Mfume wrong to skip Trump inauguration

The recent article, “Baltimore Rep. Kweisi Mfume won’t attend Trump inauguration, citing MLK Day” (Dec. 6), made me wonder why it was newsworthy if U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume himself doubted that anyone would miss him.

Moreover, per ChatGPT: The name “Kweisi Mfume” is of Akan (a Ghanaian ethnic group) origin and translates to “Conquering Son of Kings.” I think Donald Trump stands for Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of a colorblind society. Mfume ironically does a disservice to our country’s greatest King by absenting himself.

— Scott Graham, Baltimore

Biden pardon had ample precedent

Regarding the recent letter to the editor, “Pardon brings shame to Joe Biden” (Dec. 5), where was the author’s indignation when Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father-in-law of his daughter?

Additionally, of the other 143 pardons and commutations that Trump did grant, the vast majority were to persons to whom he had a personal or political connection — or else they served a political purpose such as Steve Bannon, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, Roger Stone and Michael Flynn to name a few.

A significant number had been convicted of fraud or public corruption. What President Joe Biden did in pardoning his son Hunter was not kosher, but not unique.

— Ronald L. Smetana, Taneytown

Baltimore County must stop appointment-go-round

The author of the letter touting state Sen. Kathy Klausmeier to become the next county executive in Baltimore County (“Klausmeier is the leader Baltimore County needs,” Dec. 6) failed to mention that if Klausmeier is appointed, the county not only will have an appointed county executive for the next two years, but also an appointed state senator and probably an appointed state delegate.

If past is prologue, the person appointed to replace Klausmeier in the senate will be one of the three Democratic members of the House of Delegates from her district and then that delegate will have to be replaced as well.

Baltimore County law does not provide for a special election to replace a county executive who leaves office before the expiration of his or her term, unlike the laws of the state’s two other large metropolitan counties, Montgomery and Prince George’s. When a vacancy occurs in the Maryland General Assembly, the governor appoints a replacement whose name is submitted by the state central committee of the same political party as the legislator vacating the seat, almost guaranteeing that a political insider will get the nod.

In 2023, Common Cause reported that one-third of the 47-member state Senate and 20% of the 141-member House of Delegates, an astonishing 23% of the entire General Assembly, first acquired their seats by appointment. Given the power of incumbency, it is a distinctly anti-democratic phenomenon.

A bill requiring that vacancies in the General Assembly be filled by special elections under specified circumstances enjoyed broad popular and political support during last year’s session. Unsurprisingly, it was the lack of support by a key Democratic lawmaker from Baltimore County — House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones — that proved fatal. Despite passing the Senate by a 43-2 vote, the bill died in the House Ways and Means Committee without being brought to a vote.

Political inbreeding is a way of life within the Democratic Party in Baltimore County, with access to political power tightly controlled by a handful of elected officials. It results in a climate in which party and personal loyalty is rewarded above all else and discourages the things the county needs most — an infusion of fresh blood, new ideas and a clear vision for reversing the county’s economic stagnation and population decline. The council’s appointment of Klausmeier would make a bad situation worse.

— David Plymyer, Catonsville

Education dollars wasted on unions and administrators

Just Google “United States ranking in education in the world” and you get a very ugly picture. One example included this sentence: “The U.S. Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment.” Unbelievable! Hopefully, Elon Musk will close the U.S. Department of Education down — and soon (“Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy start ‘brainstorming’ with Congress to cut government spending,” Dec. 5).

I have no problem with more dollars going to teachers and the classroom, but dollars to school administration and teachers union management needs to be reduced. I would love to see an accounting of where teachers union dues go. I bet it goes to liberal political candidates and union management but not the kids. Shameful.

— Lyle Rescott, Marriottsville