Germantown Councilman Explains Attendance at Democrat Ball

This year's Spring Ball for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, set for May 11, has become a rallying point for Montgomery County's police union and many state and local party leaders to  express their unhappiness with the committee.

Union backers and some Democratic leaders have said they will boycott and picket the annual fundraising event because the central committee backed a referendum question last year that limited police bargaining rights.

However, Montgomery County Councilman Craig Rice (D-Dist 2) said that he will not join the picketers, who will count among their number Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and state Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Dist 20), of Takoma Park.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35, the local police union, is upset with the central committee for the stance it took on Question B, the ballot measure that voters approved overwhelmingly in November. The referendum upheld a 2011 county law that prevented the union from collectively negotiating internal police matters, including officer reassignments, disability guidelines, distributing equipment and how to implement a computerized system for writing reports, Patch reported.

"The committee took this position despite being asked to remain neutral on the referendum, which has been the traditional practice in disputed matters between the party and government," said Jos Williams, president of the Metropolitan Washington Council of AFL-CIO, in a statement.

Rice explained that his attendance at the ball was because of his admiration for longtime Democrat party worker Christine Clark, who is receiving an award. Here's the full letter Rice wrote to political blog Maryland Juice:

What is missing in this debate about the MCDCC Spring Ball are the awardees.  I am presenting the Rosalie Reilly Lifetime Service Award to Tina Clarke.  You will not find a Democratic candidate in this County that Christine ”Tina” Clarke has not worked for.  Over the past years, she has volunteered her time, her car, her family, her friends and her work colleagues to help Democratic candidates.  Tina’s kitchen in Poolesville is known as “Election Central”.  She is famous for bringing candidates to Black churches and for generating volunteers and support from these congregations for the candidates.

In addition, there is not one non-profit, school or civil rights organization in the County that Tina has not helped.  Tina has provided enormous assistance to children in need and parents from challenged communities.  She has never asked for credit, she just works behind the scenes to help.

Her and her family are stalwarts in the historic Black community of Poolesville and in Montgomery County as a whole.  There is nothing that would stand in the way of me honoring her and her commitment to our community.

My wife and I will be there to honor her and the other community volunteer awardees that have fought hard for years to enact and foster Democratic principles in our County.

It is my hope that all parties will join me in honoring those that have given of themselves to help us all have a better way of life here in Montgomery County.

Every day this week, more prominent state Demcrats have condemned the fundraiser and vowed to support unions. Every politician that has entered the early race for Maryland governor pledged to picket.  Brown and Mizeur have been joined by Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and Attorney General Doug Gansler.

Other Democrats who are not expected to attend the ball are state senators Brian Frosh (D-Dist 16), Rob Garagiola (D-Dist 15), Roger Manno (D-Dist 19), Karen Montgomery (D-Dist 14) and Jamie Raskin (D-Dist 20) and state delegates Charles Barkley (D-Dist 39), Aisha Braveboy (D-Dist 25), Bill Frick (D-Dist 16), Tom Hucker (D-Dist 20), Ben Kramer (D-Dist 19) and Eric Luedtke (D-Dist 14).