As of yesterday, 1004 Democrats voted in District 23A. Ahmed for House of Delegates is the most visible team at Bowie Library. You can also request Absentee ballot from Maryland Board of Elections website by close of business today.
Here is the breakdown of voters in District 23A:
Precinct People
Precinct 07-001 142
Precinct 07-002 40
Precinct 07-003 54
Precinct 07-004 48
Precinct 07-005 73
Precinct 07-013 61
Precinct 10-006 19
Precinct 10-007 7
Precinct 10-008 3
Precinct 10-010 8
Precinct 10-011 7
Precinct 14-001 64
Precinct 14-002 17
Precinct 14-003 48
Precinct 14-004 50
Precinct 14-005 99
Precinct 14-006 35
Precinct 14-007 34
Precinct 14-009 46
Precinct 14-010 58
Precinct 14-011 43
Precinct 20-004 12
Precinct 20-008 15
Precinct 20-009 21
Total 1,004
Showing posts with label city of bowie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label city of bowie. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
More About Ahmed
Letter Written in support of Shukoor Ahmed for State Delegate
I met Shukoor Ahmed years ago while he was campaigning in Lanham and have been following him ever since. I've found that he has a moderate stand on most of the issues. His views seem to be in sync with most of us who live in this county. He has consistently supported parental choice in public schools, supported the ICC, and supported finding new revenues for education. I, as a businessman, trust him to be a good custodian of our taxes. As an executive of a small business in an economy which is heavily technology and innovation driven, Shukoor would be an ideal delegate who would bring new ideas and better solutions to Annapolis. We've had a lot of people who have been in office for years and have lost touch with the public. Now is the time to elect an "outsider," someone who has not held an elected office before, someone like you and me, who can understand our needs and relate to us.
INNOCENT FRANCIS
Bowie
I met Shukoor Ahmed years ago while he was campaigning in Lanham and have been following him ever since. I've found that he has a moderate stand on most of the issues. His views seem to be in sync with most of us who live in this county. He has consistently supported parental choice in public schools, supported the ICC, and supported finding new revenues for education. I, as a businessman, trust him to be a good custodian of our taxes. As an executive of a small business in an economy which is heavily technology and innovation driven, Shukoor would be an ideal delegate who would bring new ideas and better solutions to Annapolis. We've had a lot of people who have been in office for years and have lost touch with the public. Now is the time to elect an "outsider," someone who has not held an elected office before, someone like you and me, who can understand our needs and relate to us.
INNOCENT FRANCIS
Bowie
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Final Maryland Twitter Rule Omits Archiving Requirements
Dear Citizen,
I was interviewed by Kate Kaye last week about new social media disclosure rules for candidates in Maryland.
I am the only candidate who is maximizing the use of social media to connect, engage, inform and empower citizens in Prince George's county.
Thank you and enjoy this article.
+++++++++++++
Social media and online ad disclosure rules for Maryland political candidates officially passed July 20. The final law, however, omits an item in earlier versions that would have required candidates to maintain a detailed log of text messages and social media posts. Still, Maryland's director of candidate and campaign finance suggested that candidates will need to store copies of all online communications anyway.
In June, the state's Board of Elections unanimously passed rules that require political campaigns to include a disclosure statement on Facebook profile pages, Twitter account pages, and display ads, but not in Google AdWords and AdSense text units or Facebook's display units. The statement, known as an authority line, features standard language indicating an association with an election campaign. The ruling was passed as an emergency regulation because 2010 election campaigns - some of which will use social media and online advertising - are kicking into gear.
But a final hurdle had yet to be crossed. Maryland State Delegate Mike Smigiel, who is running for re-election this year, called for a public hearing to discuss the rules before final approval. Concerned that the new social media rules could have detrimental results, Smigiel voted against them during the July 20 hearing. He was the lone "nay" in the 11-1 passage of the law. The rule's proponents were backed by representatives of Google, Facebook, AOL, and Yahoo who were present when the rule was first passed as well as at the final July 20 vote.
The final law leaves out a passage that would have required candidate campaigns to keep a detailed archive of their online campaign materials, stored in paper or a non-rewriteable electronic format for at least a year. Now, according to Jared DeMarinis, Maryland's director of candidate and campaign finance, candidates don't have to keep a log of web communiques like Facebook posts or e-mails, but, in accordance with a pre-existing rule applying to traditional media, they will have to make sure those online communications are stored somewhere.
"There is [already] a provision that requires archiving campaign materials for one year," said DeMarinis, suggesting campaigns "print out copies."
The rules go into effect August 3. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that voters can tell the difference between an official campaign message and a phony one. One concern is that political campaigns could create false social media accounts associated with opponents and use them to convey damaging information about them. However, supporters of opponents could do the same and not be in violation of the law.
Shukoor Ahmed's Twitter page does not include the authority line that will be required August 3 either. The Democratic primary candidate for Maryland's District 23A House of Delegates seat (pictured above) is working on incorporating authority lines into his online communications, such as his YouTube videos. Yet, because he uses his personal Twitter account for his campaign communications, he's not sure if or how he will incorporate the authority line.
"I'm not sure how the rules are going to play out," Ahmed told ClickZ News. He believes most Maryland election candidates "were not engaged" in discussions about the rules. "Candidates and people like me will have difficulties to really put our arms around the social media part," he said, noting concern that messages or videos he posts could be reposted by supporters without the authority line.
DeMarinis affirmed that anything posted by supporters will not require the authority line because their communications are considered free speech. He also noted that campaign videos posted online are required to include the authority line disclosure in the video content itself.
I was interviewed by Kate Kaye last week about new social media disclosure rules for candidates in Maryland.
I am the only candidate who is maximizing the use of social media to connect, engage, inform and empower citizens in Prince George's county.
Thank you and enjoy this article.
+++++++++++++
Social media and online ad disclosure rules for Maryland political candidates officially passed July 20. The final law, however, omits an item in earlier versions that would have required candidates to maintain a detailed log of text messages and social media posts. Still, Maryland's director of candidate and campaign finance suggested that candidates will need to store copies of all online communications anyway.
In June, the state's Board of Elections unanimously passed rules that require political campaigns to include a disclosure statement on Facebook profile pages, Twitter account pages, and display ads, but not in Google AdWords and AdSense text units or Facebook's display units. The statement, known as an authority line, features standard language indicating an association with an election campaign. The ruling was passed as an emergency regulation because 2010 election campaigns - some of which will use social media and online advertising - are kicking into gear.
But a final hurdle had yet to be crossed. Maryland State Delegate Mike Smigiel, who is running for re-election this year, called for a public hearing to discuss the rules before final approval. Concerned that the new social media rules could have detrimental results, Smigiel voted against them during the July 20 hearing. He was the lone "nay" in the 11-1 passage of the law. The rule's proponents were backed by representatives of Google, Facebook, AOL, and Yahoo who were present when the rule was first passed as well as at the final July 20 vote.
The final law leaves out a passage that would have required candidate campaigns to keep a detailed archive of their online campaign materials, stored in paper or a non-rewriteable electronic format for at least a year. Now, according to Jared DeMarinis, Maryland's director of candidate and campaign finance, candidates don't have to keep a log of web communiques like Facebook posts or e-mails, but, in accordance with a pre-existing rule applying to traditional media, they will have to make sure those online communications are stored somewhere.
"There is [already] a provision that requires archiving campaign materials for one year," said DeMarinis, suggesting campaigns "print out copies."
The rules go into effect August 3. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that voters can tell the difference between an official campaign message and a phony one. One concern is that political campaigns could create false social media accounts associated with opponents and use them to convey damaging information about them. However, supporters of opponents could do the same and not be in violation of the law.
Shukoor Ahmed's Twitter page does not include the authority line that will be required August 3 either. The Democratic primary candidate for Maryland's District 23A House of Delegates seat (pictured above) is working on incorporating authority lines into his online communications, such as his YouTube videos. Yet, because he uses his personal Twitter account for his campaign communications, he's not sure if or how he will incorporate the authority line.
"I'm not sure how the rules are going to play out," Ahmed told ClickZ News. He believes most Maryland election candidates "were not engaged" in discussions about the rules. "Candidates and people like me will have difficulties to really put our arms around the social media part," he said, noting concern that messages or videos he posts could be reposted by supporters without the authority line.
DeMarinis affirmed that anything posted by supporters will not require the authority line because their communications are considered free speech. He also noted that campaign videos posted online are required to include the authority line disclosure in the video content itself.
Ahmed Will Move County Forward
Dear Citizen,
This was a letter written by a former Prince George's County School System Administator who resides in Bowie.
Thank you & Have a good weekend
+++++++++++++++++
I wholeheartedly endorse the election of Shukoor Ahmed to serve as a state delegate in District 23A. I have worked closely with him in trying to protect and safeguard not only the rights of people in his district but throughout the county.
As a small business owner, I can tell you of the countless hours he has spent pouring over data, analyzing situations and agonizing over budgets. He understands the plight of the small business owner, but more than that, he has empathy for those who have lost their jobs, as he recalls his own anguish in having to reduce his staff. Shukoor has a genuine concern for people, and he views each situation as a challenge and rises to meet the challenge.
We all know that these are challenging times, and so, more than ever before, we need Shukoor because he has the vision and the skill sets required to move us forward. I am proud to know him. I am proud to cast my vote for him.
Bill Jones, Bowie
This was a letter written by a former Prince George's County School System Administator who resides in Bowie.
Thank you & Have a good weekend
+++++++++++++++++
I wholeheartedly endorse the election of Shukoor Ahmed to serve as a state delegate in District 23A. I have worked closely with him in trying to protect and safeguard not only the rights of people in his district but throughout the county.
As a small business owner, I can tell you of the countless hours he has spent pouring over data, analyzing situations and agonizing over budgets. He understands the plight of the small business owner, but more than that, he has empathy for those who have lost their jobs, as he recalls his own anguish in having to reduce his staff. Shukoor has a genuine concern for people, and he views each situation as a challenge and rises to meet the challenge.
We all know that these are challenging times, and so, more than ever before, we need Shukoor because he has the vision and the skill sets required to move us forward. I am proud to know him. I am proud to cast my vote for him.
Bill Jones, Bowie
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Shukoor Ahmed for Maryland House of Delegates 23A Update
Dear Friend/Supporter -
I hope you had wonderful 4th of July weekend. I wanted to update you with the progress of our campaign has made. These are some highlights:
1) We have signed a lease for office space and currently are in the process of setting up our office at 6915 Laurel Bowie Road, Suite 250 G. We should be functional by July 12th.
2) Our website is up and running (www.shukoor.com) and we are fixing a few minor tweaks.
3) We are in the process of launching a website which will allow any citizen to make his/her own sample ballot (www.pgballot.com). We hope to roll out by middle or the end of next week. This will be a Democratic Sample Ballot for Prince George’s County.
4) We are also working with couple of smart computer programmers to build an iPhone application which will allow citizens to find polling location; verify their voter registration status and track their absentee ballot request statewide.
5) We are helping David Murray and Edward Burroughs (School Board candidates for District 1 and District 8).
6) We held a fundraiser for them and raised about $ 900 each.
7) Our sign are all over the district. We are now getting into placing smaller yard signs in the next week or so.
8) We will have a Campaign Manager and a Field Director by the end of next week.
9) We had two letters to the editors in all 3 local newspapers (Bowie-Blade News, Bowie Gazette and Laurel Leader). We have about 5 of our supporters ready to write letters to the editor.
10) Our campaign had the highest Fan/Supporters 866 and the next candidate has about 730.
11) We have assisted 6 constituents in identifying job opportunities so far.
12) We have 4 confirmed fundraisers and are on target to raise needed money to win this campaign.
13) We will have a Phone Bank by the end of next week in our office.
14) We were interviewed by Prince Georges Community Television and it was aired on 7th of July.
15) We will be opening up a lot of information about our campaign to bring transparency and empower citizens.
16) We are the most active campaign in disseminating information and opening up opportunities for several businesses to get political customers.
17) We are waving about twice a week for the last 3 weeks. We hope to begin waving 3 times a week from next week.
18) We knocked about 2100 homes already and doing an average of about 90 homes each day.
Thank you very much for all your support. Let us get the word out to all our friends and families who live District 23A.
Have a good weekend and I hope to campaign back after the Soccer Final today in an hour.
Sincerely,
Shukoor Ahmed
Democrat for Maryland House of Delegates 23A
I hope you had wonderful 4th of July weekend. I wanted to update you with the progress of our campaign has made. These are some highlights:
1) We have signed a lease for office space and currently are in the process of setting up our office at 6915 Laurel Bowie Road, Suite 250 G. We should be functional by July 12th.
2) Our website is up and running (www.shukoor.com) and we are fixing a few minor tweaks.
3) We are in the process of launching a website which will allow any citizen to make his/her own sample ballot (www.pgballot.com). We hope to roll out by middle or the end of next week. This will be a Democratic Sample Ballot for Prince George’s County.
4) We are also working with couple of smart computer programmers to build an iPhone application which will allow citizens to find polling location; verify their voter registration status and track their absentee ballot request statewide.
5) We are helping David Murray and Edward Burroughs (School Board candidates for District 1 and District 8).
6) We held a fundraiser for them and raised about $ 900 each.
7) Our sign are all over the district. We are now getting into placing smaller yard signs in the next week or so.
8) We will have a Campaign Manager and a Field Director by the end of next week.
9) We had two letters to the editors in all 3 local newspapers (Bowie-Blade News, Bowie Gazette and Laurel Leader). We have about 5 of our supporters ready to write letters to the editor.
10) Our campaign had the highest Fan/Supporters 866 and the next candidate has about 730.
11) We have assisted 6 constituents in identifying job opportunities so far.
12) We have 4 confirmed fundraisers and are on target to raise needed money to win this campaign.
13) We will have a Phone Bank by the end of next week in our office.
14) We were interviewed by Prince Georges Community Television and it was aired on 7th of July.
15) We will be opening up a lot of information about our campaign to bring transparency and empower citizens.
16) We are the most active campaign in disseminating information and opening up opportunities for several businesses to get political customers.
17) We are waving about twice a week for the last 3 weeks. We hope to begin waving 3 times a week from next week.
18) We knocked about 2100 homes already and doing an average of about 90 homes each day.
Thank you very much for all your support. Let us get the word out to all our friends and families who live District 23A.
Have a good weekend and I hope to campaign back after the Soccer Final today in an hour.
Sincerely,
Shukoor Ahmed
Democrat for Maryland House of Delegates 23A
Thursday, July 1, 2010
City of Bowie, Business Leaders Plan Incubator Help for Start-Ups
Shukoor Ahmed has been a very active board member and Treasurer of Bowie Business Innovation Center. He is actively mentoring many businesses and entreprenuers and extended technical help from V-Empower, Inc. to build their website www.bowiebic.com.
Here is an article from today's Gazette:
As many as 10 local startup companies could soon be doing business in leased office space with access to services, as organizers move closer to opening a business incubator at Bowie State University this fall.
The center is an initiative by the city of Bowie in an attempt to develop its entrepreneurial culture and also diversify its business base, which right now relies heavily on retailers and commercial and residential real estate.
To date, the city has committed close to $200,000 to the project, with $109,930 paid to consultant Angle Technology Group for a 2007 feasibility study and subsequent services through February, according to the city manager's office. In March, the City Council extended the Angle contract to run from March 1 through Sept. 30 at a cost of $30,360.
The city has also budgeted an additional $50,000 for the fiscal year that started July 1.
Money coming in for the project so far is a $25,000 grant from the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, a state entity in Columbia that focuses on the commercialization of technology and helping startups.
Creation of the Bowie Business Innovation Center, the nonprofit set up to oversee the center, enables the board to solicit corporate contributions to the program, and talks with businesses about support are already under way, said Lisa Smith, a consultant with the Angle Technology Group who has been working with local organizers to get the incubator up and running.
The board plans to look for professional service companies as tenants, said James Harris, a Bowie attorney who heads the BBIC board, at a public informational meeting about the project Friday at City Hall.
"That's unusual, because most incubators focus on technology," Harris said. "We wanted to have a niche, and also represent underrepresented companies."
Service companies could run the gamut from information technology, finance and telecommunications to government contractors, construction companies, home-based businesses and businesses connected to Bowie State.
Still to be resolved is how much BBIC will pay the university for the space on the second floor of BSU's Center for Business and Graduate Studies building, which opened in 2007, Harris said.
Once that is known, probably by the end of July, the board can decide how much to charge the incoming entrepreneurs for the office space and the services that will be provided by a paid staff, he said.
Services for tenants could include such things as business plan evaluation, market research, financial forecasting and access to office equipment and a conference room, according to organizers.
The BBIC program also plans to accept a number of affiliate, or non-resident, companies, who would pay a lower fee for access to services, but they would not have a space in the building.
The fees to be charged, along with the qualifications for applying, will be posted on the center's website at www.bowiebic.com as decisions are made and information becomes available this summer, organizers said.
"The goal is to select companies that are innovative, growth-oriented businesses," said Smith, who added that the board expects to start soliciting applications by September.
There are no preferences being given to minority-owned businesses or students, who would be considered along with anyone else who met the criteria, Smith said. Depending on their stage of development, student businesses might instead be served by the center's affiliate program, which would still provide mentoring and training but not office space.
Bowie State sees the center as a benefit for its business students, who will have access "to entrepreneurs and their real-world business examples for case studies, class projects, lectures, and seminars," wrote Anthony Nelson, dean of the College of Business in an e-mail.
Students will also have opportunities for internships and part-time and full-time jobs, as well as "an early introduction to entrepreneurship and an opportunity to develop their own businesses," he wrote.
In return, the start-ups will have access "to subject matter experts among BSU faculty and staff, well-educated undergraduate and graduate students, and state-or-the art offices and meeting spaces," Nelson wrote
Here is an article from today's Gazette:
As many as 10 local startup companies could soon be doing business in leased office space with access to services, as organizers move closer to opening a business incubator at Bowie State University this fall.
The center is an initiative by the city of Bowie in an attempt to develop its entrepreneurial culture and also diversify its business base, which right now relies heavily on retailers and commercial and residential real estate.
To date, the city has committed close to $200,000 to the project, with $109,930 paid to consultant Angle Technology Group for a 2007 feasibility study and subsequent services through February, according to the city manager's office. In March, the City Council extended the Angle contract to run from March 1 through Sept. 30 at a cost of $30,360.
The city has also budgeted an additional $50,000 for the fiscal year that started July 1.
Money coming in for the project so far is a $25,000 grant from the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, a state entity in Columbia that focuses on the commercialization of technology and helping startups.
Creation of the Bowie Business Innovation Center, the nonprofit set up to oversee the center, enables the board to solicit corporate contributions to the program, and talks with businesses about support are already under way, said Lisa Smith, a consultant with the Angle Technology Group who has been working with local organizers to get the incubator up and running.
The board plans to look for professional service companies as tenants, said James Harris, a Bowie attorney who heads the BBIC board, at a public informational meeting about the project Friday at City Hall.
"That's unusual, because most incubators focus on technology," Harris said. "We wanted to have a niche, and also represent underrepresented companies."
Service companies could run the gamut from information technology, finance and telecommunications to government contractors, construction companies, home-based businesses and businesses connected to Bowie State.
Still to be resolved is how much BBIC will pay the university for the space on the second floor of BSU's Center for Business and Graduate Studies building, which opened in 2007, Harris said.
Once that is known, probably by the end of July, the board can decide how much to charge the incoming entrepreneurs for the office space and the services that will be provided by a paid staff, he said.
Services for tenants could include such things as business plan evaluation, market research, financial forecasting and access to office equipment and a conference room, according to organizers.
The BBIC program also plans to accept a number of affiliate, or non-resident, companies, who would pay a lower fee for access to services, but they would not have a space in the building.
The fees to be charged, along with the qualifications for applying, will be posted on the center's website at www.bowiebic.com as decisions are made and information becomes available this summer, organizers said.
"The goal is to select companies that are innovative, growth-oriented businesses," said Smith, who added that the board expects to start soliciting applications by September.
There are no preferences being given to minority-owned businesses or students, who would be considered along with anyone else who met the criteria, Smith said. Depending on their stage of development, student businesses might instead be served by the center's affiliate program, which would still provide mentoring and training but not office space.
Bowie State sees the center as a benefit for its business students, who will have access "to entrepreneurs and their real-world business examples for case studies, class projects, lectures, and seminars," wrote Anthony Nelson, dean of the College of Business in an e-mail.
Students will also have opportunities for internships and part-time and full-time jobs, as well as "an early introduction to entrepreneurship and an opportunity to develop their own businesses," he wrote.
In return, the start-ups will have access "to subject matter experts among BSU faculty and staff, well-educated undergraduate and graduate students, and state-or-the art offices and meeting spaces," Nelson wrote
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