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September 12

SILVER SPRING VOICE ENDORSES MARC ELRICH

September 7

"I am excited to have the support of the Voice and of families across Montgomery County to make our community reflect our values, with fair wages, quality health care, good education and bright futures," said Marc Elrich. "To fight congestion and improve our schools we've got to make the county slow down its endless push for development and to focus, instead, on catching up with existing needs. The price of ever-expanding growth has been deteriorating maintenance, a backlog of un-modernized schools, and trailer parks instead of expanded facilities. I'll work to refocus our priorities on our children and our future."

"Montgomery County has four At-Large Councilmembers. Current Takoma Park City Council member Democrat Marc Elrich is clearly the best candidate for one of these seats. From his many years on the city council, Elrich knows what it means to balance progressive principles against a tight budget," wrote Voice Publisher Eric Bond. "He has been a champion of affordable housing in Takoma Park and elsewhere in the county. And as a teacher at Rolling Terrace Elementary School, Elrich has shown his dedication to making a difference in the lives of his neighbors. As an activist, Elrich has made his mark as a principled environmental advocate."

U-LINERS ROCK THE RODEO

August 18

Candidates running for various offices, including Duchy Trachtenberg, Valerie Ervin, Tom Hucker, and Diane Nixon were in attendance. Jamie Raskin quizzed the audience on Marc's qualifications for County Council, to the crowd's loud approval.

The campaign offers its sincerest thanks to Domingo Vargas, owner of the Rodeo, for offering his establishment for the event, to Joe Uehlein, the members of the band, and Pam Parker, for the generosity of their time and talent, and to all who came to support Marc on the road to Rockville!

Catch Joe and the U-liners in October at the Birchmere and Takoma Street Festival. Visit their website, www.uliners.com

See Pam Parker at the Kensington Labor Day Parade and Blues Alley. Visit www.pamparker.com for more info.

Thank You to all of you who made this a successful fundraiser!

August 17 -- N.O.W. Endorses Elrich!

"I'm excited to have the support of Montgomery County NOW in my campaign for the County Council, because I want to represent all residents," said Elrich. "I'm proud of my record of advancing the rights of women, supporting employment equity as a city councilmember, organizing tenants and building community strength to protect homes and families, and supporting equality."

"I am especially proud of my role as a teacher who helps encourage girls to learn math at an age when too many female students turn away from math and science - that's part of my commitment to equality," Elrich said.

Elrich promised his strong support for reproductive rights, arguing that county officials need to be leaders at a variety of levels and pledging to work to guarantee women in Maryland timely access to birth control and emergency contraception in pharmacies and hospitals, without exception. "I believe the decisions a woman makes about her body are between her and her physician," said Elrich.

In addition to promising to continue his work for equal opportunity in education and the work place, Elrich promised to be an energetic opponent of domestic violence. "I don't think you can overemphasize the importance of stopping violence against women, including domestic violence, in elementary school where too often you hear adults say "Boys will be boys". We've got to teach all of our children that violence is wrong," said Elrich. "I would elevate anti-violence, anti-abuse efforts in our schools, and push police and prosecutors to prioritize stopping domestic violence."

"And we as a society need to provide alternatives for women so they don't trade physical abuse for economic security," said Elrich. "To help poor women and children escape poverty and the violence that can come with it, we've got to extend the living wage, push for universal health care nationally and here in Maryland, and expand programs like shelters and counseling services."

The Montgomery County Chapter of the National Organization for Women joins the Maryland State Teachers Association, Montgomery County Education Association, Montgomery County Public Schools Retirees Association, Montgomery County Sierra Club, Democracy for Montgomery County, Montgomery County Green Democrats, Montgomery County Hispanic Democratic Club, Neighbors for a Better Montgomery, Progressive Maryland, Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters, Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, Progressive Democrats of America, and others in endorsing Marc Elrich's campaign for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council.

August 7 -- Progressives Promote Marc Elrich for County Council

Over the weekend, Democracy for Montgomery County announced its endorsement of Marc Elrich for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council, joining grassroots groups Progressive Maryland and the Progressive Democrats of America in supporting the Elrich, a County school teacher and civic activist.

"No one works harder and more effectively for the progressive values important to working families like equal opportunity, human rights, high quality education and health care, and economic justice than Marc Elrich," said Sean Dobson, Acting Director of Progressive Maryland. "We need Marc Elrich, a proven leader with progressive priorities, on the County Council."

Progressive Maryland is a grassroots organization thousands of individual Marylanders and dozens of religious, community, and labor organizations fighting for working families.

"Democracy for Montgomery County supports Marc Elrich because he has demonstrated the willingness and ability to effectively stand up for the public interest against overwhelming odds," said Gina Angiola (Olney) of Democracy for Montgomery County. "Marc will really be a voice for all Montgomery County residents on the County Council."

Democracy for Montgomery County is a coalition of Democracy for America-inspired groups dedicated to building the Maryland progressive grassroots movement to make a more just and democratic political system.

"Marc Elrich has a long career working for progress on the issues that matter most to people in Montgomery County, and we wholeheartedly support his candidacy," said Mike Hersh (Wheaton), Progressive Democrats of America Maryland Coordinator. "We appreciate his outstanding work for the people of Takoma Park, and we know he'll bring the same dedication, original thinking, leadership and intelligence to the County Council."

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) carries the agenda from the progressive grassroots across the country to pass progressive legislation at all levels of government.

"I am excited to join together with progressive advocates and the working families of Montgomery County to make this a fair county for all," said Elrich. "Montgomery County residents have a right to a living wage, quality health care, good education and bright futures. I am committed to winning policy changes that makes it possible for everyone in Montgomery County to enjoy the fruits of their labor."

August 5 - Educators Endorse Marc

Marc Elrich, at-large candidate for the Montgomery County Council and a public school teacher, was endorsed by the Montgomery County Public Schools Retirees Association (MCPSRA) and the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA).

"If we want to ensure that our schools are successful, there is no better way than to elect a teacher to the County Council where so many important decisions are made," said Tom Israel, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Education Association. "Montgomery County teachers have recommended Marc Elrich for County Council because of his dedication to our schools and our children, his knowledge of what works and doesn't work in the classroom, and his focus on making policies that help our schools and our children's education. Marc has proven his ability to make a difference for students and schools."

The Montgomery County Education Association represents 11,000 classroom teachers, guidance counselors, speech pathologists, media specialist, and other educators in the public schools. MCEA works to improve teaching and learning, with members teaching 132,000 students in 194 schools. "I'm eager to work with my fellow teachers to raise the level of public discussion from "how much are we spending" to "how are we really doing"? I've taught classes that were far bigger than they should have been, where the books we needed weren't there, and struggled to get resources for the children who need more than what we give them in a classroom. And, yes, I've taught in portables, too," said Marc Elrich. "I want to get behind the façade of how high our schools rank, and address the persistent problems that are keeping us from really closing the achievement gap."

Marc Elrich is a 5th grade teacher at Rolling Terrace Elementary and an elected member of the Takoma Park City Council, where he has worked tirelessly to help solve problems faced by his constituents. He has been a strong advocate for reducing class sizes, modernizing county schools, improving school curricula and ending the gaps in our education system that hurt too many students.

"The Montgomery County Public Schools Retirees Association is supporting Marc Elrich for County Council on September 12 because he has excellent ideas, proven experience, and dedication to students and education professionals," said LeeAnn Kaye, Political Action Chair of MCPSRA. "Marc Elrich will be a terrific leader for Montgomery County, its schools and all of its employees and residents."

The MCPSRA is 2,800 retirees from the Montgomery County Public Schools, working to empower its members, promote service in the community, and achieve excellence in education.

"The endorsements of MCEA and MCPSRA tell Montgomery County residents that taking practical steps to improve our schools and the education of your children is my priority," said Marc Elrich. "To fix our schools we've got to make the county slow down its endless push for development and to focus on, instead, catching up with existing needs. The price of ever-expanding growth has been deteriorating maintenance, a backlog of un-modernized schools, and trailer parks instead of expanded facilities. I'll work to refocus our priorities on our children and our future."

August 4 - Environmental Groups Endorse Marc Elrich for County Council

"Montgomery County residents concerned with the loss of green spaces, with the dirtying of our air and water, and with the general decline in our quality of life know that Marc Elrich is the solution to the problem of a County Council married to developers," said Anne Ambler, Chair of the Montgomery County Sierra Club. "The Sierra Club feels very strongly that elected officials must be held accountable for their votes. The Council's vision for our future and their votes set the county's course, usually with irreversible consequences for us, our children, and our grandchildren."

"It is ironic," commented Steve Caflisch, Sierra Club's Maryland Chapter Transportation Chair, "that the group of Council members who campaigned on an "end gridlock" platform have through their votes on the Annual Growth Policy basically removed adequate public facilities controls and decreased the portion of infrastructure costs borne by new development, leaving it to taxpayers. The result will be congested roads and schools and increased pressure on our remaining green space."

"Too much irresponsible growth, too much unpaid-for infrastructure and too many liabilities coming due means that we've got to stop digging Montgomery County into a hole," said Marc Elrich. "We need to be sure that as we grow from this point forward that we learn from our past mistakes that created this mess. Growth must go hand in hand with the infrastructure needed to support it, and we need to collect impact fees so that citizens aren't left with the bill for the infrastructure. To allow growth without infrastructure as we have in the past is a road we've been down, and it doesn't work."

"Montgomery County's green spaces are disappearing, and our air and water quality are deteriorating. Some members of the current County Council are the problem. Marc Elrich is a proven, effective leader who cares about our environment and our quality of life and is willing to fight for it," said Bill Jacobs, Chair of Montgomery County Green Democrats.

"Green Democrats support Marc Elrich for the County Council because our environment and our health need his experienced, responsible leadership to stop the destruction of green spaces and the decline in our quality of life that some on the current County Council have caused through their furtherance of unchecked, irresponsible development."

August 3 - Hispanic Democrats Back Marc Elrich for County Council

"Hispanics across Montgomery County applaud Marc Elrich's strong commitment and support of the Hispanic community and his advocacy on issues affecting the new immigrant population," said José M. Vazquez, President of the Montgomery County Hispanic Democratic Club. "The Montgomery County Hispanic Democratic Club is proud to support Marc Elrich for County Council because of his advocacy for immigrant rights and on behalf of the Latino community of Maryland."

The Montgomery County Hispanic Democratic Club is the only Hispanic club chartered by the Democratic Party in the state of Maryland. It promotes political and civic participation of all Latinos. In 2006 it is producing a sample ballot that endorses Marc Elrich in Spanish and distributed it at polls in a number of high-Hispanic voter precincts throughout the county.

"I am excited to join with the Latino community of Montgomery County to fight for our shared values, for equal rights and a chance at the American dream for all," said Marc Elrich. "My commitment to equality and social justice is longstanding and deep. I'm proud of being the driving force behind laws and policies empowering all parts of our community, welcoming immigrants, expanding county services to reach those in need, and increasing funding to reduce class size and to close the gap in minority achievement."

August 2 - Carpenters Endorse Marc Elrich for County Council

"I've known Marc since our college days," said Bill Halbert, Executive Secretary-Treasurer/CEO of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters (MARCC). "He is sincere in his commitment to working people and their families."

"The Carpenters support Marc because he has demonstrated his commitment to good jobs and a fair shake for all - working people need him in our corner," said Halbert.

"I am excited to work with the Carpenters to win real progress for the working families of Montgomery County. Together we can ensure decent wages, affordable, high-quality health care, and good homes near workplaces," said Marc Elrich. "I am committed to forging new policies and improving existing policies so that the working families who make Montgomery County possible can enjoy the fruits of their labor."

August 1 - NeighborsPac Endorses Marc Elrich for County Council

Neighbors for a Better Montgomery, Montgomery County's non-partisan, citizen-run, local government, public awareness group, concerned with the decline in the quality of life due to the county's policies of uncontrolled growth and sprawl, today joined environmental and labor groups in supporting teacher and civic activist Marc Elrich's campaign for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council.

"Neighbors for a Better Montgomery is throwing our full support into electing Marc Elrich to the County Council because we need his experienced, responsible leadership to fix the problems that some on the current County Council have caused through their furtherance of unchecked, irresponsible development. Our schools are overcrowded and unsafe; our highways are clogged; our green spaces are disappearing and our air and water quality are deteriorating," said Drew Powell, Executive Director of Neighbors For a Better Montgomery. "These things are the direct result of a County Council under the influence of millions of dollars in campaign contributions, leading some members of the council to too often ignore the needs of the people of the county. Only leaders like Marc Elrich can make the county stop the resulting deterioration in the quality of life of the people of Montgomery County."

"Too much irresponsible growth, too much unpaid-for infrastructure and too many liabilities coming due means that we've got to stop digging Montgomery County into a hole," said Marc Elrich. "We need to be sure that any new growth is good for the people of the county, that we have the infrastructure to support it, and that citizens aren't left with the bill for the infrastructure."

"For more than four years, Neighbors for a Better Montgomery has promoted a discussion regarding access and influence, which may result from contributions to certain Councilmembers. It is encouraging to see candidates like Marc Elrich, stepping up to the plate, making a commitment to citizens that he will not only limit growth, but contributions to his campaign from those who profit from growth. Marc Elrich is to be applauded for his vow not to take any contributions from the development industry or contractors doing business with county," Powell said.

"Neighbors for a Better Montgomery will continue to fight to correct the decline in the county and to encourage the election of a county government that is truly accountable and responsive to its citizens by supporting Marc Elrich, who shares our values and vision for Montgomery County," said Powell. "We will mobilized our grassroots network of civic and community associations from every part of the county to provide campaign support and voter turnout for Marc and all Neighbors' citizen-accountable candidates."

A complete listing of all candidates endorsed by Neighbors for a Better Montgomery and details of contributions by development interests to candidates can be found at www.NeighborsPAC.org.

July 25 - Elrich to Appear on Cable Channel 16

Marc Elrich and Duchy Trachtenberg were guests on "Political Pulse," a talk show hosted by Charles Duffy. The show will be broadcast on the Maryland Municipal Cable Channel 16 at 9:00 pm on Thursday, July 27, and again on Tuesday, August 1 at 9:30 pm. Elrich talked about growth and development issues in the county, among other issues. Subscribers to Comcast and Starpower will be able to see the show on channel 16.

July 18 - AFL-CIO Endorses Marc Elrich for County Council

Washington, DC - Montgomery County labor unions, under the banner of the Metropolitan Washington AFL-CIO announced today their endorsement of Marc Elrich for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council.

"Marc Elrich will best represent the interests of working people in Montgomery County," said Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO President Joslyn N. Williams.

"I am excited to join together with the working families of Montgomery County to make this a fair county that improve the futures of Montgomery County students, residents and workers," said Elrich. "All of the workers of Montgomery County should be paid a living wage, should have health care, and should be able to afford to live near where they work. I am committed to winning policy change that makes it possible for the families that make Montgomery County possible to enjoy the fruits of their labor."

Elrich promised real solutions to the affordable housing crisis, because people who work in the county should be able to live here, too. "County residents should not fear being pushed out of their homes and neighborhoods when their golden years arrive," Elrich said.

"We are hemorrhaging affordable housing and the County Council has no plan to stem the loss. Losing affordable housing is bad for the community, bad for the victims of displacement and bad for businesses that will lose workers. That's why I will focus on investing and jumpstarting strategies to reduce the loss of affordable units, as I have for the last decade," Elrich said.

More Campaign News

>>Saturday, July 8, 2006 (Silver Spring) Marc kicked off his campaign at McGinty's Public House, where close to two hundred supporters gathered to endorse Marc's run for an at-large seat. To read Marc's full speech, click HERE.

Supporters at the kickoff had the opportunity to type in an endorsement for posting on the web page. Click...HERE...to read the endorsements.

>>Thursday, June 22, 2006 (Takoma Park) Marc co-hosted a coffee for Kwasi Mfume, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Maryland Senator Sarbanes. Mfume talked about health care, the war in Iraq, and other issues with approximately 40 citizens. In expressing support for Mfume, Marc said that Kwasi seemed to be the candidate most likely to push for change and action in the Congress.

>>Thursday, June 15, 2006 (Colesville Rd and Georgia Ave.) Outside the AFI, where Al Gore's movie on global change (An Inconvenient Truth) was premiering, Marc spoke in front of a group of Purple Line supporters. Marc told the crowd that "The Inconvenient Truth" in Montgomery County was that some Democrats would rather see money go to the ICC than the Purple Line, and that they went to the Bush-Cheney EPA to get environmental approval, when a Clinton-Gore EPA had already rejected it.

>>Wednesday, June 7, 2006 (Montgomery College) Marc greeted world-renowed architect Cesar Pelli after his presentation on the design of the Comsat Building, the futuristic building visible from Rte. 270 north of Gaithersburg. The building was Pelli's first design and one on which he has based many other designs, including the Petronas towers in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, two of the tallest buildings in the world.