Last Updated on February 12, 2026
Fifteen residents met in CTS 116 at 1 PM on February 5, 2026.
Bill Stewart, Outreach lead for MD FWD was our speaker.
Topics discussed:
MD FWD would like to see these changes happen in MD:
- FWD wants to build community groups that can identify the needs citizens would like government to meet.
- Include Independent candidates in a single, all-candidate primary
- Support special elections instead of committee appointment to fill MD legislature vacated seats
- Adoption of term limits
- End gerrymandering by having an independent redistricting commission review district boundaries every census year.
- Election reform to see more communities, counties and maybe statewide elections use Ranked Choice Voting.
- Discussed SAVE Act and pros/cons of requiring people to use birth certificate and/or passports to be allowed to vote, that the US Constitution gives control of elections to the states.
- To have FWD become a recognized party in MD, 10,000 voter signatures are required. In states where FWD has become a party a professional organization has been hired to collect enough verified signatures in the time allowed. MD FWD needs to do this too.
- MD FWD Endorsed candidates must sign candidate pledge https://www.
marylandforwardparty.com/ actions/candidate-pledge. They are vetted, interviewed, background checked before endorsement. Most important FWD chooses candidates more interested in dealing with issues than in personal gain.
Items of National Importance: U.S. government needs to adopt a budget and make the hard choices to keep it balanced. It is very expensive to run things the way they are done now.
How our club can help MD FWD:
- Introduce FWD board members to leaders in other Retirement communities who might be interested in starting a club like ours.
- At our March meeting, review and critique various fund solicitation scripts asking for donations to help fund the voter signature drive.
- Participate in letter-writing campaigns when asked.
OUR NEXT MEETING: March 5, 2026, 1 PM, Charlestown Square Classroom 116. Lee Bradshaw, Legislative Affairs lead will discuss the MD bills his team has been following this session.
Rose Ann Wade