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Roger Berliner: Why You Should Vote For Me

By WTOP Staff

County Councilman Roger Berliner (file photo)We asked local candidates in contested primary elections to write a sub-750 word essay describing why residents should vote for them on June 24.

Next up is Roger Berliner, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the District 1 County Council race. Below is Berliner’s unedited response:

It has been my privilege to serve the residents of District 1 on the County Council for the past 7 and a half years. I was drawn to this work because I have an abiding faith that government can make a positive difference in our lives.

I had the honor of serving some of the most progressive members of Congress in history — Senator Howard Metzenbaum and Congressman Henry Waxman. I have also worked for the California state legislature as a Senior Policy Advisor. Those past experiences in government shaped me into the public servant I aspire to be each and every day — faithful, active, and effective.

And now after serving two terms as your Councilmember, I can say this unequivocally — local government matters most. It touches our lives most directly every day.

We are blessed in Montgomery County with a good government. Not a perfect government. But a good, honest, decent government.

My work on your behalf has been focused on one fundamental goal — preserving and enhancing our quality of life. How? By getting real results that make a real difference. By focusing on the fundamentals:

  • Like when our quality of life was seriously threatened by Pepco’s unacceptably poor service, I used the full force of my office to get Pepco’s attention, and then drafted what became our state law that holds them accountable. And lo and behold, the lights are staying on longer and things are finally getting better;
  • By leading the fight against development where it doesn’t belong, like in the headwaters of Ten Mile Creek, and for it where it does belong, like in White Flint;
  • By leading our County to adopt a Transit First philosophy, pushing to get BikeShare in our county, and adding money to our budget to develop a traffic signal system that could move us 15 percent faster;
  • By voting to fully fund our school system in a way that protects our taxpayers and leading the fight to reduce our tax burden;
  • By working hard to preserve the quality of our wonderful residential neighborhoods and leading our county to a more sustainable future
  • And by taking care of the most vulnerable among us. We are a compassionate community. It is part of our DNA.

That is just some of what I have done as a legislator. But I have also served you in other ways that are even more direct. Making sure the potholes get fixed; helping to get a sidewalk built so our children get to school safely; or getting a street light installed. Working on the essential and nitty gritty things that affect the daily quality of life of you and your family. My office is most proud that the Washington Post, in its endorsement of my candidacy, called our work on behalf of constituents “superb.”

Finally, I am one of those who believe it isn’t just what you do, it is how you do it. And here is how I have tried to do it. With a good, positive spirit. With integrity. Seeking common ground without sacrificing principle.

I believe my record and temperament are why I have earned the support of an extraordinarily broad coalition of organizations and community leaders — the Sierra Club, teachers, the National Organization of Women, the Washington Post, the Gazette, realtors, progressive labor organizations like SEIU, neighborhood and transit leaders, and organizations representing the vast diversity of our community like CASA and the African-American Democratic Club. And the list goes on.

But it shouldn’t surprise you that there are some special interests that aren’t happy with me. The people who wanted to pave over Ten Mile Creek want me out and are supporting my opponent. The people who want to overturn the will of two-thirds of District 1 voters and the judgment of our police chief in how our police department should be managed want me out and are supporting my opponent.

I see this job as not catering to special interests, but to stand up for the larger public interest. And I have done that to the very best of my ability.

So if you want someone who can bring people together,  listen to your concerns, stand up to the special interests, and get the kind of real results that I have produced to enhance the quality of our lives, then I hope I can count on your support. We have more work to do together. I humbly ask for your vote on June 24.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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