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By Lori Jaffe
It’s been 6 months since our last MoCo Hall of Shame Awards. We figured it was time to look back and honor those in local government service who have risen to the top of the shame ladder. Here are our picks…
Category: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Best Performance Award
Winner: County Council Vice President Will Jawando
For his portrayal (2:12:34) of a moderate politician during the July 22nd County Council discussion on “More Housing N.O.W” legislation.
Don’t be fooled. This is the same Will Jawando who has been trying to pass legislation that would make it harder for the police to do their jobs. In 2023, Jawando proposed a bill that would bar the police from stopping drivers for certain violations, including licensing and registration offenses. The Maryland Attorney General said that the bill violated state law. So Jawando kept trying, proposing another bill (2-24), the "Freedom to Leave Act", to limit police searches. This bill says that even if the driver consents to a search, the driver can leave the scene. Progressive groups have endorsed him but the police union and the Municipal & County Government Employees Organization (MCGEO) have opposed his bill. While Mr. Jawando may masquerade as a moderate during election season, he is not a moderate. Just look under the sheepskin.
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Category: Failing Up
Scariest Candidate Award
Winner: School Board President Julie Yang
For scaring MoCo voters with her announcement to run for County Council.
According to Clean Slate MoCo: “Board of Education Member Julie Yang recently announced her candidacy for County Council District 1. What is her motivation?
I’m running for the County Council to put Montgomery County back on track.
Ms. Yang was elected to the Board of Education since 2022. Since that time—
- The Washington Post broke the Beidleman scandal (2023). Beidleman’s predation was going on for six years before that with numerous complaints submitted to MCPS.
- Former superintendent Monifa McKnight was paid $1.3 million in severance pay even though there were serious allegations that she covered up the entire Beidleman affair (2024).
- MCPS paid millions in legal fees in a series of court battles over the forced LGBT curriculum, only to lose it all in the US Supreme Court.
- The Office of Inspector General released a report demonstrating that MCPS has not been performing background checks (2025).
That’s quite a bit of failure for a board member serving for only 2½ years, and even Board President in the 2024–2025 school year.”
Julie Yang for County Council? Imagine how scary that would be!
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Category: Bureaucratic Red Tape
“The Mummy” Award
Winner: Montgomery County Public School Board
For wrapping up Montgomery County parents in red tape if they want to opt their children out of instruction that incorporates LGBTQ+ inclusive storybooks into the school curriculum.
To demonstrate compliance with the Supreme Court decision that parents may opt their children out of LGBTQ+ lessons, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is sending parents updates of planned classroom lessons every 9 weeks. Each time, the burden is placed on the parents to complete the MCPS form to opt their child out of specific lessons. Then school administrators have to review the request. If the request is approved, the child will be provided with an alternative lesson. There is no time limit for how long MCPS will take to review the form. As of October 2nd, 43 families had opted out. Will that number dwindle as parents lose consciousness during this mummification process? We hope not.
Got a nomination for a "MoCo Hall of Shame" Award? Send it to [email protected].
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Lori Jaffe is the Party Secretary for the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, Member of the Executive Board and publisher of the MCGOP Digest. She can be reached at [email protected]