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Good or Bad for Howard County? A Glimpse at How Non-Residents and Partisan Political Entities are Dominating the Election Campaign Contributions for HCPSS Board of Education Candidates Chamblee and Mallo

Board of Education, County Government, Elections, HCPSS, Howard County, Must-Reads, Special Interest GroupsBy Steven Keller October 31, 2024

A summary of 2024 election campaign contributions for Districts 4 and 5 HCPSS Board of Education candidates and concerning details of how almost 80% of over $120,000 in contributions to two candidates has come from individuals and businesses residing outside Howard County, partisan elected official and political party/club transfers and self-funding instead of from the residents of the Howard County District that the candidates are running to represent.

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Hot Mess, Zūm Express: A Retrospective Look at Some Root Causes of an Avoidable Howard County School System Calamity

Board of Education, Budget, County Government, Developers, Elections, HCPSS, Housing, Howard County, MPIA, Must-Reads, Redistricting, Special Interest Groups, SuperintendentBy Steven Keller September 14, 2023

A retrospective look at how years of poor school transportation planning and decades of shortsighted, unsustainable residential overdevelopment policies by the Howard County government have led to and exacerbated the current HCPSS school bus transportation crisis.

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Guest Post: The Rouse Project 2.0: The Truth about the Tenure of Former Columbia Association President Lakey Boyd and the Wrongful Smear Campaign Against the CA Board

Columbia Association, County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, Guest Posts, Housing, Howard County, Legal Issues, MPIA, Must-Reads, Special Interest GroupsBy Guest Watchdog March 28, 2023

Part One of a series of posts that critically analyzes actions taken by former Columbia Association (CA) President Lakey Boyd and the false narrative-laden smear campaign against the CA Board of Directors that occurred in the months prior to Boyd’s abrupt resignation. Part One focuses on a very concerning contract signed by former President Boyd that significantly lowered the monthly rent due by a Howard Hughes Corporation commercial tenant at one of the most desirable outdoor dining locations in the County, potentially costing CA residents over $1 million in uncollected rent payments in the long run.

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State Bill 10-23 is a Political “Door-in-the-Face” Compliance Method. Don’t Fall For It.

Board of Education, County Government, Elections, HCPSS, Howard County, Must-Reads, RedistrictingBy Steven Keller December 7, 2022

A brief discussion about how State Bill 10-23, a bill that proposes to have two members of the HCPSS Board of Education be appointed by the Howard County Executive from a candidate list provided by the State Delegation, is an example of the “Door in the Face” compliance technique that certain HCPSS Board of Education members are facilitating.

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Guest Post: Effort to Roll Back Recent Howard County Board of Education Election is Undemocratic

Board of Education, Elections, Guest Posts, HCPSS, Howard County, Must-ReadsBy Steven Keller December 2, 2022

A critical opinion and historical perspective of a proposed State bill that will reduce the term of the newly-elected 2022 HCPSS Board of Education members, Dr. Linfeng Chen and Jacky McCoy, from four years (2022-2026) to just two years (2022-2024) and will also give the Howard County Executive the right to directly appoint two HCPSS Board of Education members every four years from a candidate list provided by the State Delegation.

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Red Alert: State Senator Clarence Lam and Delegate Courtney Watson are Attempting a Partial Takeover of the HCPSS Board of Education

Board of Education, County Government, Elections, HCPSS, Howard County, Must-Reads, RedistrictingBy Steven Keller November 14, 2022

Details, concerns and a call to action about a proposed State bill that will give the Howard County Executive the right to directly appoint two HCPSS Board of Education members every four years and will also replace the five elected Councilmanic District members with three elected State Legislative District members.

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“Ethics, Shmethics!” – The Concerning Disregard of the HCPSS Ethics Policy by a Political Action Committee Co-Founded by Board of Education Candidate Dan Newberger

County Government, Elections, Ethics, HCPSS, Howard County, Legal Issues, Must-Reads, Special Interest Groups, ViolationsBy Steven Keller October 31, 2022

Details on how three recent “ends-justify-the-means” election ads published by the Howard Progressive Project, a PAC co-founded by Board of Education candidate Dan Newberger, has led HCPSS employees to disregard rules in Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Ethics Policy pertaining to political campaigning.

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From HoCo Common Sense Blog: Councilmember David Yungmann’s Letter to Newly Redistricted Voters of District 5 Was Campaign Material on the Taxpayers’ Dime and was Unethical, Unlawful, and Unconstitutional

County Government, Elections, Guest Posts, Howard County, Legal IssuesBy Guest Watchdog October 28, 2022

A detailed discussion and legal analysis of a concerning welcome letter sent from Howard County Councilman for District 5, David Yungmann, to District 1 residents who are slated to be redistricted to District 5 after the 2022 election.

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HoCo Watchdogs Newsletter – Issue #8

Board of Education, County Government, Developers, Elections, Ethics, HCPSS, Housing, Howard County, Legal Issues, Must-Reads, Newsletter, Redistricting, Special Education, Special Interest Groups, ViolationsBy Steven Keller October 27, 2022

Issue #8 and 2022 Election Special Edition of the HoCo Watchdogs newsletter. This newsletter provides a concise list of articles, videos & social media posts for readers to stay well informed about important Howard County, Maryland issues such as public school policies, land use & development, and county governance.

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Guest Post: Maryland’s High Court Misses Badly on HCPSS Student Member of the Board Case

Board of Education, Elections, Guest Posts, HCPSS, Howard County, Must-ReadsBy Guest Watchdog October 17, 2022

A critical analysis of the recent decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals to uphold the constitutionality of a state law that authorizes a 16-17 year old student, elected strictly by 11-17 year olds, to serve on the Howard County Board of Education and cast binding votes on decisions that impact public school policies.

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