The curious case of the Jawando debate dodge

Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (D - At-Large) will not debate his Republican opponent Esther Wells in the County Executive race, Jawando's campaign abruptly announced yesterday. The statement to the press was curious not only for the weakness of its arguments, but because the local press had not been press-ing the question in the first place. I could find no news articles focused on Jawando dodging a debate with Wells prior to the Monday announcement by his campaign. It appears to be a preemptive strike to lay the groundwork for a pandemic-style "basement campaign," in which Jawando will largely take a knee until Election Day with sporadic, low-pressure public appearances in uber-friendly venues.

Unlike Jawando's fellow travelers in our Fifth Column local media, let's actually debunk the logic of the statement by his campaign.

"Will has participated in 102 meet-and-greets, as well as more than 45 candidate forums, debates, and town halls across the county...Voters have had repeated opportunities to evaluate records and compare his vision directly with his general election opponent, Esther Wells, who also participated in many of these candidate forums and debates."

Fact check: First of all, there certainly were not "45" debates in the County Executive primary race. Second, Esther Wells was allowed to participate in only a handful of those. And third, because they were cattle call primary events mostly focused on the Democratic race, they did not provide the length and depth of response by any individual that is now most appropriate in the general election season. We have our nominees. Now it is time to compare and contrast their arguments in an in-depth dialogue.

"Our sustained community engagement delivered decisive results in the June primary. Will earned 52,744 votes out of more than 131,000 cast, building the broadest coalition of any candidate this cycle. By contrast, Esther Wells won her primary with 6,850 votes out of just 11,273 cast."

This is perhaps even more of a ridiculous argument than the first. For starters, how do you claim "the broadest coalition" in a primary that was closed to every voter who was not a Democrat? But even more embarrassing is that the math used by Jawando's campaign actually shows Esther Wells had the "broadest coalition" in the primaries. She won 60.7% of the votes in her primary, compared to Jawando's 40.3%. That's over 20 percentage points higher than Jawando.

Besides answering a debate question no news outlet had published a news article asking to begin with, the press release oddly raised the issue of Jawando's health following his heart attack over Labor Day weekend. The local press hadn't been publishing articles on questions or controversy surrounding Jawando's health and his ability to campaign or serve. Why would you remind the public of the topic, then? 

Is there a health issue the campaign is hiding that will prevent Jawando from participating in a debate with Esther Wells? Is that why the actual arguments made for why he won't debate so transparently farcical, as to distract from the health question at hand? If a candidate is physically or cognitively unable to engage their election opponent in a debate in October, how will they be capable of running a jurisdiction of over a million people some thirty days later?

The time to hear from the candidates is now, not after the election. It's a frightening reality that you can take any article about elections in Russia or (the fictional anti-Orban vision of) Hungary, replace the country name with "Montgomery County," and it still reads accurately. The Montgomery County cartel already controls much of our "democracy" with its control of the local media, and our obscenely gerrymandered election districts. Based on actual voting results, a true Council District 2 would have elected a Republican every time this century. Rather than face the wrath of a unified Upcounty, whose concerns continue to be neglected, the cartel is able simply draw them out of relevance on the map. It shows how weak our leaders know they are intellectually and substantively, when the idea of one contrary voice out of eleven strikes sheer terror into their hearts.

Candidate debates are a foundational element of democracy. Even when Democrats were highly favored to win, they had the integrity and civic spirit to participate in general election forums in the past. But starting in 2018, this changed. It changed so much that Jawando himself has never had to square off against Republicans in a general election debate. 

With so many weak explanations from his campaign as to why he can't debate Esther Wells, it's imperative that the local media keep pressing for what the real reasons are. If you really believe in "democracy" in America, it's time you start demanding it locally as well.

Montgomery Mall implementing stiff 3 PM curfew for minors

Those who claim crime is not a problem at the few remaining malls in Montgomery County were dealt a blow of reality today, as Westfield announced it will implement a restrictive 3:00 PM curfew for unaccompanied minors at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and Wheaton Plaza starting September 28. Once in effect, the new policy will require any mall patron under 18 to be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult after 3:00 PM, seven days a week. Those not in compliance will be escorted from the premises by security or Montgomery County police. Supervising adults may be asked for identification with a valid I.D.

Westfield says the hours and specifics of the new policy can be changed at any time, and that it may adjust the hours of enforcement during the holiday shopping season. It also says that supervising adults will be held responsible for the behavior and actions of the juveniles under their supervision, suggesting legal liability potential for the type of assaults and shoplifting incidents that have been taking place at the property in recent years.

This curfew sadly punishes the majority of minors who lawfully engage in the All-American tradition of hanging out at the mall. It will certainly cost mall tenants financially. That dovetails with another disappointing trend: Massive international corporations like Westfield and Giant parent Ahold declining to publicly condemn pro-criminal elected officials, and put their considerable financial resources toward electing alternative leaders, and instead implementing policies that punish all customers, such as locking up items or crippling self-checkouts. Montgomery County and Maryland's weak juvenile crime policies - and weak willed business responses - seem to put criminals in charge of our community, rather than holding them accountable. The new curfew policy was first reported by The MoCo Show.

Soccer jersey kiosk opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

If you have soccer fans on your holiday shopping list, there's a new destination for you at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A kiosk selling international soccer jerseys has opened. Uniform tops for Jude Bellingham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cole Palmer, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé are among those available. Look for the kiosk on Level 1 near Carter's and the future PacSun, in the Old Navy wing of the mall.

Batman Day sale at Big Planet Comics in Bethesda

Today is Batman Day 2026, Saturday, September 19. Big Planet Comics at 7939 Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda is celebrating by putting all Batman books on sale for 20% off. DC Comics has several promotions to coincide with Batman Day this year. Batman of Two Worlds is a special edition comic book with two stories by the writers of the current runs of Batman (Matt Fraction) and Absolute Batman (Scott Snyder), available today for $2.99. Four paper masks of iconic Batman cowls are also being given away (one per customer, while supplies last). There are also five hardcover releases of new and classic Dark Knight adventures with Batman Day 2026 cover art. Product availability may vary by store.

Montgomery County police chief resigns amid travel, leave questions

Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada submitted his resignation to County Executive Marc Elrich today. Announcements regarding the resignation from Elrich and the police department did not initially provide a reason for Yamada's resignation after decades of service to the department. However, it soon came to light that a report from the County Inspector General was being released, following an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General into Yamada's actions regarding travel expenditures, and his alleged failure to request official leave at times that department rules required him to do so.

The OIG investigation also examined whistleblower allegations that Yamada consumed alcohol at a golf event during working hours, and furnished a County government vehicle for use by an unidentified employee of the Office of the County Attorney. Such use of a County vehicle must be authorized by the County's Chief Administrative Officer, and the OIG found that Yamada neither sought nor received such authorization. Investigators determined that Yamada was not armed or in uniform when he consumed two alcoholic beverages at a golf tournament, but that he had not taken official leave to attend the tournament, and was therefore still on-the-clock.

Yamada told investigators that he believed the overtime hours he puts in on a weekly basis covered absences during regular work hours. The OIG report notes that by not receiving authorized leave for those absences, Yamada retained those leave hours on his record, which would apply to credits for his pension upon retirement. 

While news headlines referred to "Las Vegas travel" earlier today, it turned out to be less sensational than the Hangover IV visions such news reports were promising. It turns out that Yamada took an unidentified family member who also works at the police department on an official trip to an out-of-state conference. The OIG report states that Yamada initially told investigators that he did not select the employee, but investigators later found that he had. Lying to OIG investigators is a violation of County Code Section 2-151(m)(2).

The report concludes by noting that its findings will be submitted to the County Ethics Commission, and suggests the County may have legal grounds to recover an unspecified sum from Yamada on behalf of taxpayers. You can read the OIG's complete report here.

Suspect arrested in Potomac Woods Plaza homicide

Montgomery County police have captured the man they say fatally shot a Gaithersburg man at Potomac Woods Plaza at 1087 Seven Locks Road early Sunday morning. County police officers assigned to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force caught up with Shayan Solimani Damabi, 21, of Gaithersburg at an unidentified motel in that city. Police say he was taken into custody without incident.

Homicide detectives used surveillance footage from the shopping center to identify Solimani Damabi as the alleged shooter. He has been charged with first-degree murder, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. Solimani Damabi is being held at the County jail pending a bond hearing.

New signals near activation at dangerous Bethesda crosswalk

New pedestrian crossing signals are nearing activation at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The signal lights have been connected to power, and are currently just in a yellow flashing mode. Pedestrian-activated controls are not yet operable, however. 

This is a very dangerous intersection for multiple reasons. First, it was an ungoverned crosswalk. Previous attempts to add safety measures have largely been ignored by drivers. Second, there is a lane shift taking place ahead of the intersection with Arlington Road. Third, drivers are often gunning it when that next signal is green, which is bad behavior partly caused by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation - presumably under orders from County elected officials - steadfastly refusing to synchronize the traffic signals on busy corridors at peak travel times.

The more mandatory decisions you simultaneously introduce into the mind of the driver, the more dangerous our roadways become. This is part of why Vision Zero efforts have failed to reduce collisions and traffic deaths.

A "trashy" look for Lilly Pulitzer at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

A major renovation project is getting underway at the Lilly Pulitzer store at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The store is temporarily closed, and is expected to reopen before the end of the year. How much of the holiday shopping season it will be open for is not yet known. But Lilly Pulitzer herself would likely be aghast at the trash bag material covering her namesake boutique's windows. You might expect a major label targeting upscale clientele would offer some sort of branded window screens to its stores to hide construction work, rather than Hefty specials. Mon Dieu!

Demolition begins for new apartment tower in Bethesda

Demolition of multiple buildings has begun at the future site of an apartment tower at the southeast corner of Old Georgetown Road and St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Buildings along both streets will ultimately be torn down, most of which are now vacant. Work has started on the former Jewelry Exchange building on Old Georgetown. The office building on the corner will likely be the last to go, as some tenants are still occupying it.

Police identify suspect in Potomac Woods Plaza fatal shooting

Montgomery County police have identified a suspect in Sunday morning's fatal shooting at the Potomac Woods Plaza shopping center. Shayan Solimani Damabi, 21, of Gaithersburg is the man who killed 33-year-old Nicholas Njuki of Gaithersburg, homicide detectives allege. They believe he may still be driving a red 2018 four-door Acura TLX with Maryland license plate 3GD6732.

Police describe Solimani Damabi as being 6-feet, 2-inches tall and weighing approximately 205 pounds. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide or the location of Shayan Solimani Damabi is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “P3 Tips” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. Tips may remain anonymous. Information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward ranging from $250 to $10,000.