County Council candidate touts her religion
Baltimore Sun colleague Arthur Hirsch reports:
In the race for the Baltimore County Council in District 2, with its large Jewish population, identity politics is never far below the surface.
Candidate Sherrie Becker – one of six candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the open seat being vacated by county executive candidate Kevin Kamenetz -- made a point of saying in upper case letters in a recent direct mail flier that she is the “ONLY JEWISH WOMAN CANDIDATE” in the contest.
“It’s who I am, I’m proud of who I am,” Becker, who is executive director of the Pikesville Chamber of Commerce, said on Sunday. “It’s one of the things that people need to know about me.”
She quickly added that “I have always asked people to vote for me because I’m the most qualified candidate.” Because she mentioned her religion “does not mean I’m asking people to vote for me for that reason.”
She said the mailer went out in late August to Democratic voters in three district zip codes that have had the highest voter turnout in recent elections. She could not say how many households that would be.
She said part of the content of the mailer was dictated by the fact that the primary election falls between the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and was meant to wish voters a happy new year. That phrase in Hebrew, “L’Shana Tova,” appears on the mailer.
The religious dimension of the District 2 election was explored in The Baltimore Jewish Times in July. Because the seat has been held by a Jewish councilman since the districts were created 44 years ago, the Times reported that many people feel it should stay that way, especially with redistricting approaching next year. Some people feel without Jewish representation, the district could be carved up at the expense of Jewish political clout.
Of the five other candidates running for the office, two are women, three are men. The men, former state delegate Theodore Levin, community activist Alan P. Zukerberg and retired businessman Albert M. Harris, all of Pikesville, are all Jewish. The two women, Timmy Ruppersberger of the Bare Hills neighborhood and Vicki Almond, of Reisterstown, are not.
Almond has said she’s aware of the common wisdom that a gentile cannot win in District 2, but she said she does not believe religion matters that much in this race.
“I don’t think it does to a majority of people,” said Almond, of Reisterstown, a longtime community activist who also worked on the staff of Sen. Bobby Zirkin. She said she was not concerned about the Becker mailer.
“I don’t feel the need to respond to it,” she said. “I’m not paying much attention to these kinds of things.”
Ruppersberger, a cousin of Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, a former Baltimore County executive, also took the mailer in stride.
“I’m trying hard to run my race and not be distracted by, or pay much attention to what the other candidates are doing,” said Ruppersberger, who worked for years as a lawyer with local governments on bonds and finance.
Asked about the significance of the religious dimension in the race, Ruppersberger said “More people tell me it doesn’t matter…It’s not the issue.”
Levin, a lawyer, said he was concerned that the mailer could arouse some hostile reaction from gentile voters.
“It’s in their face, it says this is a Jewish district,” said Levin. “So there’s a backlash against Jewish people. They're resenting they're being dominated by Jews.”
Comments
Let's take a look at who pitched the idea for this article. The Bobby Zirkin camp continues to run a nasty race motivated by fear of losing power and utilization of their political clout.
Looking at the candidates in today's Sun paper it is evident that the only candidate lacking an advanced degree and/or relevant leadership experience is Ms. Almond. I do not trust a puppet to make the important decisions that will shape the future of Baltimore County. I question the wisdom of building a additional middle school which the County School board and census data has deemed unnecessary. While religion shouldn't be the deciding factor for voters on Tuesday, it is important that the 2nd district councilperson shares the values of the people of the 2nd district.
Posted by: BaltimoreRavensFan | September 12, 2010 7:12 PM
Please do your due diligence and research the candidates. A couple are amazing, well-educated and sincere. Vicki Almond may have worked on the PTA, but she lacks leadership necessary for business development and control of a constituency. It would be a shame if she were elected
Posted by: Pikesvillian | September 12, 2010 8:32 PM
County Council positions are for those who are well-accustomed to leadership, enterprise and innovation.
It is very scary that certain candidates lack advanced education and experience in leadership roles.
It is even scarier that incumbents are endorsing these prospective council members.
I urge everyone so strongly consider the qualified candidates.
Sherrie Becker--a strong business leader, community activist and involved citizen.
Timmy Ruppersberger--an accomplished attorney with interests in businesses as well as education.
Vicki Almond is unqualified.
Her Teachers 'Union endorsement came from Bobby Zirkin.
When Vicki Almond left her position of Chief of Staff for Bobby Zirkin, she was replaced by a 23-year-old. Vicki is in her 60s. Food for thought.
We want a leader. We want someone who has INTELLIGENCE. Please, please, please research and do your due diligence.
It will be very scary if someone without leadership experience assumes the role of a leader. Please research before you vote.
Posted by: akb | September 12, 2010 10:12 PM
You have to be kidding me. This article is about a candidate essentially telling people they have to vote for her because of her religion? So only someone of a certain religion should be able to represent an area? I guess that means Ben Cardin shouldn't be Senator because it is not a jewish state? That's a disgusting way to campaign. And to BaltimoreRavensFan, obviously you work for the Becker campaign. How insulting to the community to campaign in such an ugly way. Tell Mel Mintz and Paula Hollinger that we don't need the old, tired, divisive politics. Tell them to crawl back under that rock they came from. And send Sherrie Becker back with them. I'm not sure who I'm voting for, but it sure isn't Sherrie Becker. And I'm Jewish.
Posted by: Pikesville86 | September 13, 2010 12:12 AM
1) Becker's claim that her religion makes her qualified for office is offensive and hateful. What if someone ran against Sen. Ben Cardin, asking for votes as the "only Christian in the race...after all, it's a predominantly Christian state." There would be an outcry.
2) To akb: You insult the teachers if you think they endorse anybody on any basis other than an in-depth review of all the candidates. They chose Almond because they believe she's the best for education.
Posted by: PWR | September 13, 2010 6:40 AM
Re: Formal education.
Having a college or advanced degree doesn't make you educated. I know plenty of those folks who are fools. And not having one doesn't mean you are stupid. Bill Gates didn't graduate from college. My grandfather came to this country with barely a grade school education. He had people skills, a generous heart, street smarts, and was a wonderful man, and he became very successful. To suggest that formal education (while desirable) is a qualification for public office is insulting to him and many others who give much to their families and community.
Posted by: PWR | September 13, 2010 6:50 AM
Hey Sherrie Becker and your ridiculous supporters: If a skin-head ran around saying "vote for me - I'm the only white in the race" or if Pat Jessamy ran around saying "vote for me, I'm the only Christian in the race and my opponent is Jewish" what would you say? Your candidacy is a disgrace. I am one of those people who you told directly that we have to have one of "our own" in this seat. I decided that very second you were completely unfit to lead. To be honest, you should lose your job at the Pikesville Chamber of Commerce for being such an open bigot. I'm voting for Ted Levin - - it is completely irrelevant but he is Jewish. He's also qualified and fit to lead. Vicki Almond is an attractive and decent candidate as well. Sherrie Becker is a disgrace.
Posted by: againstbigotry | September 13, 2010 8:07 AM
A L'Shana Tova mailer sent by a Jewish candidate to only 3 zip codes with high concentrations of Jewish voters in a predominantly Jewish district wishing people a Happy New Year in an election that falls during the Jewish High Holy Days is not newsworthy. I voted for Sherrie Becker because she is the most qualified candidate, not because she's Jewish. That she will be the first woman -- and the most qualified candidate in the district 2 race -- ever to sit on the County Council will be an exciting milestone. That she will be the first Jewish woman to represent District 2 (whose constituents are at least 70% Jewish or more and which has had male Jewish representation on the Council for 44 years, since the district's creation) is a bonus, not a reason for voting for her.
Posted by: MLA | September 13, 2010 8:35 AM
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is a very important race because after 16 years, we have an opportunity to elect someone who is highly qualified (and yes, a degree in higher education and law is certainly a plus), has shown consistent vocal committment to the public interests and constituent communities, who is ethical and offers a balanced, open-minded and thorough approach-with no special interests but all the constituents of the 2nd district. The candidate we need hasn't made campaign promises to serve those special interests financing and supporting their campaign.
This race should be about our entire District and the candidate who will best address the range of isuues that will need a competent and visionary approach in the coming years. The voters need to do their homework and not get sidetracked with the nonsense.
What are the real issues? And have you noticed that Sherrie Becker's Pikesville Commercial is a shambles (have you ever been to Dancin in the Streets??), we have Zirkin's puppet with an inflated former job title, somebody's cousin ....Come on and be the citizen your neighbor needs right now. And ask yourself where will these candidates be AFTER the election. Will they be advocating for you and your community??
We have a candidate who makes me proud and that's ALAN ZUKERBERG.
Posted by: D2For the People | September 13, 2010 12:18 PM
Since we're talking Jewish, just follow me.
per Ms. Becker's own website:
"Some highlights of Sherrie’s leadership at the Chamber:...
Created identity for Pikesville through major events such as.... Miles That Matter/Pikesville 5k ....
Raised over $100,000 for Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center at the University of Maryland through the Miles that Matter/Pikesville 5K ...."
WOW-how's that for creating identity for Pikesville or.... just plain 'ol using her job (CONFLICT!) to raise funds for a big endorsement/campaign funds/special interest namesake cancer center at maryland-far outside of our community/District 2 ??
Now what about her very own JEWISH hospital's cancer center (she says Jewish is who she is)?? Or Northwest??
Is this what our District needs?? I think NOT.
Posted by: D2For the People | September 13, 2010 9:44 PM
Shamless people , Shamless acts , leave no stone unturned and this is an example of it,With all of the Religious insainity going around these days why not cash in on it, she certainly is , I hope that she can do the job , I could careless what invisible being that lives in the sky she believe's in .
Posted by: kwolf443 | September 14, 2010 1:25 AM
I am proud to be Jewish but embarrassed that this was her claim as to her qualifications.
How demeaning to her and to the entire Jewish community to assume that we are shallow enough to vote for a person for that reason alone,
Religious freedom is a blessing that we have in this country - ignorance is not such a blessing!
Posted by: marla | September 16, 2010 11:58 AM
Finally a candidate I'm proud of! Great guy, I'd be willing to knock on doors for this one.
Posted by: K Sias | September 22, 2010 2:37 PM