Having served on the Board of Supervisors of Elections for the City of Annapolis,
I know very well that the lead time for logistics and cost of running any election
— especially an off-cycle one — is more than what one would assume. At
minimum, I am open to two options: 1) a deadline whereby if a current sitting
representative resigns after that date, the appointment would be decided by the
Committee, and 2) incorporating a more direct, constituent-preference inclusive
layer to the process.
When assessing candidates either in a personal or professional capacity, my first
thought and question is always “What do they know about their district? About
the history of the constituency?”
My decision will be made with how well and genuinely the candidate(s) detail
and embody: their vision, conscientiousness and critical thinking, open-
mindedness, receptiveness to constructive criticism, and commitment to
increasing civic education.
At an early age I was taught and shown the importance of knowing who and
where you come from, civic engagement, community advocacy, and the basics of
understanding the impact of policy on my identities.
I have decided that serving on the Central Committee is the best next step in
continuing what I was raised to see as lifelong commitment: amplifying those
who have and aspire to have a positive impact on our district.
Prioritizing outcome agreement through dialogue and listening will be an
important part of being successful in gaining and retaining trust in my votes.
I plan to ensure my decisions are reflective by: asking critical questions of my
colleagues, engaging with my fellow constituents in my signature, authentic way
that brings about candid interactions, and being earnest in my asks for
counterarguments.
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I prefer voters choosing the candidate. I would be prepared to listen to the voters and make a decision if called upon to do so.
Have they demonstrated relevant and successful advocacy that is applicable to D30? Have they “walked-the-walk” when it comes to the environment, education and our economy? Do they denounce Trump and fight against his crippling policies? Are they willing to fight against more traffic in Crownsville/Millersville?
My family and lifelong friends in District 30. I was born in the old Annapolis hospital and now my wife and I work 50 yards from that old site. Too much is on the line, including our kids’ futures, for me not to serve.
You must listen and learn as much as possible from as many stakeholders as possible to make an informed decision from all communities. Yet merely listening isn’t enough; you must be proactive with all communities. I have served on a wide range of committees, commissions and boards in the District that reflect this.
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As a central committee member, I have gone through this process. It is far from perfect, but I also have concerns about the cost of special elections and the time it would take for new representation to be seated with an election. I believe the appointment process could be improved through more structured community input and weighted voting so that the central committee members who represent the constituents in question have greater influence on the decision.
In the selections I have been involved in, I taken into consideration the role the candidate has played in the community prior to requesting the appointment. A position in the Assembly can be very time-consuming during session and is unending in its constituent services demand. A strong candidate has to have an interest in public service, a desire to learn about intricate policy plans and a willingness to devote much of their personal time to meeting their constituents and community.
I originally came to the central committee as an appointee. I am passionate about working with candidates, making sure constituents know who represents them and building bridges between elected officials and community leadership. The central committee provides me the opportunity to know Democrats across the county - helping to build a bigger, stronger network of Democrats in Anne Arundel. It also offers me the opportunity to meet Democratic leadership across the state.
As a central committee member, it is important to meet every candidate who is requesting the appointment. I focus my questions to any candidate on how they can meet the needs of South County. The land use and transportation issues of South County are not necessarily well known to candidates who are from the northern part of District 30. As the South County Dem Club president, I have heard from many residents about the unique needs we ask government to fill, and I make sure they are conveyed.
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