Embarassingly, I've just figured out I reside within the county's Board of Education (BoE) district 2 (map). The lone Republican, Stephen N. Abrams, on the BoE is running for his fourth 4 year term and being challenged by Laura V. Berthiaume in an obstensibly non-partisan race. It gets amusing below the fold wherein I lay out what I found on each candidate within the intertubes...
Stephen N. Abrams: is a resident of Rockville and has a JD from the University of Baltimore. Currently, Abrams is President of Eagle Management Partners Inc. Abrams is running for a fourth term on the BoE. Before the BoE, Abrams served 5 terms on the Rockville Coty Council. In 2006, Abrams ran for Maryland State comptroller but came in second in the Republican primary.
In this election, Abrams is focussed on institutionaling the Weast Reforms through selection of a new superintendant. Abrams also focuses on Advanced Placement and International Bachelaureate programs. Abrams would like to waive tuition for children of MoCoPS employees, expand the definition of public education to pre-K through level 14 and find a better venue for graduation ceremonies.
As a BoE member Abrams has been an unabashed booster of Superintendant Weast. Abrams does not support the current teachers contract. In the past Abrams has not supported inclusion of discussions of homosexuality in comprehensive health education, although this cycle he seems to have given up that talking point (site). Abrams is endorsed by the Gazette which simultaneously counsels him to soften his abrasive combative manner.
Disturbingly, in 2006, Abrams apparently extorted and assaulted another Montgomery County Republican and peppered him with racial slurs in a misguided attempt to get the victim to drop his bid for the MoCo Council and which Abrams subsequently lost (site). Abrams has a history of inconsistant meeting attendance and a habit of running for higher office (as a Republican) while serving on the BoE. Surprisingly, a search for political donations revealed 1250 to the Obama campaign (and 3750 for Republican candidates between 1997-2004, including Bush-Cheney in 2004(site). Some of that time he spent as the MoCo GOP Central Committee chair and he opposed the states assault weapons ban) Personally, I think Abrams has seen the writing on the wall with regards to Republican Party affiliation this year and is trying desperately to portray himself up as anything but a 2004 RNC alternate delegate that he was.
Laura V. Berthiaume (website): is a Rockville resident and holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center. Currently, Berthiaume is a Partner at the lawfirm of Farthing & Farthing specializing in estate law. Berthiaume has two children attending Montgomery County Public Schools and has been active in the PTA since 2005. Berthiaume once ran for State Delegate and lost.
In this election, Berthiaume intends to address the needs of every child for exercise, good nutrition, and safe and modern schools, improve communication within the system and adopt a common sense, transparent budget that respects local parent and student concerns. Berthiaume will not run for another public office while serving on the BoE, a promise Abrams refused to make at the League of Women Voters forum.
Berthiaume supports inclusion of discussions of homosexuality and contraception in comprehensive health education. Berthiaume supports the existing teachers contract although she thinks it was too generous. Berthiume seems in favor of limiting the influence of Superintendent Weast and imagines his replacement will be more diplomatic and flexible. Bertiaume is endorsed by the MoCo teacher union and the MoCoPS retirees association. Berthiume also enjoys the endorsement of most of MoCo's delegation to the Annapolis House and Senate and a couple of County Councilmembers.
A search of the innertubes reveals that Berthiaume has donated $500 to the campaign of Barack Obama and made donations through ActBlue in 2004 for the likes of in 2004 to Tony Knowles(Senate-AK), Virginia Schrader (House-PA-08), Brad Carson (Senate-OK) (site). Berthiaume is very active in the Democratic Party (site).
ENTERIK'S RECOMMENDATION: Vote for Laura V. Berthiaume! Please?! My child has to go to these schools! Berthiaume has all the significant endorsments, very active in the MoCo Democratic Party and is focussed on issues that matter most for MoCo public schools, and Berthiaume should know, both her children are currently students. In my opinion, Stephen N. Abrams is an unstable influence on the MoCo BoE. Abrams political views and personality flaws are not compatible with the present day realities of MoCo schools (his children no longer attend) and his haphazard attendance of actual board meetings is telling. Let's not be fooled by his late breaking change of political party.