By Joan Fidler

Montgomery County has a public school system that is a $3 billion high risk enterprise with 160,000 students and 27,000 staff. What are we as taxpayers and more important, our children getting for this $3+ billion? Where is the oversight? Where are the results? The part time Board of Education has failed miserably. Are there any other Beidleman fiascos hidden in the underbelly of the school system?

Do we really expect 2 FTEs in the County’s IG Office to oversee what appears to be an ungovernable organization? A structural change is the only solution.

Dr. Gilberto Zelaya (center) with Chevy Chase Women's Republican Club members at MCGOP Headquarters

On April 23, Dr. Gilberto Zelaya, Community Engagement/Public Relations Officer for the Montgomery County Board of Elections, provided the CCWRC with an overview of the MCBOE election and poll worker services. He stressed the importance of recruiting Republican poll workers so that the BOE can maintain a fair election process. The BOE especially needs Republican judges and canvassers.

If you're a registered Republican who can serve - even half a day - please send an email to our Secretary, Lori Jaffe at [email protected] with your contact information. We'll pass it on to the Board of Elections with our thanks and the thanks of a grateful community.

Kristin Mink, Bella Naughty, Marc Elrich

By Lori Jaffe

Marc Elrich doesn’t want us to have the freedom to raise our kids according to our values. We need to take back control over our kids’ future. You can help the Committee for Better Government limit him to two terms, but you must act soon. Ten thousand valid signatures must be gathered by August 2024. (See below).

Our County Executive wants schools to start teaching children during their first five years. He is fully aware of the effect of teaching children at an early age, while they are still vulnerable. “We know the first five years of life are critical to brain development for children. And this sets the foundation for all future learning.” But what will they be taught?

In his “Weekly Update Message on April 12, 2024” (0:26) Elrich extended his gratitude to the Montgomery County House and Senate Delegations for their “dedication in the support of the priorities of the Montgomery County Government and the 1.1 million residents we serve…”

County Executive Elrich has made it clear what his priorities are.

APRIL 30

Our Montgomery County Police deserve our respect, and our gratitude. But while our Police Department shrinks in size, Councilmember Will Jawando continues to set up roadblocks that will make their job more difficult. We have an opportunity to honor our Police Department tomorrow, April 30 (see below).

Police have to make good decisions quickly. There are so many things to think about when making a traffic stop. Seconds matter. Sometimes they don’t even have time to react before they are critically injured or killed. 

Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando seems to take traffic enforcement personally. In 2019, he claimed that police stopped him because of racial profiling. But according to Fox Baltimore, State Police said: "‘Trooper Shu saw a vehicle pass his car, cross the stop line and enter the intersection before stopping. He initiated a traffic stop and contacted the driver, requesting his license and registration. The driver, Mr. Jawando, explained he had lost his current driver’s license and had requested a duplicate. He gave the trooper his expired driver’s license.’”

BUT AT LEAST HE DIDN'T EAT MY UNCLE!

When you walk down the sidewalk in Montgomery County every sixth person you pass is a Republican. Now imagine, with the elections forthcoming we have hundreds of polling places, days and days of early voting, and big rooms filled for weeks with dedicated citizens counting, sorting and even copying mail in ballots. In every case the Board of Elections tries to pair a Republican with a Democrat. If we don't step up and volunteer they will team up a Democrat with an Unaffiliated voter. 

To make sure EVERYONE feels the process is fair, valid and legal we need folks from ALL parties to step up to the plate.

If you're a registered Republican who can serve - even half a day - please send an email to our Party Secretary, Lori Jaffe at [email protected] with your contact information.

We'll pass it on to the Board of Elections with the thanks of a grateful Party and community.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room last Saturday. Tom Homan, former ICE Director was telling of his experiences at the southern border.

• kids sold into the sex trade
• kids who had died in trailers abandoned in the sun by smugglers
• women and girls who had been sexually abused again and again

I looked around the table, around the room and folks could not believe the stories, that we were encouraging people to go though this at the southern border – the death and the suffering is inexcusable. Yet it goes on.

Director Homan was giving a report on his term as the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and his relationship with former President Trump. He wanted us to know how important it is to return to the policies of welcoming immigrants through proper channels, and not through the arms of the criminal cartels.

It is important to return to apprehending and deporting criminal illegal aliens - instead of allowing "sanctuary counties" like Montgomery to not cooperate until other horrendous crimes have been committed by those we should have been deported many times.

This election is important. Illegal immigration is only one of the important issues. There is so much more we have to do to return to normalcy.

Primary voting has already started, they’re actually canvasing Primary ballots today in Germantown. Please take your vote seriously and once you’ve decided, cast your ballot. We encourage you to vote by mail. If not, early vote. If not, then make sure you vote by election day. Most votes are cast before then.

We need to right this ship. I know that by working together we will.

God Bless America

Dennis Melby

MCGOP Chairman

Share your thoughts with me at [email protected]

Hundreds of people packed the MCGOP 2024 Spring Convention at the Doubletree in Gaithersburg, MD. There was a CD6 Candidate Forum and an Accountability Panel. Dr. Sebastian Gorka was the Special Guest Speaker. Former ICE Director Tom Homan was the Luncheon Speaker. Along with local and federal candidates, all the Montgomery County women’s clubs joined in the festivities: The Montgomery County Federation of Republican Women, Chevy Chase Women’s Republican Club, Potomac Women’s Republican Club, Rural Women’s Republican Club and Upper Montgomery Republican Women’s Club.

New GOP volunteers were welcomed last week at MCGOP Headquarters. Many stayed for the speakers and the work of the Central Committee and were also treated to snacks from our hospitality volunteers. If you can volunteer, fill out the link toward the end of this newsletter.