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Van Hollen gathers Edwards detractors to criticize her record Van Hollen gathers Edwards detractors to criticize her record
(35 minutes later)
The chief executives of Maryland’s two largest jurisdictions on Friday joined other top politicians and labor leaders to denounce one of two candidates running in the closely contested Democratic Senate primary race to succeed Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) The chief executives of Maryland’s two largest jurisdictions on Friday joined other top politicians and labor leaders to denounce one of two candidates running Maryland’s closely contested Democratic Senate primary race.
During a press call on Friday, two prominent African American Democrats — Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III — emphasized their preference for Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who is white, over U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), who if elected, would become the first black woman senator from the state. During a call with reporters on Friday, two prominent African American Democrats — Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III — emphasized their preference for Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who is white, over U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), who if elected, would become the first black female senator from the state.
“Diversity is important,” Baker said. “But what’s more important is [electing] people that get things done.”“Diversity is important,” Baker said. “But what’s more important is [electing] people that get things done.”
In a sign of how heated the race has become, Van Hollen — who polls show is trailing the congresswoman in key Democratic strongholds like Prince George’s and Baltimore — gathered Edwards’ detractors to criticize her record. Van Hollen’s decision to gather the congresswoman’s detractors to criticize her record is a sign of how heated the race has become, with less than three weeks until the April 26 primary. A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll this week shows a statistically insignificant lead for Edwards in a race that splits voters along racial lines.
With less than two weeks before the primary, the attacks between the two campaigns have become more frequent and sharp. A recent poll by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland show a statistically insignificant lead for Edwards in a race that splits voters along racial lines.
“With the exception of his proposal to raise property taxes by 15 percent, Donna’s always enjoyed a productive relationship with County Executive Baker, and we’re sorry to see him stoop to personal attacks so close to an election,” said Edwards’s spokesman Benjamin Gerdes, who declined to say anything further.
[Poll: Racial split defines Maryland’s Senate primary race][Poll: Racial split defines Maryland’s Senate primary race]
Baker described what he called the “non-existent” relationship his government has had with Edwards, adding, “And it’s not because we haven’t tried.” Edwards’s spokesman, Benjamin Gerdes, declined to comment on the criticism levied by his boss’s fellow Democrats, other than to say: “With the exception of his proposal to raise property taxes by 15 percent, Donna’s always enjoyed a productive relationship with County Executive Baker, and we’re sorry to see him stoop to personal attacks so close to an election.”
He recalled that early in his administration, he arranged meetings on Capitol Hill to review county priorities. One of those meetings ran late and both Edwards and Van Hollen had scheduled votes on the floor of the House. Baker called his adminsitration’s relationship with Edwards “non-existent,” and said she had shown a lack of leadership in early conversations with federal officials about the FBI headquarters moving to Prince George’s County.
While Edwards canceled the meeting abruptly due to Baker’s tardiness, Van Hollen — who did not represent Prince George’s at the time — managed to carve out a few minutes with the county executive, Baker said. Baker also criticized what he said was Edwards’s lack of leadership in the early conversations about the FBI headquarters moving to Prince George’s. He recalled that early in his administration, he arranged meetings on Capitol Hill to review county priorities. A meeting with Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) ran late, into the time Baker had scheduled with Edwards and Van Hollen.
“Chris has been there,” Baker said. He along with some of the county’s highest-ranking legislators of color, Sens. Joanne Benson, Ulysses Currie and Victor Ramirez, all Democrats, are backing Van Hollen over Edwards. “It’s become apparent that the people who know her best are not supporting her,” Baker said. Both representatives had to leave their offices to vote on the House floor. But while Van Hollen later carved out a few minutes for the county executive, Edwards did not, Baker said.
Leggett said Van Hollen has not had a wider margin of support in the polls from voters of colors because he is not someone who boasts about his accomplishments. “Chris has been there,” said Baker, who is joined in backing Van Hollen by other senior Democrats from the county, including Sens. Joanne C. Benson, Ulysses Currie and Victor R. Ramirez.
“It’s become apparent that the people who know her best are not supporting her,” Baker said.
Leggett said he believes voters are still getting to know Van Hollen, whom he described as someone reluctant to boast about his accomplishments.
“Once they see and understand his record, those numbers will change,” Leggett said.“Once they see and understand his record, those numbers will change,” Leggett said.
Former Maryland Del. Heather Mizeur and representatives from two unions were also on the call. Riccarra Jones of the Service Employees International Union said Edwards betrayed labor organizers when she supported the “notoriously anti-union” Washington Adventist Hospital and its bid to relocate their facility a few miles from another hospital that is facing downsizing. As a result, several of the union members lost jobs, Jones said. Former Maryland delegate Heather R. Mizeur (D) and representatives from two unions were also on the call. Ricarra Jones of the Service Employees International Union said Edwards betrayed labor organizers when she supported the “notoriously anti-union” Washington Adventist Hospital and its bid to relocate its facility a few miles from another hospital that is facing downsizing.
When black NASA workers brought Edwards allegations of racial bias in performance reviews, Matt Biggs of the International Federal of Professional and Technical Engineers said, the congresswoman did nothing. As a result, several of the union members lost jobs, Jones said.
Edwards defended her office at a recent forum, saying she has been working on the issue and the group was simply dissatisfied with the result. Matt Biggs, of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, said that when African American NASA workers brought Edwards allegations of racial bias in performance reviews, the congresswoman did nothing.
Edwards defended her office’s response to the NASA workers at a recent forum, saying she has been working on the issue and the group was simply dissatisfied with the result.