Saqib Ali

When Del. Saqib Ali (D-Gaithersburg) ran for a position in the state General Assembly in 2006 he faced challenges that most politicians do not face.

"Some people said to me ‘you have a funny name' and ‘you are a Muslim,'" Ali told PolitickerMD.com.  "They said just go home. Don't run."

Ali, who is of Pakistani and Indian descent, even had to deal with a protester who sat outside his home one-day in the summer of 2006 carrying a sign and shouting derogatory comments about Ali's religion.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) was among those in attendance at a fundraiser for Del. Saqib Ali (D-Gaithersburg) at the home of family friends in Potomac, Saturday.

"It is a campaign event for my re-election," Ali told PolitickerMD.com over the weekend.

The 33-year-old legislator, who represents District 39 in Montgomery County, is thought to be considering a run for higher office in the future, but pledged that he would "run for delegate" in 2010.

Del. Saqib Ali (D-Gaithersburg) acknowledged that he has been “rebuked” by some members of the House Ways and Means Committee in regards to his sponsorship of House Bill 347, The Special Legislative Session Campaign Finance Reform Act. Despite what the delegate called a “bumpy hearing” before the committee on Tuesday, Ali told PolitickerMD.com that he would continue to push for the bill to be voted on.

The delegate did not know when or if a vote would be scheduled. Del. Sheila Hixson (D-Silver Spring), the chair of the committee, could not be reached for comment. Del. Ann Marie Doory (D-Baltimore), the vice-chair, was also unavailable.

Ali’s bill would prohibit elected officials from accepting campaign contributions during special legislative sessions. Currently, they are forbidden to do so only during the regular 90-day session.

Reiterating past comments, Ali said he introduced the legislation to prevent the appearance of a conflict of interest or other improprieties.

“When voting on important legislation we want to focus on the policy, not on the politics,” Ali said.

Del. Saqib Ali (D-Montgomery County) is the lead sponsor of House Bill 347, The Special Legislative Session Campaign Finance Reform Act, which would prohibit elected officials from accepting campaign contributions during special legislative sessions.

Fundraising is banned during the regular 90-day session of the General Assembly, which meets every year beginning in January. This year, session runs through April 7.

During a special session, as the state saw last fall, elected officials are allowed to fundraise, and many did so in late 2007.

Vacancy Replacement Process Opens Up

All eyes were on Marie Wallace.

The assistant secretary of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee, a hushed crowd packed inside their Kensington headquarters to listen as she read aloud the names of each committee member, followed by his or her vote.

Last night, Montgomery’s Democratic leadership overwhelmingly recommended Al Carr to replace the late Del. Jane Lawton in District 18, the fourth time they have voted to fill a vacant legislative seat this term.

But unlike the prior three selections, this time committee members were required to attach their names to their ballots in accordance with new rules meant to impose more transparency and accountability.