News Corner

Eligible individuals must be registered Republican voters who reside in LD 18.  You may check to confirm your LD by Checking here.

If interested in applying, please submit your letter of interest and political/professional resume to the MCGOP’s Party Secretary Lori Jaffe NO LATER than 5 PM Friday, July 16, 2021.  Interviews will be scheduled at a later date.

Following interviews, if nominated to fill this vacancy the full MCGOP Central Committee will vote to consider the nomination.  If elected to serve member volunteers are to be active participants in all MCGOP efforts: attend regular meetings, promote the election of Republican candidates, organize and operate effective political organizations in your Legislative District, engage in fund-raising activities and build grass-roots political support within Montgomery County. You would fill the remainder of this term until the Maryland General election in 2022.  It is fun, challenging, yet rewarding work.

This is your chance to help lead the Republican Party.

By William Zartman

Policing is a life-risking and neighborhood-building calling, and we are fortunate to have a committed police force in Montgomery County that does its job professionally, is open to discussion, and keeps us safe.  Since this is the case, why is the county government attacking our police, reducing its numbers, and keeping its pay low, all of which contributes to a significant decline in morale?  How can those in law enforcement do their jobs under such conditions?  If the members of our county government were thinking clearly, they would make a point to meet with the police instead of turning down invitations to do so. Getting to know each other on a personal basis would not only open the door to any complaints, but provide opportunities to work out solutions to real (not imagined) problems together.

Instead, the County Council seems to believe that Montgomery County is another Seattle or Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago or even Baltimore. Although that is not the case, the current mood of public panic has not only sullied our attitudes toward education and even covid, but has also destroyed our ability to separate reality from media headlines. It has also hampered our ability to make sound decisions.  Our county police force does not use the knee or the choke hold (they’re prohibited).  They stop speeding cars, not drivers—one cannot profile a car (statistics show a distribution of arrests that reflects the population of the area, and provides no evidence in the county in general of profiling).

We expect evenhanded justice from our policemen and women. We also expect secure conditions for their jobs so that they can provide security for us. We believe that any deviations from generally acceptable conduct should be treated as individual exceptions (which are liable to occur in every human activity) and not be used as typical examples of the entire profession. We believe that the police in Montgomery County will continue to act and be treated as neighborhood builders, who we can trust and respect. Moreover, we assume that our public authorities will stand up for them and provide them with full support as agents of that authority and friends of the people. Which they are.

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Dr. I William Zartman is Jacob Blaustein Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Intenational Organization and Conflict Management at the School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University and a Member of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee.

By Anne Koutsoutis

The Chevy Chase Women’s Republican Club (CCWRC) stood tall this Memorial Day!  On May 25th, the club hosted a special event at Columbia Country Club to help support the work of Patriots Point. Situated on 290 acres of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Patriots Point is a place where our nation’s heroes are able to reconnect with their families and their caregivers. It is a safe space where our recovering military can decompress after deployment, to rejuvenate, and to heal.  

Our honored guests were Captain Luis Avila, United States Army. Retired, and his wife Claudia. Captain Avila was severely wounded in Afghanistan, is continuing his healing journey as an outpatient at Walter Reed Medical Center.  Captain Avila is a hero and a warrior.  He touched our hearts when he proudly sang “God Bless America.”   

His wife Claudia, is a beloved CCWRC member and spoke eloquently of the struggle the recovering warriors face daily.

Reverend Robert Buchmeier, pastor of Holy Cross Church, Garrett Park, Md. lead us in prayer. Father served as a Major in the U.S. Army and for 14 years was assigned to the Army Medical Corps.

Steve Beck the President and Executive Director of the Military Bowl Foundation, which is responsible for the operation of the Military Bowl, College football bowl game, Patriotic Point and the D.C. Touchdown Club, provided an overview of Patriot Point, and its mission. 

Keynote Speaker National Federation of Republican Women President Ann Schockett gave an uplifting speech that ended with a standing ovation. 

Jayne Plank, a member of CCWRC, was honored for her longtime leadership and support in our caring for the military caregiver’s projects.  Her son Stuart is a founder of Patriot Point.  

Also in attendance Michael Glynn, candidate for District Court Judge in Montgomery County thanked CCWRC members for their support.

CCWRC got the ball rolling with a generous donation of $500.00.  Our members and their guests soon had the total up to $7,500.00, with more coming in.

A great day and a great way to celebrate and honor our veterans. 

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Anne Koutsoutis is President, Chevy Chase Women’s Republican Club and first vice Chair of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee.