I think anyone who's read this blog for more than three seconds will know who I'm going to endorse for Delegate in District 9B. What you may be surprised by is why.
When I read the recent article in the Sun regarding the District 9B race, I recall Bob Flanagan's comment that he finds people every day who want to leave Maryland because of the perception that Maryland is a high-tax state. And then Tom Coale's response to that, which was this, to paraphrase: I don't run into people who are quitting on Maryland.
Bob Flanagan doesn't get it. Never has and he never will. During every campaign he ever ran for Delegate, he never ever once, would discuss why people in Ellicott City, or West Friendship, or Lisbon, or Olney, should vote for him. Why he connects with those communities. He never has explained his relevance. Instead, he would go on about gerrymandering (into a more conservative district) and the Maryland Democratic hegemony and being a fighter and the arrogance of big government and he would count on the Christian Coalition to pass out flyers in churches that would publish lies against his opponents two weeks before the election... and he'd win. And win convincingly.
But now, Bob has nothing protecting him. No Republican majority in his district. No major financial benefactor. I suppose the conservative churches will still do their thing. But by and large, Bob Flanagan has to stand on his own merits and state his case before the people of his District. State his case for relevance.
And in this respect, it's no wonder why Bob Flanagan can't find his legs. Why he can't raise much money. Why he's wobbly. And the knockout is nine weeks away.
Because Tom Coale can explain, in clear and definitive terms, why people on each and every street, in each and every community, within the parts of Ellicott City and Columbia and comprise District 9B should vote for him. Because from the beginning, his campaign has been about opportunity. About possibility. Specifically, that the area could have an advocate in Annapolis. Someone who will make sure that their business are protected from flooding. Who will make sure traffic on 29 and 40 doesn't get crazier. Who will make sure there's money for schools and services from the state coming to the district. Who will work with county leaders to leverage resources and make sure the needs of our residents are met. And who will provide individualized, compassionate constituent service. It has been decades overdue for Ellicott City to have an advocate for their needs-- a real advocate, not a space-holder, in Annapolis. One is needed.
District 9B is fairly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. It represents a very interesting cross-section of Howard County; large businesses and small, as well as great socioeconomic and ethnic diversity. And so the question must be asked: who is it that can bring this district together? And what message?
And fear never brings people together. Talk of quitting Maryland, of quitting anything, never brings anyone together. That's just common sense.
What brings people together is a call to action, a call to aspire to things that are better than what has been before. And yet this better thing is not for the asking. It requires hard work and sweat and sacrifice and ultimately, a leap of faith. To achieve something one has never had, one has to do things that one has never done. A leap of faith? Perhaps. But there is no faith without trust and vice versa.
It's no surprise to me why Tom Coale hasn't found anyone willing to quit Maryland. He hasn't been looking for any. For well over a year he has been working diligently to earn the trust of the residents of District 9B, that he is worthy of their leap of faith. That he is worthy of their vote. And by every measure-- through an overwhelming primary election victory, through impressive fundraising totals, through strong name recognition and through attendance and participation in his campaign and its events-- he has surpassed each and every test. And so now only one more test remains.
I and this blog very enthusiastically endorse Tom Coale for Delegate in District 9B. Because he knows that Ellicott City's, Columbia's, Howard County's, and Maryland's greatest days lie ahead.
Tomorrow: State Senate in 9 and Delegate in District 9A.
Let's be careful out there.
#hocopolitics #MDGA2014 #District9B
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