Maryland: Sheila Finlayson

Congratulations to Josh Cohen and all the other victorious candidates--Dick Israel, Fred Paone, Classie Hoyle, Sheila Finlayson, Mat Silverman, Kenny Kirby, Ian Pfeiffer  and Ross Arnett. They have a big job and a tough job ahead.  We should all wish them well and pledge our support as citizen-activists to help them be as successful as they can be in representing our collective interests as

Already Trudy McFall and Greg Stiverson have politely and respectfully declined to be considered for an endorsement by our firefighters. Bold move. Good move. I applaud you. Of course, we all know who is likely to get that endorsement anyhow--right?

At least the firefighters are gathering information and deliberating before making their choice.

Already Josh Cohen has gotten the AFSCME, the Plumbers Union, former Alderman Mike Fox (he's a Republican, a county employee and Josh Cohen is still a county councilman--weird?) and of course FOE Alderwoman Sheila Finlayson, who happens to be a long time teacher's unionist.

Read today's The Capital for a story about all this at

Lots of folks are asking. As previously mentioned, we're taking a bit of a break. There are still some candidates to join us including Laurie Sears Deppa, Jennifer Monteith, and Rock Toews but scheduling this time of year is tough. Of those, Sears Deppa is our priority. Kirby Kenny has made it abundantly clear that he is opposed to attending--probably upon advice from his mentor (de-mentor) Chuck Weikel who has become most unwelcome in Democratic circles yet has been campaigning with Kirby. Now that's scraping the bottom of the barrel if he has to go to Ward One to get some help in Ward Six.

Last week, local political operative and FOE and FOJ (Friend of Josh) Kathy Nieberding sent out a news release about Alderman Sheila Finlayson's announcement for re-election (making here an FOS). Nieberding, a close supporter of and fundraiser for Ellen O Moyer is also running Josh Cohen's campaign. A day or two later, another Cohen operative, Judd Legum (formerly of the Hillary Clinton campaign and now a candidate for District 30 delegate) sent out a news release for Cohen stating that Finlayson and also former Ward 7 Republican Alderman Mike Fox now endorse Cohen for mayor. Wheels in motion.

Why is a Democratic Alderwoman endorsing another Democrat before the primary--and so early? Why is a former alderman, who happens to be a county planner and a Republican, endorsing a Democratic candidate? A case can be made without much argument that Finlayson and Cohen have been among the closest supporters of Ellen Moyer, and Finlayson just voted against the city manager amendment, for the mayoral pay increase and for the mayor's hyper-budget.