Talking Maryland Politics

I invite you to visit www.TalkingMarylandPolitics.com and “join us” to view my new online video political discussion program, Talking Maryland Politics. The video program focuses on political issues in Maryland and features elected officials and community leaders/activists from across the state.

Last week I visited Bethesda in Montgomery County and today on my Blog, www.TalkingMarylandPolitics.com are my interviews with Maryland Democratic state senator Brian Frosh, who is running for Attorney General, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett(D), who is running for a third term and long time Democratic politico and attorney Stanton Gildenhorn.

You can watch all of the exclusive interviews on www.TalkingMarylandPolitics.com for an introductory low annual subscription fee of only $19.95 a year! 

It is through your membership fee and contributions we are able to bring you quality video programming throughout the year. I encourage you to forward this email to your friends and invite them to "join us"!

Sign up takes only a few minutes and is safely secured by Pay Pal.  Major credit cards and your debit card are accepted.  You can sign up here: http://www.talkingmarylandpolitics.com/?page_id=6

I want to thank the many who watched our first show that focused on the change to charter government in Frederick County, Maryland.

My guests included Democratic candidate for county executive Jan Gardner, Maryland Democratic Party Treasurer and local attorney Robert Kresslein who was co-chair of the charter writing committee, local businessmen and political commentators Michael Kurtianyk and Jim Racheff, Frederick County Teachers Association President Gary Brennan, local activist and Residents Against Landsdale Expansion (RALE) president Steve McKay.

You can watch, for free, my twenty minute interview with Jan Gardner and Steve McKay here: http://www.talkingmarylandpolitics.com/?p=500

Each week we will strive to bring you an hour video program, posted on the Blog in twenty minute segments to make for easy viewing.  Of course, they are always available for viewing when you have the time.

Next week we will air a recent interview I conducted with Kevin Grubb who is challenging incumbent Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins in the Republican Primary. 

Also next week, you will be able to view a great interview I had with Frederick County Circuit Court Judge Danny O’Connor who was appointed by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.  Former Frederick County state’s attorney Scott Rolle is challenging O’Connor in this election.  

Joining me in another segment is Dave Weaver, the chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission for Frederick County.  Weaver details what is a very thorough nominating process.  

Your suggestions for guests and the issues to be discussed are also welcomed. Email me at George@TalkingMarylandPolitics.com

Remember to subscribe today to www.TalkingMarylandPolitics.com at the low introductory annual fee of only $19.95 by clicking here:http://www.talkingmarylandpolitics.com/?page_id=6! 

Also be sure to “Like” Talking Maryland Politics on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at TalkMDpolitics. 

Thank You!

George Wenschhof 

Diversity a Strength in Maryland

Dave Wang

Maryland is 42nd in size in the United States. On this small tract of land, however, we have the 19th highest population and two of the wealthiest counties in the nation (Montgomery and Howard). We also enjoy being one of the most diverse states in our country. 30% of Marylanders are African-American, 6% are Hispanic, and 6% are Asian American.

We are poised to join Hawaii, New Mexico, Texas, and California as the only majority-minority states in the Union.

I've heard Governor O'Malley say on several occasions that diversity is Maryland's greatest strength. A diversity of informed voices in the conversation means more ideas, more innovation, and more solutions.

As Director of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) outreach for the Maryland Democratic Party, I see tremendous potential for growth of political activism for the AAPI community in our State. Over the past decade, Maryland's population has grown by about 7.6%. The AAPI community has grown by 32.8%. According to the US Census, the AAPI community is the fastest growing ethnic group in Maryland, slightly outpacing growth even of Hispanics.

And we vote Democrat.

According to a 2009 Gallup poll, while Americans tend to lean Democrat 49-41 (this changes on a weekly basis, but this figure serves as a good baseline for our purposes), AAPI lean Democrat 61-24. This staggering number puts AAPI behind only African Americans in progressive tendencies.

The Maryland Democratic Party wisely rolled out the "Diversity Leadership Councils" this year, which gives the ethnic groups of Maryland a permanent voice within the Party. The AAPI Leadership Council has Committees for Grassroots Outreach, Communications, Finance, and Membership.

The grassroots committee has completed over 2,000 calls on behalf of the Party and Governor O'Malley in Howard and Montgomery County, and organized three community meetings with attendance of over 200 individuals.

The communications committee puts out a monthly newsletter to our subscribers and submits articles to AAPI-specific media outlets, such as newspapers and radio shows.

The finance committee cultivates the community of AAPI donors and keeps and updated list of them. The membership committee focuses on recruiting new people to join the Council.

To find out more about us, to start a local chapter, or to get involved in Howard or Montgomery County, email dave.wang.maryland@gmail.com. For press inquiries, please contact Co-Director Cezar Lopez at cezar.campaign@gmail.com.

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Editor's Note: Dave Wang is Director
Asian American Outreach
Maryland Democratic Party/Coordinated Campaign
http://www.mddems.org/your-party/diversity-leadership-council