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Tuesday November 8th is Election Day!  7:00 AM - 8:00 PM 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Information: For more information on your voting location for Election Day please visit:  https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/PollingPlaceSearch Please remember to mail ballots in by November 8 or vote ON November 8!  If you know of anyone who needs a ride to the polls, please help them or email us at [email protected] Help Needed on Election Day! We are looking for volunteers to staff our informational tables on Election Day, Tuesday November 8th.   Please visit for more information and to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e054baea729a3f85-election1   For a listing of candidates who will appear on the ballot for the General Election, please visit:  https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/candidates VOTER OUTREACH We need a BIG FINAL PUSH in terms of knocking on doors and calling to get people out to vote! Lots of times available! Many sign ups are available the day before Election Day 11/7 TEAM CROSBY (29B) - Door knocking and phone banking - SIGN UP HERE.  Dates and times in the link.  TEAM BATES (29C) - Door knocking, every day except Wed 4-7pm - contact Bill Bates at 301-481-7538 or [email protected] or Rose Frederick at 301-481-2476 to sign up and get meet up up location. If you'd like to deliver candidate literature to neighborhoods whenever is convenient for you, send us an email at [email protected] and we will get you set up with the materials and a list of addresses! Question 4 This year, marijuana legalization is on the ballot as Question 4 in Maryland.  According to a recent Washington Post article, 73% of  Maryland voters favor legalizing “the use of cannabis” for people 21 and older. President Joe Biden's recent move to pardon and reclassify marijuana is on track with how a majority of Americans feel about this subject. The St. Mary's County Democratic Central Committee endorses Ballot Question 4, legalizing the use and possession of cannabis (marijuana) in Maryland by anyone 21 years and older. Recent Happenings Speaker Adrienne Jones visiting October 27th at  BDVFD’s early voting center   Thank you to St. Mary's County NAACP 7025 for sponsoring the Souls to the Polls event on Sunday October 30!   Aruna Miller visited St. Mary's County on October 16th. She met with Democratic leaders and candidates, helped kickoff a canvass for Brian Crosby, planted a tree with Southern Maryland Sierra Club, and then visited the US Oyster Festival in St. Mary's County   St. Mary's Democrats tabled at the Pride Festival on 10/9 in Lexington Park   The Skipjack Circle  One of the easiest ways you can help to sustain the St. Mary's County Democratic Party and directly support Democratic Candidates is to join our recurring donor program, Skipjack Circle.  Members have already enjoyed exclusive benefits over the past year (read more here: https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/skipjack_circle)–so don’t miss out! One of the perks for donors at the Potomac and Chesapeake Levels are tickets to the annual Skipjack Gala.   Democratic Club The next meeting Democratic Club Meeting will be held Monday Nov 21  at 7 pm via Zoom.  We are accepting nominations for Secretary, 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents of the Club - please contact Caroline King or Karl Pence if interested at  [email protected]   Volunteer Ballot Observers Needed! We’d love some volunteers to observe the counting of the ballots at the Board of Elections building in Leonardtown on Nov 10, Nov 16 and Nov 18 starting at 10 am.  Contact [email protected]  if you can help out   Watch Party! Please join us for an Election night watch party!  Tuesday November 8th from 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm at the Inn at Leonardtown. Beer, Wine and Appetizers! 45$ per person. Free for Skipjack Circle Members.  RSVP at: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/electionnightsmc   Veterans Day Parade November 11 - We hope everyone will come out to walk with us in the parade in Leonardtown on Nov 11.  Meet at Ryken at 8:30 am to decorate the float!  Parade starts at 10:00 am.  Thank you for your support! You may now pay your dues online. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $35 for a family. To join, renew, or make a donation to the club online, please visit the St. Mary’s Democratic Club Paypal [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stmarysdemclub] . When paying, please include your email address and indicate whether you are a new or renewing member. You can also mail a check to: St. Mary’s County Democratic Club PO BOX 631 Leonardtown, MD 20650 I Am St. Mary's #IAMSTMARYS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF ST. MARY’S SKIPJACK November 2022     =============================== ATTENTION The emails and Facebook postings from #IAMSTMARYS will be more frequent as campaign and GOTV activity increases. We’ll do our best to get the information out to you (and please forward it to your family and friends). We want you to know what’s going on and where you can lend your time, energy, and support.  Contact us via [email protected] if you are interested in getting our emails, for more information, or interested in joining the Democratic Women of St. Mary’s. Please be sure to have [email protected] in your contacts so you’ll see our emails.  =============================== St. Mary’s County Domestic Violence Crisis Number 240-925-0084 =============================== Official Statement from our candidates regrading a recent statement published in the County Times Newspaper:  Unlike The County Times and Tommy McKay, we believe in America. We believe in our political system. We believe in our legal system. While there are problems and no system is perfect, Democracy is the best system we have. We are running for office to make changes in order to create a more perfect Union. Most importantly, we believe in the American people. The statement printed by The County Times on the front page of their “Voters Guide” on October 27 is nothing more than a nonsensical rant. To endorse candidates after stating mistrust of the entire political and legal system is ludicrous. If you don’t believe in the system, why endorse anyone at all? Building on that lunacy, The County Times stated it doesn’t even care about the candidates it endorsed– only that they belong to the Republican party. The entire rant is incoherent. To insinuate that public schools should incorporate a specific religion is absurd, especially given that St. Mary’s County is the birthplace of religious freedom. For the last 12 years, the majority of the county’s representation has been Republican. If things are so bad right now, why should we elect more of the same? Our residents work hard and care about their families, friends, and communities. St. Mary’s Countians help build one another up, not tear each other down. St. Mary’s County deserves better. We don’t deserve false statements or poorly researched endorsements. Engaging in this type of incendiary rhetoric has ripped at the seams of our national discourse. We cannot afford, and will not accept, that disease infecting St. Mary’s County. It is reprehensible for a publication that calls itself a newspaper to print such a statement. The truth is now clear: The County Times is not a trustworthy news source and should be considered nothing more than a glorified tabloid. St. Mary’s, YOU deserve better, and you should expect more. With Integrity, Brian Crosby Brandon Russell - Commissioner Candidate Steve Tuttle - County Commissioner Candidate Sheila Milburn for County Commissioner, District 1 Bill Bates Reminders for Election Day 11/8: On the week of 10/3, we received notification from the Maryland Board of Elections that the Democratic candidate for Commissioner President, Natalie Weech, is disqualified from holding the office because she does not meet the five-year residency requirement. Natalie has lived in St. Mary’s County for three years. Unfortunately, Natalie was not aware of the residency requirement when she filed. Even though she provided residency information to the St. Mary’s County Board of Elections at the time of filing, the local board did not notify Natalie of the requirement or challenge her candidacy. As Natalie stated last week, she only recently discovered the residency requirement when she was researching the County code to determine if there was any conflict with her accepting a job with St. Mary’s County Public Schools. She immediately notified the St. Mary’s County Board of Elections. The Board investigated the issue and explained to her that because no one had challenged her candidacy and the ballots had already been certified, she could continue her candidacy. However, the Maryland Board of Elections later determined that Natalie was indeed disqualified from holding the office. Natalie conferred with the state board and agreed that she was disqualified. Although it is too late for her to withdraw and her name will appear on the ballot, she has suspended her campaign for Commissioner President. It is unfortunate that the Board of Elections did not catch this mistake sooner. If the board had, another Democratic candidate may have filed or the Democratic party may have had the opportunity to nominate another candidate. We hope this situation will lead to reform so that similar issues do not occur in the future.

For a listing of candidates who will appear on the ballot for the General Election, please visit: 

https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/candidates

Please consider joining a candidate committee to help with a particular campaign! This is your chance to make a difference, so reach out to us at [email protected] for more information!

If you'd like to deliver candidate literature to neighborhoods whenever is convenient for you, send us an email at [email protected] and we will get you set up with the materials and a list of addresses!

If you would like to help out with phone banking, several happy hours will be added to the schedule, but they can be done any afternoon on your own, as well.  Email us at [email protected] and we will set you up with the numbers and script!  The phone banking is really important as these will be our second touches for many voters.

Question 4

This year, marijuana legalization is on the ballot as Question 4 in Maryland.  According to a recent Washington Post article, 73% of  Maryland voters favor legalizing “the use of cannabis” for people 21 and older. President Joe Biden's recent move to pardon and reclassify marijuana is on track with how a majority of Americans feel about this subject.

Upcoming Events/Opportunities to Help!

Please mark your calendars and join us at these events to support our candidates and the Democrats.  Any amount of time and energy you can put in is greatly appreciated.  Please consider inviting others to attend as well!

Candidate Spotlight

Marsha Williams - Board of Education District 1

Brian Crosby - Delegate 29 B

Brian grew up in a working class family and knows the struggle families face today. His family taught him the value of hard work and commitment to service. After earning his law degree, Brian joined the U.S. Army and served as an Infantry Officer and Army Ranger on three deployments to Afghanistan.

After his time in uniform, Brian continued his commitment to public service and his community. He started as a volunteer for a youth running club at George Washington Carver Elementary as a mentor and coach. His experience with these children motivated him to want to make a bigger difference, and he decided to run for state delegate.

Brian has been a leading voice for his constituents in Annapolis, ensuring that St. Mary’s County is well represented at the state level. Brian is a champion for education, prioritizes infrastructure projects in his community, and advocates on behalf of small businesses. As a veteran himself and as a representative for a naval air station, Brian is an avid supporter of veterans issues.

Brian lives in Great Mills with his wife, Annie, and their daughter, Penny, and works as a government contractor supporting the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

Recent Happenings

St. Mary's Democrats participated in the St. Mary's County Fair Parade on 9/24.

We were proud to sponsor the St. Mary's County NAACP (#7025) Freedom Fund Jazz Brunch on 10/1.

The Skipjack Circle

Early voting for the General Election starts THIS MONTH! We’re going to need all the help we can get to build a strong and successful democratic presence in St. Mary’s County. One of the easiest ways you can help is to join our recurring donor program, Skipjack Circle. 

Members have already enjoyed exclusive benefits over the past year (read more here: https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/skipjack_circle)–so don’t miss out! One of the perks for donors at the Potomac and Chesapeake Levels are tickets to the annual Skipjack Gala.

Democratic Club

October 17th (Monday) 7:00 pm -8:00 pm - The St. Mary's County Democratic Club will hold its monthly meeting via Zoom. Please email Julia Nichols for information on joining the meeting. [email protected]

Brooke Lierman who is running for Maryland Comptroller will be in attendance for this meeting, don't miss it! 

I Am St. Mary's

#IAMSTMARYS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF ST. MARY’S

SKIPJACK October 2022

Women Supporting Women Reception, 25 September—We had a really nice reception on Sunday evening showing our support toward Sheila Milburn, Natalie Weech, and Marsha Williams! They are great candidates who care about our county now and into the future. They have vision and actionable plans to help everyone. Thank you to all those who came and got fired up!

===============================

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

St. Mary’s County Domestic Violence Crisis Number

240-925-0084

===============================

ATTENTION The emails and Facebook postings from #IAMSTMARYS will be more frequent as campaign and GOTV activity increases. We’ll do our best to get the information out to you (and please forward it to your family and friends). We want you to know what’s going on and where you can lend your time, energy, and support. 

Contact us via [email protected] if you are interested in getting our emails, for more information, or interested in joining the Democratic Women of St. Mary’s.

Please be sure to have [email protected] in your contacts so you’ll see our emails. 

Candidate updates:

On the week of 10/3, we received notification from the Maryland Board of Elections that the Democratic candidate for Commissioner President, Natalie Weech, is disqualified from holding the office because she does not meet the five-year residency requirement. Natalie has lived in St. Mary’s County for three years. Unfortunately, Natalie was not aware of the residency requirement when she filed. Even though she provided residency information to the St. Mary’s County Board of Elections at the time of filing, the local board did not notify Natalie of the requirement or challenge her candidacy.

It is unfortunate that the Board of Elections did not catch this mistake sooner. If the board had, another Democratic candidate may have filed or the Democratic party may have had the opportunity to nominate another candidate. We hope this situation will lead to reform so that similar issues do not occur in the future.

For a listing of candidates who will appear on the ballot for the General Election, please visit: 

https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/candidates

Please consider joining a candidate committee to help with a particular campaign! This is your chance to make a difference, so reach out to us at [email protected] for more information!

If you'd like to deliver candidate literature to neighborhoods whenever is convenient for you, send us an email at [email protected] and we will get you set up with the materials and a list of addresses!

If you would like to help out with phone banking, several happy hours will be added to the schedule, but they can be done any afternoon on your own, as well.  Email us at [email protected] and we will set you up with the numbers and script!  The phone banking is really important as these will be our second touches for many voters.

Upcoming Events:

Please mark your calendars and join us at these events to support our candidates and the Democrats.  Any amount of time and energy you can put in is greatly appreciated.  Please consider inviting others to attend as well!

September 7 (Wednesday) 6:45pm Phone Banking Happy Hour – on zoom, link will be provided, RSVP to [email protected]

September 9 (Friday) 6 pm, Wine and Local Trivia Fundraiser for Brandon Russell at Port of Leonardtown Winery (visit https://secure.actblue.com/donate/winetrivia to purchase tickets)

September 17 (Saturday) 9:30-11am - Breakfast Fundraiser for Marsha Williams for Board of Education. Clarks Rest Clubhouse, 41310 Chestnut Hill St, Leonardtown. 

September 22-25 (Thursday through Sunday) - Mary's County Fair - please sign up to help staff the Democrats' table at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E054BAEA729A3F85-stmarys

September 25 (Sunday) 10 am - Democratic Candidate Lit Drop – meet at 40950 Merchants Ln, Leonardtown

September 25 (Sunday) 4-6:30pm - Commission Candidates Reception for Natalie Weech and Sheila Milburn. At the Inn at Leonardtown, 41655 Park Ave., Leonardtown. RSVP by September 20 to Julie Randall: text to 301-904-9426.

Candidate Spotlight

Brandon Russell - Candidate for County Commissioner, District 2 

Brandon Russell is a proud lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, MD. He graduated from the University of Maryland, University College with a Bachelor’s in English. Brandon worked full-time and paid his way through college. He has over a decade of business management experience, and is a leader who produces results. During his career, Brandon has overseen the development and promotion of numerous individuals.

Brandon has been active in the local community for years as an organizer and voice for equality. Brandon suggested a change to the by-laws of the local Human Rights Commission which resulted in legislation going to the statehouse. In 2019, he worked with other local leaders to find a practical, common sense solution to an invented controversy surrounding Drag Queen Story Hour at public libraries.

In 2020, Brandon helped organize the local March for Equality which drew over 1500 people to stand in solidarity and support equality for all. He helped create, and host, a series of panels called “Shut Up and Listen, It’s My Turn to Speak'' which focused on experiences of people of color, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities. Later that year, he assisted in coordinating a local Women’s March where several hundred people gathered in support of women’s rights.

Brandon joined the board of Pride SOMD in 2020, a group that plans a tri-county pride celebration each year. The same year, he joined hundreds of educators, police officers, and first responders to support pay parity and urge the County Commissioners to do the right thing with the county budget.

In 2021, Brandon led efforts to push for a fair and balanced local redistricting process after an all-Republican board of County Commissioners appointed an all-Republican Redistricting Board. These efforts, across several months and multiple meetings, resulted in community voices being heard. Brandon also attended the St. Mary’s County Citizens Academy to learn more about local government in 2021.

Passionate about land use and development, Brandon has organized opposition to chain retail stores invading his local area with too many locations. He has also raised community awareness about various development proposals throughout the county, enabling residents to have a greater say in what is built in their backyard.

Currently, Brandon serves as the 2nd Vice Chair of the St. Mary’s County Democratic Central Committee. He also serves on the Rural County Committee and LGBTQ+ Diversity Leadership Council for the Maryland Democratic Party.

Natalie Weech - Candidate for County Commissioner President

Natalie earned her B.S. degree in Legal Studies while juggling being a single mom of two young boys and working full time. She continued to Law School to fulfill her desire to help other survivors of domestic violence. Natalie was recognized by the Florida Bar Foundation for her pro bono work with domestic violence survivors. Upon moving to St. Mary's County, Natalie has continued to work virtually with a law firm in Orlando.

Understanding firsthand the need for affordable housing, Natalie is on the Board of Commissioners for the St. Mary's County Housing Authority. The Board is committed to expanding access to affordable housing as well as maintaining the stock of existing affordable housing.

Natalie believes her legal training has prepared her for Commissioner President. She has training in complex negotiations, collaboration, and legal writing. She understands and is trained to help depolarize competing sides and bring about collaboration.  She is looking forward to applying her expertise in negotiations and law as the Commissioner President to support St. Mary’s County. Natalie believes that the County Board of Commissioners should be as diverse as the people they represent.

Mrs. Weech comes from a military family and grew up on military bases, and in communities just like St. Mary's County. Both her Grandfathers served in the Navy, her Dad served 30 years in the Air Force, her oldest son is a West Point Graduate and a current Captain in the Army and her middle son served in the Air Force before being medically retired. She is an avid softball coach for her 9 year old daughter, who attends a local public school. Natalie is married to G.N. Ehan Weech who is a Supervisory Engineer at PAX.

Sheila Milburn - Candidate for County Commissioner, District 1

Born and raised in the Leonardtown area of St. Mary’s County, MD. Sheila is the fifth and youngest child of Joseph E. Milburn, Sr. (Dec) and Sarah A. Mason Milburn. She is a stage 1 Colon Cancer survivor. The daughter of a WWII veteran, the sister of a Vietnam Veteran and relative of servicemen/women worldwide, Sheila has a warm spot in her heart for the needs of veterans.

Sheila holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Univ. of MD University College (currently UMGC); a MS in Management and an MBA in Human Resources, both from Florida Tech. Shelia has over 35 years of Civilian Service for the DoD Navy at Patuxent River, MD. Sheila worked in acquisition related positions to include Budget Formulation & amp; Execution, Contract Administration, Management Analysis, Operations Research Analysis, Program Management and oral/written communication. She believes our citizens should not need a degree in finance to understand their county’s operations and capital projects budgets. As a Commissioner, Sheila will use her budget and finance experience to ensure St. Mary’s County has user-friendly and transparent budgets.

In addition, Shelia has over 25 years of experience as a licensed Maryland Realtor and remains active to date. Her extensive experience as a realtor in St. Mary’s County has given Sheila firsthand knowledge of our significant lack of affordable housing. She knows that this is a serious problem for businesses and NAS PAX to recruit young professionals, the school system attracting educators, service workers, and those citizens who fall into the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) category, also known as the working poor.

Sheila’s community service includes as a Certified Lay Servant of Zion UM Church and the Associate Matron of Fidelity Chapter #60 of the Order of Eastern Star. She is a Food Distribution Volunteer and an Elder Caregiver for senior family members. She serves on both the United Methodist Church, Washington East District Board of Church and Location and the Wellness and Missions Board.

Sheila is passionate about the health and well-being of the people and natural resources of St. Mary’s County, MD. She believes in pro-active leadership. She has great respect for St. Mary’s County’s first responders and wants to work collaboratively with the Sheriff’s Department to eradicate crime in our County. As a Commissioner, Sheila will give more thought to the County’s future and use that to plan the current, giving the County a better chance at excelling as a community.

Sheila is a country girl at heart with a great love for her community and its residents. A vote for Sheila is a vote for a better St. Mary’s.

Steve Tuttle -  Candidate for County Commissioner, District 4 

Steve was born in California, but was raised in Texas. Steve's father served in the United States Marine Corps while his mother was a factory worker and stay-at-home mom. He has two sisters, Jennifer and Jessica. When Steve was 16, his family moved to Crofton, MD. Steve graduated from Arundel Senior High in 1996.

Moved to action after the terror attacks on 9/11/01, Steve joined the United States Navy. While stationed at Patuxent River Naval Air Station from 2005 to 2008, Steve fell in love with St. Mary's County. After 11 years of service with the Navy, Steve accepted a job with a contractor at NAS PAX. In 2013, Steve married his husband Phillip in Leonardtown. Phillip is a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served as a member of the military police.

Steve was living in Baltimore, MD, on September 11th, 2001, when he saw the terrorist attacks. Spurred to action, the next day, he enlisted in the Navy. His first deployment was on the USS Vinson (CVN-70), patrolling the operating area of the USS Kitty Hawk while it was in the Persian Gulf. Steve earned the National Defense, Sea Service, and Global War on Terrorism ribbons during this deployment. 

In August of 2003, he was transferred to Pensacola, FL, for training to become a "PR" Aviation Life Support Technician. Upon completion, he reported to Brunswick, ME, to Patrol Squadron 26 "VP-26" and was deployed to Sigonella, Sicily. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Kosovo Campaign Medal. 

Steve reported to PAX River with VXS-1, the squadron attached to the Naval Research Laboratory. He earned his "EAWS" Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist wings and his second Navy Achievement Medal. In 2008 he transferred back to Pensacola for C School training and in 2009 he reported to FRC Norfolk as "I" Level Maintenance. After four years in Norfolk, Steve decided to return to PAX River as a civilian and currently works as an Aviation Life Support Technician. 

Steve is a moderate Democrat who believes in building community connections. He has dedicated his life to serving the country and the local community.

Steve has served on the board of various local organizations including the St. Mary's County Animal Control Advisory Board, several HOA's, PFLAG, the Democratic Central Committee, and Wrapping Arms 'Round Many (WARM). Steve's passion lies in working with the WARM program to help homeless members of the community secure emergency shelter during the winter months in St. Mary's County. His efforts have been instrumental in creating partnerships with many local churches and volunteer groups to help the community.

Bill Bates - Candidate for Delegate 29 C

Bill lives in St. Mary’s County Maryland. He resides in Medley’s Neck, Leonardtown. He values the community, the bay, and environment. Bill is a member of Brooks United Methodist Church, Calvert County. He has attended the University of Maryland, University College, Adelphi MD; the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick AFB, FL; and Prince George’s Community College, Largo, MD.

Bill currently works for the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office as a Civilian Logistics Coordinator. He served 35 years with the Maryland Natural Resources Police (DNR), working in Southern Maryland most of his career. He retired at the rank of Captain after 35 years. He retired from the MD Army National Guard as a Master Sergeant after 31 years. His last assignment was Equal Opportunity Advisor for all National Guard units in the State of MD. He was deployed to the Pentagon after 9-11 for Security Operations. During the first Gulf War he was deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm.

Bill has an extensive background and knowledge of the Legislative Process and is a very active participant in the process. He is on the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8 Legislative Committee where he serves as Committee Chair. Bill served as President of the MD State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and has served numerous terms as the President for local Natural Resources Police Lodge 8.

He is an effective leader with managerial expertise overseeing Budgets, Law Enforcement personnel and operations, Military Personnel, Emergency Operations, and Communications. Bill identifies problems and develops efficient plans to resolve them.

Bill is a member of Fraternal Order of Police, American Legion and VFW member.  He has been a member of the St. Mary’s Democratic Central Committee since 2018. In addition, Bill served on the Calvert County Democratic Central Committee as an alternate in 1996, and a candidate in 1994.  He is also a Trustee of Brooks Church. 

Bill moved to St. Leonard, Calvert County in 1985. He moved to St. Mary’s County in 1999 and became the resident of the Keepers Quarters at the Piney Point Light House. His job as a Natural Resources Police Officer involved patrolling both Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. Along with his own observations he had the opportunity to meet many residents of both counties. Through these interactions he developed a personal understanding of how the increased population and construction affected their way of life. He had the unique opportunity to see firsthand the deterioration of the Thomas Johnson Bridge, from the underside. 

The communities within District 29 C are not separated by the Patuxent River, rather they are united. The improvements to our infrastructure, such as the T.J. Bridge has the same importance to both counties. The support of our small businesses by stimulating tourism is critical to both counties. The need to have the best possible schools is shared. The desire to have safe communities with adequate law enforcement is the same. The desire to have adequate fire and emergency medical services is the same. The concern that pollution and unmanaged growth will destroy the fish, crabs, oysters, and wildlife is shared. 

Bill’s objective is to represent the residents of Maryland District 29 C as their State Delegate and bring tax dollars back to our community, for the benefit of our community. His experience with the legislative process provides him the ability to be an effective representative for District 29 C. Bill’s personal connection with the communities in both Calvert and St. Mary’s makes him the only candidate that can fairly represent the residents of District 29 C. Bill will keep the Land of Pleasant Living – PLEASANT!

The Skipjack Circle

We are two months away from the General Election on November 8th! We’re going to need all the help we can get to build a strong and successful democratic presence in St. Mary’s County. One of the easiest ways you can help is to join our recurring donor program, Skipjack Circle. 

Members have already enjoyed exclusive benefits over the past year (read more here: https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/skipjack_circle)–so don’t miss out! One of the perks for donors at the Potomac and Chesapeake Levels are tickets to the annual Skipjack Gala.

Democratic Club

September 19 (Monday) 7-8 pm - Mary's County Democratic Club monthly meeting with mock candidate forum - this meeting will take place IN PERSON at St. Inie’s Coffee (46915 S Shangri La Dr, Lexington Park); we request all in attendance wear masks; please note that the coffee shop will not be open, so you will need to bring your own beverage.

I Am St. Mary's

#IAMSTMARYS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF ST. MARY’S

SKIPJACK September 2022

ALERT: The emails and Facebook postings from #IAMSTMARYS will be more frequent as campaign and GOTV activity increases. We’ll do our best to get the information out to you (and please forward to your family and friends). We want you to know what’s going on and where you can lend your time, energy, and support. 

Contact us via [email protected] if you are interested in getting our emails, for more information, or interested in joining the Democratic Women of St. Mary’s.  

Please be sure to have [email protected] in your contacts so you’ll see our emails. 

Summer is winding down and it is hard to believe in just three months we will be back at the polling booths for the upcoming General Election on November 8th! 

A big thank you to everyone who helped to support our Democratic candidates in the Primary Election! Whether it was knocking doors, attending events, putting up signs, writing post cards to local voters, spreading the word on who were the best candidates, or making contributions to campaigns, it all mattered and made an impact!

In addition, a big thank you to all volunteers who spent their time helping out at early voting locations and on the day of the day of the Primary; persisting through the Southern Maryland summer heat and humidity (and occasional rain.) 

Congratulations to the Democratic candidates who were successful in the Primary Election.   

For a listing of candidates who will appear on the ballot for the General Election, please visit: 

https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/candidates

Please consider joining a candidate committee to help with a particular campaign! This is your chance to make a difference, so reach out to us at [email protected] for more information!

Upcoming Events:

Join Sheila Milburn, Natalie Weech, Bill Bates and Steve Tuttle for a Meet and Greet! August 19, 2022 6-8 pm, 45373 Makemie Lane, California, MD 2061. Talk about issues and meet your local candidates!

Community Cleanup - August 6th starting at 8:00 am Newtowne Neck State Park. Hosted by Brandon 4 St. Mary's and Clean it Up SOMD. 

Recent Happenings 

During Early Voting, we were visited by Democratic candidates including Doug Gansler at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department. 

National Night Out took place on 8/2. Our candidates and volunteers participated in the events and were out meeting community members at Nicolet Park.

A Block Party was held on July 20th to Celebrate our new campaign office opening in Lexington Park. Attendees enjoyed food, fun, and Kona Ice. 

Rise Against Gun Violence, an event sponsored by Basketball 4 L.Y.F.E was held on July 30th at the Willows Recreation Center.  Team Crosby sponsored several cornhole teams. In addition, members of two campaigns won the 50/50 drawing and automatically donated the money back to the organization.

The Skipjack Circle

We are three months away from the General Election on November 8th! We’re going to need all the help we can get to build a strong and successful democratic presence in St. Mary’s County. One of the easiest ways you can help is to join our recurring donor program, Skipjack Circle. 

Members have already enjoyed exclusive benefits over the past year (read more here: https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/skipjack_circle)–so don’t miss out! One of the perks for donors at the Potomac and Chesapeake Levels are tickets to the annual Skipjack Gala.

Democratic Club

The next meeting next meeting  will be held on August 15, 2022 at 7:00 pm on Zoom. Please email Julia Nichols for information on joining the meeting at [email protected]

I Am St. Mary's

#IAMSTMARYS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF ST. MARY’S

SKIPJACK August 2022

Thank you to the many members who addressed several hundred postcard invites for the SMC Democrats Block Party! Great work getting them done in days done so they could be mailed in time. 

30 August General Membership Meeting—We will meet on Tuesday, August 30–6pm Social time with light refreshments and 6:30pm Business at the Leonardtown Library Meeting Room 1. Main Topic: Local Elections. 

Contact us via [email protected] if you are interested in getting our emails, for more information, or interested in joining the Democratic Women of St. Mary’s.

Curious about which Democratic candidates are running for the General Election? Check out our website at: https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/candidates

Additionally, please visit www.Vote411.org for current candidate information. When visiting simply enter your address and political affiliation to search for candidates who are running in your area. Vote 411 is a valuable resource in comparing candidates as the candidates are asked to respond to questions in their own words. 

Upcoming Election Judge Opportunities for State Employees on Election Day - November 8

Dear Friends and Supporters, We did it! Thank you for your support in the primary election. I appreciate how hard everyone worked-- knocking doors, hosting events, contributing financially, spreading the word, and most importantly, voting!  After the votes were counted, we resoundingly won with over 80% of the vote. I am honored by your support.   Going into the general, we can't take anything for granted. We will again face former delegate, Deb Rey. The most competitive race in the state is upon us, and we want to continue the work we've started in Annapolis.  To do that, we have to work hard to win-- our opponent is a relentless campaigner. She took this seat from then Chair of Appropriations, John Bohanan, in 2014, and I will be doing everything I can not to let that happen again. However, I have no doubt that I am going to need your help and energy over the next 100 days to make sure that I can continue bringing resources to the people of St. Mary's County. Here is how you can help: CONTRIBUTE Unfortunately, this race will cost a lot of money. Asking for your contributions is my least favorite part of running for office, but it is necessary. Any help you can give means a lot. VOLUNTEER WITH US Click the button above to join Team Crosby!  After signing up, you will be on our "team" email list, which is how you will get notified of meetings, volunteer opportunities, and more. I look forward to seeing you and working with you over the next three months to ensure that 29B stays blue! Respectfully,

Brian Delegate Brian M. Crosby, 29B Vice Chair, Economic Matters Committee Subcommittees: Public Utilities; Joint Electric Universal Service Program, House Co-Chair; Rules and Executive Nominations Committee; Veterans Caucus Executive Committee

Caroline --

We hope you are having a wonderful June so far! This month is Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising that occurred in Manhattan.  In addition, we recognize Juneteenth or “Freedom Day” on June 20th, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  June is also PTSD Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about PTSD and much needed equitable treatment options. 

We are getting closer to the July Primary every day! Did you mark your calendars yet? Or in this day and age, add an event to your smart phone for July 19? 

As an additional reminder, June 28th is the last day to register to vote for the upcoming Primary Election. 

Requests for mail-in ballots for the  Primary Election must be received by July 12, 2022.  

Request a mail-in ballot, register to vote, or check your voter registration status at:  https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/index.html

Curious about what Democratic candidates are running? Check out our Candidates/Elected Officials guide: https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/candidates_elected_officials

Consider joining a candidate committee to help with a particular campaign! This is your chance to make a difference, so reach out to us at [email protected] for more information!

Democratic Central Committee

Come visit our table at Crab Fest on Saturday 6/11 at St. Mary's Fairgrounds from 11:00 am -7:00 pm and meet some of our candidates.  

We are currently looking for volunteers to help staff the table. Please email us at [email protected] if interested.

More opportunities are on their way to meet our local Democratic Candidates!  Join us on June 20th from 5-7 pm at Wildewood Lodge for a meet and greet. 

Recent Happenings 

The Dem Club tabled at the Overflow Festival at Historic St. Mary's City on May 21rst, getting the word out about candidates and upcoming elections. 

The Skipjack Circle

The Primary Election is just a MONTH away on July 19th, with the General Election on November 8th! We’re going to need all the help we can get to build a strong and successful democratic presence in St. Mary’s County. One of the easiest ways you can help is to join our recurring donor program, Skipjack Circle. 

Members have already enjoyed exclusive benefits (read more here: https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/skipjack_circle) over the past year–so don’t miss out! One of the perks for donors at the Potomac and Chesapeake Levels are tickets to the Skipjack Gala–so join now ahead of the Gala this April! Visit our donation page to join, and don’t forget to make your donation recur monthly!

Democratic Club

Upcoming Club Meeting

The next Democratic Club meeting is scheduled for June 20th 7pm on zoom. Guest Speaker Jon Baron, gubernatorial candidate will be joining us. 

 The meeting will be held virtually. Please email Julia Nichols for information on joining the meeting. [email protected]

Upcoming Democratic Club Events

June 18 we are tabling with DCC and I Am St. Mary’s at the Juneteenth celebration at the Lexington Manor Passive Park.  Sign up information will be posted to the St. Mary's County Democrats Facebook Page when available.

Thank you for your support!

You may now pay your dues online. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $35 for a family. To join, renew, or make a donation to the club online please visit St. Mary’s Democratic Club Paypal [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stmarysdemclub] .

When paying, please include your email address and indicate whether you are a new or renewing member.

You can also mail a check to:

St. Mary’s County Democratic Club

PO BOX 631

Leonardtown, MD 20650

I Am St. Mary's

#IAMSTMARYS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF ST. MARY’S

SKIPJACK JUNE 2022

June General Membership Meeting—Via Zoom. Tuesday, 28 June 6pm Social | 6:30pm Business. This is an opportunity to catch up on the plans and activities of our organization during this election season. There are various ways to participate, get involved, and contribute in supporting our local democratic candidates. 

The Zoom link will be emailed and posted on Facebook. Please check your spam/junk folder for [email protected].

June Newsletter in your email Inbox—This week, Look for an email from [email protected] in your Inbox. We’ll have a list of June community and campaign events that our candidates will be attending. Come on out to support our local community and Democratic candidates; and remember to wear your t-shirts, buttons, and bling. 

Contact us via [email protected] if you are interested in getting our emails, for more information, or interested in joining the Democratic Women of St. Mary’s.

Delegate Brian Crosby

Do you have an event or announcement you’d like to include in our newsletter? Please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/1ksXZRuP2XNYWveLA

Caroline --

The weather continues to feel more like spring, and things are heating up as we move closer to the the primaries! Thank you to everyone who has come out to our local events and supported our local candidates, we really appreciate it!  

As we sail into summer, we have more great events coming up. Whether you like to gather and connect with fellow Democrats or are passionate about volunteering to help support a candidate to office, we have it all here for you! 

The 2022 elections will be here before we know it! Here are a few suggestions to prepare:

Request a mail-in ballot, register to vote, or check your voter registration status at

https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration/InstructionsStep1?fbclid=IwAR23EIWIMvfJO5X3R_B8Kth7dJInPnfIJQUVvSHUnNtmY0RCpatSACDTxtk

Curious about what Democratic candidates are running? Check out our Candidates/Elected Officials guide: https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/candidates_elected_officials

Consider joining a candidate committee to help with a particular campaign! This is your chance to make a difference, so reach out to us at [email protected] for more information!

Democratic Central Committee

Thank you to everyone who attended the annual Skipjack Gala on April 8th! Congratulations to all awardees on your hard work and dedication. See you at the next Skipjack Gala in 2023!

Recent Happenings 

Thank you Ceandra B. Scott of Sole Scott Photography, Inc, Terran Berry of BUCKent, Kimberly Bannister of Ebon Aries Group for hosting the candidate Meet & Greet at Antoinette's Garden on May 5th. It was a great opportunity to meet the St. Mary's County Democratic Candidates!

On May first,  local candidates were represented in the Southern Maryland Firefighters Association Parade. The parade route went through Lexington Park on Great Mills Road. It could not have been a more beautiful day for a parade.

The Skipjack Circle

The Primary Election is just a few months away on July 19th, with the General Election on November 8th! We’re going to need all the help we can get to build a strong and successful democratic presence in St. Mary’s County. One of the easiest ways you can help is to join our recurring donor program, Skipjack Circle. 

Members have already enjoyed exclusive benefits (read more here: https://www.stmarysdemocrats.org/skipjack_circle) over the past year–so don’t miss out! One of the perks for donors at the Potomac and Chesapeake Levels are tickets to the Skipjack Gala–so join now ahead of the Gala this April! Visit our donation page to join, and don’t forget to make your donation recur monthly!

Democratic Club

On May 20th, The Democratic Club is hosting a social hour / meet the candidates event!  The event will take place at the Olde Town Pub in Leonardtown and will be from 5-7 pm in the outdoor covered area.

Upcoming Club Meeting

The next Democratic Club meeting is scheduled for May 16th on zoom.  The meeting will be held virtually. Please email Julia Nichols for information on joining the meeting. [email protected]

Upcoming Democratic Club Events

May 20th, we are hosting a social hour / meet the candidates event at the Olde Town Pub in Leonardtown 5-7 pm in the outdoor covered area. At least one gubernatorial candidate has responded yes, and we expect several local candidates to be in attendance as well.

May 21 is the Overflow Festival at Historic St. Mary’s City, where we are tabling. Sign up information will be posted to the St. Mary's County Democrats Facebook Page when available.

June 18 we are tabling with DCC and I Am St. Mary’s at the Juneteenth celebration at the Lexington Manor Passive Park.  Sign up information will be posted to the St. Mary's County Democrats Facebook Page when available.

Thank you for your support!

You may now pay your dues online. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $35 for a family. To join, renew, or make a donation to the club online please visit St. Mary’s Democratic Club Paypal [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stmarysdemclub] .

When paying, please include your email address and indicate whether you are a new or renewing member.

You can also mail a check to:

St. Mary’s County Democratic Club

PO BOX 631

Leonardtown, MD 20650

I Am St. Mary's

#IAMSTMARYS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF ST. MARY’S

SKIPJACK MAY 2022

Voter Registration Volunteers have set up to register voters at the Lexington Park Library and shopping centers. We appreciate their dedication and commitment. 

Proven fact: Direct voter contact is key to increasing voter turnout. We have volunteers writing post cards to 700 newly registered Democrats in St. Mary’s County in 2021. Next, we’ll be sending post cards to the 2022 newly registered Democrats to encourage them to vote.

Monthly General Meetings—We are skipping May because of campaign & candidate activities scheduled, community events, as well as the Memorial Day holiday. We’ll meet again in June on a date to be determined. Meeting date and location information will be emailed and posted on Facebook. Please check your spam/junk folder for [email protected].

Contact us via [email protected] if you are interested in more information or interested in joining the Democratic Women of St. Mary’s.

Delegate Brian Crosby

Dear friends and supporters, Promises made, promises kept. Four years ago, I promised to deliver three important things to St. Mary’s County: funding for education, greater economic diversity, and a new intersection at MD-5 and Great Mills Road.   WHERE WE STARTED: When I think about how far this movement has come in the last five years, it is mind blowing. We went from a campaign team of two volunteers to a team of over 100, from being a brand new freshman delegate to being the Vice Chair of one of the most important committees in Annapolis. We went from not having a voice in Annapolis at all to allowing me to be your voice. I have worked with constituents to identify needs in the community and bring tangible resources back to the district.   HOW TO MOVE FORWARD: I love serving our community, and hope to continue doing so. We have a primary this year, and then a tough general election ahead. Please contribute by clicking below. Help us keep this movement going. CONTRIBUTE TO KEEP THIS PROGRESS GOING! A LOOK BACK-- FIRST TERM ACCOMPLISMENTS: We are now at the end of my first term in office, and I am proud to say that, with your help, I have delivered on the promises I made when I campaigned in 2018. I supported and passed the Blueprint for Maryland’s future, which has brought over $15 million back to St. Mary’s County Public Schools since it passed. I secured over $90 million in funding for the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center that has opened doors for St. Mary’s residents and allowed our economy to flourish. This session, I secured funding in the capital budget for the MD-5 and Great Mills Road intersection reconstruction project.  The 2022 session saw record tax relief for Maryland families, with over $2 billion staying in the pockets of Marylanders who need it most. I sponsored and supported the Family Budget Boosters Package, which will save Marylanders over $350 million by exempting essential needs from the Maryland sales and use tax. I supported an expanded retirement income tax credit that will save our seniors $1.55 billion over the next five years. I also supported the Hometown Hero retirement tax credit that expands the tax credit given to our public safety retirees.    This year, I sponsored five bond initiatives, totaling $750,000, that will fund infrastructure improvements and essential services for our community: $250,000 for Farming 4 Hunger’s expansion into St. Mary’s County $250,000 for renovation and expansion of the St. Mary’s Caring Soup Kitchen $100,000 for the St. James Public Comfort Station $100,000 for the St. Mary’s County Health Department’s Lexington Park Hub $50,000 for the St. Mary’s County Mobile Library   Over the last four years, I have been brought back over $246 million to St. Mary’s County, including: $91,000,000 in funding for the third building of the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center $80,581,000 for St. Mary’s College of Maryland $24,000,000 for Historic St. Mary’s City $1,250,000 for St. Mary’s Regional Airport's Autonomous Systems Center   Promises made, promises kept. I am proud of our collective work over the last four years, and proud to be the only first-term delegate in House leadership in the history of Maryland. Thank you all so much for your support over the last four years. Now, it's time to work hard so that we can have another four years with these kinds of results! Have a great weekend, everyone-- enjoy the spring weather! Brian Delegate Brian M. Crosby, 29B Vice Chair, Economic Matters Committee Subcommittees: Public Utilities; Joint Electric Universal Service Program, House Co-Chair; Rules and Executive Nominations Committee; Veterans Caucus Executive Committee

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Do you have an event or announcement you’d like to include in our newsletter? Please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/1ksXZRuP2XNYWveLA