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I had a great time this morning meeting folks at the Waverly Farmer’s Market!  I am always inspired by the strong show of community at the Farmer’s Market, its great to see such a positive institution thrive in our district.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to say hi!  Special thanks to State Central Committe Candidates Bill Henry Sr. and Nia Govan, and Councilman Bill Henry for coming out with me!

I hope everyone has a restful weekend- if you haven’t gotten your lawn sign yet just e-mail Dan@TorresMaryland.com with your address and we’ll get one up ASAP.

Thanks!

Hector

I want to share another press release with you, again, related to the special interests of Senator Conway.  I hope you’ll agree with me that its time for a change.

Torres charges Conway with supporting the needs of group home providers over the needs of Maryland’s foster care children

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – Democratic state Senate candidate Hector Torres today accused incumbent Joan Carter Conway of caring more about campaign supporters who operate group homes for children than about the success of a state program to move youngsters into adoptive and foster homes.

Conway has complained publicly to state officials that ongoing foster care reforms are putting group home providers out of business.

This week, Governor Martin O’Malley announced that the state’s foster care reform effort known as Place Matters  has been successful at placing more foster-care children in stable and secure homes. The program has achieved a nearly 20 percent increase in adoptions, with most of the affected families living in Baltimore City.

Torres pointed out that  Conway has extensive ties to group home operators. She worked for group home operator Gentry McDonald from 1994 to 1995 has accepted $2800 in campaign contributions from the operator. In 2009 alone, Gentry McDonald received a $145,812 contract from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to operate group homes – one of dozens of contributors to Conway’s campaign who have received government contracts.

“Senator Conway has to decide whose side she’s on,” said Torres, a Democratic challenger in the 43^rd legislative District in Baltimore City. “Is she working for the group home providers who have employed her and sent her major campaign contributions, or is she joining me in strongly supporting the state’s successful effort to give all of our children warm and supportive homes? It’s time she stands with the people, not a special interest.”

Conway said in September that the Place Matters program is “not working” and summoned the head of the agency responsible for the program to Annapolis to answer her questions.  She voiced a concern that the program was putting private group home providers out of business.

“Conway’s position on this issue is a clear indicator of the disconnect that exists between her and her constituents,” Torres said.  “The welfare of Maryland’s vulnerable children is the number one priority of the Place Matters program, and it has been a great success.  Senator Conway chooses to focus on the business interests of her friends to attack the program.  It is not the first time Conway has put business interest and friends ahead of the best interests of our community.”

The Baltimore Sun has editorialized about the success of the state’s effort, noting that it is saving the state significantly. The average group home placement costs between $75,000 and $100,000 a year per child.  Foster families receive about $850 a month for a child.   With budget challenges awaiting legislators in Annapolis, these types of solutions are win-win for everyone, Torres said.

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Friends,

In the past few days our campaign has attracted increasing attention from local media, check out the links below to hear what folks at the Baltimore Sun and City Paper have to say about our race!

http://citypaper.com/news/43rd-district-a-bit-of-a-fight-1.955213

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2010/08/balt_councilman_supports_chall.html

Hector

Bill and Hector discuss economic development on the York Road Corridor

Today, I received the support and endorsement of 4th District City Councilman Bill Henry.  I am very proud and appreciative of his vote of confidence.  Below is the press release of the endorsement.  Thank you Bill!!

BALTIMORE, MD. – Adding to the building momenttumof the challenger’s Senate campaign in northeast Baltimore, City Councilman Bill Henry (D-4th) today strongly endorsed Hector Torres in the Democratic primary for State Senate in the 43rd district.

“Hector Torres has a proven track record of dedicated public service in Baltimore City and I believe he is the candidate who will best represent the interests of the 43rd District in Annapolis,” said Henry.  “His earnest dedication to community empowerment and transparency in state government are some of the important assets that set him apart from the incumbent, but just as important is his commitment to engaging his constituents in matters of the state, and communication with them in a way that fosters civic engagement.  It is with great anticipation of working with a true partner in Baltimore that I announce my support for Hector Torres and I hope that my friends and supporters will join me in electing Hector Torres to the State Senate.”

The race for State Senate in the 43rd district – half of which is made up of Henry’s City Council district – has become one of the most contested and watched races in the state.  Hector Torres is a 29-year veterean of the Baltimore City Fire Department, and is noted by Forbes.com to be “one of the area’s most visible minority leaders”.  In an energetic grassroots campaign, Mr. Torres has knocked on over 4,000 doors this summer.  Torres, who sits on the Baltimore City Planning Commission with Henry, was pleased by the show of support.

“I’m glad to see that Councilman Henry appreciates the distinctions that my campaign has made to differentiate myself fromthe incumbent senator.”  Torres remarked.  “I look forward to working with Councilman Henry to be part of building a better Baltimore outside the legislative session, by actively participating in neighborhood and community organizations and partnering with city leaders to best serve the 43rd.”

Since there are no candidates filed in other party primariees, the Democratic primary on September 14th will decide the outcome of the general election.

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Although invited, Senator Conway did not attend the community walk

Thank you to the Better Waverly Community for the invitation to walk and talk with community members.  It was an enjoyable evening.  Special thanks to Mr. Joe Stewart for the coordinating the walk and making the introductions.

If campaign finace irregularities on my recent postings have failed to arouse concerns, perhaps the following will.   Senator Conway has received campaign contributions from contractors, construction companies, architects, demolition companies and the like totaling over $71,000.  The majority of these entities are based outside of Senator Conway’s district and many of them are not even Maryland-based companies.   So why are these donations being made?

All of these donors benefit from government contracts.   Although information regarding which companies receive government contracts of over $25,000 is only available for the years or 2008 and 2009, there are lots of examples in just these two years of entities which donated to Senator Conway beforehand and later received sizable contracts.    The conclusions are left for you to make.

If you focused on Senator Conway’s LLC contributions after visiting the Maryland Board of Elections website on campaign finance, you my have missed another pattern.  Go back and check out the donations made to the Senator by the liquor industry.  Add up the contributions made by the Maryland Beer Wholesalers Association, corner liquor stores, bars, and lobbyists and you will see donations exceeding $40,000.  (I know this is time consuming because of the Senator’s long list of contributors – 62 pages)

When you couple these extraordinary donation amounts with liquor issues involving Senator Conway, you are bound to raise your eyebrows.  For instance, check out the Baltimore Sun story detailing the Senator’s lead sponsored bill to limit police oversight of liquor stores, bars, clubs and other establishments with liquor licenses.  According to the article, the Senator believed the police were ‘usurping the authority of the city liquor board’  See the entire story here.

And then there is the story of the Chief Liquor Inspector’s suspension after he claimed that several members of the Board of Liquor License Commissioners were ‘engaging in political collusion and corruption to protect some bar owners on The Block from sanctions’.   The Chief, Samuel Daniels, Jr. also asserted that Senator Conway colluded with the board members to remove him from office and aimed to have her husband assume his position.  Read the entire story here.

What’s the true impact of the liquor industry in our district???

The York Road Partnership, an umbrella group of neighborhoods and institutions along the York Road corridor, will host tonight’s candidate’s forum and focus attention on education issues and the liquor problems that have plagued the York Road coridor.  The discussion should be lively.

The forum will be held at St. Mary’s Church Halll, 5502 York Rd (enter from rear parking lot) from 7:15-8:45 pm.   Hope to see you  then.

In Maryland, any individual or corporation is limited in donation to $4,000 per candidate but a loophole in the law allows wealthy contributors to bypass this. For a small fee, an individual or business can establish a limited liability corporation (LLC) or partnership (LLP). This LLC can then donate another $4,000. Create another one and you can donate another $4,000. To add to this deception, you can even obscure your name when you create the LLC, making it difficult to find out who you are.  Its a loophole that many ethical politicians have tried to close. Delegate Bobo has said, “candidates bear some responsibility for whom they choose to accept contributions from”.

Go the the Maryland Board of Elections website on campaign finance to find out how much Senator Conway has received in LLC donations with completely mysterious origins.  Try to track down Marco Concepts LLC, KSP LLC, Team Ground Control LLC, CNI LLC, R&L Fulton LLC, Lowry LLC- my math says about $18,700 comes from these suspect donors- far more than I’ve spent on my entire campaign.  One has to wonder, if so much money is coming from such questionable sources, who is Joan Carter Conway really representing?

Check out a complete list of donors at this official Maryland Board of Elections website.

And check out this article on LLC contributions

If you’ve missed the debate at the Lauraville Improvement Association or NECO’s candidate forum, you get a third chance this Wednesday.  I hope you can join us to hear about the issues that are so important to the citizens of the 43 Legislative District and the State of Maryland.  The York Road Partnership, an umbrella group of neighborhoods and institutions along the York Road corridor, will host the candidate’s forum and focus attention on education issues and the liquor problems that have plagued the coridor.  The discussion should be lively.

The debate will be held at St. Mary’s Church Halll, 5502 York Rd (enter from rear parking lot) from 7:15-8:45 pm.