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State Senator District 2

DUTIES: Maryland State Senators enact laws, raise revenue through taxes and fees, and approve the spending of money by state agencies in an annual budget. They may propose amendments to the state Constitution for ratification by the voters and oversee the operation of all state government departments. The Senate confirms the Governor's appointment of judges and the heads of certain government agencies.TERM: Four years, no term limitSALARY: $56,636HOW ELECTED: Senators are elected district wide. The state has 47 election districts. Each district is represented by one senator.WEBSITE: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District

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  • Candidate picture

    Paul D. Corderman
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Eric Martin Van Buren
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

DATA CENTERS: Data centers can bring some important economic benefits, but also have a negative impact on the power grid, water supply, and land use. Do you support the establishment of additional data centers in Maryland? Why or why not?

UTILITY COSTS: What do you see as the factors contributing to escalating utility costs in Maryland? How will you address them?

TRANSPORTATION: Should the availability of public transportation be improved across the state? Why or why not?

BUDGET: Maryland is required to balance the budget every year. What will be your three top budget priorities, and what programs will you fight for?

IMMIGRATION: Immigrants are an important part of our community and make significant contributions, including to Maryland's economy. What will you do to support immigrant communities in Maryland?

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Campaign Phone 240-469-8616
Campaign Instagram vanburen_statesenate
Campaign Twitter Handle @None will never be on twitter
As a State Senate candidate, I oppose data centers unless they meet strict, people-first standards. Our review shows they bring short-term construction jobs but few lasting ones. At a time when AI threatens 6,000 local jobs—something my opponent hasn’t addressed—I’m focused on protecting workers. Any project must pass required environmental review, avoid burdening our grid and water, and deliver real, long-term benefits. If not, I won’t support it.
In Washington County, utility costs aren’t theoretical—they’re crushing families. My own combined heating and electric bills are nearing $1,000/month, and many residents near poverty can’t afford one more cent. It’s unacceptable that none of my opponent’s legislation addresses this crisis. I’ve already partnered with an IT team to lower costs without new laws, and I will roll out solutions in April—because this is about survival, safety, and quality of life. This is a priority for my campaign.
Yes. Counties like Allegany, Garrett, Somerset, Dorchester, and Washington lack reliable transit—Washington County won’t stay on that list. Our transit budget is only a few million. Expanding service would cost ~$5–10M/year. I would fund this by redirecting underused transportation funds, securing federal rural transit grants, and requiring large developments to contribute—because lack of transit is an attack on the disabled, low-income, and working families, and we will solve it.
Maryland’s budget is ~$60B, and Washington County should see over $1.5B in impact. My priorities are: (1) workforce transition through dual enrollment and retraining at HCC and programs like the ARC of Washington County, (2) lowering utility and living costs, and (3) entrepreneurship and transit that connect people to jobs and help small business grow.. The reality is, bringing tens of millions more back to Washington County to fund this will require new representation that can deliver results
As a returning citizen, I’ve seen systems turn on people—I’ve seen this before. I believe immigrant communities are necessary for the growth and sustainability of Washington County, bringing cultural strength, new perspectives, and real economic contribution. Lawful pathways to citizenship must be respected and accessible. That’s my lens. The reality is, bringing resources to support strong, stable communities like this requires leadership that can deliver results in Annapolis—and I will.