Local and State Ballot Questions
While the U.S. Senate race between Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) and former Gov. Larry Hogan ( R) has been the prime focus of this election cycle, several state and local ballot questions are also up for public approval this year.
Question 1 would enshrine reproductive rights in the Maryland Constitution, adding an additional layer of legal protection as conservatives outlaw abortion in several states. Polls show this question passing with roughly 70% support. In 1992, Maryland voters approved a ballot measure overwhelmingly to codify Roe v. Wade.
Prince George’s County
Prince George’s, one of three counties in Maryland that requires voter approval for issuing public bonds, will present voters with several local ballot questions to decide. Questions A through E would approve borrowing for facilities including homeless shelters, libraries, police stations and Prince George’s Community College.
In addition, Question F would allow county agencies to maintain the overall staffing levels set in the operating budget, without regard to pay grade. Council President Jolene Ivey (D- District 5), who sponsored the bill for the ballot question, said the amendment was drafted to give more flexibility to the executive branch.
Charles County
Charles County voters have the opportunity to accept or reject a charter form of government that would create a County Executive and a five-member Council.
This proposal was shot down in 2014, and has been rather divisive, with the NAACP and Democratic groups supporting the ballot measure and Commissioner Gilbert Bowling, the Education Association of Charles County, and the Fraternal Order of the Police opposing.
Bowling cautioned abouts the costs of the transition, which would be over $1.5 million and he estimates at nearly $6 million.
“This county has grown faster than anyone expected,” said Dyotha R. Sweat, president of the Charles County NAACP. “As the most affluent jurisdiction with an African-American majority in the country, we need a strong executive advocating for us. Our form of government is not here managing the people well. We are not getting resources to the places that need it the most.”
The measure is expected to pass, according to Charles County Commissioner Reuben Collins III. Both Collins, who is elected countywide, and Senator Arthur Ellis (D- District 28) would be serious contenders for the county executive role if interested.
Baltimore City
Baltimore voters can also decide several ballot questions that could have serious impacts on the City.
Question E would return control of the Baltimore City Police Department to the Mayor and City Council. Question F would allow private development at the Inner Harbor and question G would establish a long-term cannabis reparations fund.
Question H, supported by similar interests that successfully implemented municipal term limits via a 2022 ballot question, would significantly reduce the size of the City Council.
State Board of Education Approves Retention Plan, School Notifications Regarding Crime
In an attempt to raise Maryland’s student achievement on fourth grade reading scores, the State Board of Education gave approval on Oct. 22 with 11 votes in favor and one vote against a retention plan for students not meeting standards.
The plan retains third graders who do not meet reading standards, if their parents agree and following multiple means of communication. Based on an initiative Superintendent Carey Wright previously employed to improve reading scores in Mississippi, the new Maryland plan would not be implemented until the 2027-2028 school year.
“I think what’s needed is a clearly defined kind of plan with strategies that local education agencies (LEAs) can follow to increase that engagement in order for this parent choice piece to be implemented with fidelity,” said Board of Education member Xiomara V. Medina before her dissenting vote. “Otherwise, I fear that this default option will negatively impact our neediest students.”
The Board also unanimously voted on Oct. 22 to require school leadership to be notified if a student charged with serious criminal offenses plans to enroll in their school. While the previous policy said that officials should inform school leadership, it did not fully require disclosure.
This comes shortly after a Howard County high school student was arrested for alleged involvement in a fatal shooting on Oct. 9. Some residents are concerned that Howard County Superintendent William Barnes and officials in Howard High School were not alerted to his pending criminal charges or his supervisory status under the Department of Juvenile Services.
Three state senators representing Howard County asked for immediate procedural changes.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he would follow up on “whatever action needs to be taken to be able to address that, be it legislative or executive action.” On Oct. 25, he ordered interagency review of information sharing procedures to prevent future miscommunications.
The shooting and lack of transparency behind the student who was allegedly involved in the fatal incident, has led to criticisms of Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiaraldi, including calls for his resignation by the Maryland Senate Republican Caucus, the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association, and several Baltimorean community leaders. Notably, the Sheriffs from Prince George’s, Montgomery, Howard, Charles, and Anne Arundel County abstained from calling for his resignation.
However, Moore said that Schiraldi was here to stay.
The secretary weighed in on some of the heightened safety concerns.
“I think that (concern) often gets worse during presidential election years because there’s a lot of talk about crime going up and how our cities are all dystopias, when in fact crime is going down,” said Schiraldi.
Schiraldi emphasized that the Department of Juvenile Services has made achievements along the way that should be acknowledged.
“Ninety-four-point-six percent of youth on electronic monitoring don’t get arrested: that’s a successful program. That’s not a failure, but I don’t think most people know that,” Schiraldi explained. “We need to work harder explaining that to elected officials, prosecutors, to law enforcement and folks in the media. Do better and communicate better.”
