Local Candidate Plans Race to Silver Spring

When the clock strikes rush hour on June 3, Jordan Cooper, a Democratic candidate for District 16 in Maryland’s House of Delegates, will hit the road in a race to show the community that he believes the Purple Line will make commuting less painful for County residents.

“I organized this race to illustrate the immediate need for constructing the Purple Line,” said Cooper who will be riding a Capital Bikeshare bike from the Bethesda Metro Station to the Silver Spring Metro station at 5 p.m.

He believes that the Purple Line is the key to getting rid of traffic congestion in the area.

“We need the Purple Line because it is a major part of the solution for traffic in Montgomery County, as well as because of the role it will play in boosting the local economy,” he said.

On Tuesday, Cooper’s campaign manager Adam Beitman will take the Metro Red Line from Bethesda to Silver Spring while Bill Jacobs of the Montgomery Green Democrats drives the route and Cooper rides his bike.

“My hope is that this race mobilizes Maryland and all key stakeholders to finally recognize the need for getting this project finished ASAP. It has taken far too long to build the Purple Line and this race will prove that,” he said.

And Cooper is not shy about the fact that he believes he will win the race hands down.

“I believe I will win. I expect to beat Metro’s Red Line handily, even without single-tracking,” he said. “I expect to beat a car as well, and the margin of my victory will be based on how much traffic we happen to have tomorrow. I’m looking forward to publicizing the exact times.”

About Valerie Bonk

Valerie Bonk is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media (MCM).

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