2015, 2016, 2017 MDDC News Organization of the Year! Celebrating 162 years of service! Vol. 164, No. 03 • 50¢ SINCE 1855 June 28 -July 4, 2018 TODAY’S GAS “Too Close to Call” PRICE $2.92 per gallon Marc Elrich leads David Blair by 452 votes for County Executive spot Last Week $2.95 per gallon By Neal Earley and Nickolai A month ago Sukharev $3.04 per gallon @neal_earley @Nickolaiss The Democratic Primary for A year ago Montgomery County Executive is $2.30 per gallon too close to call. AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON OF County Council member Marc UNLEADED REGULAR GAS IN MARYLAND/D.C. METRO AREA Elrich leads businessman David ACCORDING TO AAA Blair by 452 votes, with 14,902 ab- sentee ballots and 3,614 provisional INSIDE ballots yet to be counted. "I'm in a race against a guy who spent uncounted millions, a newspa- per that strayed from reporting and just strictly made everything editor- Editor’s ial and a group of developers that just spent a lot of money to make Notebook sure that I didn't get elected ... and it doesn't look like they've succeed- by Brian J. Karem ed." With all the votes from Election PHOTO BY GEORGE SMITH, LEFT AND NICKOLAI SUKHAREV RIGHT Day and early voting counted, El- Businessman David Blair, left and county councilman Marc Elrich right (seen with some of his supporters) are in a rich currently has 34,729 votes to statistical dead heat for county executive. A question Blair’s 34,277 votes, but votes from absentee and provisional ballots will begin to count absentee ballots. deal just to make it this far. a year. of civility have yet to be counted. The winner In addition to the absentee ballots, Blair took to the stage around “Eight months ago, we were an of the Democratic Primary will face provisional ballots have yet to be 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, thanking fami- unknown, a huge underdog, and President Trump asks for Republican Robin Ficker, who ran counted until July 5. ly and campaign volunteers for their now we are in a fight for our lives,” civility. Does he deliver it? unopposed in the Republican Prima- At his election night party, El- hard work – and said it is “remark- Page 4 ry in November’s General Election. rich remained positive, saying his able” that he went from a political See “County Executive” On Thursday, bipartisan teams campaign had to overcome a great unknown to a contender in less than page 8 Police Two incumbent in county delegation hold back lose bids for Democratic nomination; footage of Meiklejohn wins her rematch officer’s cumbent Del. Maricé Morales fin- With all precincts reporting on By Nickolai Sukharev @Nickolaiss ished fourth with 15.7 percent just Wednesday, Meiklejohn earned shooting behind incumbent Del. Bonnie 68.6 percent of the vote to Bowser’s Big Train Rolls Two incumbents in Mont- Cullison and Derwood attorney 31.4 percent. gomery County’s delegation in the Vaughn Stewart. “Friends, our primary election The Big Train increases By Neal Earley @neal_earley Maryland House of Delegates lost In a 2014 rematch, Barbara campaign to be the next Clerk of the its record to 14-2 with its re- their bids for the Democratic nomi- Meiklejohn defeated Alan Bowser Montgomery County Circuit Court cent victory. Howard County prosecutors re- nation after being overtaken by to secure the Democratic nomina- was unsuccessful.” Bowser said in page 21 quested Monday Montgomery County challengers. tion for Clerk of the Circuit Court an online statement on Wednesday Police not release body camera footage Del. Shane Robinson came in for November’s General Election. morning. “This morning, I congrat- from a June 11 officer-involved shoot- fourth place with 19.4 percent just “I am honored to have won ulate our Clerk of the Montgomery ing – a move that has sparked an outcry behind incumbent Del. Kirill such a decisive victory in my bid for County Circuit Court Barbara for transparency from local activists. Reznik and Lesley Lopez to finish re-election as Clerk of the Circuit Meiklejohn on her renomination. Detectives from the Montgomery just outside one of the three spots to Court. And I am thankful to my Hers was an impressive victory.” County Police department met with represent District 39 which includes family, friends, teammates, and es- The two candidates faced each Howard County Deputy State’s Attor- Germantown and Montgomery Vil- pecially the citizens of Montgomery other in 2014 with Meiklejohn 61 ney Mary Murphy Monday about the lage. County that made this victory possi- percent to Bowser’s 39 percent. In District 19, which includes ble,” Meiklejohn said in an email Meiklejohn will not face a gen- See “Police,” page 8 Wheaton, Aspen Hill, and Olney, in- statement Wednesday. eral election opponent. 2THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SENTINEL JUNE 28, 2018 EFLECTIONS The Montgomery County Sentinel, published weekly by Berlyn Inc. Publish- R ing, is a community newspaper covering Montgomery County, Maryland. Our of- fices are located at 22 W. Jefferson August 1, 1985 Street, Suite 309, Rockville, MD 20850. Founded in 1855 by Matthew Fields. All mail to: P.O. Box 1272, Rockville, MD 20849-1272. Subscription Rates for The Ben Cardin listens to local citizen complaints Montgomery County Sentinel – Weekly by mail: $40.00 per year & $26.50 for Se- Each week the Sentinel visits a home buyers, low-income housing, slightly more than the national aver- between Montgomery County and nior Citizens. (USPS) 361-100. memorable story from its archives. education, the savings and loan situ- age, Cardin said, adding that they Baltimore, Cardin said he would ation and uncovered gravel trucks. provide state residents with “excel- work for roads and schools in Mont- Bernard Kapiloff PUBLISHER E MERITUS Benjamin Cardin, Speaker of Cardin, a Democrat from Balti- lent services.” gomery, and the dredging of the har- the Maryland House of Delegates more, is running for governor in a On a perennial bill that would bor in Baltimore. Lynn G. Kapiloff and a candidate for governor, last race that includes Attorney General require the beds of gravel trucks be In regard to the state’s S&L CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/ PUBLISHER week listened to complaints from Stephen Sachs and possibly Balti- covered with a tarp, Cardin said problems, Cardin said Maryland of- [email protected] county residents ranging from taxes more Mayor William Donald Schae- there is little support outside Mont- ficials unlike those in Ohio, have to truck covers. fer. gomery and Prince George’s coun- taken control of the problem and are Mark Kapiloff ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Cardin came to Montgomery Cardin agreed that closing costs ties to pass the measure. But Cardin working to restore faith in state [email protected] County as part of his campaign for in Maryland, some of the highest in jokingly assured the audience that S&Ls. governor. In one of his “Speak with the country, should be lowered. he would get the bill passed. More than 100 people, mostly EDITORIAL the Speaker” forums, county resi- But he said property taxes in “I’ll do it,” he said, if he were Cardin supporters attended the fo- Brian J. Karem dents complained about drunk dri- Maryland are “moderate.” Maryland elected governor. rum at the planning board offices in EXECUTIVE EDITOR ving, taxes, high closing costs for sales and property taxes are just Touching on the traditional rift Silver Spring. [email protected] Brandy L. Simms SPORTS EDITOR [email protected] MARK ROBINSON NEWS [email protected] CITY EDITOR BARBARA TRAININ BLANK BOE candidates advance to fall general election COPY EDITOR of Education, the primary tends to our message, get involved.” By Kathleen Stubbs Write us NEAL EARLEY @kathleenstubbs3 foreshadow the general election re- One of Reiley’s top issues is [email protected] sults. advocating for students with learn- ASSIGNMENTS The longest-serving sitting However, Amano said she is ing disabilities to receive the sup- The Montgomery County Sentinel school board member and a new confident that she could win the port services they need. George Smith candidate, plus two candidates for PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR District slot. Silvestre said she was hopeful welcomes letters. an open At-Large seat will advance “Obviously, the number of about the possibility of winning. TAZEEN AHMAD to the general election. CALENDAR EDITOR people that vote between the prima- “I’m very optimistic about my All letters must be original, District 3 incumbent Pat ry and general election increases chances in the general election. I [email protected] O’Neill won 60.2 percent of the significantly,” Amano said Wednes- have been working in Montgomery signed by the author CALL 301-838-0788 vote for District 3, with 67,277 day. County for the last 10 years, build- FAX 301- 838 - 3458 votes, followed by Lynn Amano in Julie Reiley finished in the ing relationships with parents, lead- NEWSROOM AND LEGAL ADVERTISING second place, with 23.5 percent, and must include the author’s daytime lead of the At-Large race, with ers, advocates, so I feel good that I ADVERTISING and 26,298 votes. 35,609 votes and 31.8 percent of can tap into my network that under- “I was very happy with the telephone number Lonnie Johnson the votes counted, while Karla Sil- stands the work and wants to put me ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE votes, and I appreciate everyone vestre received 31,811 votes, or on the Board of Education,” Sil- 301-306-9500 who voted for me,” O’Neill said. “It 28.4 percent. As the top two candi- vestre said.