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Montgomery Democrats to nominate someone for key state Senate seat Montgomery Democrats to nominate replacement for former senator
(about 5 hours later)
The Democratic Central Committee in Montgomery County will nominate someone Thursday to fill a state Senate seat that could play a pivotal role in determining whether felons who are on parole or probation are given the right to vote in Maryland. Montgomery County’s Democratic Central Committee will nominate a replacement Thursday night for former state Sen. Karen Montgomery (D), an appointment that is generating some controversy and could play a pivotal role in an upcoming veto-override effort.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said earlier this week that a veto override on the voting rights bill “could hinge” on whoever fills the seat vacated by former senator Karen Montgomery (D-Montgomery). Montgomery, who served 13 years in the General Assembly, resigned last month. She was one of 29 senators who last year voted in favor of a bill that would give voting rights to felons on parole or probation. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who said he does not believe felons should be able to vote until they have completed all parts of their sentence.
Montgomery, who served 13 years in the General Assembly, resigned last month. She was one of 29 senators who voted in favor of the original voting rights bill, which was vetoed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R). Hogan said he does not believe felons should be able to vote until they have completed their sentences, which he believes include parole and probation. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said earlier this week that an attempt to override the veto in the Senate “could hinge” on whoever fills Montgomery’s seat. The House voted to override on Wednesday, and the Senate is expected to vote on Feb. 5, which is the deadline for Hogan to act on whoever is nominated Thursday night. The Senate needs 29 votes to override a veto.
Miller said this week that he is “counting votes every day,” and remains confident that the Senate will find the 29 votes necessary to override the veto. The House voted to override Wednesday. [House overrides three Hogan vetoes]
The county Democrats must send their nomination to Hogan, who will have 15 days to approve the selection. Montgomery, who was called “the conscience of the Senate on social issues,” told her colleagues during a farewell speech this week that she hoped to be replaced by Del. Craig Zucker (D-Montgomery), a member of the House Appropriations Committee who serves as chairman of the Health and Human Resources Subcommittee.
Montgomery, who was called “the conscience of the Senate on social issues,” told her colleagues during a farewell speech this week that she hoped to be replaced by Del. Craig Zucker (D-Montgomery).
“It is my great hope that Craig Zucker will be succeeding me,” Montgomery said. She joked that Zucker is “a bit more conservative than I, which will give some of you great comfort.”
[Longtime state legislator from Montgomery resigns]
Zucker was elected to the House in 2010 and is serving in his second term. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and serves as chairman of the Health and Human Resources Subcommittee. On Wednesday, he voted with the majority of Democrats in the House to overturn three of Hogan’s vetoes, including the voting rights bill.
Zucker has also received support from Miller, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and a host of other elected officials.Zucker has also received support from Miller, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and a host of other elected officials.
Herman Taylor, who served as a delegate from Montgomery from 2003 until 2011, said he also plans to seek the seat, even though it appears as though the replacement is a “done deal.” Taylor, who was the county’s first African American delegate, said he is disappointed in the way the process has been handled. But at least one other Democrat in the county — Herman Taylor, a former delegate — has also expressed interest in the Senate seat, and the head of the county NAACP says she is “uncomfortable with long-term negotiations” that led to a “pre-arranged slate.”
“Any opening should be posted, and candidates should be required to make their case to the community and the committee,” NAACP president Linda Plummer said in a Dec. 8 letter to the county Democratic committee.
Taylor, who served as a delegate from Montgomery from 2003 until 2011, said he will formally seek the Senate appointment at the meeting Thursday night, but believes the selection of Zucker is a “done deal.” Taylor said he is disappointed in the way the process has been handled.
“I don’t believe anyone should be handed a seat,” Taylor said. “There should be democracy on all levels. . . . I would have appreciated that before any decisions were made that there was a debate about policy.”“I don’t believe anyone should be handed a seat,” Taylor said. “There should be democracy on all levels. . . . I would have appreciated that before any decisions were made that there was a debate about policy.”
Linda Plummer, president of the county branch of the NAACP, sent a letter to the Democratic Committee last month saying she was “uncomfortable with long-term negotiations” that led to a “pre-arranged slate.”
“Any opening should be posted and candidates should be required to make their case to the community and the committee,” the letter reads.