NEW: What happens when progressives defeat corporate-funded Democrats?
In Prince George’s County, Maryland, lobbyists & business groups are attempting to overturn an election in plain sight to keep control of a $2 billion school board budget.
The corruption is shocking.
In Prince George’s County, Maryland, lobbyists & business groups are attempting to overturn an election in plain sight to keep control of a $2 billion school board budget.
The corruption is shocking.
In 2020, a slate of progressives defeated business-funded incumbents to take over the PG County school board.
Now, contractors and lobbyists are trying to overturn the election results and remove the new board members from office, with the help of some establishment Democrats.
Now, contractors and lobbyists are trying to overturn the election results and remove the new board members from office, with the help of some establishment Democrats.
Once they took office, the progressive slate tried to investigate irregularities in construction contracts. They passed a Community Benefits Agreement that ensured construction contracts created good, union jobs.
Then, lobbyists launched an effort to remove them from office.
Then, lobbyists launched an effort to remove them from office.
The attempted overturn started with a series of ethics complaints against the progressive slate.
@washingtonpost referred to the complaints as "error riddled." The former State's Attorney called them "totally unsubstantiated" and "a political hit job."
washingtonpost.com/local/educatio…
@washingtonpost referred to the complaints as "error riddled." The former State's Attorney called them "totally unsubstantiated" and "a political hit job."
washingtonpost.com/local/educatio…
The ethics complaints cited the ultra-conservative Right to Work Education Fund to say Community Benefit Agreements were corrupt.
The complaints are supposed to be dealt with confidentiality, but these were mailed to elected officials around the state with no return address.
The complaints are supposed to be dealt with confidentiality, but these were mailed to elected officials around the state with no return address.
School Board Chair Juanita Miller tried to remove the progressive slate from the board based on the bogus ethics complaints.
County Executive Angela Alsobrooks appointed Miller — and all the school board members who voted to remove the progressive slate.
County Executive Angela Alsobrooks appointed Miller — and all the school board members who voted to remove the progressive slate.
In October 2020, PG County Exec. Alsobrooks was caught improperly pressuring a potential appointee to vote for a $1.24B dollar public private partnership for school construction.
Business interests want the deal to serve as a model for other districts.
fox5dc.com/news/questions…
Business interests want the deal to serve as a model for other districts.
fox5dc.com/news/questions…
After the first attempt at removal failed, local lobbyists and contractors held a rally to build popular support for their case.
The head of the local Chamber of Commerce said, "What we're calling for is to get rid of the dysfunction and be about the business of our community."
The head of the local Chamber of Commerce said, "What we're calling for is to get rid of the dysfunction and be about the business of our community."
Further investigation is needed to determine who is behind the attempt to remove the progressive slate from the PG County school board, but the stakes are clear.
If business interests can overturn election results when it threatens their bottom line, our votes don't matter.
If business interests can overturn election results when it threatens their bottom line, our votes don't matter.
The effort to overturn the results of the school board election in PG County is part of a national trend.
As in Seattle and Buffalo, some establishment Democrats are joining with business interests to overturn progressive electoral victories.
As in Seattle and Buffalo, some establishment Democrats are joining with business interests to overturn progressive electoral victories.
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