Montgomery County's GOP on the rise!

With 123,000 registered as Republican in Montgomery County, a distinct minority, surviving as a candidate in a general election demands getting votes from the largest voter group, those of the Independents (which outnumber even the Democrat Party for the county), as well as "soft" Democrats. At the lowest popularity point of his Presidency, George W. Bush, a Republican, for example, won one million votes in Maryland; that same number is what sitting Gov. O'Malley, a Democrat, won. Those numbers are seen as encouraging for any Republican running for governor, as will occur in the 2014 general election.

At Saturday's convention, 2014 candidates for many offices presented themselves to attendees, making their cases and, for those running in the June primary for Governor submitting themselves to a straw poll. Charles Lollar (of Charles County) decisively won the Montgomery County Republican convention straw poll, winning 40% of the votes. His nearest competitor was at 24%. Grass roots activists know the real thing when they see it, as his campaign stressed, to have won well in Montgomery County is an indicator for a primary win for this US Marine Corps Reservist.

Speakers at Saturday's event included the GOP candidate for County Executive, Jim Shalleck. He correctly noted that Montgomery County is the only county in the country that runs its own liquor sales and stores, and holds its own liquor brand! He will work towards making the county business friendly and initiating an investigation into the Silver Spring Transit Center debacle.  Dave Wallace, 8th Congressional District (which covers Silver Spring, Chevy Chase and Bethesda in its Montgomery County portion) the GOP candidate cited government overreach as the number one problem and will face sitting Congressional Rep. Chris Van Hollen in the General Election November 1st.  Silver Spring spreads out over at least two Legislative Districts, was well represented but it was candidates for the General Assembly who stood and introduced themselves, such as, but not exclusively, Robin Ficker and Christine Thron from LD15, Mike Ostrum and Frank Howard from LD14.

The highlight of the convention was the presentation on the current General Assembly by sitting Delegate Neil Parrott and Senator J. B. Jennings (also a serving Reservist). They covered the two nightmare O'Malley hallmarks, the Chicken Tax (which O'Malley told farmers he would veto, as Jennings pointed out) and the Rain Tax. Mentioned as well was the Pension Tax that penalizes retirees in the state and efforts also being made to couple the state's Death/estate tax to the federal tax.

In a state that is so overwhelmingly represented by the opposing party, Maryland's Republican Party still holds a presence and is working diligently to make its case to voters. Within this county as well, the GOP hopes it will become a driving force for change. Silver Spring, divided amongst districts, is most prominent in LD20 but overcast by Takoma Park, a piece of it resides in LD18, and depending on how you define "town", can be seen to be in LD 14 and L19 as well. June is Primary "day" and November 1st the General Election. Make yourself present and be heard. The minority can swing its weight against a majority-power. History can repeat itself.