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With Republican Opposition, D-16 Democrats Restart Fundraising Push

By WTOP Staff

District 16 House of Delegates candidate Marc Korman (file photo) District 16 Del. Ariana Kelly (file photo)

Bethesda’s District 16 is one of the few Montgomery County House of Delegates races where there’s significant Republican competition.

After two Democratic candidates spent more than $200,000 in pursuit of one of three nominations in the June primary, a couple of the winners are gearing up more fundraising events for the Nov. 4 general election.

Marc Korman, who was the third leading vote-getter in the primary, had just $3,896 left in his campaign account according to the most recent campaign finance report released in late August.

On Saturday, he’ll be joined by Montgomery County House of Delegates Chair Anne Kaiser for a fundraiser at a supporter’s home in Chevy Chase. Tickets cost $50 and $150.

In an email to supporters, Korman campaign treasurer Mark Brown used the words of Bethesda Magazine political reporter Lou Peck to hammer home the fact there is a contested general election to win:

“District 16 may be home to one of the few active contests for General Assembly in the fall
election.”
-Lou Peck, Bethesda Beat, 8/27/14

According to one of Montgomery County’s leading political writers, District 16 may be the only active contest for the House of Delegates in the County.  That’s why Marc needs your support.

If you know Marc, you know he is not taking anything for granted as we approach the general election.  Marc will be on the November ballot for the first time and knows he has to earn a seat in Annapolis.  He has been meeting with community leaders and is back at the doors speaking with voters just like he was before the primary.  But Marc needs sufficient campaign funds to win in November.

That main Republican competition is coming from Rose Li, a research consultant and former NIH employee who reported $27,364 in the bank in her August report. Republican candidates John Andrews and Lynda del Castillo were both nominated by the county’s Republican Central Committee and have waived their right to raise more than $1,000 for campaign purposes.

Democratic incumbent Ariana Kelly reported $19,754 in the bank in August and this week announced her own fundraising event on Oct. 7 at Roof Bethesda, with tickets costing $100, $250, $500 and $1,000.

Democratic incumbent Bill Frick reported $34,844 in the bank in his late August report.

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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