2 November 2006 Greenbelt News Review
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GREENBELT News ReviewAn Independent Newspaper VOL. 69, No. 50 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 NOVEMBER 2, 2006 On the Ballot Governor and Senate Races Local Voter Registration In Greenbelt Spark Interest for Voters Is Heavily Democratic The following candidates by James Giese by Mary Moien are running for state of- fi ces: Many Greenbelt residents are of voters applying for absentee More than 11,600 Greenbelters Lake traditionally has the highest Governor/Lt. Governor looking forward to Wednesday, ballots, thereby creating a bal- are registered to vote next week. percentage of Democrats (72 per- (vote for one) November 8 when the air waves lot shortage as election offices This represents a six percent in- cent) but they also have had the Republican – Robert L. will no longer be flooded with failed to receive timely supplies crease from the last non-presiden- lowest turnout of the four pre- Ehrlich Jr., 48, of Annapolis, radio and television campaign ad- of additional ballots. Now some tial (midterm) election in 2002. cincts. Those voting at Greenbelt incumbent governor (J.D., vertisements. Until the Tuesday, pundits claim that voters can be This election may elicit more Elementary have had the lowest Wake Forest) and Kristen November Gubernatorial Election more assured of their votes being participation as a senate seat is percentage of Democrats (60 Cox, 36, of Rodgers Forge, is over, listeners and viewers will counted if they vote at their poll- open, there is a close election for percent). Secretary of the Maryland have to continue to put up with ing places. governor and voting for the fi rst The clout of Greenbelt East is Department of Disabilities a bombardment of commercials, While it is now too late to ap- elected school board in a number becoming more visible. That sec- (B.A., educational psychol- most of which are negative in ply for an absentee ballot to be of years. tion of the city represents almost ogy, certificate in special character. sent to a voter’s home, it is still In Greenbelt, Democrats con- 40 percent of those registered education, Brigham Young One issue facing voters has possible to cast an absentee bal- tinue to outnumber Republicans to vote. However, the center University) been whether to vote by absentee lot by going to the offi ces of the by a margin of fi ve to one. The city has two precincts – at the D e m o c r a t – M a r t i n ballot or at the polls. This year Board of Elections at Suite 108, majority of those registered to Greenbelt Community Center and O’Malley, 43, of Baltimore, Maryland law permits any regis- 16201 Trade Zone Avenue (off vote are Democrats (67 percent) at Greenbelt Elementary. Taken mayor of Baltimore, (J.D., tered voter to vote absentee, with Highway 301 south of Central compared to Republicans (13 together, the center city has about University of Baltimore) and or without a reason. Problems Avenue) in Upper Marlboro. percent). This breakdown was 43 percent of registered persons Anthony G. Brown, 44, of at the polls during the primary Senate Race virtually identical to the distribu- and Greenbelt West/Springhill Mitchellville, state delegate, election caused great consterna- The races causing the greatest tion in 2002. Lake has the remaining 19 per- lawyer, Iraq war veteran tion among many voters. The interest are those for Governor The small number of Liber- cent. (J.D., Harvard University) problems related primarily to get- and United States Senator. While tarians (19) is an increase of only Comparisons Green – Ed Boyd, 45, ting the voting machines started a recent Washington Post poll two in the four years. The Green Although Greenbelt is skewed of Baltimore, recruiter for in the morning and computerized indicated that the Democratic party has increased its number toward the Democratic party, it a temporary employment voter registration books. Once candidates were ahead in both from 54 to 85; however, this still is not as skewed as the county as agency and James Joseph in operation, the voting machines races, the Republican candidates represents only one percent of a whole. Three-quarters of regis- Madigan, 42, of Parkville, functioned well although a few and their supporters are working those registered in the city. tered voters in Prince George’s a lieutenant in the Maryland would reboot without cause (shut hard to achieve upset victories. The remainder of those reg- County are registered Democrats, Department of Corrections down and restart). For Governor, Democratic can- istered to vote are members of up from 72 percent in 2002. Populist – Christopher A number of politicians, most didate Martin O’Malley is being other parties or unaffi liated with This is a ratio of more than six A. Driscoll, 52, of Tako- notably Governor Robert Ehrlich, attacked for not doing enough a party (independents). These Democrats to every Republican. ma Park, state chair of the have urged voters in the upcom- to reduce the high crime rate fi gures are reported to be active Both the city’s and the county’s Populist Party and record- ing election to vote absentee. voters – that is, people who voted totals are very different from the ing secretary and member That resulted in record numbers in one of the last two presidential state totals. Urban counties differ of the board of directors of See INTEREST, page 6 elections. greatly from the more rural ones. Campaign for Fresh Air and Variation In the whole state of Maryland, Clean Politics, and Ed Roth- Non-Partisan School Board Although two-thirds of the 55 percent of registered voters stein 50, of Baltimore registered Greenbelters are Demo- are Democrats and 29 percent are Comptroller To Be Selected by Voters crats, there is variation within Republicans for a ratio of about (vote for one) the voting precincts. Springhill two to one. Republican – Anne M. by James Giese McCarthy, 48, of Balti- more, associate professor of A new elected county board from the Maryland Senate said Greenbelt Unoffi cialGreenbelt Voter RegistrationUnofficial Voter Registration Information Figure management. University of of education will be chosen at she originally filed because of Baltimore (Ph.D. strategic the November 7 election. On concern that there would not be Polling Place Democrat Republican Libertarian Green Constitution management, Purdue Uni- the ballot will be this nonpartisan enough qualifi ed candidates but 21-3 Community Center* 1788 398 6 33 2 versity) runoff election. Greenbelters will then announced her withdrawal 66% 15% <1% 1% <1% Democrat – Peter Fran- vote for candidates for all nine after learning of the large number 21-6 Greenbelt Elementary* 1322 415 4 38 0 chot, 58, of Takoma Park, positions on the school board. who originally filed and upon 60% 19% <1% 2% 0% business development con- There are now eight candi- failing to be endorsed by the sultant (J.D., Northwestern 21-8 SHL Elementary* 1592 166 2 4 0 dates remaining after the primary Prince George’s County Educators 72% 8% <1% <1% 0% University) election for the four at-large po- Association (PGCEA). However, sitions. At the primary election, she never formally withdrew from 21-13 Eleanor Roosevelt High* 3127 503 7 10 0 See CANDIDATES, page 6 voters only voted for a district the race and her announcement 70% 11% <1% <1% 0% candidate in which they resided, came too late to have her name Total Greenbelt* 7829 1482 19 85 2 District 1 in Greenbelt’s case. removed from the primary ballot. 67% 13% <1% 1% <1% However, in an effort to assure At the primary election, Lawlah Prince George's County** 320,957 48,463 345 592 54 that all school board candidates placed third. Then for a long 74% 11% <1% <1% <1% Where to Vote refl ect the interests of the county time she debated whether to be a General Election Day is as a whole, all voters will choose candidate or not, fi nally deciding State of Maryland** 1,706,325 902,034 4059 8023 495 Tuesday, November 7. Polls the district school board member to stay in the race. 55% 29% <1% <1% <1% will be open from 7 a.m. to for each of the fi ve districts. The Mickens-Murray lost her bid * As of October 17, 2006 8 p.m. at the four precincts primary narrowed the number of to be the district 3 candidate. ** As of August 31, 2006 which serve Greenbelt – candidates still running in each However, believing her support Note: Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding Greenbelt Community Cen- district to two. was stronger county-wide and Source: Prince George's County Board of Elections (city and county), State Board of Elections (state) ter (Precinct 3), 15 Crescent Those elected will replace having received favorable en- Road; Greenbelt Elemen- an appointed board which was dorsements, she decided to fi le as tary School (Precinct 6), 66 temporarily put in place by the a write-in candidate for district 3. Ridge Road; Springhill Lake Maryland legislature after the The Washington Post has contin- What Goes On Elementary School (Precint former elected board became, in ued to endorse her candidacy. For more detailed 8), 6060 Springhill Drive; its judgement, dysfunctional. With little information reach- Sunday, November 5 and Eleanor Roosevelt High Most voters will have little ing the average voter about the information on 1 to 5 p.m., Artful Afternoon, School (Precinct 13), 7601 knowledge on which to base qualifications of the candidates how to use the Community Center Hanover Parkway. their choices as the candidates for school board, many believe Tuesday, November 7 Any registered voter who have received little publicity and that endorsements will have a voting machines 7 a.m.