Trone political director resigns

Sources reported to A Miner Detail on Tuesday that Grace Rivera-Oven resigned from David Trone’s congressional campaign on Monday evening.

Trone, a Potomac Democrat running for Congress in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, had hired Rivera-Oven to serve as his campaign’s political director.

Rivera-Oven is a longtime community activist in Montgomery County who sat on the Montgomery County Elections Board until her resignation in July 2017. Last year, Rivera-Oven considered running for the District 39 delegate seat and told Bethesda Beat that while she was being pushed to run for the district’s state Senate seat, she declined because of her longstanding relationship with state Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery).

An online bio also lists Rivera-Oven’s background:

Ms. Grace Rivera-Oven, is a partner at public relations and strategic communications firm ProActive Community Strategies. Ms. Rivera-Oven has broad experience working with multi-cultural groups in community advocacy, human rights and equity issues at the County and State levels. She is a member of the Board of the Strathmore Performing Arts Center and CASA de Maryland, as well as a graduate of the Leadership Montgomery Class of 1996. Ms. Rivera-Oven is the recipient of the Jewell Ryan-White Cultural Award for Diversity in the Media from the National Alliance for Community Media. She received a Bachelor’s in Law and Society from Hood College and is a certified State of Maryland mediator. Her weekly public service television program, Revista Semanal can be seen on Montgomery Community Media (MCM).

Sources who spoke to A Miner Detail on background said that Rivera-Oven’s resignation from the Trone campaign is “complicated” and “sensitive.”

Without mentioning specifics, the same sources reported to A Miner Detail that Rivera-Oven’s resignation came in part because of her “profound concerns” with “misogyny” and “sexism” within the Trone ranks and with David Trone himself.  Another source claimed that Rivera-Oven was allegedly concerned about “racism” within the Trone campaign structure.

Sources with knowledge of Rivera-Oven’s resignation refused to go on the record with A Miner Detail.

One source with knowledge of Rivera-Oven’s departure from the Trone campaign told A Miner Detail that more information about her resignation is expected to be released over time, which could “wreck Trone’s campaign.”

Trone is considered the prohibitive frontrunner to succeed outgoing Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), who is not seeking re-election this year but is instead running for president of the United States.

A Miner Detail’s requests for on-the-record comments from Rivera-Oven have gone unanswered.

The Trone campaign responded to A Miner Detail’s request for comment late Tuesday evening.

“Grace was a great asset to both campaigns, and we’re appreciative of her ongoing support. David and she have spoken, and she strongly supports his work attacking the opioid crisis, increasing access to education, and working to improve life for families throughout Maryland. We expect Grace to make a new significant contribution in public service which she will be announcing at the appropriate time.”  – Trone Campaign

Trone’s campaign also released Rivera-Oven’s Monday resignation email.

From: Grace Rivera-Oven

Date: Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 5:44 PM

Subject: Resignation

To: David Trone, Jerid Kurtz

Dear David,

Effective immediately please accept my resignation as Political Director of your campaign.

Due to personal and family issues I need to resign.

I will be more then happy to stay through Friday, February 2nd to help with any transition you may need.

I wish you the best and many blessings through the rest of your campaign.

Fondly,

Gracie Rivera-Oven

The Trone campaign’s statement on Rivera-Oven coincides with rumors that Rivera-Oven is gearing up to run in the crowded Montgomery County Council at-large Democratic primary.

The story will be updated.