Politics & Government
Report: Germantown Lawmaker’s Resignation Spurs Intraparty Diversity Fight
Who do you think should replace state Sen. Robert J. Garagiola, a Germantown democrat? Some say the seat should go to a minority, The Washington Post reports.
The resignation of state Sen. Robert J. Garagiola may have sparked an intraparty fight over diversity, The Washington Post reports.
Garagiola (D-Dist. 15) of Germantown announced his resignation in June. His resignation is effective Sept. 1.
Del. Brian J. Feldman (D-Dist. 15) of Potomac has been considered a front-runner to replace Garagiola, and has gained the backing from Del. Aruna Miller (D-Dist. 15) of Darnestown and Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village.
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Many were upset at an announcement that the District 15 caucus’ endorsement of Feldman—though it was later clarified that it was the District 15 executive committee that had endorsed Feldman, not the caucus as a whole, The Post reports.
>>> See: ‘Montgomery minorities see an opportunity in Md. senate opening’ at WashingtonPost.com.
Find out what's happening in Germantownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The minority community sees the opening in District 15 as a chance to diversify to the county's all-white, eight-member Senate delegation, especially in a county that is majority minority.
“The delegation doesn’t look like the county looks,” Karen Britto, former chairwoman of the Democratic Central Committee told the newspaper.
The Democratic Central Committee is expected to vote Sept. 10 to recommend who should replace Garagiola. Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) will accept or reject the recommendation.
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