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| Montgomery County Executive candidate Robin Ficker is mobbed by supporters after speaking at County Council building earlier this year |
Republican Montgomery County Executive candidate Robin Ficker strongly criticized news that he has been excluded from a November 15 debate hosted by the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce and Bethesda Magazine. Only the three Democrats who have filed for the office so far - Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich and George Leventhal - are invited to participate. Ficker said that, in contrast, the Montgomery County Muslim Council has asked him to be part of their September 23 County Executive candidate forum at the Potomac Community Center on Falls Road at 10:30 AM.
Ficker and County Republican Party Chairman Dick Jurgena questioned the non-partisan status of the hosts in a statement released this morning by the Ficker campaign. "Is this just a dog and pony (or should I say circus animals) show to help the Democrat particpants to energize their base?" Jurgena asked. Ficker charged that the Chamber enjoys non-profit tax status, but is displaying favor toward one political party.
"Obviously there is a quid pro quo between the council member-county executive candidates and the Chamber," Ficker alleged. "By promoting their candidacies, the Chamber is not only taking advantage of these public office positions to collect $70 a head, but the council members must have promised the Chamber something in return for holding this campaign forum. What is the quid pro quo?"
Both men also questioned the admission price of $70 for non-Chamber members. "If [County] residents want to hear only one side of the issues, they can go to the Montgomery County Council meetings and listen to the term-limited Democrats, and they can save the cost of the $70.00 ticket fee for admission," Jurgena said. Chamber President and CEO Ginanne Italiano said the high price is due to the debate's inclusion in the Chamber's annual legislative event, and that ticketholders would have access to an open bar cocktail reception afterward.
Ficker took a shot at the three Democrats invited, noting that all are barred from running for their current Council seats, due to voters overwhelmingly approving Ficker's term limits ballot question last November. "If these Term Limited County Executive candidates want to hold a forum hosted by a political party club, exclude me and charge party members $1,000 to attend, that is fine with me," he said. "But when a nonprofit Chamber of Commerce holds a County Executive forum, they should invite candidates of both parties and should accommodate Montgomery Countians to listen for free."
A Democratic primary debate inviting only Democratic candidates? Shocking...
ReplyDelete6:03: The Muslim Council debate is during the primary season as well, but is including all parties, not just one.
ReplyDeleteHey, Dyer, is autocorrect playing games with you again?
ReplyDeleteI promise you, there will be no debate like this in the general election. Debates that are held will have little coverage.
ReplyDeleteThe Chamber needs to at least appear to be non partisan.
Embarrassing that someone running for office can't understand the difference.
ReplyDeleteWho is this "Tim" who wants to promise total strangers things he has no control over?
ReplyDeleteWe're giving the Democrat candidates a safe space and I'm making a few bucks. Win-win, right?
ReplyDelete6:47AM Are you trying to impersonate someone and forgot to use their name this time?
ReplyDeleteCan we agree that $70 is a bit much to watch these three panty waisted men go at it?
ReplyDeleteNot exactly Mayweather-MacGregor.
This costs more than seeing a quality theater performance, Nationals tickets or over priced concert ticket.
I don't mind the ticket price since it's consistent with their other events, but I agree the event should be open to all candidates. If it's open to only Democrats, their non-profit status should be revoked as they're now a political organization.
ReplyDelete$70 is a lot. Not like they have to pay for the talent. That's a nice profit margin.
ReplyDeleteI'd be more comfortable if the proceeds were being donated to a local charity.
Why not just invite Robin and make it free. If folks want to buy a drink, charge them.
ReplyDeleteThis is Montgomery frickin County. $70 isn't too high. You only pay it if you go, so no big deal. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you show us all the numbers for how this will have a nice profit margin. You seem to know enough to make these claims. Can you back them up? Or is it just more useless kvetching? I'm thinking the latter.
6:49 call out the shills and they appear. That's some powerful trait, grasshopper, use it well.
$70 is a lot for hors d'oeuvres.
DeleteNice profit margin. Where will the proceeds go to?
Robin has had a huge impact on MoCo with the term limits package being voted for.
ReplyDeleteSour grapes not inviting him?
Remember when Ken Beatrice wouldn't take Ficker's calls for being such a blowhard? Good times.
ReplyDeleteImagine if presidential debates were pay per view TV only and a businessman aligned with one of candidates would rake in all the profits? That's literally what this is.
ReplyDeleteA great piece from the WaPo, circa 1982
ReplyDeletehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1982/03/07/robin-ficker-attention-getter/d73bf988-df45-42d3-9d60-4bf4848c64d2/?utm_term=.4268e51631e2
No, this isn't at all like a presidential debate on PPV.
ReplyDeleteThe event is now free of charge.
ReplyDeleteIs Robin invited? Strange that a self proclaimed news organization would want less voices, not more. News entities usually cherish freedom of speech, not barring those you don't agree with.
ReplyDeleteGreat. You sheepshills can quit your bitching.
ReplyDeleteThis is a Democrat primarydebate. If Ficker wants to be a Democrat again, I'm sure he'd be included.
ReplyDeleteAgain, we're giving the Democrats a safe space.
ReplyDeleteI see Dyer is already canvasing for bff and fellow Trump-lover Ficker.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the Republicans didn't invite Hillary and Sanders to the Repub debates, or the Dems didn't invite Trump and Cruz to the Dem debates. Oh yeah, because that would have been asinine.
8:00: Reporting the news isn't "canvassing." But it's a known fact that very few organizations hold general election debates in Montgomery County. To be heard, Republican, Independent, Green, Libertarian, etc. candidates have to be included - especially if an organization is not willing to commit to a later general election debate.
ReplyDeleteThere will be no debate by the Bethesda Chamber after the primary. This $70 debate is not related to the primary which is 7 months later. It is just an attempt by the Chamber to get some TV time for the Term Limited 3 who have obviously promised them something from the council in return. Paul Bessel, Democratic Chairman of the Charter Review Commission has said he would not list this event in his widely read list of events and urged voters NOT to attend
ReplyDelete"This $70 debate"
Delete#FakeNews
There is no $70 debate, Mr. Ficker.
Robin Fucker is Putin to Robert Dyer's Trump
ReplyDeleteHate speech.
DeleteThat's it...there won't be debate like this in the general because the favorite line by everyone covering the election is that the Democratic primary is the general.
ReplyDeleteDon't be fooled by folks saying they'll cover Robin in the general because they won't.
Include Robin in this debate. Another podium won't cost a thing.
Christ, just include Robin.
ReplyDeleteWhy invite all this controversy by excluding him.
Why pander to people who have no understanding of how primaries work?
DeleteWhat's "controversial" about excluding Robin Fucker?
ReplyDeleteHate speech
DeleteWill the Chamber and Bethesda Magazine endorse a poll tax next?
ReplyDelete"The Term Limited 3"
ReplyDeleteAs opposed to the Perpetually Rejected 2.
That's a really good point
DeleteFicker should advocate for a limit on running. He's not very smart. Remember when he said that bs about pizza and DNA to defend the guy who killed the family in Woodley Park? He killer wasn't even asking him to defend him. Buzz off Robin.
ReplyDelete"Killer" wasn't convicted of killing or anything for that matter.
DeleteWhat whiny little victims you republicans are.
ReplyDeleteIf there were 3 Republicans running and only 1 Democrat, would you invite the Dem in to your Republican debate? We know you wouldn't, you know it too.
ReplyDeleteHope you liked the TRIPLING of parking rates since 2009 in Bethesda? The 9% property tax increase in 2016? The 30% increase in the real estate transfer tax in 2016? The 156% "temporary" increase in the residential energy tax whic and as not "temporary" and is now 10% of your Pepco bill? The 2,000,000 ft2 Westbard plan on top of already overcrowded schools and roads? The self-served 30% pay increase the council gave itself?
ReplyDeleteThe Bethesda Beat has not said the Chamber has lowered its admissions price by $70.
Republican & Green candidates: don't be fooled by promises by local media that you'll have coverage in the general because you won't.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely fight to get into every debate now.
9:43AM (12:43PM Eastern): Mr Ficker, yes they did at 11:45AM. almost one full hour before you posted they hadn't. please check before posting more #fakenews.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2017/Debate-Set-for-Democratic-Candidates-for-County-Executive/
They buried it. Did the Chamber meet on Labor day about eliminating $70 price? Doubt it. The $70 price is still on Chamber web site. Looks like partisan Bethesda Beat is CYA.
DeleteMr. Dyer, do you endorse Mr. Ficker? Or will he be your competition next fall?
ReplyDeleteMaybe they should put Republicans on the Democratic primary ballot as well. That would make just about as much sense.
ReplyDeleteMr Ficker, yes they did at 11:45AM. almost one full hour before you posted they hadn't.
ReplyDeleteAnd actually, that was 11:45 yesterday. Do we want a County Executive who can't even be bothered to read the news?
"mobbed by supporters"
ReplyDeleteI think just no one cares about what republicans thinks about it.
ReplyDeleteI count ten people in the picture surrounding Ficker. Only three are "supporters" beyond a reasonable doubt. Is that a "mob"?
ReplyDeleteWhen is Robin Ficker's office getting torn down to make way for Trader Joe's?
ReplyDeleteRobin is the only Exec candidate who knows about Bethesda. Had law office on Wisconsin Ave from 1982-2016!
DeleteDid Robin just refer to himself in the third person? Hah
DeleteNever a good look to be putting a price on democracy.
ReplyDelete7:01: There's a whole crowd there surrounding Ficker.
ReplyDelete5:58: If you look at the record of the County Council on taxes, development, schools, transporation, protecting neighborhoods, since the last Republican was forced off the Council by gerrymandering, many people now care what Republicans think - and more importantly, what they would do if elected.
Indeed, look at Trump he was elected Republican and look what he's doing now that he's president!
DeleteThese are certainly indecent times with men like this on the Council and magazine publishers selling access while keeping hard working MoCo families literally out of sight and out of mind during debates.
ReplyDeleteHow low will they go?
Guarantee they won't get another one. Guarantee if Term Limited 3 win there WILL be another raise.
ReplyDeleteThere are reasons Term Limits got 70% and won in 253 of 257 precincts. Bethesda Beat feels voters Term Limited these 3 guys because voters wanted to give them a promotion. Beat is wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get your info? Why do you keep mentioning BB? Are you officially speaking for them? How do you figure BB thinks that? I haven't seem it from them.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird when you talk about yourself in the 3rd person. (11:00PM comment)
The gerrymandering in this state increasedthe Republican outcomes.
As someone out and talking to county residents, they went for term limits because of the property tax increase combined with disappointment in the school system and over-development.
Ficker, with his actions on spamming/email addresses and the way he uses local blog comment sections to openly campaign, has shown himself to be pretty darn out of touch with the way the world works, and many people absolutely will not take him seriously as a result--very behind-the-times for someone who wants to be in charge.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the co-sponsor of this debate has shown himself, by the way his outlet covers said candidates, to be interested in acting as a suppository to whomever might win this race. And the chamber clearly has an interest in cozying up. No need to act that way to Ficker--that part of this election is already long over. Sorry, man.
"Mental illness - emergency petition"
ReplyDeleteI hope your Mom is able to get you the help that you need.
Can the co-sponsors be more transparent on the initial price decision process, why they then dropped it and why Robin can't be included?
ReplyDeleteNot too much to ask. Why all the secrecy? Why the need to stifle certain voices?
Not a republican, but I am very sick of the democrats in this area. I am a democrat from Philadelphia and boy you people give all of us a bad name. Everyone has to outdo everyone's disgust at everything. Heaven forbid someone becomes upset at the name Redskins...
ReplyDeleteRobin sure was busy between 1:50 AM and 2:03 AM this morning. If you are reading this in mobile version, switch to the web version (click "web version", immediately below the "home" button at the bottom of the page) - it's really funny.
ReplyDeleteWhat don't you understand about a Republican not being invited to a Democratic primary debate? A General debate, sure. This isn't a General debate.
ReplyDeleteWould you have a Philly Eagles player sit in on a Redskins game meeting?
6:09: Just one problem - there isn't going to be a General Election debate. So we have to hear from everyone during what debates will be held (and I'm not even sure why we're having a debate before the filing deadline - there could be significant additions on the Democratic side before then).
ReplyDeleteI wish Robert would attend. He put Reimer in his place last election season.
ReplyDeleteRiemer put Robert in his place in the actual election.
ReplyDeleteLOL
Why won't there be a General Election debate? Nobody wants to hold one? Why not the local Republican Party? Can't they find someone to hold a debate? Or the local Libertarians? Green Party?
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you sponsor one?
According to the old legacy media, the Democrat primary is the election/Super Bowl. Therefore the general won't be covered. History shows this. Past is prologue.
DeleteGet Robin in the debate.
One minute it's ha-ha-ha the old legacy media is useless and passe.
ReplyDeleteThe next it's the old legacy media is omnipotent and holding me back.
Pick a lane. ONE lane.
Why did so many of my honest, constructive, and non negative questions to Robin get deleted? You guys are shouting for fairness....
ReplyDeleteMany of the comments on the Bethesda Magazine article about the debate were quite critical.
ReplyDeleteYet none were deleted.
Just one problem - there isn't going to be a General Election debate
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't the Suburban News Network sponsor one?
Robert you should and could easily host one! Aren't you the news on record or what is it you said you were again? Makes sense for you to host one of little old BM can do it you so can you as the big dog.
Delete