Kinda like describing the 13th Amendment by saying " A vote for will make it harder to find workers..."

The government attorney responsible for writing - in plain english - the effects of a Charter Amendment to limit government spending wrote it to discourage voters to support it. Here's what I wrote to him on your behalf:

As Chairman of the Republican Party I am concerned that the Montgomery County Government is poised to present a misguided message to thousands of county voters, many of whom signed a petition to place on the ballot an initiative to put limits on the government's authority to increase spending. They've asked that if the government wishes to exceed the rate of inflation in spending it will take a unanimous decision.

Thousands have asked for that, many Republicans and many Democratic and Non Affiliated voters too.

The proposed language for the ballot does not reflect that intent. I'm sure it's not intentional - but others could see it as a blatant political attempt to confuse and mislead the electorate.

Please protect the voters and have the language reflect the intent of the petition and referendum correctly.

Dennis Melby

Chairman

Republican Party of Montgomery County, MD

Leisure World Republican Club

Republican Club - Rabbi Dr. Peter Tarlow presents “Socialism and Anti-Semitism”

On August 12 @ 7PM in Clubhouse 1, Rabbi Tarlow joins us for the second time – a speaker who has previously drawn a packed house.

Rabbi Dr. Peter Tarlow, is a resident of Leisure World, a world-renowned speaker, author, and expert specializing in Crime and terrorism in the tourism industry.  He is the Rabbi Emeritus of Texas A&M Hillel where he served for 30 years.  Upon retirement he assumed the leadership of the Center for Latino-Jewish Relations (CLJR), a not-for-profit organization that works to find ways the Latino and Jewish communities can collaborate and that advocates for Israel with Latino communities throughout both North and Latin America. 

• September 9 @ 7PM we welcome Esther Wells, MoCo Candidate for County Executive. (In October we go back to our daytime meetings).
• October 14 @ 1:30 PM we invite Brenda Diaz, candidate for MCPS School Board.
• Tuesday, November 3 is Election Day.

Cheryl Riley, Congressional Candidate will join us at the August meeting.

We welcome everyone to our meetings for respectful dialogue and delicious refreshments. We are accepting donations for our Communication Fund as well as membership ($15.00/yr) for October 2026-2027 payable to RCLW Box 12293 Silver Spring, MD 20908. Questions can be directed to Maria Dudish at [email protected].

  News & Opinions

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Maryland synagogue sues county over gun restrictions near houses of worship |The Center Square | Tom Joyce | July 31, 2026

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Stop the Spend committee turns in another 2.5K signatures for review  | Bethesda Today | Ceoli Jacoby | July 30, 2026, 11:35 am | Updated July 30, 2026, 3:45 pm

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For detailed information go to our world-class website, MCGOP.com

Unleash Prosperity Hotline

By Dennis Brent Melby

From our first elected County Executive, Jim Gleason, I’ve known so many great County Executives and Councilmembers. A few of them were Republicans - by far the majority were Democrats. But they were thoughtful “normal” Democrats.

They’d write zoning for our communities to improve transportation, separate residential neighborhoods from commercial, and provide great public schooling for our kids. Before the Bicentennial we were the wealthiest county in America – and proud of it.

It’s gradually changed, and recently rapidly deteriorated, pitting groups against each other, freezing Republicans, moderates and conservatives out of the picture, and pushing policies giving us high prices, crowded and overbuilt neighborhoods and underperforming public schools.

Instead of success, we’ve been pursuing “equity.” Everyone should be the same…how's that working in Cuba? Instead of success, we've resorted to tax, tax, and more tax. (I was gonna say "Moore Tax: but that's too simple!)

Instead of education, we’ve had falling grades, fewer students, no police protection in schools with even more administrators and exploding budgets. I’ve known so many Democrat politicians who lost support of the Apple Ballot crowd once they finally refused to acquiesce to giving raise after raise to the Unions, folks like School Board President Jim Cronin and County Councilmember Marilyn Praisner. They were Liberal Democrats who were thrown out and replaced by folks who’d OK more and more money to the Teacher’s Union folks. (The same folks who distribute the Apple Ballot at every polling station on election day.)

Left wing schemes for “equitable housing” have whole areas like Takoma Park with no new rental apartment housing for decades. And we’re seeing that spread to the entire County now.  The Democrat Socialists are studying Mamdani in New York and readying nationalizing apartment buildings and freezing rents - and free government run grocery stores. What could possibly go wrong?

Race, skin color and ethnicity have taken center stage in so many decisions, pitting black against Asian, against Hispanic as an easy way to win support and votes. Ike Leggett never did that. We ALL live in the same county, we all know each other and respect each other…and are happier for it.

Divisiveness gets votes and support from the radicals in all groups, so many elected officials pander to stereotypes that no longer exist. And in the new national socialist Democrat Party it works well. Recently they’ve even started targeting Jewish residents – and it seems to be working. Very sad. Esther Gelman, Sidney Kramer and Phil Andrews would be outraged. They were righteous, normal Democrats.

Let’s get back to working together. Let’s add a few normal Republicans to the mix – like we did in the times when we were successful, united and forward thinking.

Let’s return to success, abundance and safety. 

Yes, we CAN work together, I’ve seen it before – and we have great candidates on both sides to make that happen.

Don’t hand things to the Socialist fringe – it never turns out well.

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Tell me this, do you miss two-party government? Do you think Republicans and Democrats can work together? How about the National Socialist Democrats...are they the answer? Tell me what you think at [email protected]

Dennis Melby