Mariela Roca announces campaign for Maryland 6th Congressional District seat

Mariela Roca, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Department of Veterans Affairs contractor, has filed to run for U.S. Congress in Maryland's 6th Congressional District. Roca had filed to run in District 8, but the new district map approved by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) placed her Frederick home into District 6. She joins a crowded Republican field in a district that is now in play for the GOP.

If elected, Roca would be the first Latina to represent Maryland in the U.S. Congress. Roca was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is a 12-year resident of Maryland. She deployed to Afghanistan in 2007, and holds a DBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus, an MBA from Mount St. Mary's University, and a BS from the University of Maryland University College.

"With over 16 years of experience between my time in the Air Force and working with the Department of Defense and VA, I understand what it means to serve," Roca said in a statement. "I will listen to you. I will learn from you. And I will lead with you. We need new leadership in Washington that will focus on what unites us, fight inflation, and support both local law enforcement and our armed forces."

Roca will take on fellow Republicans Colt Black, Matthew Foldi, Jonathan Jenkins, Neil Parrott, and Robert Poissonnier in the July 19 GOP primary. Incumbent Democrat David Trone has three Democratic primary opponents and a hefty war chest anchored by his own wealth. Trone's district isn't as favorable for a severely left-wing Democrat as it was a few weeks ago, making this the top Congressional race to watch in Maryland this year.

2 victims assaulted in same wooded area in Rockville 12 hours apart

This is getting to be a regular thing along this stretch of Veirs Mill Road in the Twinbrook area of Rockville - what's going on in the woods there? Rockville City police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at a park in the 2000 block of Veirs Mill yesterday morning at 12:29 AM. The only park there is Twinbrook Park, and the bike trails that connect it with Veirs Mill.

Just twelve hours later, another individual reported being the victim of an aggravated assault in a wooded area in the 2000 block of Veirs Mill yesterday. Montgomery County police responded to the scene at 12:48 PM yesterday, according to crime data. The only wooded areas there are...Twinbrook Park and the bike trails that connect it with Veirs Mill.

Polestar electric vehicles arrive at new Rockville dealership (Photos)

The Polestar showroom is still under construction at 15401 Frederick Road in Rockville, but the first significant inventory of Polestar 2 electric vehicles has arrived on-site. Previously, individual owners could take delivery of their vehicles at this location; this is the first time that vehicles have been parked outside the dealership. 

A Polestar logo obelisk has also been erected near the street, and a logo has been placed on a fence at the side of the showroom. Previously, like the new Rivian facility down Rockville Pike, the dealership property has had no signage to indicate its existence alongside a Volvo showroom. The Polestar 2 vehicles on display are in Snow, Midnight and Thunder colors.

Armed carjacking in King Farm area of Rockville

Just days after the suspect in an armed carjacking in broad daylight in Rockville was captured, another armed carjacking has been reported in the King Farm neigbhorhood of the city. This one took place in a residential parking lot in the 700 block of Elmcroft Boulevard at 10:47 PM Saturday night, according to crime data. Montgomery County police responded to this incident.

Rockville man charged in rape of 16-year-old girl near Lakewood ES

Caden Isaiah Riley

Montgomery County police officers with the Special Victims Investigation Division have arrested a Rockville man after a 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped Saturday night. Rockville City and Montgomery County police responded to a Rockville home Saturday at 8:30 PM, where the teen victim stated she had just been raped. She told police that the alleged perpetrator had been riding a bike on a pedestrian bridge near Lakewood Elementary School, where he allegedly attacked her.

Officers searched the area and located Caden Isaiah Riley, 18, of Rockville. After interviewing him, and executing a search warrant at his home, they obtained items of value to the case and determined there was sufficient evidence to charge him in the assault. Riley was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree rape, and one count of first-degree assault. Police did not indicate his bond status.

Rockville Historic District Commission to determine if N. Stonestreet Ave. house can be demolished

The Rockville Historic District Commission will consider whether or not the home at 903 N. Stonestreet Avenue should be declared historic at its April 21, 2022 meeting. An applicant is seeking permission to demolish the home and build another on the property. The one-and-a-half-story home was built in 1937, and has a later addition in the rear. An aluminum-siding shed is located in the backyard.

A structural engineer retained by the applicant determined that the home is in poor condition with extensive wood rot. Along with foundation cracks and water damage, the engineer concluded that the cost of repairs that would make the home habitable again would meet or exceed construction of a brand-new home. The home has been passed down through the same family since it was first built, and the new home proposed for the site would be for a nephew of the most-recent owner, who passed away in 2019.

City of Rockville Preservation Planner Sheila Bashiri evaluated the property, and has determined it does not meet any of the criteria for historic designation. Bashiri has therefore recommended against declaring the property historic.

Photos via City of Rockville

Hans Riemer touts $725K funding haul in Montgomery County Executive race

Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer (D - At-Large) announced that February and March 2022 have been his strongest fundraising months so far in his campaign for County Executive. His fundraising total now stands at $725,292, and his campaign believes it is on a pace to top $1 million and max out the public financing system. 

Riemer had raised almost $500,000 by the time of his January campaign filing, meaning that more than $225,292 was brought in between then and his April 15 filing. Incumbent County Executive Marc Elrich (D) raised $27,805 in eligible private contributions between January 13, 2022 and April 4, according to his campaign's most recent filing with the Maryland State Board of Elections. Elrich had $390,144.91 in his County Executive campaign account as of April 4, and qualified for another $85,000 in matching public funds. Both men are using public financing.

“We’re powered by grassroots donors who want to see Montgomery County making faster progress on jobs and housing, climate action and policing reform,” Riemer said in a statement. “Our supporters are looking for a stronger commitment to kids and education than what they have seen from the Executive and they want leadership that is focused on the future, not stuck in the past.” Riemer's press release said his campaign contributions came from 1,149 individual County residents, and that he is accepting no money from corporations, PACs, or any contributions over $250.

Democrat Peter James is the only other candidate in the race to file an April report as of today. He only recently entered the race and has raised less than $1000. Democrat David Blair is not required to file a report this month because his committee was formed prior to the January filing, and he is not using public financing. Republicans Shelly Skolnick and Reardon Sullivan have not filed a finance report yet; both just entered the race last week. Democrat Tom Hucker dropped out of the County Executive race Friday night.