Well I've finally taken the time to look into my local ballot. Here's who/what I'll be voting FOR...
PRESIDENT: Barack Obama-Joe Biden
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Chris van Hollen
JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT: Mary Beth McCormick
JUDGE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS, AT LARGE: Deborah Eyler
BOARD OF EDUCATION, AT LARGE: Phil Kauffman
QUESTION 1: Early Voting; Polling Places; Absentee Ballots
I'll be voting AGAINST...
QUESTION 2: Authorizing Video Lottery Terminals (Slot Machines) to Fund Education
COUNTY QUESTION A: Repeal of Legally Ineffective Provisions
COUNTY QUESTION B:Property Tax Limit - Votes Needed to Override
I'm currently ABSTAINING from...
JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT: Robert Alan Greenberg
JUDGE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS, AT LARGE: Robert A. Zarnoch
If anyone would like to discuss, you can see what I'm thinking below the fold...
PRESIDENT: Barack Obama-Joe Biden
First let's get the formalities out of the way. I'll be voting for Obama-Biden this time around. Please peruse my prior comments and diaries for my thinking on this. If we had approval voting I would also vote for McKinney-Clemente and Nader-Gonzalez.
It must also be said that of the GOP field of candidates, I found McCain to be the least objectionable as far as policy was concerned, although Huckabee's authenticity was commendable as was Romney's service in MA. Having said that, I would have voted for any Democratic candidate, even Gravel, over any GOP candidate. Luckily, I get to vote for two primary candidates of which I approved.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Chris van Hollen
I reside in Congressional District 8 which is represented by Chris van Hollen, co-chair of the DCCC. He's been good to the NIH community, not just scientists but also service employees faced with being A-76s out of existence. So I'll be voting for him on November 4th.
JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT: Mary Beth McCormick
I live in Maryland Judicial Circuit 6. There are 2 vacancies and two Governor appointees that must now stand for election, Robert Alan Greenberg and Mary Beth Mccormick. They're both homegrown and qualified. A quick search revealed no complaints filed against them and political contributions to Democratic organizations. Since case loads are currently high, we can't really afford prolonged vacancies, but the term is 15 years. Since I have so little information I am considering not voting as an act of civic responsibility.
This just in...Greenberg sided with foes of a measure to protect transgendered individuals from discrimination based on a legal deadline that was missed (read the article). Is this be enough for me to vote against him? I don't think so, he followed the letter of the law and there is no referendum on the ballot. So no harm no foul?
That is the only case where Greenberg made the news. Judge Mary Beth McCormick seems to have made it in to the news much more frequently, but only for being told things by lawyers and setting bonds. Not much to go on, but she seems to have a pretty good sense of who is a flight risk (Teen Molester from outside the jurisdiction and an immigrant woman who dumped her baby in a garbage can).
This is probably the most frustrating thing about voting! There is almost no coverage or interest in judicial philosophy and records unless its at the supreme court level.
JUDGE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS, AT LARGE: Deborah Eyler
This is a "vote yes or no" to retain the judge in question. As usual, there isn't much info on either candidate and no formal complaints. The County Democratic Party reccomends a "yes" for both but with no actual reasoning other than no-one seems to have complained :-/
Our first contender is Deborah Eyler, who has been on the court of special appeals for 11 years and favors a special drug court. A search of her name reveals she donated $500 to Barack Obama! More concretely, she has written an opinion of the territorial jurisdiction arguement regarding DNA samples in a rape case. She was apparently appointed by Glendening.
Our second contender is Robert A. Zornach, appointed by Martin O'Malley, has worked for the Attorney General’s Chief Counsel for Legislation and Counsel to the Maryland General Assembly since 1979. Despite this career, the first article I found was Zarnoch trying to help Ehrlich give the state workers union the shaft. BUt on the other hand, he donates to Democrats like Alan Lightman and Paula Hollinger. But then as Assistant Attorney General argued that Gays and Lesbians are not a suspect class (meaning they haven't been discriminated against).
Currently, I intend to vote yes for Eyler and abstain from voting for Zornach and toying with voting against him. Any opinions on this?
BOARD OF EDUCATION AT LARGE: Phil Kauffman
It's Phil Kauffman versus perrenial candidate Tommy Le. Reading their materials, they don't seem that different until I got down to health education. One is for sex ed including discussions of homosexuality and contraception use, the other is not. Since this is a race with no party designations let's google the intertubes...
Kauffman has his own site where he catlogues endorsements, his platform and new items. Tommy Le has nothing. Neither was supported by the Teachers Union, but Le seems to have made it past the primary by being vocally hostile to the Union. Kauffman was endorsed by the Principals Union. Kauffman also on record as realizing that it is our high quality schools that attract a lot of residents. Le wants the curriculum to instill a sense of "Good and Evil" :-/
QUESTION 1: Early Voting; Polling Places; Absentee Ballots
Authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation to allow qualified voters to vote at polling places inside or outside of their election districts or wards and to vote up to two weeks before an election. This amendment also authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation to allow absentee voting by qualified voters who choose to vote by absentee ballot, in addition to voters who are absent at the time of the election or who are unable to vote personally.
(Amends Article I, §§1 and 3 of the Maryland Constitution)
This is pretty much a no-brainer for me, an Obama supporter. Sure it will cost the State more money, but I think it will be worth it if it increasses participation and allows Baltimore to prevent the elections of the likes of Ehrlich-Steele.
QUESTION 2: Authorizing Video Lottery Terminals (Slot Machines) to Fund Education
Authorizes the State to issue up to five video lottery licenses for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education of children in public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12, public school construction and improvements, and construction of capital projects at community colleges and higher education institutions. No more than a total number of 15,000 video lottery terminals may be authorized in the State, and only one license may be issued for each specified location in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Worcester, and Allegany Counties, and Baltimore City. Any additional forms or expansion of commercial gaming in Maryland is prohibited, unless approved by a voter referendum.
(Enacts new Article XIX of the Maryland Constitution)
I am ambivalent about this one. The libertarian in me says responsible adults can do what they want with their money as long as they don't hurt anyone else. The socialist in me knows the problem is that when gambling is involved others do get hurt and society must carry an extra burden as local culture degrades. There would have to be $1 billion in actual gambling profits for the slot machines to generate enough taxes to cover the anticipated budget shortfall, to get that much the state will probably have to promote gambling. I am voting against this ballot measure. Raises taxes for everyone, if you must...
COUNTY QUESTION A: Repeal of Legally Ineffective Provisions
Repeal Sections 311A, 311B, and 313A of the County Charter, regarding use of County funds to operate a landfill system on residentially zoned land; burying or trenching sewage sludge on residentially zoned land; and telephone service offered by the C&P Telephone Company.
I'll be voting against this question. The provisions were rendered ineffective by a superceding state law. If the state laws change, I still think these protections should be available at the county level. They aren't causing any problem now and I don't really consider them Blue laws.
COUNTY QUESTION B: Property Tax Limit - Votes Needed to Override
Amend Section 305 of the County Charter to require a unanimous vote of 9 Councilmembers, rather than the 7 out of 9 votes currently required, to levy a tax on real property that will produce revenue that exceeds the annual limit on property tax revenue set in that section.
I'll be voting against this question which is basically a tax capping effort by local independent douchenozzle, Robin Ficker of NBA heckling fame. This gives a single council member veto power, may reduce county services and jeopardize the county's AAA bond rating (AAA rating come by honestly).
Anyone disagree? Anyone Still reading?
At some point between now an November 4th, I'll try to post a diary dedicated to each race or question...