February 16, 2026
Jimmy Carter - Don't Vote by Mail
By Dennis Brent Melby
It’s Presidents' Day.
I worked for Jimmy Carter. I’m a MoCo native, plenty of us work or have worked in DC, and I was transferred from Rockville to work at the White House as a low-level clerk for the Three Mile Island Commission, and stayed at various posts until the day after he left. As a person he was a brilliant man, very moral - but also usually very wrong on almost every decision. Up until Biden he was the worst President of my lifetime. Except after he was booted from office – he and Secretary of State James Baker later co-chaired the Commission on Federal Election Reform, a task force that recommended we limit mail-in voting to the Military and overseas personnel. He said “Absentee ballots remain the largest source of potential voter fraud.” I have to agree.
Even President Carter at 100, just before he passed, voted in-person in Georgia. He felt it was so important. Fast forward to today, our "almost" President Hillary Clinton, is stating that with voter ID requirements married women won't be able to vote. Do you believe it? Do you know a woman who would accept being turned away at the polls because of a change of name on their driver’s license? I sure as heck don’t. It’s ridiculous. Recent polls say both sexes (yep - there're just two) and folks of every skin color say they already have an ID to vote. Furthermore almost every other democratic country on earth today requires an ID to vote – they only want vested citizens controlling their governments – not a bad idea don’t you think?
So what should we do as Republicans? It’s kind of straight forward, we have to play their game (the Democrats have total control of the Maryland government right now) and make sure as many of us vote as possible – either by mail or in person - we have to turn things around before we’re taxed through the roof and legislated into oblivion. Higher taxes, fewer services, deteriorating public schools, limits on police and security . . . it goes on and on.
In the meantime, we need to move to the point where everyone legally permitted to, and who has the desire to, gets to vote. (I'm one of the rare politicians who says "...if you don't care don't vote!") If they’re here they vote in person, with an acceptable ID. And yes ONLY US CITIZENS should vote in US elections. Jimmy Carter would approve – maybe that guy from Guyana who lived in PG County, got great jobs on the taxpayer dime, lied about his citizenship and credentials and lied to get on the voter rolls would not. (Yes – I think he’s still on the Maryland rolls.)
What do you think? Are women unable to get appropriate IDs? I know most other folks can easily get IDs, everyone but the disingenuous Democrat Lawmakers like Schumer and the wealthy stock trader Pelosi know that all our citizens, including women, people of color and legal immigrants can get IDs to show they’re US Citizens. Should non-citizens be able to vote? Is voter ID (Jim Crow 2 point Oh) as the Democrats say it is?
Share your thoughts on mail in voting, getting an ID, and who should vote. Tell me at [email protected]
__________
Dennis Melby
2026 Republican Chairman
Montgomery County, Maryland
Dennis Brent Melby, a Republican Central Committee Member served as the Montgomery County Republican Party Chair in 2020 and 2024 and again in 2026. He's a previous 4 term Councilmember in Friendship Heights and former local REALTOR President.
Share your thoughts on mail in voting, getting an ID, and who should vote. Tell him at [email protected]
February 9, 2026
The Washington Post - Haters Gonna Hate
By Dennis Brent Melby
The major cutbacks at The Washington Post caught everyone by surprise with a wide range of emotions. If you’re a subscriber like me, you checked out yesterday’s paper with curiosity and courage, no major changes yet. As a local Washingtonian, it was the only hometown paper left, but as a Republican, virtually every word, every page reeked of bias and hatred. Is this any way to run a major news outlet?
Some folks responded with glee, some folks responded with doom, and others with hatred toward Amazon founder Jeff Bezos – many of those haters were The Washington Post's own employees! They felt they were owed a job. Even if people didn’t buy the paper they wanted the owners to continue paying them high wages with heavy staffing because their philosophy was more important than the fact that the outlet hemorrhaged cash year after year.
As Republicans all we wanted was a news outlet with straight reporting. No comments to the side, no I Hate Trump All The Time. Heck, even middle of the road – some criticism, some praise and mostly just common sense reporting is what we wanted. Rarely seen…and never admitted. Folks tell me that a moderate newspaper was not what folks wanted (it’s what I wanted) and that they have a few, a very few conservative voices (Marc Thiessen yes, George Will no…)
It wasn’t just Trump, they hated any Republican. They made their bones hating Nixon, and Dole, and Romney, and Reagan, Bush, Cheney, and loved…then hated…then loved McCain. You get the drift. Haters Gonna Hate – but not admit it. I’m a moderate Republican, with many Democrat friends and relatives – an area native. Yet I’ve never seen the Post reflect my viewpoint, and it’s the same for most Republicans, conservatives and moderate Democrats I know.
We’ll see what the future holds for Democracy Dies in Darkness. I want my local paper, I want it to give the news, and sports, and local matters of the city and surrounding areas. I want it to discuss and represent all sides of an issue – and I’d pay for that. Do you think that will happen?
I’m a Republican, optimistic by nature, and I sure hope so.
__________
Dennis Melby
2026 Republican Chairman
Montgomery County, Maryland
Dennis Brent Melby, a Republican Central Committee Member served as the Montgomery County Republican Party Chair in 2020 and 2024 and again in 2026. He's a previous 4 term Councilmember in Friendship Heights and former local REALTOR President.
Share your thoughts on the media, conservative and moderate reporting, and the media marketplace. Tell him at [email protected]
February 2, 2026
Take Everyone Out - Leave the Boy
By Dennis Brent Melby
They were all dead. Left locked in the back of a semi trailer in the hot southern California desert. The cartel smugglers had fled days before, they'd already gotten their money and decided it wasn't worth getting caught by the border patrol because of a broken down truck. The ICE agents unlocked the truck to see the carnage, the misery and the death from the 120 degree heat, folks had clawed each other trying to get just one more breath of air. The agents started to remove the corpses, most agents were Hispanic, and the folks looked a lot like them, good guys and bad guys come in all colors.
Homan spied a 6 year old boy in the back. He froze "take everyone out - leave the boy" he said. When the men were out he went in and gingerly picked up the little boy. "He reminds me of my son" he said, gently carried him out and sat with him a while. Tom Homan is a crusty guy. Doesn’t smile a lot and is serious most of the time.
When he was with me in Gaithersburg the end of last year he teared up when talking about this particular rescue. He made us all cry, no one deserves to be treated in such a horrible fashion, and he vowed to protect the victims of the cartels. He also vowed to protect the American victims facing the onslaught of gang members, released prisoners, mental inmates, traffickers and violent criminals being sent to America because of our open borders.
President Trump named him “Border Czar”, Kamala Harris' old position. Alejandro Mayorkis said the border is secure...it was not. It is now. NOT ONE person comes into the US illegally now. Kids, women and most immigrants will be safer because of it.
Unless you watch left-wing news, you know what happened at the border. All the kids left by smugglers in the middle of the desert, alone and afraid – and then released by the government to anyone willing to take them – with no follow up about where they are or who they’re with. They apparently have no whereabouts for over 300,000 of them. So sad.
Barak Obama had deported over 5 million during his presidency. Even the Biden administration had over 1 million people on their list cleared for mass deportation – they’ve been found to be frauds and not welcome in this country. ICE is asking for permission to get the Worst of the Worst from our jails, and asking local governments not to release them into your neighborhood where they'll have to go and get them. The sanctuary cities won't do that - so ICE goes into the community to face left wing radicals and cop haters, with tragic results.
I talk to so many Americans who immigrated, followed the rules and gained citizenship. No matter where they come from: Asia, Africa, Hispanic countries or any number of areas - they all tell me how disappointed they are that the borders were open with no vetting and protections from those surging into our/their country. And since they had come here legally they know the truth, that we invite millions in legally each year - because that's how they got here!
Repatriating millions is freeing up housing, welfare and food payments, public healthcare expenses and so much more. And the media is fighting the Administration every step of the way…but normal America seems to have woken up. We see more optimism in America. While super blue MoCo is still in shock the rest of the country seems optimistic for the future. There are those of us who join that optimism and yearn for a brighter tomorrow for all of us.
I join you in supporting the work of Tom Homan, ICE, and the Trump-Vance team, and look forward to both parties working together for America.
Dennis Melby
2026 Republican Chairman
Montgomery County, Maryland
Dennis Brent Melby, a Republican Central Committee Member served as the Montgomery County Republican Party Chair in 2020 and 2024 and again in 2026. He's a previous 4 term Councilmember in Friendship Heights and former local REALTOR President.
Share your thoughts on illegal immigration, public safety and ICE, tell him at [email protected]
January 26, 2026
Snow and Ice, wind and rain. What a way to start a MoCo week! Kids are home and grocery shelves were picked bare. I haven’t seen this many empty shelves since Covid!
Stay toasty inside and read your Republican literature via internet. What an opportunity!
Things are heating up politically; the State and Governor Moore are trying to get rid of any Republican representation in the State. They’re counting on redistricting and making districts non-competitive for Republicans. What a mess and so unfair! Although they’re trying to limit political diversity in the dead of night, many of us are speaking out. There's lots to this – it’s whether you want to hand the keys to the far left or let more moderate voices lead our State and County.
I’ve had a busy week:
- I had a great leadership meeting on Tuesday
- I introduced new candidates on Thursday
- I held a Coffee with the Chairman on Saturday.
I’m expecting a lot of candidates to step up and register to run for office in the next three weeks – and I’m available to listen to voters about our needs. Our Mid Term elections are a must win – and we need to get the vote out and be competitive. Stay tuned for how we can work together.
We need fun too. Join me at the Lunar New Year dinner, great friends, good food, super candidates and an inspirational speaker. Buy your tickets now to get the best price.
And if that’s not enough – Join me in the Chairman’s Club. We need to get the word out to the voters that our Republican Party can provide sensible, moderate voices in elected office – and you can help.
Click Here for Chairman's Club!
Dennis Melby
2026 Republican Chairman
Montgomery County, Maryland
What else should I do, tell me at [email protected]
January 19, 2026
REMEMBERING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
As a proud American let me wish you a happy Martin Luther King Day. We remember a great leader who pushed America to realize the values and principles started by the Republican party over 150 years ago. Our Party was founded not only to end slavery, but to end discrimination and continue to move us to where we are today, a great country where folks are valued for the content of their character.
As a child of Montgomery County, I’m proud to have been given the opportunity to lead the Republican party. And I’m proud of you and the way you strive to make our community better every day.
Growing up here I’ve seen that every family, every community, and every neighborhood has its ups and downs – but they always try to make things better for the next generation.
So I join you in our pride of celebrating this great nation on Martin Luther King Day, and thanks for being a great neighbor and a great American.
Reardon “Sully” Sullivan
Tell us what you think at [email protected]
January 12, 2026
Compassion without accountability invites exploitation
Why the Republican Party is Against Montgomery County Council Bill 35-25:
Because Compassion Without Accountability Can Be Extremely Expensive
By Stacey Sauter
One of the great virtues of Montgomery County is its diversity and the entrepreneurial spirit that our foreign-born population brings with it. Immigrants have made extraordinary investments here from which all of us have benefited. By and large most people here believe everyone should be treated with fairness, inclusion, and equality under the law. Protecting all residents from discrimination and ensuring government services are delivered with dignity should be a cornerstone of our governance. Those values are not in dispute.
What is at issue is whether the County Council can expand programs and protections for immigrants without being open about the cost, capacity, and consequences for taxpayers and communities already under strain. In July 2019, Marc Elrich’s Executive Order 135-19 was issued as a formal directive affirming and expanding existing County policy limiting local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement and guiding how County agencies interact with immigrant residents. In short, no county employee can inquire about an individual’s immigration status when that person is applying for county resources. In addition, the order strictly limits local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. This executive order is the foundation for the current legislative effort in Bill 35-25, which aims to codify those policies into County law rather than leave them as an executive-branch directive subject to change with future administrations.
In addition, Bill 35-25 doesn’t just limit future data collection -- it also allows the County to stop retaining and to delete certain immigration-related records, reducing transparency and the public’s ability to understand how and why policies are actually implemented. So, while expedited Bill 35-25, the Promoting Community Trust – Immigrant Protections Act, would significantly expand access to County benefits and services, the bill provides no clear, consolidated accounting of what these services currently cost, how demand may change, or which departments will absorb the impact. That is not a moral question — it is a failure of responsible governance.
Recent history shows why accountability matters. Across the country, seemingly well-intentioned social service programs that lacked meaningful oversight have resulted in massive fraud and abuse — not because compassion is wrong, but because compassion without accountability invites exploitation. Montgomery County should learn from those failures, not repeat them by rushing forward sweeping policies without clear safeguards, transparency, and public reporting. When leaders refuse to show their math, trust erodes, and vulnerable communities are unfairly placed in tension with one another.
Let’s be clear: asking for transparency is not anti-immigrant. Fiscal accountability is not exclusion. Compassion and accountability must go together. The Montgomery County Republican Party urges residents who believe in honest budgeting and accountable government to attend the January 13th hearing at 1:30 p.m. At this point there is a wait list to provide personal testimony. But you are also encouraged to submit written testimony asking the Council to pause this measure until the full costs and consequences are disclosed. Montgomery County can be welcoming and responsible — but only if transparency comes first.
(https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/PHSignUp.html#signup)
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Stacey Sauter is a former candidate for Delegate (LD15) and a current member of the MCGOP Executive Committee.
January 5, 2026
EMPTY BIKE LANES & PLASTIC BAGS
Curious about why traffic's worse and bikes are absent? Here's an update on the Radical Left's EMPTY BIKE LANES. Two years ago we presented this story, still no bikes, only backed up cars!
From 2 years ago... "We're all amazed that Maryland, DC and MoCo are taking away streets and adding empty bike lanes. We're forced to pay for them, forced to wait in more traffic, and forced to "Smile" pretending it's for safety and the environment. It's not.
The Road Diet is a type of coercion, one that one-party rules makes possible.
Enjoy this great video of an Empty Bike Lane Picnic that took place in Bethesda one weekend two years ago.
Watch the video HERE or tap on the Empty Bike Lane pix.
So what else is new?
No more leaf blowers - must be battery operated, take longer, slower, and of course still use the energy.
No more plastic bags. Yes, they were 5 cents each with tax, but you can't have them anymore. Only paper, and increase the tax per bag to 10 cents.
They're working on no gas heat or cooking, haven't eliminated it yet but drove the prices of utilities through the roof.
Oh, and the bike lanes? Yes, still empty after two years. "So what?" they say...it's not like you're going to vote the other party in...diversity stops when it comes to diversity of political thought. But in November they'll be surprised.
Tell us what you think at [email protected]
Dennis Melby
2026 Republican Chairman
Montgomery County, Maryland
January 1, 2026
2026 Will be the Best!
Interest rates are going down, productivity is going up, wages are still going up too slowly, but they’re not going down. Prices are stabilizing (but nobody wants to sell their house for less than they bought it for) – housing prices going down would not be a good thing for the future.
Peace has broken out in the darndest of places…in regions I never thought would try to take another path. It’s remarkable, peace and prosperity might be an achievable dream once again. Let’s tackle the price of energy, let’s get better outcomes in education, let’s stop hatred from being an “acceptable” response as long as it’s your side doing the hating.
Bad times don’t last. (And unfortunately good times don’t last long either.) But we’re up for some good fortune in 2026. Let’s relish it and try to build a better economy and environment for ourselves, our families and communities. 2026 will be a great year.
On behalf of the Republican Party I wish you and yours a Happy New Year and healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2026.
Dennis Melby
2026 Republican Chairman
Montgomery County, Maryland
If you get a chance wish me a Happy New Year at [email protected]
December 22, 2025
Welcome Aboard
By Dennis Brent Melby
I've just heard that the top contender for DC Mayor is a Socialist Democrat. She has the most money, the most support and is the front runner in the polls.
Do you think she'll join New York Mayor Mamdani and MoCo Executive Marc Elrich and MoCo Congressman Jamie Raskin as the Socialist Democrat faces of the Democrat Party? It sure looks like it. Meantime the Republicans are experiencing a surge, and who it is is surprising a lot of folks.
Former Democrats Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump
Seems folks are flocking to the Republican Party. Former Democrats, folks 30 and younger, young men, black men, folks with newfound religious convictions, legal immigrants who've become American citizens, Hispanic and Asian American - all the folks who the press uses hyphens to describe are reregistering as Republicans. Yes, even here in Montgomery County, long thought to be the Left of the Left. And we welcome them.
Please help us make Montgomery County politics more rational, less doctrinaire and more normal. Here's how you can change your Party registration, just go HERE.
And there's more...
The mid-term elections are pivotal for MoCo and the country. ALL our races, Congress, State and County are up. Do you think the Democrats - Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Delaney and Raskin will shut down the government again in January to depress the emerging economy in order to make folks vote against the present Administration? Will they make sure government workers aren't paid? Will they stop SNAP Food Stamp payments again? They did just that a few months ago. After all, It's the Economy Stupid! (Apologies to James Carville) but it still works. Look at the off year elections - they did that and won. Virginia voters actually chose a man who wanted to kill his opponent over the Hispanic-American incumbent because the economy was hurting them-and the Federal government workers are the voting base of Norfolk and Northern Virginia, and drove the bus on that. Why wouldn't they do it again?
We dropped the ball. We won't do it again. Wages and income up, prices stabilized or down. And locally?
Help us get back to prosperity, safety, progress and a better future for all of us. Get your friends and neighbors on board, we can do this. Let's go into the New Year with a renewed spirit. And help me welcome all the new Republicans into the Party.
__________
Dennis Brent Melby, 2026 Party Chairman is a Republican Central Committee Member who also served as the Montgomery County Republican Party Chair in 2020 and 2024. He's a previous 4 term Councilmember in Friendship Heights and former local REALTOR President. To reach him email [email protected]
December 15, 2025
Chairman Sullivan’s Last Message
As we wrap up another year, one thing is clear: the real strength of our County doesn’t come from politicians or bureaucrats, it comes from the people who live, work, and raise families here. It comes from hard-working families, small business owners, veterans, first responders, government workers and neighbors who look out for one another and believe in personal responsibility, freedom, and common sense.
All across our County, everyday people of all political parties are standing up and saying enough is enough. We must continue to push back when the County Executive and County Council continue their overreach and demand policies that actually make life better, not more expensive. These moments remind us that the power in this County still belongs to the people, not political insiders, the ones that play musical chairs but don’t support the hard working everyday citizens.
As we head into the new year, we are determined and ready for the fight ahead. The road forward won’t be easy, but we’re not afraid of hard work. Together, we will keep fighting for good jobs, safe streets, affordable living, and a government that answers to taxpayers, not special interests.
Looking ahead to the 2026 election cycle, the stakes could not be higher in Montgomery County. The County Executive and County Council continue to push top-down, ideological policies that are driving up costs and making everyday life harder for working families. These decisions aren’t coming from the people, they’re being forced on us by a political class that refuses to listen.
Here are just a few of the issues hurting our community right now:
- Constant increases in property and income taxes that punish working families and seniors
- The County Executive mandate that bans gas heating and cooking in our homes and businesses
- Traffic-clogging road diets and bike lanes forced onto major commuter roads
- School boundary changes that take children out of their neighborhoods and disrupt families
- Zoning schemes that cram high-density, high-cost development into established neighborhoods while calling it “affordable housing”
- Policies that block cooperation with ICE and undermine public safety
- County funds handed out to anonymous vendors with little transparency or accountability
- A bloated MCPS bureaucracy where 45% of the budget is spent on overhead, while only 35% of students are proficient in English and just 15% in math
- Families and businesses leaving the County as taxes rise and quality of life declines
- An economy that’s stalled while surrounding areas move ahead
This is not progress. This is what happens when politicians stop listening to the people they’re supposed to serve and chase their own political aspirations and unrealistic utopian visions.
But we believe Montgomery County can do better and we know the people are ready for change. With strong leadership, common sense, and the courage to stand up to the political establishment, we can restore affordability, accountability, and opportunity for everyone who calls this County home.
Thank you for standing with us, for staying engaged, and for refusing to stay silent. May the coming year bring health, prosperity, and renewed purpose to you and your family. Together, we will take back our County, protect our values, and build a stronger, freer future for the next generation.
What do you think? As always, email me your thoughts at [email protected]
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
December 8, 2025
Questions Surrounding Voter Integrity?
In a lawsuit I and others filed on Friday, we allege that Montgomery County has more registered voters than actual residents.
Just days earlier, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit against the Maryland State Board of Elections and its administrator, stating that the state failed to provide the full, unredacted voter-registration list required under federal law.
This follows another case brought by Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE), which challenged a Maryland regulation that prevented citizens from using voter-registration data to identify possible inaccuracies such as duplicate or deceased voters. A federal court ruled that Maryland’s restriction violated federal law.
Have you personally encountered issues related to voter integrity?
Mail-in ballots sent to your house for people who don’t live at your address?
Being told at the polling place that you’ve already voted and must cast a provisional ballot? If so, we want to hear from you.
In the 2022 Democratic primary election in Montgomery County, the outcome was decided by fewer than 100 votes out of more than 140,000 cast. Inflated or inaccurate voter rolls weaken public trust, no matter what your political party. Maintaining accurate voter lists isn’t partisan; it’s fundamental to election integrity.
What will it take for the Maryland State Board of Elections to finally clean up the voter rolls? What consequences should there be when the Board fails to comply with the law? If voter rolls are not properly maintained, should the agency face penalties? Should individuals within the agency be held personally accountable for ignoring federal law or failing to uphold basic system requirements?
We’d like to know your thoughts.
P.S. On a personal note, I was humbled to receive the “Outstanding Maryland Republican Man” award from the Maryland State Republican Party at this past weekend’s convention. My sincere thanks to everyone who has worked alongside me, supported me, and offered guidance (too many to name), helping to deliver a clear, common-sense message that resonates at the kitchen tables of families across our great County.
What do you think? As always, email me your thoughts at [email protected]
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
December 1, 2025
Montgomery County’s Transparency Problem
The Montgomery County Council has once again demonstrated a troubling disregard for transparency and public engagement, this time in the process of filling the remainder of Councilmember Gabe Albornoz’s term. Despite receiving 67 applications, the Council has offered residents virtually no insight into how those candidates were evaluated or why only three were ultimately selected for public consideration. I find this suspicious.
Journalist Adam Pagnucco recently filed a Maryland Public Information Act request seeking access to the applications. According to his reporting, the Council refused to release them, and 64 of the 67 applicants were dismissed behind closed doors without any public disclosure or explanation.
(https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/11/25/council-eliminates-64-of-67-appointee-applicants-behind-closed-doors/)
This is not what transparency looks like.
Residents deserve a fair, open process, not one that appears predetermined or shielded from public scrutiny. Decisions of this magnitude should not be made in the shadows, nor should residents be excluded from understanding who applied or why certain candidates were eliminated.
Unfortunately, this pattern reflects a broader issue in our County government. Too often, the County Executive and County Council appear more focused on holding onto power and an ideological agenda such as defunding the police, restrictive policies on transportation, energy, and land use, coupled with raising taxes, than on the day-to-day needs of the people they were elected to represent. In a one-party-rule environment, accountability has eroded, and public input is frequently treated as an afterthought.
Montgomery County deserves leadership that values transparency, fairness, and practical solutions. We need officials who will listen to residents, address real community concerns, and conduct public business in the open, not behind closed doors.
If you are considering running for office and are ready to put in the hard work, please contact me directly at [email protected].
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
November 24, 2025
A Chairman’s Thanksgiving Thought
This Thanksgiving, we’re reminded of the importance of dialogue, leadership, and the willingness to engage with people from all walks of life. President Trump’s recent meeting with Mamdani underscores how meaningful it can be when individuals with differing views come together in good faith to talk, listen, and seek understanding.
As Republicans, we give thanks for our families, our freedoms, and the enduring strength of our nation. We value moments when leaders, regardless of party, choose conversation over division and recognize the shared responsibility of serving the public.
Here in Montgomery County, we hope to see the same spirit of openness. Can Democrats and Republicans find opportunities to sit down together? Can progressive Democrats listen to the more conservative voices within their own party and across the aisle as we work through important issues like taxes, housing, education, job growth, and economic development? Our County’s future is strongest when thoughtful perspectives are welcomed, not dismissed.
May this holiday season bring unity, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to the values that make our County strong. Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, peaceful, and meaningful Thanksgiving.
As always, email me your thoughts at [email protected]
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
November 17, 2025
Will Jawando for County Executive? Voters Deserve Better
There’s an old saying: “If his mouth is moving, he’s lying.” Few politicians in Montgomery County fit that description better than Will Jawando, the ever-ambitious Councilman now clawing his way toward the County Executive’s office.
Jawando has spent years trying to climb the political ladder. Washington didn’t want him, Annapolis didn’t need him, and now he’s set his sights on Montgomery County Executive. But one thing’s been constant: he’ll say whatever it takes to get elected. One week, he’s calling to defund the police. The next, he’s preaching “public safety.” One month, he’s chasing national headlines with performative progressive stunts. The next, he’s pretending to be the reasonable moderate.
It’s not leadership… it’s opportunism in a nice suit.
A $115,000 “Coincidence”?
A recent Montgomery Perspective article revealed a deeply troubling pattern. Jawando’s failed U.S. Senate campaign reportedly donated $115,000 to the Working Families Party (WFP) — and soon after, that same group endorsed him for County Executive.
Coincidence? Hardly. In politics, timing is everything, and this one stinks of backroom dealing. Call it what it is: a pay-for-endorsement scheme. You don’t write six-figure checks to a political group and then miraculously get their backing out of pure goodwill.
Taxpayer-Funded Ambition
Jawando’s new campaign is being financed by Montgomery County’s public election fund which is fueled by taxpayer money. Because Jawando is using public election funding to finance his County Executive ambitions, he is limited where he can get funding. It now comes out that he is using money from his now-terminated U.S. Senate account, and his federal PAC to also finance his County Executive campaign. Adding insult to injury, Jawando will probably receive over $800,000 of taxpayer money from that public election fund to fuel his County Executive campaign.
That means the same residents struggling with high property taxes and living costs are, in effect, paying for Jawando’s campaign while he camouflages his funding sources. Public financing was meant to empower ordinary citizens, not bankroll serial candidates chasing their next office.
Shadow Campaigns and “Plausible Deniability”
You may expect the same outside groups to hit the streets for him: canvassing, leafleting, and advertising, all under the laughable banner of “independent expenditure.” It’s the game of plausible deniability we’re not coordinating, we just happen to be working for the same guy. Voters aren’t fools. They’ve seen this play before.
Time for Oversight
This deserves investigation by the County Inspector General, the State’s Attorney, and the Maryland Board of Elections. Whether Jawando’s actions cross a legal line or merely trample ethical boundaries, the pattern is clear: public money, private ambition, and questionable alliances.
Montgomery County deserves better than another career politician playing fast and loose with ethics, taxpayer funds, and public trust. Jawando talks about justice and transparency but, from where the voters are sitting, it looks like he’s just another hustler in a suit, saying whatever it takes to get elected.
If this is the kind of leadership Jawando offers, the voters’ answer in 2026 should be a simple: “No, thank you.”
Voters deserve better. We need leaders with integrity…people guided by a strong moral compass who seek to serve the public, not themselves. Our communities depend on candidates who will do what’s right for everyone, not just cater to a small, hand-picked group pushing a narrow progressive agenda. It’s time to support individuals committed to fairness, accountability, and the broader good.
If you are interested in running for office, please contact me personally.
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
November 10, 2025
Montgomery County: Maryland’s Rising Star
Although Tuesday’s election results may not have been what we hoped for, Montgomery County continues to shine as Maryland’s rising star.
Last year, Montgomery County proudly received the prestigious Samuel Chase Award from the Maryland GOP for being the most outstanding county in the state. This was an exceptional honor, especially for a deep-blue county like ours.
This achievement is the direct result of the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, women’s clubs, media engagement, and focused social media outreach. To each of you who contributed your time and energy — thank you.
Over the past two years, we’ve seen a turnaround in the number of Republican voters in Montgomery County. After years of steady decline beginning in 2012, our focus on voter engagement and outreach has reversed that trend. Our current leadership is listening to the community and staying focused on clear, common-sense messaging around the issues that matter to the voters: spending, taxes, public safety, education, transportation, and transparency.
This new direction is resonating with voters, and we must keep the momentum going.
As we look ahead to 2026, let’s double down on outreach and engagement to change the hearts and minds of the voters on critical local issues. Together, we can continue to strengthen our presence and expand our message across the County.
We’re calling for volunteers with skills in accounting, finance, writing on local issues, social media, personal outreach, and fundraising. If you’re ready to make a difference, please visit our volunteer page ( https://www.mcgop.com/join ) to sign up and help us continue changing the trajectory of Montgomery County.
If you can’t dedicate your time, please donate to support those working hard on our behalf: https://www.mcgop.com/nb_payment_processor_donation
As always, email me your thoughts at [email protected]
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
November 3, 2025
Turn a Private Perk into a Public Crossing
For the past five years a 35 mile hole has existed in the region’s transportation network. Since White’s Ferry shut down in December 2020, over a landing rights dispute on the Virginia shore, there has been no Potomac River crossing between the American Legion Bridge and Point of Rocks. That single closure ripped out a low cost, transportation efficient, low-carbon link that once carried 600 to 800 vehicles a day including commuters, service workers, cyclists, and weekenders who stitched together the economies of western Montgomery and Loudoun counties.
Now comes an opportunity that is both practical and poetic. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has publicly urged the International Monetary Fund to sell its country club property along River Road, the 285 plus acre Bretton Woods Recreation Center beside the C&O Canal and the Potomac. If the IMF is ready to divest, our region should be ready to negotiate a public- private partnership to provide a public park and to restore a river crossing we control.
Call it the “Bretton Woods Crossing,” a modest, publicly owned, electric‑powered ferry and multiuse river link built on the Bretton Woods property on the Maryland side, paired with a landing on public land in Virginia where no single private owner can lock the gate. This would not be a Beltway‑scale bridge; it would be a right‑sized crossing designed to do what White’s Ferry did well: move a few hundred vehicles and many more bikes and pedestrians each day, keep trips local, and knit communities and labor markets back together without inviting sprawl.
The geography is on our side. Bretton Woods lies roughly a dozen miles downstream from White’s Ferry, close enough to restore the missing link for Poolesville, Darnestown, and western Loudoun, yet far enough from the Beltway to remain a local connector rather than a new commuter super‑route.
Why the Bretton Woods Crossing is the right solution:
- Public control ends the hostage situation. White’s Ferry failed not because a ferry is obsolete, but because one private easement on the Virginia bank became a veto on a regional lifeline. A crossing anchored to public land on both shores eliminates that single point of failure. The County’s joint study, commissioned after the closure, recognized ferry service as a valuable, feasible part of the local transportation network. However, the local Montgomery County Executive and County Council have failed to negotiate a solution.
- It’s affordable and fast compared to a bridge. A small electric ferry and two public landings can be built in a fraction of the time and cost of a new Potomac span, especially near Great Falls, where a bridge would face daunting environmental, historic‑resource, and scenic‑river hurdles. The National Park Service process still applies, but a low‑impact ferry that uses existing disturbed areas and limits wake and noise is far easier to permit than heavy bridgeworks.
- It protects the Ag Reserve and parklands. Because the site is not in the Ag reserve and is large, queueing and parking can be designed onsite, keeping spillover traffic off rural roads. Most of the acreage can become public open space and integrated with the C&O Canal National Historical Park system improving river access and habitat restoration while reducing disturbance and reducing real costs.
- It restores resilience. When there’s a crash on the Beltway or flooding upriver, a small, reliable crossing saves hours and fuel. That’s why the 35‑mile gap in crossings is such a glaring vulnerability and why restoring some crossing in that gap matters more than restoring it in the exact same spot.
- It provides income for the County. That location does not have the infrastructure for housing or the fiber and power for a data center therefore the associated County tax income is not probable. However, setting up a public-private Potomac crossing entity could generate revenue for the County.
I offer that we should pursue both options of a White’s Ferry and Bretton Wood’s Crossing. Montgomery County has already put real money on the table in an attempt to secure a deal. Use a Bretton Woods acquisition as leverage, not just a substitute. If Loudoun can close a deal at White’s, terrific. If not, the Bretton Woods Crossing becomes the fail‑safe option that ends our five‑year stalemate.
The loss of White’s Ferry was never just about minutes on Waze. It drained foot traffic from Poolesville’s Main Street and severed everyday ties between two fast‑growing counties. A small, clean, well‑managed crossing, owned by the public and sized to the landscape restores those ties without inviting the unintended consequences of a massive new bridge. If you doubt whether demand exists, ask the residents who once used the ferry daily and the Poolesville businesses who miss them.
Next Steps:
- Signal interest. Montgomery and Loudoun should issue a joint letter to the IMF expressing intent to negotiate for the Bretton Woods property if offered for sale, with the aim of a conservation‑plus‑crossing project. Maryland and Virginia governors should back the move.
- Launch a 90‑day feasibility sprint. Direct agencies to evaluate two or three candidate ferry alignments tied to Bretton Woods on the Maryland side and public landings (i.e., Algonkian or Seneca) on the Virginia side, with a specific focus on electric propulsion, minimal dredging, and towpath protection. Use the 2021 study as the starting point.
- Choose the governance model. Stand up a bi‑county Potomac Mobility Authority (or fold it into the existing Parks/NOVA Parks structure) with a clear mandate: build and operate a small ferry, price it to manage demand, and protect the surrounding parks and the Agricultural Reserve.
- Keep White’s Ferry talks alive. If a permanent easement at White’s materializes, great, run both crossings seasonally and price to balance demand. If not, the Bretton Woods Crossing becomes the replacement.
A private riverfront club created for international officials out of postwar idealism no longer fits the region’s needs in 2025. A public river crossing heals a 35‑mile gap and a riverside park that welcomes everyone. If the IMF is ready to sell, the Washington region should be ready to buy, and to swap an exclusive fairway for a shared future across the Potomac.
As always, email me your thoughts at [email protected]
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
October 27, 2025
The Empty Politics of Platitudes
It’s election season and if you’re like me, you are getting bombarded with overused platitudes offered as new ideas, wisdom or comfort, but come across as insincere drivel often gas-lighting voters.
Platitudes sound wise but mean nothing — they’re how politicians avoid hard truths.
I am tired of trite phrases such as: “Hardworking families deserve better.” “We need to come together,” “The system is broken,” “ We need to fix a broken system.” Democrat candidates like Marc Elrich (who has been in local government for 20 years), and Will Jawando and his slate that have been in office for several terms continue to gas light voters with a blow torch. Look in the mirror guys… you created the issues and have no idea how to fix them.
1. Take Wes Moore’s recent announcement that his administration will be laying off over 500+ workers while recently saying that they will be hiring separated federal workers. Does this guy know what he is doing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm7A8x1aBmo
2. Marc (no jobs) Elrich goes around the County touting that Montgomery County has low taxes and is “open for business” however local businesses are fleeing to Northern Viriginia due to excessive regulations. Why not eliminate excessive regulations?
3. The County Council vote to enact rent control to make housing more affordable, not understanding that rent control would stop development of multi-family housing. Eliminate rent control.
4. The County Council unanimously voted the draconian measure to eliminate gas heating to “achieve our climate goals.” Who wrote these climate goals without understanding the limited availability of power on the grid? How many people really want to give up the possible option of gas heating?
5. My personal hero Will Jawando has gone on record to defund the police and put female products in boys bathrooms. I can’t make this up. Platitudes and non-sensical, draconian laws to achieve a false utopia have become the currency of political speech in Montgomery County. They let candidates sound compassionate without committing to a position that makes life easier for the citizens, sound bipartisan without taking a risk of reaching across the aisle, and sound strong without having to act in a way that only supports the small number of people that vote.
Platitudes thrive because they are comforting. Who doesn’t want unity, prosperity, or fairness? But when everyone uses the same words, those words lose their meaning. A promise to “fight for working families” means nothing if it isn’t paired with a clear plan. A vow to “fix the system” means little when a candidate can’t say how /what to fix and is especially egregious when these are the candidates that supported the laws or did not stand in the breach against the crazy.
Political platitudes are a disguise, they make empty space sound full. They fill speeches, ads, and palm cards with noise that give the illusion of depth. I am saddened when I hear the label “racist” or “racial equity” when a person is losing a discussion or defending poor behavior in the name of “Democracy.” But voters are smarter than that. They can tell when they’re being sold slogans instead of solutions… or are they?
Public trust in government has declined not just because of scandals, lack of transparency and gas-lighting, but because of language. People no longer believe politicians mean what they say, because so often, they don’t. When every issue is met with the same hollow reassurance, citizens stop listening and start disengaging contributing to the low voter turnout. Politicians defend their use of broad, feel-good language as a way to inspire. But inspiration without honesty is manipulation. Real inspiration comes from clarity and from the courage to say what’s true, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Platitudes don’t just waste airtime; they waste opportunity. They block meaningful discussion, replacing tough questions with soft answers. When leaders say, “We just need to come together,” it sounds unifying, but it avoids asking why we’re divided and what we must do to bridge that divide.
I offer that our political system depends on intellectually honest disagreement not the polite kind where everyone nods, but the real kind where ideas clash and solutions emerge. Platitudes are the opposite of that. They smooth over conflict when what we need is courage.
The cure for platitudes is not cynicism; it’s authenticity. We need leaders who speak plainly, even imperfectly. Saying “This won’t be easy, but here’s my plan” carries more moral weight than any slogan. So does admitting uncertainty.
I offer that voters don’t want more smooth polish like Will Jawando. They want action that will make their lives better. They want leaders who respect them enough to speak with clarity, to argue with substance, and to lead
with conviction.
Until politicians trade platitudes for truth, our County will keep losing residents, businesses will flee, our children’s test scores will continue to drop, and our tax base will diminish.
I echo the thoughts of Adam Pagnucco in his September 12'th article (https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/09/12/is-gus-bauman-right/ ). We the voters have the final word over the politicians. Voters must take the time to research who the candidates are and visit their websites. Ask them the hard questions, demand answers and VOTE. That’s the path to a better place for Montgomery County and Maryland.
__________
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan is the Chair of the Republican Party in Montgomery County, MD - the MCGOP. He can be reached at [email protected]
October 20, 2025
Less than one week ago, the Trump administration secured the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza, marking a moment of relief, justice, and hope for families and allies around the world.
After more than two years in captivity, the return of these hostages is a victory for diplomacy, resolve, and the moral standard that the United States must always uphold.
Conversely, this past weekend’s “No Kings” rallies do not represent the values of the majority of the citizens that live and work in our community. While everyone has the right to free speech, these rallies promote destruction, violence, and misinformation rather than constructive dialogue based on facts. These rallies are nothing more than a partisan stunt designed to demonize millions of Americans who hold different political views.
I encourage anyone reading this to “do the right thing,” to be positive ambassadors of the truth, to listen and to communicate in an open, intellectually honest way. Consider asking a few simple questions:
- Have your taxes and fees increased? Have you seen any benefits in your everyday lives?
- Do you think that the MCPS Boundary Analysis study should be used to institute bussing? See: https://youtu.be/0EGSBr3MXQE
- How are you dealing with the County’s Green Laws? Did you know that you can’t have gas heating and cooking in your homes after 2035? See: https://youtu.be/Yb-0db-Ivfk
- Given the rise in antisemitism in the County, do you feel safe where you live, work, worship or your kids go to school?
- How are your kids doing in public school? With all the money that we have given the school system, why are the latest MCAP scores showing 55% proficiency? See: https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/ElaPerformance/3ELA/3/6/3/1/15/XXXX/2025
- Do you support Will Jawando’s defunding the police and taking school resource officers out of schools? See: https://youtu.be/l9R2vVXJFW0
Instead of slogans of anger, we should focus on what the local elected officials have given us and propose practical solutions that strengthen our community. True progress comes from working together.
Our community deserves leadership and activism that build bridges, not events designed to tear people down or undermine the democratic process. We must reject efforts that encourage chaos or disrespect toward our institutions and one another. Yes, you will see me at various Democrat events having two-way conversations with various candidates, asking questions, and offering solutions.
Republicans believe in limited government, constitutional balance, and freedom for every citizen — the very opposite of tyranny. While the “No Kings” movement stages protests, we are focused on addressing the real issues facing our County: inflation, taxes, public safety, and the education of our children.
It’s time to stop the theatrics and start working for the American people. The “No Kings” movement divides; Republicans are working to deliver results.
As always, email me your thoughts at [email protected]
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
October 13, 2025
The MCGOP Convention - An Amazing Success!
The premiere conservative political event in Montgomery County did not disappoint. It featured great speakers, great candidates, and a moving tribute to Charlie Kirk. The event also acknowledged many issue-focused groups, woman’s clubs, and supporters.
Emcee Dennis Melby headed up the event with insightful humor. Laura Benson made sure everything flowed flawlessly. There were many other hands that contributed to the success of the event including: Lori Jaffe, Brigitta Mullican, Greg Decker, Tracy Colligan, June Nicholas, Sara Hoffman, Vikki Birkett, Dan Cuda, Josh Knaap, Helene Meister, Jeff and Dee Rubin, Cynthia Cuestas and many others.
The event included an invocation by Gene Schaerr, the National Anthem beautifully performed by Jennifer Biddison, and the Pledge of Allegiance by Lily Sorell. There was Dee Rubin’s panel on the MoCo Supreme Court victory, and a presentation by Sandy Tuttle, Martha Hale, and Patsy Dillingham on their Back the Blue success.
Nicolee Ambrose, MD RNC Chairwoman, updated us on the success of the voter integrity fight in Montgomery County.
Our special guest, Jim Trusty of the Ifrah Law Group, enlightened and entertained the attendees with stories ranging from Letitia James’ residence to the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago.
Our lunch speaker John ‘Dragon’ Teichert, Brig Gen (Ret) provided great stories and leadership insight from his years as a military commander. Lunch was sponsored by Monte and Darby Gingery.
Special thanks to our candidates who were able to provide an overview of their campaign platforms.
A great time was had by all!!!
For those of you that have Facebook, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1248913733936534&set=pcb.1248920587269182
As always, email me your thoughts at [email protected]
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
October 6, 2025
Less than a week until the premiere political event in Montgomery County …. The MCGOP Convention.
This is the premiere conservative political event in Montgomery County and features great speakers, great candidates, and a moving tribute to Charlie Kirk. We will also be acknowledging our many issue-focused groups, woman’s clubs, and supporters. There will be opportunities for volunteers to get involved and serve their community.
The convention will be at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel, 620 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Registration opens at 7:45 am and the main program starts at 8:30 am.
Please register with the QR code or link below:
https://www.mcgop.com/convention2025_20251011
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!!!
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
September 29, 2025
Come one / come all to the premiere political event in Montgomery County …. The MCGOP Convention.
This is the premiere conservative political event in Montgomery County and features great speakers, great candidates and a moving tribute to Charlie Kirk. We will also be acknowledging our many issue focused groups, woman’s clubs and supporters and providing opportunities for volunteers to get involved and serve their communities.
The convention will be at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel, 620 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Registration openings at 7:45 am and the main program starts at 8:30 am.
Please register with the QR code or link below:
https://www.mcgop.com/convention2025_20251011
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!!!
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
Yep, WE LISTEN - what do you think? Write me at [email protected]
September 22, 2025
On September 20th, a public remembrance vigil was held in Rockville, Maryland to honor Charlie Kirk. The event was sponsored by the Montgomery County Republican Party (MCGOP), and the Potomac Woman’s Republican Club (PWRC).
The event brought together nearly 300 of Charlie’s supporters, followers, and community members to reflect on his contributions and celebrate the values he championed.
Charlie’s life was ended by an assassin’s bullet during an event at Utah Valley University in what authorities have described as a politically motivated assassination.
Charlie Kirk was a man of unwavering faith, a father, a husband, a son and patriot who dedicated his life to America.
Charlie Kirk was more than a strong voice in the conservative movement, he was a champion for free speech, a leader who rallied the youth, and a man who believed deeply in his convictions. We remember him not only for what he said, but how he said it: passionately, boldly, but always ready to listen.
Charlie worked to give young people a platform to engage, debate, and speak out for what they believed in. His goal was to engage in thoughtful discourse, to cultivate courage, to encourage conviction, and to strengthen the public square through intellectually honest dialogue.
Charlie Kirk was laid to rest on Sunday, September 21, 2025. His ceremony was watched by millions all over the world. The tributes were amazing.
Charlie’s challenge to all of us was to rise above the noise, concentrate on facts, to exercise speech even when it’s hard, and to affirm truth with both compassion and resolve.
With the assassination of Charlie Kirk, America has lost a powerful voice for good. He had a profound impact on all Americans, particularly the young. I am reminded of the quote.
“I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible sense of resolve.”
I offer that the political assassination Charlie Kirk has awakened all of us and that we have the duty to carry on Charlie’s message.
As Charlie said: It's bigger than you, I want you to remember that... It's bigger than me - you are here to make somebody else's life better, in the pursuit of liberty & freedom.
Please feel free to send me your thoughts ([email protected]) on what Charlie Kirk meant to you.
We are all Charlie now….
Reardon "Sully" Sullivan
2025 MCGOP Chair
September 15, 2025
In Memory of Charlie Kirk
In loving memory of Charlie Kirk, a man of unwavering faith, a father, husband, and patriot who dedicated his life to America:
Charlie Kirk was more than a voice in the conservative movement, he was a champion for free speech, a founder who rallied youth, a husband and father, and a man who believed deeply in his convictions.
From the early days of Turning Point USA, he strove to give young people a platform to engage, debate, and speak out for what they believed in. His goal wasn’t simply to win arguments, but to cultivate courage, to encourage conviction, to strengthen the public square through robust dialogue.
“It's bigger than you, I want you to remember that... It's bigger than me - you are here to make somebody else's life better, the pursuit of liberty & freedom.”
Charlie’s tragic killing on September 10, 2025 sent shockwaves across the country. It felt like a wound in the fabric of civil discourse. Charlie’s challenge to all of us was to rise above polarization, to defend speech even when it’s hard, to affirm truth with both compassion and resolve. We remember him not only for what he said, but how he said it: passionately, boldly, always ready to debate, always willing to lead. Charlie demonstrated that it is possible to believe strongly enough to defend those beliefs in public, to submit one’s convictions to the test of argument and counterargument.
With the assassination of Charlie Kirk, America has lost a powerful voice for good. He had a profound impact on all Americans, particularly the young. I am reminded of the quote “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible sense of resolve.” I offer that the murder of Charlie Kirk has awakened a new breed of conservatives who will carry and expand his message.
What are your thoughts? Please e-mail me at [email protected] to share your thoughts about Charlie Kirk and his impact on you and his impact on America.
Stay strong and God bless America.
