DELANEY, ELFRETH, LAM TOP FUNDRAISERS IN HOUSE RACES: Democratic candidate April McClain Delaney has fundraised $536,557 and is leading all candidates for Maryland’s Sixth District Congressional race after just one quarter of campaigning, according to the latest campaign finance reports from the Federal Election Commission. The attorney didn’t declare her candidacy until Oct. 25 but still outraised all other candidates both this quarter and overall – including some who have been in the race since May. Ginny Bixby/MoCo 360
- In the 3rd Congressional District Democratic race, state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth, Anne Arundel, raised the greatest amount of money of all the candidates in the weeks since Rep. John Sarbanes announced his retirement plans in late October and had the most money in the bank at the close of the year. But state Sen. Clarence K. Lam, Howard and Anne Arundel, was very close in both fundraising and the size of his campaign treasury, especially when considering how much each candidate has available to spend on the primary. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters
BMORE CITY STATE’S ATTORNEY PRAISES PROPOSED JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORMS: The extensive juvenile crime plan Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates has been pushing for months now is seemingly serving as the outline for a new juvenile justice reform bill. If passed, the bill would restructure many of the controversial reform laws spearheaded by state Sen. Jill Carter that took effect just a year and a half ago. In that short amount of time, Bates claims his office alone has seen a 99% increase in juvenile charges. Rebecca Pryor/WBFF Fox 45
- Juvenile justice reforms proposed in Annapolis this week are drawing praise from both Democrats and Republicans; however, one voice has yet to be heard. Vincent Schiraldi, Maryland’s secretary of Juvenile Services, has not publicly commented on the reform measures, which include expanding the probation limits juvenile offenders can receive. In his book released in September, Schiraldi makes his case for abolishing probation and parole, calling it the “illusion of safety and freedom.” Jeff Abell/WBFF Fox 45
MARILYN MOSBY BLAMES HER MORTGAGE BROKER AS DEFENSE RESTS IN TRIAL: Testimony in Marilyn Mosby’s mortgage fraud case wrapped up today as prosecutors took their last opportunity to challenge the defendant on her central narrative: That she relied on others when she failed to disclose on mortgage application forms, under penalty of perjury, the $69,000 federal tax debt that she and her then-husband – Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby –shared. Fern Shen/Baltimore Brew
- Marilyn Mosby, facing pointed questions from prosecutors, said she read the mortgage applications she submitted for two homes in Florida, but didn’t actually fill them out herself. Going document by document, Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky pressed Mosby about why the applications did not disclose a $69,000 federal tax debt she shared with Nick Mosby. Alex Mann & Jean Marbella/The Baltimore Sun
- The government asserts that Marilyn Mosby sent a letter to the mortgage company that falsely claimed that her then-husband had agreed to gift her $5,000 so she could close on a Florida condo and lock in an interest rate. Bank records, though, reveal that she provided him with the money. Mosby reiterated that he had agreed to gift her $5,000, but that she wired him money just in case he did not have enough at closing. Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner
UNION LEADERS, LAWMAKERS RALLY TO GIVE MORE RIGHTS TO STATE WORKERS, LIBRARIANS: Over 20 pro-labor legislators gathered with members of six different unions on Thursday in Annapolis to show support for three bills that would, if passed, extend the right to unionize and collectively bargain to Maryland workers who are currently ineligible. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun
PERRYMAN COALITION RELEASE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE REPORT: The citizen-led 3P Protect Perryman Peninsula coalition held a news conference Thursday in Annapolis where they released an environmental justice report focusing on the decades of environmental, social challenges and neglect in Perryman. The coalition plans to give the report to Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown in hopes he’ll investigate the continued development to potentially halt it. Tony Roberts/The Baltimore Sun
ACCUSATION OF INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING COULD JEOPARDIZE JUDGE’S JOB: A judge facing possible professional sanctions could also lose his opportunity to be reappointed to the Baltimore City District Court. Judge Kevin Wilson was one of four judges scheduled to appear Monday before the Senate Executive Nominations Committee for hearings on their renominations. But Wilson’s name was quietly stricken from the list prior to the hearing. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters
TEN CANDIDATES SO FAR FILE TO RUN FOR ARUNDEL SCHOOL BOARD: As the filing deadline approaches for Anne Arundel County school board races, four incumbents are seeking reelection while three others haven’t filed to run – meaning there might be a few new faces on the board after the November election. As of Wednesday, 10 candidates had filed or announced their intention to run for seven seats in the purple county, where Democrats control the top offices. Royale Bonds/The Baltimore Banner
CECIL CO. BOARD OF ELECTIONS GEARS UP IN WAKE OF STAFF LOSSES: Despite changes in leadership heading into the 2024 elections, the Cecil County Board of Elections says it remains focused on ensuring all residents can exercise their right to vote – reporting minimal changes in operations. Last year, the board of elections lost its director, deputy director, supervisor and other staff. Both election and county officials say the alarming turnover is related to the election cycle and Cecil County’s proximity to larger jurisdictions that offer other job opportunities. Matt Hubbard/The Cecil Whig
