By Adam Pagnucco.
With the departure of Delegate Eric Luedtke to the Moore administration, a vacancy has opened up for his house seat in District 14. Under the state’s constitution, the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) is empowered to fill the vacancy, and if it behaves in accordance with its past practice, it may appoint one of its own members to go to Annapolis. Special elections for state legislative vacancies are prohibited.
One central committee member who will not be seeking appointment is District 14 resident Liza Smith, the Rebel of MCDCC who is instead seeking a bylaws change to ban self-appointments. But she is not the only District 14 resident on the central committee. Rumors lurk in the shadows of what is going to happen.
MCDCC’s vacancy announcement appears below. We shall be watching this process closely. If you dislike self-appointments, you can sign Smith’s petition to outlaw them.
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For Immediate Release
November 30, 2022
NOTICE OF PENDING VACANCY FOR DISTRICT 14 STATE DELEGATE
House Majority Leader and District 14 Delegate Eric Luedtke has notified the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) that he is resigning as Delegate effective January 2, 2023. Delegate Luedtke has been named by Governor-elect Wes Moore as Chief Legislative Officer in the Moore-Miller administration.
In light of this pending vacancy, the MCDCC has the authority to recommend to the Governor one or more individuals to fill this vacancy. The MCDCC will be accepting applications from individuals who meet the eligibility requirements stipulated below.
The individual appointed by the Governor will serve a full four-year term.
All interested applicants must submit their application no later than 5 pm, Friday, December 16, 2022.
The Jerry Samet District 14 Democratic Brunch Club (the District 14 Club) will host a public forum for residents of District 14 to meet the applicants at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, December 21, 2022, via Zoom Meeting.
Registered District 14 Democratic voters interested in submitting letters of support for their preferred applicant must do so no later than 5 pm, Thursday, December 29, 2022. (Details below.)
The MCDCC will hold a Special Meeting at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, January 3, 2023, to interview the applicants and vote to recommend one or more candidates to the Governor to fill the vacancy. The meeting, which will be open to the public, will be held in-person at MCDCC Headquarters, 12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852, and will be livestreamed via Zoom Meeting and Facebook Live. All attendees and applicants, whether they wish to attend in-person or via Zoom Meeting, must register in advance at bit.ly/mcdcc-01-03.
HOW TO APPLY
Individuals interested in applying for the appointment should submit a cover letter, a resume, and any other supporting materials that they would like the MCDCC to consider by email to office@mcdcc.org with the subject line D14 Delegate Vacancy no later than 5 pm, Friday, December 16, 2022.
Applicants also must provide the full address of their current domicile.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must be a registered Democratic voter in the State of Maryland, a resident of Legislative District 14, and have attained the age of 21 years.
Determination of eligibility for the appointment by the MCDCC shall be final and not subject to appeal.
Candidates who meet the above qualifications will be invited to make a brief oral statement at the January 3, 2023, MCDCC meeting and answer questions of MCDCC members. The MCDCC will vote to recommend one or more applicants to the Governor immediately upon concluding the interviews.
PUBLIC FORUM
The District 14 Club will host a public forum for residents of District 14 to meet the applicants. The public forum will be held at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, December 21, 2022, via Zoom Meeting. Attendees and applicants must register in advance at bit.ly/d14-12-21.
PUBLIC INPUT: DISTRICT 14 DEMOCRATIC VOTERS
Registered District 14 Democratic voters are strongly encouraged to submit letters of support for the applicant of their choice to d14vacancy@mcdcc.org no later than 5 pm, Thursday, December 29, 2022.
Please put the name of your preferred candidate in the subject line.
Your letter must also include your full name and address.
Letters may also be submitted by mail or other carrier or delivered in person and received no later than 5 pm, Thursday, December 29, 2022, addressed to:
Secretary
Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee
12320 Parklawn Drive
Rockville, MD 20852
DEMOCRATIC CLUBS, CAUCUSES, AND ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS
The District 14 Democratic Club and the District 14 Democratic Caucus, as well as Democratic clubs, caucuses, and allied organizations and elected officials throughout the County, are strongly encouraged to publicize this notice widely throughout Montgomery County.
SUMMARY TIMELINE
5 pm, Friday, December 16, 2022
Deadline to Receive Applications
via email to office@mcdcc.org
7:30 pm, Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Public Forum for Applicants and District 14 Democratic Voters
via Zoom Meeting
Register at bit.ly/d14-12-21
5 pm, Thursday, December 29, 2022
Deadline to Receive Letters of Support from D14 Democratic Voters
via email to d14vacancy@mcdcc.org
7:30 pm, Tuesday, January 3, 2023
MCDCC Special Meeting to interview applicants and vote on recommendation to the Governor.
In-person and via Zoom Meeting
Register to attend in person or via Zoom Meeting at bit.ly/mcdcc-01-03
QUESTIONS
Please email any questions addressed to Secretary, Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, to office@mcdcc.org or call (301) 946-1000.
By Authority: Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee; Andrew Saundry, Treasurer.