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Below, find a Letter to the Editor in response to the op-ed written by Ron Smith in the November 26th edition of The Baltimore Sun (available at: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bs-ed-smith-20101126,0,412632.column).  This letter is co-authored by myself and Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, sent on November 27, 2010.  

Source: Baltimore Curriculum Project

Senator-elect Bill Ferguson visited three BCP schools this week: City Springs School, Hampstead Hill Academy, and Wolfe Street Academy.

At City Springs Senator-elect Ferguson met with parents, who shared their views on public education and their desire for a new sports field next to the school.

Bill Ferguson is attempting to unseat George Della

The primary elections are just days away, and around the state the vast majority of incumbents don't have much to worry about.

But the State Senate race in the 46th District appears to be a lot tighter than anyone expected.

The district includes Baltimore City's water-front – Greektown and Canton all the way around to Brooklyn and Curtis Bay. State Sen. George Della has represented the district since 1982.

Posted by David Nitkin
weblogs.baltimoresun.com

Two Baltimore city councilmen have endorsed challenger Bill Ferguson, a 27-year-old aide to city schools CEO Andres Alonso who hopes to unseat veteran lawmaker Sen. George W. Della Jr. in a hotly contested Baltimore legislative race.

COLE & REISINGER BACK UPSTART AGAINST LONG-TIME INCUMBENT

I’m looking forward, not backward. An education champion is something we need.
— City Councilman Bill Cole

By Alan Z. Forman
Investigative Voice

On the heels of this week’s Baltimore Sun endorsement, Bill Ferguson, the upstart 27-year-old candidate running against long-time incumbent State Sen. George W. Della Jr., picked up even more momentum Friday when he received the enthusiastic support of two prominent members of the Baltimore City Council.

Councilmen Say: It's Time For New Leadership, Renewed Focus On Schools

WHY: Councilmen Cole and Reisinger are taking the unprecedented step of endorsing a challenger over Sen. George Della (D-46), who has served in various elected offices since the mid-1970s.

Our view: The state Senate race in South Baltimore's 46th District shows the potential for new energy and ideas in Annapolis

It's rare for an election to so clearly capture the changing nature of a community the way the race for Baltimore's 46th state Senate district does. The traditional blue collar communities around Baltimore's waterfront have, for years, been transforming into an enclave of young professionals, and each constituency has a representative in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

Senate 46th District: "...Bill Ferguson has worked hard to make headway by focusing on education as an issue. He talks a good game, and he has a well-thought out platform that offers some concrete ideas and plans rather than ear-pleasing campaign boilerplate. Della is an estimable figure, in both Baltimore and Annapolis, but this time around we say a vote for Ferguson is a vote for next-generation Baltimore politics in the most literal sense.

Endorsement: Ferguson

For the first time in Baltimore history, voters in the 46th District will be able to participate in early voting. Early voting begins on Friday, September 3 and continues through Thursday, September 9 (no voting will take place on Sunday, September 5) and it presents us with an invaluable opportunity to send shockwaves across the political spectrum.

State to receive 250 million dollars for schools.

By Liz Bowie, The Baltimore Sun

Maryland was one of nine states and the District of Columbia declared a winner Tuesday in the $4.3 billion education competition designed to reshape teaching in schools across the country.

The $250 million the state will receive by Sept. 30 will help to fund what state leaders call a new wave of education reforms.

CityPaper.com
BY VAN SMITH

Forty-sixth District Sen. George Della has been representing Baltimore’s waterfront precincts in Annapolis for many moons, as his father did before him. But in light of the latest campaign-finance reports, due yesterday, it looks like the distinguished, gray-haired senator faces a real challenge from 27-year-old upstart Bill Ferguson, a lawyer with a background as a Baltimore City Public Schools teacher (see City Paper’s 46th District coverage).

Baltimore City Paper

Bill Ferguson, the 27-year-old Democratic candidate for the 46th District’s state Senate seat, knows he’s in for a fight. He knew that once he decided to run and started going around the district and introducing himself door to door. “At the beginning of conversations, people always said, “You’re going up against an institution—you know that, right?’” Ferguson says. “And, yes, I definitely understand. My eyes are wide open.”

Dear Friend,

It’s been so crazy here in DFER-land the last few weeks (with key primary races in full swing all around the country) that we’ve hardly had a chance to pay our August Education Reformer of the Month his due respect.

Bill Ferguson, this Bud’s for you.

Baltimore, MD - Earlier today the MD State Council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced their endorsement of Bill Ferguson, candidate for State Senate in Maryland's 46th legislative district.

SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North America, focusing on uniting workers in the key service sectors of healthcare, public services and property services to improve the lives and services that their 2.2 million members provide.

For the past several weeks, we have implored you to invest in this campaign.  On our last day available for online contributions before the filing deadline, we received almost 60 contributions online totaling $5,360, proving that the voters of the 46th District are ready for change.

We have terrific news! Because of our grassroots efforts knocking doors and organizing support across the 46th District, The Baltimore Sun has just called our race "the most dynamic legislative race" in Baltimore! This is a major validation of the work that we have put in to this campaign so far!

Check out the article here.

There are only 40 days left until the September 14th Primary Election! As we near the final month of this race, I want to take the time to thank each of you for supporting our campaign. Without your support we would not be here today and it is with your continued support that we will win this race.

On August 11th we will be gathering to reflect on how far we have come, and why this race is so important for Baltimore's future. I want to personally invite each and every one of you to join me as we continue to fight for a better Baltimore.

Nine weeks ago, I began this journey in the 46th District. At the time, I knew the campaign would be extremely difficult. Challenging a 27-year incumbent would be no easy task. I knew our City was primed and ready for a new generation of leaders to step up and challenge the status quo, but I heard over and over that the risks may be too large to overcome. Nine weeks ago, many stakeholders worried that the power of incumbency was too immense to overcome to change the trajectory of our City.

Of all Michelle Rhee's accolades and accomplishments, the most impressive - and important - is that she was a Baltimore City Public School teacher who raised student achievement in her classroom.

Ms. Rhee joined me last week to discuss the urgent need to elect policymakers with the creativity, know-how, and courage to improve our schools. Watch this video to hear both of us describe why we can't afford the same political leadership that has failed Baltimore's kids.

(Annapolis, MD, July 26th, 2010) Today, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released its second round of endorsed candidates for Maryland Senate and the House of Delegates in the 2010 state elections. These seven Senate and 49 House endorsed candidates have all demonstrated leadership on environmental issues and a commitment to an open-door policy when it comes to working with us to protect the environment.

Last week we saw how the media is defining this race: who can make the most money? This week, key education reform groups and individuals turned the focus of the election where it belongs: the issues. Michelle Rhee, a nationally renowned progressive education reformer, says our failing education system is the biggest problem this country faces today.

Today, I am asking you to support me in my effort to attack this problem in the 46th District.

About Democrats for Education Reform (DFER)
DFER's mission is to encourage a more productive dialogue within the Democratic Party on the need to fundamentally reform American public education. Each month, we identify one candidate who is standing up for meaningful reform and innovation, and we help demonstrate the broad base of support for his or her efforts.

Bill Ferguson: DFER Reformer of the Month August

Even after all of the doors we've knocked (nearly 6,800), volunteers we've activated (over 100), and calls we've made (over 2,000), the political "establishment" still challenges our campaign's viability. Why? Money.

It looks as though Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, who placed herself at the center of the D.C. mayor's race this month by linking her tenure to that of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, is acquiring a taste for the campaign trail. Next week, she's headed to Baltimore, where she'll appear on behalf of Democratic state Senate candidate Bill Ferguson, a fellow Teach for America alumnus.

If you are a Baltimore area High School student with aspirations of working in politics, this is the perfect summer opportunity for you!

Join us on Tuesday, July 20 for An Evening with Michelle Rhee to engage in a discussion with the nationally renowned education reform advocate and former Baltimore City teacher about the challenges and opportunities for Baltimore City Public Schools.

Please support me by attending this event and contributing to the important discussion about education reform in Baltimore.

You can register for An Evening with Michelle Rhee here.

Join us on Friday, July 16 for a summer BBQ where you can meet the candidate, chat with Bill about the issues and ask him your most pressing questions about how he will bring change to Baltimore as a Maryland State Senator.

On Tuesday, July 6, I officially filed to run for State Senate in Maryland's 46th District. I am running because I believe the 46th District is ready for new energy and progressive leadership.  As a teacher, I witnessed the struggles my students faced on a daily basis and I felt compelled to serve them in a capacity where I could impact change at a broader level.  Too many residents in the 46th District are under-served and underrepresented by our current leadership. The status quo is unacceptable.

We have a lot of exciting news to share with you! It has been a very exciting couple of weeks for us as we have truly hit the ground running in the 46th District.

It looks like the 46th district machine is about to be challenged by a youthful insurgent. I have been informed that Bill Ferguson (who actually lives in the city unlike someone...) will run against George Della in the 46th District State Senate Democratic primary.

This past Saturday, the campaign mobilized for what was our canvass kickoff. Our dedicated staff and volunteers rallied at the campaign office. Three field managers from our great team took flying wings of volunteers out to two of the neighborhoods that make up the really vibrant mosaic of the 46th, Patterson Park and Lakeland in South Baltimore.

Saturday in Cherry Hill, Bill got a chance to spend some time with a civic institution that is a Baltimore original, the Spelman Road Gentleman's Club. The assembled Gentlemen of Spelman Road hosted Bill at a Cherry Hill rec center and public pool for their annual Father's Day barbecue.