Political notes: Jawando transition, Black Caucus’ new director, Blueprint rallying

Montgomery County Executive-elect Will Jawando (D) announced a transition steering committee Wednesday, about 17 hours after the polls closed, that will draw on former White House talent and current state and local officials.

“Our Moment Montgomery” calls on every resident to be involved in making the county better. Among those on the steering committee are Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary for President Joe Biden (D), and Shalanda Young, who was the first Black woman to lead a Cabinet agency as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Others on the eight-member committee include County Councilmember Kristin Mink (D), former County Councilmember and school board member Nancy Navarro, and former Executive Vice President of Marriott International Kathleen Matthews.

Jawando, who spoke for about 40 minutes Wednesday before taking questions from reporters, also named chairs and co-chairs of a dozen policy committees.

They include Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery), who will help lead “A Government that Works for All” committee, charged with exploring “stronger independent oversight, transparent budgeting, and ways to reduce the influence of private money.” One thing Jawando would like to see the General Assembly change is the ability for local jurisdictions to charge different tax rates.

“A data center should [not] pay the same tax rate as a single-family home, or that a mansion should pay the same rate as a condo,” he said. “We need that flexibility, especially if they’re going to pass on cost to us.”

Another committee will focus on protecting immigrants’ rights and exploring ways to expand language access and improve trust with county government. One of the co-chairs will be Alex Vazquez, the Maryland organizing director at We Are CASA.

Jawando said the committees will start next week, with community workshops throughout the county starting the week of Nov. 30. He will sworn in as executive exactly one week later, on Dec. 7.

Jawando, who got 78% of the vote over Republican challenger Esther Wells in unofficial results, said he plans to be “your county executive, too,” for the 20% that didn’t vote for him, and for those who didn’t vote.

“This transition is open to each and every resident of Montgomery County,” he said. “Bring your ideas and your concerns. Our doors are open, and we’re going to work every day to earn your trust.”

Black Caucus weekend

Fresh off the election, the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising arm of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, is rolling into its 31st legislative weekend.

Caucus members will moderate virtual panels Friday on topics such as environmental injustice, health disparities and civil rights in the world of artificial intelligence. One topic that could be a hot-button issue in the 2027 legislative session is education: The state faces a projected $3 billion budget gap next year, according to the Maryland Associations of Counties (MACo), and about $1.8 billion of that is tied to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan. Fiscal 2028 is the first year in which Blueprint costs will exceed dedicated revenues.

Other speakers Friday include Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks; Nicole Earle, who became the first Black woman in June to chair the Maryland Racing Commission; and Robin Williams, international vice president with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).

A “business over breakfast” event will be held Saturday at Maryland Live! featuring Del. N. Scott Phillips (D-Baltimore County), the caucus chair, Sen. Shaneka Henson (D-Anne Arundel), first vice chair, and Del. Karen Toles (D-Prince George’s), second vice chair.

Henson, who became the first Black official elected to the Senate from Anne Arundel County, will be one of three Black women in the Senate in January, with Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City and Baltimore County) and Sen.-elect Tiffany Alston (D-Prince George’s). When Sen.-elect Malcolm Ruff (D-Baltimore City) is sworn in, Black senators will account for half of the 34 Democratic members in the Senate.

A Saturday night gala at Maryland Live!, “Standing Strong for Injustice, Equity and Democracy,” is scheduled to feature Gov. Wes Moore (D), who easily won reelection for a second term Tuesday.

Change in leadership

The foundation event comes the same week that MJ Browning started as executive director of the Legislative Black Caucus. Browning takes over for Ufuoma Agarin, who became director of external affairs with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender last month, after working as the caucus’ executive director since the 2023 legislative session.

“For much of my tenure, I was a staff of one, and I worked fiercely because I genuinely cared about getting the work done and supporting each of you well,” Agarin wrote in a letter to the caucus. “Whether it was preparing for a meeting, responding to a last-minute request during session, organizing an event, advancing our legislative priorities, working with our community partners, or simply making sure a member had what they needed, I always wanted you to know that you had someone in your corner.”

Bring your voice

The Blueprint Coalition, a group of nonprofit organizations, community leaders and education advocates who support the Blueprint plan, will continue its statewide community sessions with a virtual one at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16.

The coalition has held community sessions in Montgomery, Prince George’s and Howard counties. The discussion not only focus on the Blueprint, but also ways to improve overall public education.

Strong Schools Maryland, the grassroots organization that advocates education equity in the state and a member of the coalition, will also hold a virtual session at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9. That particular discussion will help parents, students and community leaders advocate before lawmakers when the 2027 session convenes in Annapolis.