The Garrett County Democratic Central Committee (GCDCC) hosted the Annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Democratic Dinner at Brewery and the Beast on Tuesday, June 17. Over 120 people attended the dinner, with a few Republicans joining in. This year’s theme, “Real Heroes”, highlighted heroes both locally and around the nation as GCDCC member and Mountain Maryland Young Democrats president Lillia Rose said in her opening remarks.
“A hero is the dad wading waist-deep through the floodwaters in Westernport, his daughter on his shoulders, carrying her to safety with everything he had left,” Rose said. “A hero is the parent who sets aside their fear, their uncertainty, and walks into Pride for the first time, hand-in-hand with their child. A hero is someone who chooses courage when silence would be easier.
“…We’re living in a time when it feels easier to divide than unite. When patriotism is twisted into a weapon to turn against our most vulnerable neighbors. But America was never meant to be a country of fear and suspicion. It was founded on the belief in liberty, in justice, in freedom… freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of due process under the law. And with that freedom comes responsibility. The responsibility to lift each other up.”
The dinner’s featured guest was one of those heroes. Harry Dunn is an American author, political activist, and former United States Capitol Police officer who served from 2008 to 2023. He became a national figure for his bravery during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and his powerful testimony before the House Select Committee investigating that day. For his service and advocacy, he was awarded both the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Citizens Medal.
In 2023, he published his memoir, Standing My Ground, which is his firsthand account of what happened during the January 6th riots.
“Believe it or not, you all were victims too that day; the only difference is where we were,” Dunn said. “… They tried to overturn your vote. They try to rewrite history and say it was a ‘day of love’ or ‘it was a tourist visit’. It was the worst day of my life. …I don’t want to ever feel that way where I’m okay to the point where I can sit down and just let everybody else fight for themselves.
“Doing what’s right is hard, but it’s always worth it.”
Joining the dinner was also Maryland Comptroller Brooke Liermann. She began her remarks commenting on New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who earlier that day had been arrested by federal agents, including ICE and FBI, outside a federal immigration court in New York after he linked arms with a person that authorities were attempting to detain. Lierman’s overall message was about the importance to continue fighting in the face of these increased world and political challenges.
“It’s so important for us to remember that we shouldn’t act from a place of fear,” Liermann stated. “We have to act from a place of deep responsibility and urgency, and to remind ourselves that challenges aren’t new.
“All of us got involved not because things were perfect, but because there were challenges that we saw, and we know that we have a part in overcoming them.”
Dr. Charlene Dukes, at the time Interim Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, also shared some remarks. She spoke about how impressed and grateful she was for the hard work of the Garrett County Democrats, especially in that Garrett County was the only Maryland County that moved left in the vote for President compared to the number of votes in the 2020 Presidential election. She thanked everyone for their hard work and encouraged them to continue to “Do Something” in service to the local community and to strengthen democracy in our country.
GCDCC Chair Judy Carbone also welcomed everyone at the dinner and spoke about the importance of getting involved in the community, especially in terms of running for office.
“We must contest every race in order to preserve our democracy,” Carbone said. “A fundamental building block of our democracy is the right of American citizens to choose and vote for their representative. If a race is uncontested, we don’t offer a choice.
“You can have accountability without political competitiveness. If those in power have no one running against them, they don’t need to explain their actions or their decisions to anyone other than the party that supports them.”
Carbone also thanked the many local Democratic heroes for their work in making our community healthier and our discourse more civil. In addition, she recognized the dinner’s sponsors and supporters.
The dinner’s Gold Sponsor was MD-06 Representative April McClain Delaney. Silver Sponsors were Harvest House Deep Creek Lake, Senator Chris Van Hollen, and the Maryland Democratic Party. Dinner Supporters included Sally and Bill Blauvelt; Dean Brenner and Robin Shaffert; Ken and Judy Carbone; Julie and Rob Crolius; Jeff Hovis; James and Peggy Hunter; Jessica Josephson and Kevin Faley; Julie Ford-Mount; Don and Elaine Formby; M. Elizabeth Georg; Lissa Klueter; Peter Kostik; Dorothy Martino; Bill and Judi Merriman; Lindsy and Stephanie Pack; Betty Pritt; Mary Helen and Bob Spear; and Janet and Craig Tupper.
The Garrett County Democratic Central Committee is constituted as the governing body of the Democratic Party in Garrett County with rights and privileges granted under the Constitution and Laws of Maryland and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Maryland Democratic Party.
The Garrett County Democratic Central Committee promotes the election of Democratic candidates in Maryland and Garrett County and conducts the business, organizes the activities, and fosters the growth of the Democratic Party in Garrett County.
For more information and to learn how to get involved with the Garrett County Democrats, visit www.gcdems.com or send an email to gcdemcc@gmail.com.
Photo cutline: Pictured here, from left to right: Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman; Former Capital Police Officer Harry Dunn; GCDCC Co-Vice Chair Betty Pritt; and GCDCC Chair Judy Carbone.
