, especially during certain hours of the night. Councilmember Andrews supported additional limits on the number of hours per day that a dog could stay tethered. Outside dogs must have shelters that allow them to stand up and turn around while inside, but still allow them to warm the interior of the structure and retain their body heat. Furthermore, outdoor enclosures for dogs must be at least 100 square feet, except that dogs over 80 pounds must have at least 150 square feet. An additional 50 feet is required for each additional dog kept within the same enclosed area. Owners must maintain the area in a sanitary condition and keep it free from debris or stored material. The regulation also specifies that no cat may be tethered, chained, fastened, tied or restrained to a house, tree, fence or other object. The Public Safety Committee’s recommendations on the proposed regulation will be considered by the full Council at a later date.

Streetcar passes markup, but under consideration for cuts

A DC Council committee unanimously approved the streetcar approval resolution at a markup session this morning, but sources say Gray's budget staff and transition team are considering the program for cuts. Nothing has been decided, but the Gray's Council budget office believes that they still need to make additional capital cuts for FY11 beyond those proposed in Mayor Fenty's budget, and the streetcar is one program being considered.

Earlier this year, the Council approved the streetcar program, but required DDOT to conduct some more extensive planning to move forward. Passing the resolution marked up this morning, the Streetcar Project Comprehensive Plan Approval Resolution of 2010, will release the last $34.5 million to build the H Street-Benning Road line. SOURCE: Greater Greater Washington

Road Crews Put Down Wrong Chemicals, Slick Roads Cause Accidents

Traffic crews trying to get a Maryland highway ready for winter put down the wrong chemicals Friday morning. The error caused slick conditions on the road and at least 10 accidents. Dave Buck with Maryland State Highway confirms the bad mix of chemicals were applied near Georgia Avenue on I-495. Crews were supposed to apply only salt brine, but liquid magnesium was somehow mixed into one batch of the brine. Two trucks at different locations were loaded with the brine-magnesium mixture. The contractor’s trucks with the bad mixture has been identified. Maryland State Highway is investigating. Trucks with only salt brine went over the affected roads again to try and correct the problem. The area affected with the bad mix included the overpasses and bridges on 495 between Route 650 and Route 270.

Facts about MOCO schools

The following information has been provided courtesy of the MCPS Public Information Office.

Number of MCPS employees who earn more than $100,000 per year: 2,465
Number of MCPS employees who earn more than $70,000 per year: 8,028
Highest paid school principal: Michael Doran (Wootton High School): $150,123
Total number of MCPS employees (includes part-time employees): 21,432

SOURCE: Parents' Coalition

NRCC treasurer Christopher Ward sentenced to 37 months for stealing $844,000

A federal judge sentenced Christopher J. Ward to 37 months in prison on Thursday for stealing more than $844,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee and other political fundraising committees for which he worked as treasurer.

"I am truly sorry for what I did and I take full responsibility," said Ward, 42, formerly of Bethesda.

"This is a serious offense. . . . You stole from small donor funds that worked to engage in political debate and the electoral process," said U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the District. She added, "I'm not sure what happened to you, but you clearly lost your moral compass."

Kollar-Kotelly ordered Ward to forfeit $844,718, including $812,825 in restitution, which takes into account repayments already made. Ward, divorced from his wife and mother of their three children, ages 5 through 12, has turned over about $300,000, including proceeds from his house, and has no assets. The judge ordered him to pay back $150 a month upon release in addition to tax and child support obligations.

Ward served as treasurer for 83 GOP committees in a decade, including at the NRCC from 2003 until 2008, and admitted stealing funds for seven years before being discovered in 2008. The cash augmented an income that eventually topped $300,000 a year, paying for country club and private school tuition fees, home remodeling projects and vacation rentals. He will begin his sentence in January. SOURCE: Washington Post

Wheaton’s new tallest building

Wheaton has the potential to be a pedestrian downtown as good as Silver Spring or Bethesda, but for years redevelopment there has been slow to catch on. That may no longer be the case, thanks to what could be a game-changing new development there. Montgomery County recently approved plans for a 17-story mixed-use building at the corner of Georgia Ave and Reedie Drive on the site of an existing Safeway grocery store, directly across the street from Wheaton Metro. The plan calls for a new, larger Safeway to occupy the ground floor of a 486-unit, 195-foot-tall apartment building. It will be almost twice as tall as any existing building in Wheaton, and will be the most notable Transit Oriented Development in Wheaton’s history. More information is available via the site plan approval (pdf). SOURCE: Beyond DC

FBI Questioning Prince George's Co. Police Officers About College Park Student Beating

Multiple Accidents Tie Up Maryland Beltway

(WUSA) -- Maryland State Police were kept busy Friday morning with at least 6 accidents on the Beltway near Georgia Ave. The latest incident is on the Outer Loop just before the Mormon Temple. SOURCE: WUSA

Montgomery County news blurbs

From the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center www.montgomerycountymd.gov/bcc

Coffee and Conversation with Ken Hartman, Director of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center. Find out about programs and services in Montgomery County, learn more about the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board and their role in the community, or just bring your concerns from your community to discuss. Friday, December 3, 2010 any time between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon ˆBethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814

Montgomery County Council approves White Flint infrastructure financing plan. www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Council/PressRelease/PR_details.asp?PrID=7112

Driver of Marcum‚s Stolen Vehicle Extradited to Montgomery County Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division Homicide/Sex Section are continuing to investigate the murder of Sue Ann Marcum, age 52, from the 6200 block of Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda.

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Police/News/NA_details.asp?NaID=5723

Anyone with information regarding this homicide investigation is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070. Those who wish to remain anonymous and become eligible for a reward should call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

BETHESDA BRAC UPDATE

ROCKVILLE PIKE (MD 355) CROSSING STUDY: PLANNING BOARD MEETING ON MONDAY DEC. 6: The Planning Board is scheduled to discuss the Rockville Pike Crossing Study being conducted by Montgomery County DOT at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 6 at the Park & Planning office - 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring. The Crossing Study is for a proposed project to provide safe pedestrian access and mitigate gridlock between the National Naval Medical Center and the Medical Center Metro station.

Alternative 2B has been selected as the preferred alternative: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/exec/brac/pdf/pedaccess-station3-alt2bmapping-072010.pdf

MCDOT officials will give a presentation on the status of the study, and the Planning Board will hear public testimony and recommendations from Planning Staff. See the Montgomery County Planning Board's BRAC web site for more information: www.montgomeryplanning.org/transportation/brac/index.shtm

BRAC IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE (BIC) TO RECEIVE MCDOT CROSSING STUDY PRESENTATION ON DECEMBER 21 MCDOT officials will provide an update on the Crossing Study at the next meeting of the County's BRAC Implementation Committee on Tuesday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the BCC Regional Services Center. In addition. Maryland Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) officials will provide an update on the SHA Intersections Improvement project. More information on the Dec. 21 BIC meeting: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/brctmpl.asp?url=/Content/EXEC/BRAC/community.asp

Transportation Resource Reference Guide for Seniors and People with Disabilities

For more information, please visit the county‚s website below to learn more about programs and resources. www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/hhs/ads/PDFs/ataglancetransresourceguide.pdf

Montgomery County Public Libraries Looks for Customer Feedback on Computer Use In Branches through Online Survey. The survey is accessible from any computer and takes an average of about 10 minutes to complete. It will run through December 3. Take the online survey on: www.surveymonkey.com/s/VG2WGXQ

Recreation Department Sponsors Food Drive To Benefit Manna Food Bank Now through December 9 ˆ Residents are encouraged to participate by donating non-perishable food items at any of the department‚s community, recreation, aquatic or senior centers. To locate the closest recreational facility, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec

Each of us can contribute to strengthening our community by serving in Dr. King‚s honor on the King Holiday and throughout the year. What role will you play? Make January 17th a day ON, not a day off. For a listing of current volunteer opportunities, to share how your group will honor the day, and more information about the musical tribute at Strathmore, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mlk . For more information and questions, please email servicedays@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-2618.

Dr. Eric Wargotz declines bid for Maryland Republican Chairman

Regarding the move to recruit Dr. Eric Wargotz as a nominee for Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, Dr. Wargotz has released the following remarks:

"I am both humbled and honored to have many central committee members, and supporters rallying me to run for the Chairman position. The past couple of weeks have been spent carefully considering this opportunity to lead our State party.

The upcoming term presents much opportunity for the Maryland Republican Party to focus its message and thus make substantive gains. Hopefully, a sharpened one carefully crafted based on traditional Conservative values with a goal towards truly achieving a two-party system in our great State.

In conjunction with family, friends, supporters and trusted advisors I have reached the conclusion that although I am up for the challenge of leading this effort as Chairman, I will forgo this unique opportunity at this time as I continue to strongly consider a run for elected office in the near future.

Thus, I offer my sincere congratulations to all nominees for Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party. I pledge my support, time and energy in assisting the new Chairman and the incoming Officers and Executive Board. Furthermore, I will continue to work with the Republican Party and others to promote core Conservative values in Maryland and throughout the Nation. Sincerely, Eric"

New Lodging In Bethesda For Wounded Warriors' Families

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) -- First Lady Michelle Obama is cutting the ribbon on three new residences for families of ailing U.S. service members and veterans in Bethesda. Mrs. Obama was scheduled to join other officials Thursday at the official opening of the Fisher Houses at the National Naval Medical Center. The residences were built by the Fisher House Foundation to provide free lodging for the families of as many as 225 ill and injured service members. The Rockville-based foundation has built and donated dozens of Fisher Houses at military and veterans facilities since 1991. The new residences are part of the planned move of Walter Reed Army Medical Center to Bethesda next year. SOURCE: WUSA

Clinic to offer late term abortions in Montgomery County

SILVER SPRING, MD - A Nebraska doctor who performs abortions late in a pregnancy is planning to begin offering the controversial procedures at a Maryland clinic. The Germantown Reproductive Services and Family Planning Clinic in Montgomery County already performs abortions. The word is spreading through the area about Dr. Leroy Carhart joining the clinic.

"I think it sucks that it is in a community and not like a big city but what are you going to do," said customer Chrisanthi Halkiotis. Some business leaders say the attraction doesn't help.

"You don't want to be in an area or community where your clients are scared," said business owner Adam Cox.

Carhart is among a select few physicians who perform the procedure. Carhart worked closely with another late term provider Dr. George Tiller. Tiller was shot and killed in Kansas 2009.