we must fix our broken STATE GOVERNMENT

In some of the counties in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore, Republicans have a stronghold on local governments.   There is little, if any Democratic representation, even though individual councilmanic/commissioner districts may lean Democratic.  This is due in part to at-large voting.  

This is demonstrated by an analysis completed for Cecil County (at left).  Even though only 45.4% of Cecil County voters are Republican, 100% of Cecil County Council is Republican.  

At-large voting dilutes the vote of minority parties, ensuring Republicans attain a plurality of votes to retain all the local political power in some Western and Eastern Shore counties.  At-large voting prevents the voters in each local district to elect their own representative who understands the challenges within that district.   The State of Maryland attempted unsuccessfully to abolish at-large voting several years ago.  It is my intent to sponsor a bill to abolish at-large voting and see it through to passage.

In observing the work in the Maryland House of Delegates, it appears that 

• The Legislative Branch does the work of the Executive branch 
• The Judicial Branch allows the the legislative branch to usurp power 
• The Executive Branch enforces regulations passed as statutes by the Legislature 

The Legislative Branch should write the law (State Statutes).  

The Executive Branch should (write regulations to) enforce the law. 

The Judicial Branch should interpret the law (AKA Judicial Review).  

Since the Legislative branch usurped the power of the executive branch, there are over 1,500 pieces of legislation working its way through the process in the House of Delegates and Senate.  Three months into the session, there has been only one piece of legislation passed by both the House and the Senate.  Since the Legislative branch essentially does the work on the executive branch, there are no checks and balances on the legislature.  This is the exact opposite of what's happening at the Federal Level.  There, the Executive Branch usurped the power of the Legislative Branch, removing checks and balances between them.  Even the Supreme Court is weighing in on cases that it shouldn't.