From the Desk of Former Mayor Malinda Miles

It has been two years since I decided to remove myself from the political scene in Mount Rainier, MD, Prince George's County, and the State of Maryland. Holding the lofty position of Mayor was such a great honor, but as the years flew by, I realized that it was time to do something else -- get a life.! I did, and still continue to provide resources to the residents through The Front Porch Ministries (TFPM). Real people pass through The Front Porch Ministries weekly. LIFE is good.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Coming to Mount Rainier September 23, 2017 -- Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz (D)

Come MEET Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz (D) at Mediterrean Cafe, Rhode Island Avenue, September 23, 2017. He should be arriving in the City a little after 11:00 a.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Kevin Kamenetz may be on the Democratic gubernatorial primary ballot next June. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post) By Bill Turque June 12

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz (D), who is crisscrossing the state in his role as president of the Maryland Association of Counties, says it will likely be after Labor Day before he decides whether to run for governor in 2018.

“Right now, we’re all focused on keeping our kids busy,” Kamenetz, who has two teenagers at home, said Monday after meeting with members of the Montgomery County Council in Rockville.

But with the Democratic gubernatorial primary just over a year away (June 26, 2018), it’s clear that Kamenetz, 52, who is barred from seeking a third term as executive, is plenty focused on politics.

He organized to finish a surprising second to a prospective rival, Rep. John Delaney, in a late April gubernatorial straw poll of Democrats in western Maryland, where he is not well known.

And in the interview Monday, he called incumbent Republican Gov. Larry Hogan “a caretaker” who has not articulated a long-term vision for the state and said he believes Democrats can retake the governor’s mansion next year.

“This is still a Democratic state,” Kamenetz said, citing the large majorities that have voted for former senator Barbara Mikulski, Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. “Governor Hogan’s election in 2014 was more about the Democrats’ failure to turn out as opposed to the Republic brand somehow growing.”

In an email, Hogan spokeswoman Amelia Chasse said the governor’s office “doesn’t pay much attention to partisan rhetoric and politics. The governor is focused on getting things done for Maryland, like creating 100,000 jobs over the past two years and building roads and bridges across the state.”

In addition to Delaney, other likely or declared Democratic candidates include Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, former attorney general Doug Gansler, former NAACP president Benjamin Jealous, state Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (Montgomery), tech entrepreneur Alec Ross and lawyer James L. Shea.

Since mid-April, Kamenetz has met with elected officials in Baltimore City and Calvert, Frederick and St. Mary’s counties as part of his work for the Maryland Association of Counties, a nonpartisan group that advocates in Annapolis for legislation sought by local governments.

Mayor Malinda Miles

As a long-time resident of Mount Rainier and a homeowner, it is important to me that municipal government be inclusive of all of its residents. It is equally important that information be communicated through all possible channel so that residents can get involved. It is also important for residents to volunteer and serve on committees, commissions, boards and task forces. I truly believe that municipal government is the government closes to the people, and as such should be easily accessible. This BLOG is another effort to reach out to the residents of Mount Rainier.