Free Republic

For years, we’ve been hearing from experts across the political spectrum about the need to invest more in our failing transportation infrastructure in Maryland. The D.C. region is at the top of the list of the most-congested cities in America, and Baltimore is not far behind. Almost half of Maryland’s roads and bridges are in poor or mediocre condition, and 55 percent of our urban highways are heavily congested. Maryland’s construction industry and its thousands of workers have been decimated by years of severe cuts in transportation investment. Despite what is clearly a growing need, Maryland’s transportation program is a...

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Citing depression, Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan withdrew from the Maryland governor's race Thursday afternoon, News4 reported. Duncan made the announcement at a 2 p.m. news conference in Rockville. "It's difficult for me to announce today that I will no longer be a candidate for governor of Maryland, but it's the right decision for me, for my family and for our state," he said. During his campaign and pre-campaign, Duncan said, he struggled with what has recently been diagnosed as depression. "At first, I attributed this to the stress of the campaign," Duncan said. "But over the...

CHEVY CHASE Panel Says House Is Over the Line Unhappy Neighbors Want Walls Moved By Miranda S. Spivack Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, June 8, 2006; Page B02 Marianne and Marc Duffy say their dream home renovation in Chevy Chase has turned into a suburban nightmare. Their neighbors say the Duffys intentionally flouted building rules when they expanded their $725,000 house on Thornapple Street and have no one to blame but themselves. Yesterday, a Montgomery County appeals board reaffirmed an earlier ruling that the Duffys had rebuilt their house too close to the street and to neighbors. The Duffys say...

A Chevy Chase couple has been ordered by the county to demolish their partially renovated home — or to move it 1.7 feet back from the property line. Marc and Marianne Duffy believe they are victims of a backlash against oversized homes being squeezed into small lots in older neighborhoods. They say they are being punished for a county agency’s mistakes. Neighbors who opposed the construction believe the Duffy’s problems are their own creation. Marc Duffy, an attorney, and Marianne Duffy, a stay-at-home mom and former attorney, served as their own general contractors on the project. ‘‘Three times my husband...

Here's the question: If the election for Maryland governor was held today, who would get your vote? Gov. Robert Ehrlich - R Martin O'Malley - D Doug Duncan - D The poll is on the far left of the page - about halfway down.

Enforcing immigration laws is the federal government's job, gubernatorial candidate Douglas M. Duncan said yesterday, adding that the state is "legally required" to provide basic services such as education and health care to illegal aliens. "It's up to the White House and Congress to protect our borders," said the Montgomery County executive. "We want them to enforce the immigration laws and the employment laws of this country. We're waiting for them to do that. They need to do that." Mr. Duncan's remarks came after a noon rally on the steps of the County Council chambers in Rockville to announce that...

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is urging his part of the state to roll out a welcome mat to illegal aliens after returning from a fact-finding mission to El Salvador. Mr. Duncan thinks we must express compassion to those who enter our country illegally. He thinks we must be tolerant and enlightened, warm and hospitable. He sees the issue of illegal immigration as being incredibly complex and multilayered, and anyone who expects government officials to enforce the laws of our land is a small-minded Neanderthal incapable of grasping the nuances of it all. Mr. Duncan says we cannot send...

OCEAN CITY -- Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. says most Marylanders would disagree with Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan's view that local governments should embrace illegal aliens. "His [view] is divergent from most of the state on that issue," Mr. Ehrlich told The Washington Times during the summer conference for the Maryland Association of Counties this week.

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan said yesterday his recent trip to El Salvador affirmed his belief that local government should embrace illegal aliens and leave immigration enforcement to federal authorities. "We have to find ways to show compassion, not to split up families [and] not to send back half a million Salvadorans to a country that is just trying to create jobs for their current population," he said.

Anna Phelan and Emily Adams wanted to end their four years at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School with a memorable backyard graduation party. There was a blues band, a moon bounce, a popcorn machine and a pit for making s'mores. Guests feasted on hot dogs, hamburgers and bratwurst. There was plenty of ginger ale, cranberry juice and root beer to go around. What there wasn't plenty of was alcohol. "It was pretty low-key, and it was just sweet," Margaret Engel Adams, Emily's mother, said of the party for about 80 friends and relatives. "It was just pretty much out of Norman...