Elevate Maryland

Episode 55 with Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary

This week Candace and Tom sit down with Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary to discuss the closing days of the Maryland General Assembly.  They review everything from Delegate Atterbeary's fight with the NRA to why it is so hard to pass good legislation in Annapolis.   Producer's Note: There was a glitch in the recording at about the 29 minute mark where we lost some material.  Sorry! Thank you, again, to our good friends at The Common Kitchen for hosting!

Episode 54 with Roughly Speaking's Mileah Kromer and Luke Broadwater

For their first "joint podcast", Candace and Tom team up with the Baltimore Sun's Roughly Speaking: Government Edition duo, Luke Broadwater and Mileah Kromer, to talk all things Annapolis.  They cover everything from the forthcoming battle for Speaker of the House to the progressive lean of the General Assembly.  Was this the "Year of the Bad Delegate" or was that just a blemish on an otherwise big year for Maryland lawmakers? Thank you, again, to our great hosts at The Common Kitchen!

Episode 53 with DCACC Artistic Director Darin Atwater

This week, Candace and Tom sit down with the newly appointed artistic director of the Downtown Columbia Arts and Cultural Committee, Darin Atwater.  Darin is the founder of the Soulful Symphony, which will be the new "house orchestra" for Merriweather Post Pavilion.  Check out this episode to hear more about this groundbreaking partnership and how it will promote the arts across Howard County. Special thanks to Ian Kennedy and our friends at the Downtown Columbia Arts and Cultural Commissi...

Episode 52 with BoE Members Sabina Taj & Mavis Ellis

This week, Tom and Candace sit down with Howard County Board of Education members Sabina Taj and Mavis Ellis.  Both are history-makers in their own right, Ms. Taj being the first asian woman elected to the Board and Ms. Ellis the first African-American chairperson.  Tune in to hear about Black Lives Matter week in schools, diversity in leadership, and the budget-making process. THANK YOU to our new home at The Common Kitchen in Clarksville, Maryland!  We will definitely be back (and soon)....

Episode 51 with HoCo Police Chief Myers & Fire Chief Uhlhorn

In the second episode in their "History Makers" series, Tom and Candace sit down with Howard County Police Chief Lisa Myers and Fire Chief Christine Uhlhorn to discuss their vision and how they balance the revolutionary nature of their appointments with departments that rely on stability and predictability.   Note: Chief Ulhorn's favorite sushi place that she couldn't think of was Katana Sushi! Thank you to Lupa in Columbia, Maryland for hosting!

Episode 50 with District 3 County Council Member Christiana Rigby

Tom and Candace sit down with Howard County Council Chair Christiana Mercer Rigby to discuss equity, inclusion, and her endorsement for President (hint: she agrees with the Council-member from District 2).   Book: Dare to Lead by Brene Brown Movie: Smallfoot Music: Smallfoot Soundtrack Best Meal(s) in Howard County: Bonaparte Breads, Touche Touchet Bakery, Chicken Makhani at Chutney in Columbia, MD. Thank you to Lupa in Columbia, Maryland for hosting!

Episode 49 with District 2 County Council Member Opel Jones

Tom and Candace sit down with newly elected County Council Member Opel Jones to discuss his first month in office, school redistricting, budget priorities, and what it looks like when everyone elected to the council is new. Book: Star Wars (new canon) books - Aftermath Trilogy; The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander Movie: Black Panther & Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse Music: Tribe Called Quest Best Meal(s) in Howard County: Iron Bridge, Pho Dat Thanh, and The Omelet Guys (catering...

Episode 48 - Candace and Tom's Year in Review

This week, Candace and Tom got together for a very special brunch edition of the podcast to discuss the ups and downs of 2018.  From hate speech to norm shifting to finding common ground, this is a podcast with a little bit of everything.

47 with former Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler

This week, Tom and guest host Andrew Kanicki sit down with former Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler to discuss his fascinating seven months in office following the sudden death of his longtime friend and boss Kevin Kamenetz.  Mr. Mohler is one of the most respected people in Maryland politics and after listening to this episode, you'll know why!  Thank you, again, to Lupa in Columbia, Maryland for hosting! Elevator Speech: Book: Becoming by Michelle Obama (audio edition) Play: A...

Episode 46: Executive Director of ACLU of Maryland Dana Vickers Shelley.

This week, Candace and Tom sit down with the Executive Director of the Maryland chapter of ACLU to discuss the present day challenges to our civil rights, the difference between comfort and work, and our personal role in making more inclusive communities.  Thank you, again, to Lupa in Columbia, Maryland for hosting! Elevator Speech: Book(s): I Can’t Breathe by Matt Taibi The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed  Movie: Black Panther Music: Hamilton Mix Tape Podcast:...

Episode 45: HoCo History Makers Calvin Ball, Rich Gibson, and Marcus Harris

This week, Candace and Tom sit with a trio of Howard County history makers. Howard County's first African-American County Executive Calvin Ball, first African-American State's Attorney Rich Gibson, and first African-American Sheriff Marcus Harris. They discuss what these historic elections mean to them and the community, initiatives for the first 30 days, and what they intend to do to ensure they are not the last history makers Howard County sees. Thank you to Lupa in Columbia, Maryland fo...

Episode 44: Propublica Reporter Alec MacGillis

This week, Candace and Tom sit down with award-winning journalist Alec MacGillis to discuss the darker side of Amazon HQ2, the widening gap between rich cities and poor cities, and the days when Howard County had 24 reporters covering the local beat. Thank you to La Palapa in Ellicott City for hosting! Small Talk: Book: Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy  Movie: Sorry to Bother You Music: Indie Music (Kurt Vile, War on Drugs) Unpopular Benign Opinion: “I...

Episode 43: Bryan Sears of The Daily Record

This week, Candace and guest host Ian Kennedy break down the 2018 cycle from state house to county seat.  One of the most respected political reports in the state, Bryan Sears gives his view on why things went the way they did and how the ongoing political saga will go from here. Thank you to Lupa in Columbia, Maryland for hosting our live show!  Thank you also to Ian Kennedy for stepping in as a guest host! Book: Thimbleriggers: The Law v. Governor Marvin Mandel by Bradford Jacobs Mo...

Episode 42: League of Women Voters of Howard County's Alice Giles

In this episode, Tom reviews the Howard County ballot with Alice Giles from the League of Women Voters of Howard County.  Make sure to check out these other great resources provided by the LWVHC: www.Vote411.org LWVHC YouTube Channel LWVHC Voters' Guide

Episode 41: Maryland Matters' Josh Kurtz

Thank you to Simon Cortes and La Palapa Grill and Cantina in Ellicott City for hosting!  Thank you also to our sponsors Kyle Reis and Julia Jackson McCready! You can read Maryland Matters here. Three Things: 1.  Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting 2. 130% (!!) Early Voting Turnout 3. Elevate Maryland Sponsors (and forthcoming schwag) Same Old Questions: Music: The Fab Faux Book: Life After Life Food: Franky Pizza

Episode 40: Maryland Pollster Mileah Kromer

Show Notes: Thank you to Cured/18th & 21st for hosting! Things we're thinking about: Recent article in Baltimore Sun about the rise of hate crimes:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/investigations/bs-md-two-years-of-hate-incidents-20180813-story.html 2.  Thank you, Ilana and HoCoMoJo 3.  David Yungman mailer

Episode 39: Maryland Delegate Brooke LIerman

Show Notes Thanks to Maryland Podcast Festival and The Crown for hospitality this week! 1 Thing We're Thinkin' About Candidates are people   MD Delegate Brooke Lierman Addressing Baltimore’s challenges 21 Century School Facility Act Spending more on Baltimore students Kerwin Comission Frat Boy culture in Annapolis Governor’s race Brooke's Same Old Questions Book - Warmth Of Other Suns Movie - Clue, Princess Bride, Pride and Prejudice Music - eclectic Unpopular ...

Episode 38: Preservation Maryland's Executive Director Nicholas Redding

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About DPZ, Zoning Board, Planning Board, and Board of Appeals... oh MY! Competing polls in County Executive race Non partisan Board Of Ed races   Nick Redding Preservation Maryland is dedicated to preserving Maryland's historic buildings, neighborhoods, landscapes and archaeological resources through outreach, funding, education and advocacy. Preservation Maryland's ...

Episode 37: Howard County Muslim Council President Ainy Haider-Shah

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About Ellicott City Flood Plan People’s Choice Endorsementsfor BOE “Choose Civility” is a famous Howard County motto but why are we failing?   Ainy Haider- Shah The Muslim Councilencourages issues and activities of common interest to local Muslims and the broader community of Howard County Muslim parents concerned that Muslims kids can be victims of Islamophobia and ...

Episode 36: Walter Olsen of the Maryland District Reform Commission

Episode 35: Howard County District 1 Candidate Liz Walsh

  Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About 3 Things New Courthouse Long Beach courthouse Admin testimony for bill FF Nathan Flynn Tiber Watershead Moratorium bill   Liz Walsh We won because of volunteers Clear cutting tree request at the Historic preservation commission Government’s role in community BoE,  County Council and CE working together School redistricting Approach to governin...

Episode 34: Caplan Group President Roger Caplan

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!   3 Things We're Thinkin' About: FB comments after a tragedy Every Vote Counts Thai Soccer team rescue Roger Caplan HoCo District 1 Other HoCo Council Races HoCo County Exec race Legislative District 12 Clarence Lam Legislative District 9 Bates vs Hester All new HoCo County Council Roger's Same Old Questions Music - Blues Unpopular Benign - local broadcast news is silly Bes...

Episode 33: Maryland Democratic Polico Dylan Goldberg

Thanks to Joe's Place Deli for their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About Capital Gazette Ladderkickers Thank you and congratulations to everyone who ran, win or loose   Dylan Goldberg Has the Dem party abandoned the establishment Social media changed the way we campaign Incumbents and rookies Mack Middleton’s race Sarah Elfreth’s race HoCo County Exec race District 1 results New County Council makeup Dylan's Same Old Questions Bo...

Episode 32: Howard County Councilman Jon Weinstein

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About How young is too young to run for office? Gubernatorial primary race Low voter turnout   Howard County Councilman Jon Weinstein EC flood recovery APFO Being the swing vote Enjoyable things about being councilperson Public campaign finance CB9 Jon's Same Old Questions Movie - Shape of Water Book - Book of Joy Music - U2 Unpop - doesn’t like clow...

Episode 31: Baltimore County Executive Candidate John Olszewski

Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! Welcome Whittaker, and congrats to Tom, Nicole, and Harper! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About   EC Flood Flood recovery fundraising https://CFHoCo.org http://visitoldellicottcity.com/ec-partnership/donate/ https://www.gofundme.com/georgia-grace https://www.gofundme.com/hj9tt-support-for-eddison-hermond https://www.gofundme.com/beanhollow https://www.gofundme.com/phoenix-emporium-recovery-fund https:...

Episode 30: Howard County Public Library CEO Tonya Kennon

  Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! Congrats to Nichole and Milan!! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About The Apple ballot Kevin Kamenetz's passing This Is Water by David Foster Wallace Graduation season   Howard County Public Library CEO Tonya Kennon Libraries serve the community Asset Based Community Development Healthy community building Choose Civility STEM Makerspace Library Parcel Tax Measure Tonya's Rapid Fir...

Episode 29: Governor Hogan's Executive Chef Matt Milani

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 2 Things We're Thinkin' About Universal PreK Partisanship and the School Board   Governor Hogan's Executive Chef Matt Milani What’s does an Executive Chef do at the state house Korean cooking and the State House Sustainability and food Trends in restaurants Mentoring Rumor Mill Matt's Rapid Fire Book - The Night Circus Music - Nirvana, Food Fighters Movie - Burnt Unpopular ...

Episode 28: Howard County Sheriff Bill McMahon

Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About Starbucks Bias Training HCEA Endorsements Surgeon General's rare advisory: more people should carry opioid overdose antidote   Howard County Sheriff Bill McMahon Opioids Roles of Sheriff in HoCo Vision for Sheriff's Office Bill's Rapid Fire Rapid Fire Movie - Dodgeball Music - Jimmy Buffett Unpopular benign - Doesn't like weird podcast questions Best meal in MD...

Episode 27: Gubernatorial Candidate Ben Jealous

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 32 Things We're Thinkin' About Beat officers in schools Board of Public Works   Gubernatorial Candidate Ben Jealous Why be gov? Tech jobs Lessons learned from work at NAACP Build state model for inclusion, civil rights, environment Relevance of President Trump in election benjealous.com Ben's Rapid Fire Book - The Alchemist Movie - Black Panther Music - Miles Davis Quintet Un...

Episode 26: Howard Bank CEO Mary Ann Scully

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3  4Things We're Thinkin' About UMBC #RetrieverNation UMBC Athletics' Twitter Feed HoCoTruths - we're better than this WSJ's Blue Feed / Red Feedstudy Happy birthday "macsmom" Julia McCready! Local Journalism   CEO Of Howard Bank Mary Ann Scully Community Banking HoCo Columbia’s philanthropic community built from banking industry Philosophy around philanthropy Evolution of women’s...

Episode 25: Spending Affordability Advisory Committee Member Josh Tzuker

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About 13th High School School budget People moving into the county are of a lower income bracket than those leaving the county   Spending Affordability Advisory Committee member Josh Tzuker Spending Affordability Advisory Committee Report Non-partisan Committee process Fiscal health of county - HoCo ate a lot over Thanksgiving and now we should eat a few salads H...

Episode 24: Howard County Councilman Dr. Calvin Ball

Episode 23: Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Shea

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 Things We're Thinkin' About Calvin’s campaign finance report Ed Kasemeyer's retirement Olympics!!   Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Shea Maryland succeeds when Baltimore succeeds Competing with Hogan Education Transportation Jim's Rapid Fire Book - Astrophysics for People in a Hurry Movie - Apollo 13 Music - La Boheme Unpopular Benign - likes opera Podcast - The Survival of the...

Episode 22: Maryland Matters' Josh Kurtz

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 3 Things Tom's Thinkin' About Tino’s Keep it civil The light and weight of democracy   Maryland Matters' Josh Kurtz Campaign finance reports Gubernatorial campaigns Some surprises PGCo exec race BaCo exec race HoCo exec race Ball could ride a blue wave Kittleman has a brand other than Republican 9B Watson / Medinger democrats and Flannigan the republican Medinger put $150k O...

Episode 21: Maryland State Delegate Cory McCray

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!   3 Things We're Thinkin' About MLK and the sanatization of civil rights history Merriweather Roof Collapse HoCo County Executive Poll Results- 42% Kittleman; 39% Ball, 19% undecided; Name Recognition - 87% Kittleman, 46% Ball Maryland Delegate Cory McCray Young gun democrats Status of Baltimore Unequal school funding in Baltimore Apprenticeship programs Other young delegates Cory'...

Zaz' End of Year Interlude: Nikki Giovanni

Episode 20: The Year In Review

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! 2017 is a prime number- only divisible by itself   Things We're Thinkin' About Some struggles: President 45 (campaigning on partisan division and race/culture division- “building a wall”), the #metoo movement, Mass shootings (Las Vegas and Texas), North Korea, Natural Disasters (hurricanes!), Race/Culture tension (Monuments, Charlottesville, Virginia, Take a Knee) Conversation around redist...

Episode 19: Gubernatorial Candidate Kevin Kamenetz

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!   3 Things We're Thinkin' About Toms FB post Alabama Violence in Howard County schools   Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz Grew up in Lockern in the “Wonder Years” Accomplishments in BoCo Didn’t beat Hogan’s numbers in BoCo, how beat him across state BoCo electorate as representative of state Under representative communities Insentivthons for affordable housing   Kevin...

Episode 18: Community Action Council's Bita Dayhoff

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!

Episode 17: Global Policy Solutions CEO Maya Rockeymoore Cummings

Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!   3 Things We're Thinkin' About Sexual harassment and misogyny Norm entrepreneurs - Bloomberg Cass Sunstein NJ, VA, Frederick and Annapolis Elections Baltimore Detective Suiters   Gubernatorial Candidate Maya Rockeymoore Cummings Baltimore can and should be an asset to the state Punching below our fighting weight Inclusive growth strategy Baltimore’s leadership Title 1 funding What makes May...

Episode 16: Gubernatorial Candidate Krish Vignarajah

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!   3 Things We're Thinkin' About Opioid crisis - unfounded mandate #MeToo Elevate Maryland Anniversary   Gubernatorial Candidate Krish Vignarajah Alana vs ilana - means baby tree (Aramaic/Hebrew)… light (Sanskrit)… special girl (Gaelic) Quote - “It’s Time For A New Generation Of Leadership In Maryland. We Need New Ideas And Policies To Improve Our Children’s Education, Raise Wages And Prot...

Episode 15: Senator Rich Madaleno

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!   3 Things We're Thinkin' About HCPSS Bullying Eradication HCPSS Redistricting Proposal New Yorker's New Normal   Gubernatorial Candidate Rich Madaleno Is Gov Hogan beatable? Top priorities for Maryland Underserved voices Affordable housing Mean Tweets 20/20 advice to Anthony Brown   Rich's Rapid Fire Music - You can’t stop the beat Book - the lost city Aaron aronhalt Mov...

Episode 14: Maryland Matters' Josh Kurtz

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!   Maryland Matters' Josh Kurtz Journalism provides information, but also holds public figures accountable   Gov Hogan re-electability Hogan strengths and challenges Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Rushern Baker Alec Ross Rich Madaleno Ben Jealous Jim Shea Krish Vignarajah Kevin Kamenetz Maya Rockeymoore Maryland Senate majority Calvin Ball vs Allan Kittleman 4 open ...

Episode 13: Maryland Gubernatorial Candidate Alec Ross

Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!   3 Things We're Thinkin' About Active Listening Redistricting AAC Committee disbanded due to personal attacks on members Dr Foose’s MSDE job   Gubernatorial Candidate Alec Ross Alec’s Book The Industries of the Future 3 Biggest Issues In Maryland School Inequity Transportation Economic development Improving education Confronting race issues Affordable housing Mentors in politics Equit...

Episode 12: Get Money Out Maryland's Doug Miller

Thanks to Joe's Place Deli for their always warm and friendly hospitality!   Three Things: Grocery Store Sale of Alcohol Repeal of DACA - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Anonymous letters   Get Money Out Maryland's Doug Miller Get Money Out Campaign finance reform         Campaign finance Constitutional convention Free speech?? How editorials are written State of Journalism   Doug's Rapid Fire Book - Anything by Vonnegut Movie - Casablanca Mus...

Episode 11: Howard County Historical Society's Shawn Gladden

Thanks to Joe's Place Deli for their always warm and friendly hospitality! Three Things: HoCo Confederate memorial Courtney Watsonrunning in 9B Democrats Destroyed Baltimore?!?   Shawn Gladden: Confederate memorial, how it got there and where it's going Lost Cause revisionism Robert E Lee Howard Dragoons Criticism of HoCo Historical Society's marketing material HoCo Historical Society's programs HoCo Historical Society's Archive at HCPSS Miller Branch HoCo Histori...

Episode 10: Horizon Foundation CEO Nikki Highsmith Vernick

Thanks to Joe's Place Deli for their always warm and friendly hospitality!  Three Things: mandatory minimums Plan Howard Academy Meatless Monday Nikki Highsmith Vernick Horizon Foundation's mission Bikeway Bike Master Plan Grassroots advocacy Bike Shareprogram Mental health programs End of life planning Changemaker Challenge Future Horizon Initiatives Recommendations: Book - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis Movie - The Emoji Movie Music - Ka...

Episode 9: Downtown Columbia Arts & Culture Commission's Ian Kennedy

Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality! Three Things: Transgender in military Book "Dream Hoarding” The Mooch in New Yorker Magazine Itthe movie Cinebistro   Ian Kennedy: Save Merriweather Housing Commission Merriweather Post's 50th birthday Relationships between IMP, DCAC, Inner Arbor Trust, Downtown Columbia Partnership Artists can express the feelings of the community in ways regular folks can't Downtown development - Merriweathe...

Episode 8: Job Opportunities Task Force’s Caryn York

Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality!   3 Things We're Thinkin' About Body Cameras Ellicott City Flood Anniversary 14 County Council candidates   Job Opportunities Task Force’sCaryn York Bail Bond bill Gubernatorial candidates   Caryn's Favorites Book - Behold the Dreamers (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel Movie - Coming to America Music - Wild Thoughts [Clean] Loves ice cream AND snow cones Meal - Waterman’sin Rock Hall Event - Ex...

Episode 7: Outgoing Howard County Education Association President Paul Lemle

Show Notes Thanks to Joe's Place Delifor their always warm and friendly hospitality   3 Things We're Thinkin' About Maureen Evans Arthurs' letter Howard County government website hacked by Islamic State HCPSS School redistricting  Designing The Weexhibit   HCEAPresident Paul Lemle People Acting Together For Howard   Paul's Favorites The New Jim Crowe Life Is Beautiful Jason Isbell’s Nashville Sound Outdoors - snowball / Indoors - Cherry Garcia Serial podcast...