October 1, 2020
Dear Friend:
The season of apple-picking and pumpkin-carving is upon us. I hope you can enjoy the cooler weather, safely, with family and friends. Remember– any time you are gathered with others who are not members of your household, wear a mask!
Counting in the Community
Did you know– those who complete the Census will bring $18,000 in federal funding to our County over the next decade? If you have not yet done so, please take 10 minutes to complete the Census today. Last week, I volunteered in Gaithersburg to help dozens of County residents complete the Census. It was fun to connect with constituents and activists– even while wearing masks!
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Got Your Ballot Yet?
Voting is another vital way of being counted! I’ve added a new page to my website with resources for casting your vote. If you requested a mail-in ballot, you can check the status at any time. Once you have completed it, you can return it at a drop-off box or through the mail with pre-paid postage. If you are a constituent, watch for a flyer in the mail with my voting recommendations and legislative updates.
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What to Expect When You’re Voting: A Series (Part 5)
In addition to the races for President/Vice President, Congress, Board of Education, and the Sitting Judges, six questions appear on your ballot. I’ve added a new page to my website which includes my previous recommendations.
Vote NO on Charter Question C
Question C proposes to increase our County Council from 9 to 11 members– and we lose our right to elect a majority. This proposal had no public hearings and will increase the cost of running our government at a time we need to be trimming expenditures.
Vote NO on Charter Question D
Question D would establish nine single-member districts, meaning that we would each vote for only ONE Councilmember. Other jurisdictions that tried this model found that it led to parochialism, vote-trading, and a lack of countywide perspective.
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Solving the COVID-19 Puzzle?
Gov. Hogan and I were invited by Gaithersburg-based Novavax to tour their research facility. It was exciting to see the progress they are making to develop a vaccine for COVID-19! I am immensely proud to represent the high-tech corridor, where brilliant scientists are working around the clock to save lives.
![Proud to wear my Gaithersburg mask as Gov. Hogan & I toured the labs at Novavax.](https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/6vePmCQeN2bKZQWzOXBaGw8Y0cLWAHG2Mz80Y7s-5Z5eyz4YHYeoL70xde2zzYjn8YD_m1mH4LMFuIWzAwSgSxkMNiY4_35F3mEOQvl1mX_SwR7SSGMqJZzG4RWh9qomWXTSJNH0eAc-=s0-d-e1-ft#https://files.constantcontact.com/c5fa7d3c301/2f9cd9ba-287a-4288-8e2f-46c6cf53ec0c.png)
Kibbitzing with Kagan!
In case you missed it on my social media, I have launched a podcast! Each week, I will be “kibbitzing” (which means “to chat” in Yiddish) with a fascinating guest. You can watch my first episode, with the remarkably talented Cavanaugh Bell, on my website or YouTube channel.
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Best,
Cheryl
Cheryl C. Kagan
State Senator, District 17
(Rockville & Gaithersburg)
PS: Thanks to a large parcel of land donated by AstraZeneca (formerly MedImmune), Discovery Park is now open in Gaithersburg! I was honored to present Mayor Jud Ashman with a Senate Citation at the ribbon-cutting last week.
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