http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/09/decision-time-in-district-19.html
By Mike Hersh.
As Americans memorialized September 11th, many politicians neatly
separate into two categories. Those who call for acceptance and
cooperation, and those who exploit fear, mistrust and prejudice. In the
District 19 Senate contest, Roger Manno is running a positive,
issues-based campaign saying"leadership takes teamwork." Sadly, Mike
Lenett is running a dirty campaign unprecedented in Montgomery County
history. This according to History Professor Allan Lichtman, who noted
that Lenett is making a "blatant appeal to ethnic prejudice," adding,
"With some justice, Manno has countered by accusing Lenett of having
taken county politics 'into the gutter like no other candidate before him.'"
District 19 has a long-standing tradition for civility. Lenett is out of
step with this tradition. Recently, Former Sen. Len Teitelbaum called
Lenett's campaign "a terrible distortion of facts, and a clear
indication of the desperation of Lenett's campaign. This kind of extreme
divisive behavior is exactly why every former elected legislator from
District 19 who has endorsed, and the Gazette and Washington Post
newspapers, have ALL endorsed Roger Manno for State Senate." Lenett is
carpet-bombing constituents' mailboxes implying gang members and
criminals support Manno, using faked news clippings, even attacking
Manno's wife and the candidate. The Gazette determined Lenett is a
"divisive force" and confirms the Washington Post's reporting that
Lenett "undermines his own effectiveness" by "alienating" his
colleagues. By contrast, Roger Manno achieved remarkable success on
bills and reforms benefiting Maryland on healthcare, employment, access
to prescription medicines for seniors, non-discrimination, organic
farming, protecting seniors from fraud, and earning the respect of his
colleagues. Please see:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/09012010/montedi180547_32533.php and
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/22/AR2010082202584.html
Maryland Politics Watch reported factual errors--if not out-right
misrepresentations--in a recent Lenett mailer: "What Lenett does not say
... is that Manno also favors gun control." MPW also reported that "A
secretive independent mailing sent into District 19 is in apparent
violation of Maryland campaign finance law ... is linked to a union that
has endorsed one of the competing Senate candidates." That candidate is
Lenett. As MPW observes, "The mailer appears to be illegal in multiple
ways." See:
http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/09/lenett-manno-trade-fire-on-guns.html
and
http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/09/union-linked-to-independent-expenditure.html
The Gazette quoted insiders describing Lenett's lack of effectiveness:
"Colleague problems ... A bill sponsored by him is often the kiss of
death ... Maniacal and untrustworthy." There were a few positive quotes
as well, but the Gazette took those into account and still named Lenett
one of the ten least effective legislators in the entire General
Assembly--including the Republicans who are in the minority in both
houses and on every committee. See:
http://www.gazette.net/thelist/repinfo.php?id=102
Lenett claims he is an environmental superstar, but the record shows
Lenett's SB 710 delayed anti-pollution protections for the Bay and he
voted against Sen. Frosh's legislation to fine polluters who violate the
law Lenett's bill delayed. Lenett excuses his pro-phosphates bill
claiming other states were enacting legislation later on. So what?
Maryland had already passed it! As The Washington Post reported: "Sen.
Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery) said that pushing the effective date of
the ban from January 2010 to July 2010 would 'add up to 15,000 pounds of
phosphates to Bay waters.' 'Phosphates are particularly pernicious
because they end up stored in sediments,' wrote Frosh, who sponsored
legislation last year authorizing the ban. 'Once in the Bay, the
phosphates resulting from [Lenett's bill] will be available for years to
fuel the algal blooms that each summer day destroy oxygen in the Bay's
deep waters and threaten underwater grasses in the shallows.' The bill
allowing the delay, sponsored by Sen. Michael G. Lenett (D-Montgomery),
passed the Senate 25 to 22 after heavy lobbying from Proctor & Gamble.
... Lenett agreed to sponsor the bill at the request of the
industry...." Please see:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2008/04/frosh_veto_phosphate_ban_delay.html
Should Marylanders limit ourselves to what other states do? That's what
Lenett's bill said. Once a politician starts siding with big
out-of-state special interests against Maryland voters, where does it
end? Will Lenett decide Montgomery County Maryland schools should be
like Montgomery Alabama's? Will he help powerful interests turn back the
clock on living wage or safety standards? Hopefully after this Tuesday
we won't have to risk Lenett reversing hard-won progress. Whenever a
Manno bill passes, we're better off. With a Lenett bill, it's a big
(Proctor &) Gamble.
When the bill Manno co-authored with NOW President Terry O'Neill to
protect women from deceptive "crisis pregnancy centers" couldn't get
traction in Annapolis, Manno worked with Montgomery County leaders and
the Council to get it passed here. The League of Conservation Voters,
Environment Maryland and the Sierra Club asked Manno to sponsor HB 522,
their priority legislation in 2010. When it stalled in the General
Assembly, Manno worked with the O'Malley Administration on an executive
order which directs the Public Service Commission to plan Maryland's
clean energy needs. A huge triumph for those of us concerned about clean
energy, global warming, and making Maryland a leader in the 21st century
energy economy. This is typical Manno--when he hits a roadblock on an
important issue, he finds another way to make progress for Maryland.
Manno is more adept at getting important bills passed into law than
Lenett. A few examples: In 2009 Manno's Green Jobs bill helped Maryland
secure a $5.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment
and Training Administration. Manno's 2009 "Apprenticeship Opportunities
Act" (HB 644) created a partnership between businesses, community
colleges, and existing programs for green jobs. Manno's Maryland Organic
Transition Investment Pilot Program passed after he worked with Capitol
Hill to bring $millions in support to Maryland. Then he improved and
extended MOTIPP. It's one thing to vote the right way when people are
watching (and scoring). It's better to be the difference-maker. Manno
drove progress on key issues, and that makes him a better leader.
While Lenett raised more money than Manno, he's "loaned" most of that to
himself, and spent it at an incredible rate by printing enough walk
pieces and massive mailers to clear cut a forest! Some environmentalist!
With his extravagant imagination and taste for the melodramatic, Lenett
has a future as a writer for a show like 24. After all, Lenett has to
pay himself back the approximately quarter-million dollars he loaned
himself trying to re-buy that Senate seat, right?
Lenett boasts of several endorsements. Ask his endorsers, and--if
they're honest--they'll admit they're forced by protocol to back any
half-way decent incumbent. Now, many of those endorsers probably wish
they could take it back. They should. None of the rubber-stamp gang
endorsed Jamie Raskin before the primary in 2006, but they all scrambled
to get on his bandwagon after he won the primary. Expect the same to
happen this year in the Manno vs. Lenett contest.
Roger Manno is an especially good challenger, and Mike Lenett is an
unusually bad incumbent. That's why The Washington Post, The Gazette,
Del. Hank Heller, Former Sen. Len Teitelbaum, Del. Adrienne Mandel, Del.
Carol Petzold, County Councilwoman Valerie Ervin, Chair of the Education
Committee, Del. Sue Hecht, Chair of the Maryland Green Caucus, Del.
Brian Feldman, Chair of the Montgomery County House Delegation, Del.
Susan Lee, Vice-Chair of the Montgomery County House Delegation, Del.
Ana Sol Gutierrez, Del. Aisha Braveboy, Mrs. Cherri Branson, Chair of
the African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County, the Municipal
County Government Employee Organization, Progressive Neighbors, NARAL
Pro-Choice Maryland, Montgomery Green Democrats, Montgomery County
Public School Retiree Association, Coalition of Asian Pacific American
Democrats, Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association,
Montgomery County Youth Slate, Hispanic Democratic Club of Montgomery
County, and dozens of others endorse Manno. See:
http://www.rogermanno.com/contact/index.cfm?Fuseaction=contact
Manno is a progressive we can trust to do the right thing when people
are watching, in the back rooms, all the time, every day--to serve the
public interest, not special interests. NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland and
Progressive Maryland among others took endorsements away from Lenett and
gave them to Manno, because Manno stood with them while Lenett let them
down. It's hard to not get an endorsement as an incumbent, so each one
Manno won is a failing grade for the incumbent and a huge vote of
confidence for the challenger. These endorsements all buck the "back the
incumbent" habit.
Lenett claims the Mannos "lied under oath" by filing amended financial
reports. This although Lenett himself was forced to amend his filings
several times. According to official state records, 6 of Lenett's
reports are marked "agency requested amend" and 3 of those are not
marked "Amend." Are there 3 outstanding unamended Lenett reports dating
back to 2007? Also, 3 reports are marked "Deficiency." Lenett amended
his 2010 Pre-Primary 1 report, 2009 Annual report, 2008 Annual report,
and 2006 Post General Report. Please see:
http://www.mdelections.org/campaign-finance/advanced-search/detailed-committee-information?acctno=A4366
Lenett cited a statement from William G. Somerville, Ethics Advisor to
the General Assembly that explains, "Delegate Manno filed incomplete
ethics reports." So what? Nothing supports Lenett's accusations against
Manno. Mr. Somerville explained: "Delegate Manno's wife's employment was
appropriately disclosed to the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, in
a timely manner and as a matter of public record. Her employment was
also disclosed to the State Ethics Commission, and any discrepancies
were appropriately corrected at Delegate Manno's own initiation. It is
not infrequent for officials to amend their disclosure statements.
Delegate Manno brought this matter to the State Ethics Commission's
attention on his own volition, and it is clear from the record that
Delegate Manno did not have any intention to conceal information. In
addition, it is my understanding from the State Ethics Commission that
Delegate Manno was not required to list any leasehold interests that his
wife may hold in which Delegate Manno does not hold an attributable
interest, which is the situation in this case."
Unlike Lenett, Manno took the initiative amending his reports. Lenett
was asked for amendments from the State Board of Elections several
times, and at times ignored the requests. Was Lenett "lying under oath"
to the State Board of Elections "four times in four years?" According to
the standard Lenett imposes on others, the answer is "yes!"
Misrepresenting Manno's voluntary compliance into a "cover-up" is as
absurd as Lenett implying Manno's playing bass and bartending is
un-American activity.
Pro-Lenett push-polling delivered attacks against Manno under the guise
of gathering information. An MPW source reported: "My wife got surveyed
yesterday. She's pretty sure it was Lenett's poll, based on the nature
of the questions. Questions focused on Lenett/Manno, no mention of
Leggett, O'Malley...." Please see:
http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/08/manno-alleges-push-poll-by-lenett.html
A Letter to the Editor from Ruth Burgos-Sasscer explained: "I live in
Leisure World and have attended forums where candidates for Maryland
State Senate Mike Lenett and Roger Manno have spoken, and have been
impressed with both men. I have been leaning toward Roger Manno but
until recently had not really decided for whom to vote. The other day I
was asked to participate in a telephone 'opinion poll survey,' which I
agreed to do.... When the interviewer then asked 'Did you know that
Roger Manno ...' and went into a litany of negative statements about
him, I immediately stopped her. I said that I would not continue with
the interview because I believed it was a deceitful and unethical
campaign tactic in support of Mike Lenett and wanted no part of it. I
also told her that her efforts were counterproductive because she had
just convinced me that Roger Manno is by far the better candidate to
represent District 19 in the Maryland State Senate." Please see:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/08252010/montlet173358_32545.php
Blogger Keith Berner writes: "...Mike Lenett has gone where only the
most shameless GOP race-baiters gather. Desperate to hold off a serious
challenge from Roger Manno [Lenett] is riffing on the fact that Manno's
legal first name used to be 'Rajah.' Just in case the implication that
Manno is a (gasp!) Muslim out to undermine the American way of life
isn't clear enough ... the graphic from Lenett's latest mailer [has] an
uncanny resemblance the rendering of Manno's former first name has to a
terrorist demand letter! ... I call on all District 19 voters to reject,
resoundingly, fear-mongering and racism. In fact, all Marylanders should
denounce Lenett and make clear that his behavior is completely unwelcome
here. Vote for Roger Manno on Tuesday to make abundantly clear that Mike
Lenett's politics and way of thinking have no place in Maryland." Please
see: "Lenett the Fear-Monger, Lenett the Bigot"
http://lefthandview.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/09-10-10-lenett-the-fear-monger-lennet-the-bigot/
Smart politicians don't go negative unless they're losing, and don't go
this negative unless they're losing badly. Others believe Lenett has
never come to grips a challenge for what he considers "his" seat, based
on Lenett's first public reactions to Manno's challenge. Lenett
questions Manno's right to run, even though Lenett decided to challenge
then-Senator Len Teitelbaum for the seat while he recuperated from a
medical procedure. As MPW noted: "In his end of session letter, [Lenett]
includes a ... thinly-veiled slam on ... Manno," In Lenett's words, "The
Democratic Party could take a cue from the Republicans...." Please see:
http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/04/lenett-unloads-on-manno.html
As Oscar T. Ramirez wrote, "Candidates who use fear as a political
strategy have no place in our politics. ... Be afraid because Roger used
to be Rajah and who knows what else Rajah has to hide! ... I hope voters
on Tuesday will think about what Bill Clinton said a few years ago: 'If
one candidate is trying to scare you, and the other one is trying to get
you to think. If one candidate is appealing to your fears, and the other
one is appealing to your hope. You better vote for the person who wants
you to think and hope.'" Please see:
http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-blow-up-mailbox.html?showComment=1284164333447#c6858616559308001238
District 19 Democrats have a clear choice for State Senate on Tuesday.
They can vote for Roger Manno's leadership through teamwork--a
hard-working, accomplished and ethical legislator they can be proud
of--or they can go along with a push-polling, swift-boating,
spouse-attacking, race-baiting, Proctor & Gambling, truth-twisting,
colleague-alienating, Bay-polluting, seat-buying, ineffective, divisive,
incumbent who's embarrassed them before and will let them down again.
Vote for Roger Manno.
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