Politics

A coalition of advocacy organizations is calling on Maryland’s congressional delegation to endorse a resolution to institute a federal billionaire tax, saying that there is a disparity in what the rich pay to the federal government annually versus the working class. “Marylanders understand that our tax system is inherently unfair and they want their elected leaders to do something about it,” Kevin Slayton, campaign manager for the Maryland Fair Funding Coalition, said in a statement.

Veteran U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D) got a few new challengers Friday, including — briefly — one he definitely did not want. Friday’s candidate filing deadline, already pushed back twice due to now-settled litigation over congressional and legislative district boundaries, featured plenty of frenzied, last-minute activity — including drama and confusion in the final seconds over a legislative district in Montgomery County, which could hand Republicans their first victory in the county in 20 years. The top-line news is that three credible Republicans have filed to seek the GOP nomination in Ruppersberger’s 2nd District, led by Nicolee Ambrose, who has spent the past decade as Maryland’s Republican National Committeewoman.

There’s been a shake-up in the race for county executive race in Montgomery County, Maryland, as Tom Hucker withdraws his name from the running. Hucker, a county council member, told WTOP he’s will run for the at large seat instead after being encouraged to continue with the council by constituents. He made his decision just before Friday’s filing deadline for candidates in the upcoming Maryland primary on July 19.

Unlike four years ago when Marilyn Mosby cruised to victory, this year’s race for Baltimore state’s attorney could be tightening into a competitive match. All three candidates in the 2018 Democratic primary are back again – incumbent Mosby and challengers Ivan Bates, a local defense attorney, and Thiru Vignarajah, a former city, state and federal prosecutor. But at least at this early stage, Mosby appears to have lost votes, while Vignarajah, who ran for mayor in 2020 and is a fixture on Fox45 and other news programs, has apparently gained followers.

From the back of the Senate chamber on Friday stood Sen. Charles E. Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County). ​​His eyes welled with tears as he clutched his desk microphone in his hand. “She’s always been a mentor — always giving you tasks to make certain that you were learning things along the way,” Sydnor said, his voice breaking. “She was always looking out for people like me in Baltimore County to make certain that our communities had leaders,” he said of Senate Finance Committee Chair Delores G. Kelley (D-Baltimore County).

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. is proposing a spending plan that includes record funds for schools, investments in parks and raises for employees, saying the county is “on stable financial footing” two years into the pandemic. The Democrat on Thursday also pledged to address the inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. He wants to fund a summer food program for kids in need, create an affordable housing fund and ensure modern classrooms for “every child, regardless of ZIP code.”