Political Notes: Some 4-1-1 on a Pro-King PAC, Endorsements for AG, a Surprise in MoCo, and a Firestorm Over a Name – Maryland Matters

PAC for the Folks, a political motion committee set as much as promote Democrat John King’s candidacy for governor, is up with a brand new 30-second TV advert within the Baltimore market. The PAC reported spending $130,000 on media final week.

The advert, which incorporates footage of King at work and assembly with voters, has a feminine narrator, who begins by saying, “John King is not any stranger to overcoming obstacles. Perseverance is in his blood. President Obama noticed the energy of his character when he requested John to function his secretary of Schooling.”

The advert then contains a temporary clip of Obama and King collectively, with Obama calling King “an exceptionally gifted educator, Dr. John King.” The 2 embrace, and the narrator resumes.

“John is a public college mum or dad with progressive values. He has a report of preventing for civil rights and equality. As Maryland’s subsequent governor, John King will construct a greater future for our youngsters and grandkids.”

PAC for the Folks has largely been funded by progressive philanthropists and training reform teams. It has raised $306,028 since launching final fall, based on marketing campaign finance experiences. The most important donors are Michelle Boyers, a frontrunner of training philanthropies primarily based in San Francisco, who donated $100,000; Merryl Tisch, the previous chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents and spouse of a serious New York philanthropist, who gave $100,000; and Douglas Jaffe, a senior fellow on the Invoice and Melinda Gates Basis, who donated $50,000.

The PAC is being run by Jerid Kurtz, a veteran nationwide Democratic strategist whose Maryland resume contains serving as U.S. Rep. David Trone’s marketing campaign supervisor in 2018 and as communications director for Anthony Brown’s gubernatorial run in 2014.

Hogan backs Shalleck for AG

Gov. Larry Hogan has endorsed fellow Republican Jim Shalleck’s bid to develop into Maryland’s subsequent lawyer normal.

A Montgomery County protection lawyer who served as a federal prosecutor earlier than coming into non-public apply, Shalleck is one in every of two Republicans operating within the July 19 main.

It isn’t stunning that Hogan is backing Shalleck: The opposite candidate, former Anne Arundel County Councilmember Michael Peroutka, has vowed to prosecute the state and native leaders who enacted and enforced COVID restrictions. He launched his marketing campaign in January, about 5 months after Shalleck entered the race.

In line with The Washington Put up, Peroutka favors the dismantling of public training, which he has known as “a plank within the Communist Manifesto.”

Some GOP strategists have privately fearful that Peroutka because the nominee for lawyer normal may very well be a drag on Republicans up and down the ticket.

In a Fb put up this week, Hogan mentioned Shalleck “will maintain violent criminals accountable and preserve Marylanders protected.”

“Jim has the expertise and integrity to get the job accomplished,” the governor added.

Shalleck served till not too long ago because the Hogan-appointed chair of the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

The winner of the GOP main will face the winner of the Democratic contest, which pits Rep. Anthony Brown in opposition to former Baltimore Metropolis District Court docket Choose Katie Curran O’Malley.

LCV for O’Malley

Talking of O’Malley, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters on Wednesday endorsed her bid for AG. The group praised O’Malley’s judicial and courtroom expertise, which incorporates 20 years as a choose and a decade as an assistant state’s lawyer in Baltimore County.

“In her interviews with Maryland LCV, Katie O’Malley demonstrated a dedication to enforcement associated to local weather change, environmental justice, and the Chesapeake Bay,” mentioned Maryland LCV Government Director Kim Coble.

Maryland’s different main statewide environmental group, the Sierra Membership, is backing Brown within the Democratic main for lawyer normal. This marks the second time that LCV and the Sierra Membership have diverged on a statewide race this election cycle: LCV is supporting Wes Moore for governor, whereas the Sierra Membership is backing John King.

In a press release, O’Malley mentioned that if elected, “I’ll battle to make clear air, clear land, clear water, and clear vitality the environmental legacy we depart our kids and grandchildren.”

Her prime three priorities, she mentioned, “will probably be to guard the setting, together with the Chesapeake Bay, and public well being for all Maryland residents; maintain polluters accountable; and be sure that Maryland meets and exceeds its commitments for emissions reductions and clear vitality manufacturing.”

Click on right here for endorsements within the election for lawyer normal

Castelli joins Annapolis agency

The Annapolis and Baltimore lobbying agency Rifkin Weiner Livingston is including  William A. Castelli as a associate in its Authorities Relations and Lobbying group.

Castelli has 25 years of expertise in authorities relations, most not too long ago as senior vp of Authorities Affairs for the Maryland Realtors, one of many largest commerce associations within the state. He’s additionally a previous president of the Maryland Authorities Relations Affiliation.

Castelli bought his begin in Maryland politics working as a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D).

Lobbyist William Castelli.

“I’ve identified Invoice for almost 30 years and he has all the time been an engaged, hardworking, and efficient chief,” Hoyer mentioned. “Invoice began working in my workplace in 1989 as an intern, and shortly rose by means of the ranks to develop into Legislative Assistant. He has a powerful profession in each the private and non-private sector, and I imagine this angle, in addition to his skills and functionality, make him a wonderful addition to Rifkin Weiner Livingston,” Hoyer, who’s now the Home majority chief on Capitol Hill, mentioned in a press release.

The co-chairs of RWL’s Authorities Relations Group, Camille Fesche and Brad Rifkin, known as Castelli “a strategic and pragmatic and downside solver.”

Castelli will work out of the agency’s Annapolis workplace and turns into the eighth member of the RWL lobbying and authorities relations staff.

“I’m more than happy to be affiliated with a legislation agency of RWL’s stature within the authorized and authorities relations fields,” he mentioned.

Firefighters’ union douses try to alter identify

Members of the Maryland State Firemen’s Affiliation have voted to maintain the group’s present identify as a substitute of creating it gender inclusive.

Affiliation President Joel McCrea mentioned the measure for a reputation change didn’t move on the union’s annual conference in Ocean Metropolis this week as a result of members had been resentful of outdoor stress over the problem. Forty-one % of the conference delegates supported the identify change.

State Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-Montgomery) had been urging the union for weeks to alter its identify at its conference, saying it was “previous time.” Main as much as the conference, she known as the present identify “sexist” and “inaccurate,” noting that the hearth departments in three of Maryland’s largest counties — Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Prince George’s — are led by ladies.

Kagan expressed disappointment with the end result. She famous that 44 state firefighter unions have already modified their names.

“Altering MSFA’s identify from Firemen’s to Firefighters’ was labeled by many as a ‘no-brainer,’” Kagan mentioned.

Sen. Kramer for Elrich in Montgomery Co.

The late Montgomery County Government Sid Kramer (D) was a favourite of the enterprise group throughout his tenure in Rockville, and in some ways helped chart the county’s present development. Present Montgomery County Government Marc Elrich (D) isn’t very well-liked amongst many county enterprise leaders, particularly Chamber of Commerce sorts.

So it was considerably stunning to be taught that Kramer’s son, state Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery), had endorsed Elrich’s reelection bid.

“County Government Elrich has been a nationwide chief on managing the pandemic and defending our residents by means of this very difficult time,” Kramer mentioned in a press release. “He has labored diligently to enhance the enterprise local weather right here and to assist companies thrive and develop.”

Elrich in flip known as Kramer “a constant, nice associate on the state degree.”

Regardless that they could have been on reverse sides of Montgomery County’s pro-growth/slow-growth divide, Elrich and Sid Kramer had been identified to have an excellent and respectful relationship. What’s extra, Elrich and Ben Kramer are each pretty tight with Gino Renne, head of MCGEO, the Montgomery County workers’ union.

Matt Small of Maryland Issues information associate WTOP Information contributed to this report.