David Blair requests recount in Democratic race for Montgomery County Executive

David Blair today announced his intention to seek a recount of votes in the Democratic primary contest for Montgomery County Executive. A recount has been expected given the current 42-vote margin between second place finisher Blair and incumbent Marc Elrich, who last night declared victory in the race. Because the totals are so close, Blair is entitled to the recount under election law, and will not have to fund the effort. Blair referred to the Associated Press having declared the race "too close to call" in his statement this morning.

"After several weeks of counting and virtually all votes recorded, the Associated Press has declared this race too close to call," Blair said in the statement. "Given the extremely close margin, we will be requesting a full recount, and are hopeful that the outcome will be in our favor." The Montgomery County Board of Elections has not yet released a schedule for further canvassing or recounts. Stay tuned for updates on that.

Photo courtesy David Blair for Montgomery

Marc Elrich declares victory as counting of Montgomery County election results winds down

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich declared victory in the Democratic primary for that office last night, after the Board of Elections released election results showing him provisionally clinching the nomination. The board said it has only 34 ballots left to count today. As it stands this morning, yesterday's counting gave Elrich a total of 55,469 votes (39.20%), and second-place finisher David Blair 55,427 votes (39.17%). That is a difference of only 42 votes. While that number will change by the end of the day today, it is unlikely to change the outcome of the primary race.

"I am honored to be the Democratic nominee for County Executive," Elrich said in a statement last night.  "I want to thank the voters.  I love this county and care about our residents so very deeply. This primary has been a long journey (and certainly exciting). Now, with the results certain, we must work together to ensure Montgomery County remains solidly Democratic and turns out for [Democratic gubernatorial nominee] Wes Moore and our entire Democratic ticket. I look forward to continuing to work together to help...Montgomery County and all our residents succeed and thrive."

Once the count is final, Blair will have the option of requesting a free recount, due to the razor-thin margin of Elrich's victory. If Elrich prevails again in that count, he will have done what County Executive Neal Potter could not in the early 1990s. Elected in reaction to many voters' belief that developers and special interests were wielding too much power over the County government in 1990, Potter only served one term. Developers put big money behind Rockville Mayor Douglas M. Duncan (D) in the 1994 election, and Duncan served twelve years as executive.

Duncan would likely have been able to easily win again in 2006, but chose to run for governor of Maryland, before withdrawing from that race for health reasons. His successor as executive, Ike Leggett, was somewhere between Duncan and Potter on development issues. With the County political machine forming a more muscular cartel in 2002, it seized majority control over the County Council with the victory of its well-funded "End Gridlock" slate that year. The result was a dynamic of conflict between the executive and legislative branches, that only accelerated with the 2018 election of Elrich, a popular politician who has promoted responsible growth policies to limit the impact of development on existing neighborhoods and school capacity.

As we await confirmation of final results, and the likely recount, political junkies across the County have to thank both men for providing a dramatic race by each running very strong campaigns. This has certainly been exciting - and it's not over yet! But if anyone ever tells you your vote doesn't count or doesn't matter, look at this race.

Surprise! Marc Elrich is still leading after another day of Montgomery County election results

Incumbent Marc Elrich ended yet another day of vote-counting ahead of challenger David Blair in the Democratic race for Montgomery County Executive on Friday. In fact, Elrich expanded his lead in the latest election results released last night. He now has 53,224 votes (39.29%) to Blair's 53,026 votes (39.14%). There are still thousands of provisional ballots to be counted when canvassing resumes at 10:00 AM this morning, at the Germantown campus of Montgomery College. That means that, mathematically, either candidate can still win.

"Old Man Bandit" arrested after Gaithersburg bank heist

Montgomery County police announced this afternoon that they have arrested a long-time bank robber they call the "Old Man Bandit." Steven Gregory Gass has a criminal record of multiple bank robberies that began in the county in 1977, and ended with his imprisonment in 2009. Or so they thought. 

Gass was released from prison in 2019 for "medical reasons," police say, and moved back to Frederick, Maryland. On July 14 at 9:36 AM, police allege Gass attempted to hold up the Wells Fargo Bank on N. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. After handing the teller a handwritten note while wearing a fisherman's cap, the 67-year-old Gass then walked out of the bank emptyhanded, after the teller declined to comply with Gass' instructions and pressed the silent alarm button to call police.

Officers responding saw Gass get into a Honda Civic, and followed him to a Park and Ride lot on Route 80 near I-270. Detectives were able to link him to two other bank robberies, one in Bethesda, and one in Baltimore County. Gass is being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit.

Elrich holds lead in Montgomery County election results, Blair closes deficit by 19 votes

Challenger David Blair slightly narrowed the gap between himself and incumbent Marc Elrich in the latest election results in the Democratic race for Montgomery County Executive. Elrich sustained his lead with 51,883 votes (39.28%) to Blair's 51,729 votes (39.16%) on Wednesday. But the gap between Elrich and Blair shrank by 19 votes, from a difference of 173 votes in Tuesday's count, to 154 votes in yesterday's tally. Stay on the edge of your seats, folks, as no votes will be counted today. Counting will resume Friday at 10:00 AM at the Germantown campus of Montgomery College.

Gaithersburg Dunkin'/Baskin Robbins hosts grand opening Thursday w/ 99¢ ice cream scoops, giveaways

The new Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins store at 16268 Frederick Road, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg, will hold its grand opening tomorrow, Thursday, August 4, 2022, starting at 9:00 AM. If you are one of the first 100 customers, you will win free coffee for a year.

All day on Thursday, guests will be invited to take advantage of a 99-cent Single Scoop Ice Cream offer. From 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, guests can win prizes from the Dunkin’ Prize Wheel, and enjoy on-site music and an appearance by Dunkin’ mascot Cuppy. At 10:00 AM, franchisee Frank Hennessey will host the store’s official ribbon cutting ceremony. Afterward, Hennessey, in partnership with the Joy in Childhood Foundation will present a $1,000 grant to Manna Food Center of Gaithersburg.

The new store is an example of the brand's Next Generation design. That includes an updated, modern interior designed to promote a sense of welcoming and positive energy, the Premium Pours tap and Nitro system, and a special area just for pick-up orders. Best of all, the new location includes a drive-thru!

Latest Montgomery County election results show Marc Elrich widening lead over David Blair

Incumbent Marc Elrich has widened his lead over challenger David Blair in the Democratic Montgomery County Executive race, new election results showed late Tuesday night. After another day of counting mail-in ballots, Elrich extended his lead to 50,765 votes (39.30%) over Blair's 50,592 votes (39.17%). It's not over yet, though, and it's still winnable by either candidate. Counting will resume this morning at 10:00 AM at the Germantown campus of Montgomery College.