The Frederick News-Post, Md., Political Notes column

Sep. 19—On Sept. 13, the city's Board of Aldermen hosted the Frederick County Council for the first joint meeting between the two groups since 2019. Most of the discussion between the city and county officials revolved around development and school capacity.

Alderman Kelly Russell and Council President Brad Young each took a moment to wish a familiar face in Frederick County politics a happy birthday.

During the officials' comment period, Russell said she was thinking back to how she and Bud Otis organized the first joint city-county meetings years ago.

Otis was a member of the Frederick County Council from 2014 to 2018 and currently serves on the county's Senior Services Advisory Board.

"I'll digress just a little bit and wish former Councilmember Bud Otis a happy birthday," Russell said.

Young said another politician from Frederick County's past shares a birthday with Otis.

"I would be remiss if I didn't wish former County Commissioner, my younger brother Blaine, a happy birthday, as well," Brad Young said.

Blaine Young served as president of the Board of County Commissioners from 2010 to 2014. He was also on the city's Board of Aldermen from 1997 to 2001.

Latino Caucus event

in Frederick

Members of the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus and Frederick County Councilman Kavonté Duckett hosted a town hall meeting on Thursday to discuss issues affecting the Latino and immigrant communities of Frederick.

Attendees identified as their biggest priorities a lack of programs for adults looking to learn English, a need for expanded interpretation services in health care facilities, and access to community centers and public libraries.

Attendees also proposed a number of action items, such as a Latino civic engagement initiative, a workshop on access to public benefits for non-U.S. citizens, and legislation that would expand voting rights for immigrants.

According to Madelin Martinez, the executive director of the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, 60 people participated in the event, which was held at Waverley Elementary School.

State Dels. David Fraser-Hidalgo, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Karen Simpson, Kenneth Kerr, Kris Fair and Joe Vogel represented the caucus.

Advocacy organizations including the RISE Coalition of Western Maryland, El Centro Hispano, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and the Asian American Center of Frederick sent representatives.

Also attending were County Councilman Brad Young and Councilwoman M.C. Keegan-Ayer; Frederick Alderman Derek Shackelford and Alderwoman Katie Nash; and Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater.

Register to vote

Tuesday was National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan civic holiday to get eligible people registered to vote in the next election.

The Frederick County Board of Elections held a voter registration event at Wonder Book and Video on West Patrick Street in Frederick on Tuesday. Another event was scheduled for Tuesday at Thurmont Regional Library on East Moser Road.

There were also multiple opportunities on Tuesday for students and staff members at local colleges to register to vote.

The League of Women Voters of Frederick County hosted a voter registration event at Hood College's Beneficial-Hodson Library and had a table at Frederick Community College's National Voter Registration Day celebration in the student center.

Members of the FCC community could check or update their voter registration, learn about elections and adopt a patriotic rubber duck.

As of Aug. 31, Frederick County had 199,029 registered voters — including 77,578 Democrats, 67,601 Republicans, 1,694 in other parties and 1,192 voters Libertarians.

The remaining 50,964 voters were unaffiliated, according to the Frederick County Board of Elections.

Anyone wishing to make an appointment to register to vote or update their voter record is encouraged to call 301-600-VOTE or email ElectionBoard@FrederickCountyMD.gov.