Timing is always important…

Darn! I got all excited when I misread the title of District 38B Delegate Mike McDermott’s latest message as “Rally by the River.” I’m used to that term because that’s what the city of my birth called its Friday night party downtown; a weekly event during the summer which carried on for a number of years in the 1980s and 1990s and had an ill-fated attempt at a rebirth last year. (Think of Salisbury’s Third Friday on a 20x larger scale, held on a weekly basis, and set in a park directly on the river.)

But instead McDermott’s gathering is a “Rally on the River,” and I don’t foresee any classic rock bands long past their prime at the event. (Besides, we already have that covered with ‘Chickenstock.’) However, attendees do get to hear from McDermott along with House Republican leadership (at least for the time being, anyway) Minority Whip Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and Minority Leader Tony O’Donnell – and I presume none of them will sing.

There’s a reason I pointed out the timing, though. State law says a sitting member of the General Assembly can’t fundraise while the body is in session, and a Special Session begins later in October. McDermott notes in his message that “the upcoming Special Session in mid October promises to be full of challenges and attacks on the wallets of Marylanders.” His event will be held October 8th, just days before the cutoff.

In many respects the event reminds me of the “Picnic in the Park” former State Senator Lowell Stoltzfus used to have, particularly since that fundraiser was always held in the early fall and featured a number of political speakers who gave their impressions on the election or General Assembly session to come. As an added bonus, Mike also returns to the location where he kicked off his successful 2010 campaign two years earlier.

The details can be found here. It’s not an overly expensive fundraiser, but I already know I have to send my regrets as I have a prior commitment that day.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.