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Yes. I fully support special elections to fill General Assembly vacancies instead of appointments. Only five other states use a similar appointment system. Why should two dozen party officials choose someone to represent hundreds of thousands? We are leaving constituents in the dark. Not just Democrats, but Republican and unaffiliated voters too; and they deserve to have a say.
I'd look for applicants preferably with experience in the General Assembly so they can hit the ground running as soon as they get to Annapolis. Someone that will never evade a tough question, or forget the people they represent. Too often we see applicants appointed to legislative offices, and ultimately give up on connecting with their constituents once in office.
At my age, this is the most effective way to serve my party and my community. I want to usher in a new generation of leadership, starting at the local level. We need to get young people excited about Democratic politics again. The party must reflect its base, and people under the age of 30 are virtually unrepresented on the MCDCC.
To ensure my decision serves the community’s best interests, I would evaluate each applicant’s experience, public service record, and commitment to representing all constituents. I would also value transparency and community input in the process. I would choose someone prepared to serve effectively, communicate openly with residents, and represent the district with integrity.
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Yes, I support special elections to fill General Assembly vacancies. Details regarding special elections would need to be established.
I will follow the By-Laws of the MCDCC and Article III, Section 13 of the Maryland State Constitution to ensure eligibility of the candidate(s). I would review the qualifications, education, experience and letters of support, as well as their presentation and responses to MCDCC members to ensure the best possible candidate.
As a physician and veteran, service to community is in my personal purpose statement. I am prepared to transition my leadership and expertise to the work of MCDCC to preserve and build our community so that democratic ideals are sustained and supported from the community level to the State House.
As a physician and public health leader, I have made critical policy decisions affecting many people. I will critically evaluate candidates to recommend an appointee with the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience needed to complement and expand Maryland Legislative representation that will serve the best interests of the community.
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I support special elections because I believe that overall, they would increase public participation in filling legislative vacancies. The MCDCC’s role in a special election would be an all-hands-on-deck effort to reach out to the public–including and especially underrepresented communities–about who the candidates are, when and where to vote, and why their vote matters.
I primarily look for experience in government, politics, grassroots organizing, or other fields relevant to the General Assembly’s work. I also want to support candidates who value people over profits and will fight back against authoritarians like Donald Trump. Substantive feedback (not form letters!) from residents of the district has also been helpful in guiding my past votes.
While the MCDCC’s day-to-day work of building the party is unglamorous and unpaid, it is vital. The Democratic Party is our country’s best hope for defeating fascism nonviolently at the ballot box. As a new mom, I want more than anything to make sure my son grows up in a free and peaceful America.
Since I was first elected in 2022, I have supported reforms to the MCDCC’s vacancy process to increase transparency, such as posting applicant resumes on our website. My goal for my second term is to increase our outreach to residents of the affected district when a vacancy occurs. Text banking and effective social media use could increase public awareness and encourage voters to engage with this important process.
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2405055218
Yes, The Central Committee is the Governing body that would appoint this position.
Leadership, Organizing, Committee & commission members.
I want to represent my community as a longtime Organizer, Shop Steward for MCGO. I serve on Several Boards of Directors. I’m an advocate and I want to strengthen our party.
I’m very pragmatic and analyze everything objectively. I want to ensure the best for my community. I’m constantly a strong advocate for my community.
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I support special elections to fill General Assembly vacancies, as they empower voters to choose their representatives directly. While Central Committee appointments provide timely solutions, special elections enhance transparency, accountability, and democratic participation, ensuring that the community’s voice is heard and respected in the selection process.
When selecting someone for a General Assembly vacancy, I will prioritize candidates with strong community ties, a record of public service, and demonstrated commitment to Democratic values. I’ll seek individuals with integrity, experience, and the ability to effectively represent diverse constituents and advance policies that reflect our county’s needs and priorities.
I want to serve on the Central Committee to help strengthen our local Democratic Party, support inclusive policy making, and promote civic engagement. I’m dedicated to fostering transparency and accountability, ensuring our party reflects the diversity of our community, and empowering members to make a meaningful impact in Montgomery County.
I will ensure appointment decisions serve the community’s best interests by seeking broad input, prioritizing transparency, and holding open, deliberative discussions. My focus will be on selecting individuals committed to public service, equity, and advancing the well-being of all Montgomery County residents.
I think that the Democratic Central Committee plays an important role in nominating vacancy appointments to the Governor, but I think those appointments should only serve until the next scheduled election. Standalone special elections tend to have abysmally low turnout and they favor candidates who are able to self-finance, creating racial and economical disparities. I support vacancy reform that would maximize voter participation rather than suppress it.
It’s important that a person chosen to fill a vacancy has a clear understanding about the role they are applying for, is knowledgeable about the body and its politics, and aligns with Democratic values. I study their resumes, try to meet with each applicant, and ask questions on their thoughts on pressing issues. I also consider submitted letters of support for the candidate and their answers to questions by colleagues on the day of our nomination meeting.
As a campaign manager, I have seen how local parties function all over America. I believe that we can be the best county Democratic party in the entire nation if we put in the hard work of organizing & training our community leaders. The work we do is very important to the state of MD, but also our proximity to VA and PA allows for our help in very important swing states. “All politics is local” and I will continue to put in the work it takes to engage our residents & bring them into the fray.
This points back to how we need to expand the party’s outreach to our communities and always keep them engaged. We should ensure that voters are aware that there is a legislative vacancy so they can apply for consideration or provide support to a candidate. The best interest for a community should be someone they directly support and without their input, we must rely on due diligence to vet the candidates for someone who we believe will represent them well and will hit the ground running.
I have long supported special elections to fill General Assembly vacancies.
First and foremost, we need to do a better job engaging votes in the district the vacancy occurs in, to try to give those voters an opportunity to have input into the process. Beyond that, I would prioritize selection of individuals who ran in the most recent election, then individuals likely to have the ability to be most effective on behalf of their constituents via experience in Annapolis, work ethic, and ability to work well with other delegation members.
I believe in service, and in an age when the Trump Administration is causing untold harm to our democracy, working to help strengthen that democracy by working to organize and support Montgomery County Democrats seems a good way to serve.
Engaging with voters in the district in question, to get a sense of their preferences, is by far the best way to ensure that the interests of the community are reflected in central committee selections.
I support special elections to fill legislative vacancies, provided they occur at the start of a term and can be on the regular primary election ballot. Ensuring voters have a direct say in their representation is fundamental to good governance and democracy. I also support the recently-passed Maryland Senate bill, sponsored by Senator Cheryl Kagan, which requires a special election during the first two years of a term.
In selecting an individual to fill a vacancy in the Maryland General Assembly, I would prioritize candidates with strong experience, a solid understanding of the issues, and a demonstrated commitment to public service. It is essential that they can effectively represent all of the communities within their district and serve as a thoughtful, inclusive voice for Montgomery County as a whole.
I believe true progress comes from empowering all Montgomery County residents, especially our young people, who are shaping our future. Growing up, I did not see many people who looked like me in leadership roles. It is essential that our leaders reflect the communities they serve. As MCDCC members, it is our responsibility to actively inspire political participation through voter mobilization, grassroots organizing, and meaningful civic engagement at every level of governance.
It is important to understand what motivations each candidate who applies for a vacancy has for running as well as their engagement and contributions to the community they will be representing. I also value conversations with district representatives, community leaders, and residents who share feedback on the individuals seeking to fill a vacancy.
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I believe voters of a district should select who represents them. I’ve testified several times before the Maryland General Assembly to allow for special elections in Presidential election years. I also introduced a reform during this recent term on the Committee that guaranteed public candidate forums, and I have supported transparency and feedback reforms written by my colleagues so voters have more insight and input into the process.
Having served on the MCDCC for 5 years, I've witnessed several appointments. My priorities are: (1) popular support in the district (I read every letter of support that is submitted and review the results of previous elections if a candidate has run for office before); (2) promoting young and diverse candidates whose values and lived experiences reflect those of their community; and (3) whether the applicants have the professional and lived experience to do the job of a Delegate or Senator well.
I believe the Democratic Party is the best tool we have to defend democracy and protect the basic rights of every person in this beautiful Country. I have been working hard to make the Party one that fights injustice, oppression, and poverty. That means standing up to the Trump administration and promoting an agenda that improves lives. My guiding principle as a Dem is ensuring that everyone has a decent standard of living—housing, food, safety, healthcare, etc.—and the opportunity to thrive.
The best way to ensure that our appointees serve the interests of the district they represent is by listening to the residents of that community themselves. I read all letters of support submitted by members of the public and have worked with our team to expand opportunities for popular input.
As a democracy specialist with a focus on civic engagement, democracy works best when voters have the opportunity to choose their representatives directly. The Central Committees is an important part of ensuring continuity when vacancies occur, and I also support moving toward special elections whenever feasible so the community has a direct voice in who represents them. Strengthening democratic legitimacy and public trust should be a top priority.
I would prioritize candidates with authenticity, a commitment to public service, and a connection to the challenges, needs, and interests of the community they will represent. The ideal appointee should understand the everyday concerns of residents including safety, education, healthcare and economic opportunity and work collaboratively to address them. I also prioritize leaders who respect democratic norms, communicate honestly, and listen to diverse voices across the county.
After 20 years working in political life, public service, and democracy-building both in the U.S. and internationally, we are in a pivotal moment for our democratic institutions. I want to bring that experience to help strengthen our local Democratic Party by building deeper relationships with communities, supporting emerging leaders, and connecting the party closely with the people it serves. Serving on the Central Committee is an opportunity to rebuild trust and broaden participation.
Transparency and community engagement are essential. I would support an open process where candidates share their qualifications and priorities publicly and where community members have the opportunity to provide input. My career has focused on bringing people together across differences to solve problems, and I would apply that same approach here, ensuring that decisions reflect the district’s needs, values, and long-term interests.
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With the MCDCC filling 10 vacancies in four years, 40% of our delegation is appointed. I support the special elections bill (HB0174/SB0002) to merge special elections into regular statewide elections (in the second year of the term), meaning the Committee appointees only serve the interim. I oppose traditional standalone special elections; their historically low turnout disproportionately excludes working-class voters by adding the burden of an entirely separate election (or 10 in this case).
I look for a strong balance of lived experience as a constituent deeply rooted in their district, professional experience that proves their dedication to public service, and an educational background (whether formal or non-traditional) that equips them to navigate complex legislation. The distinguishing factor is what they plan to do with that foundation; I will prioritize candidates who bring a concrete plan to fight for Montgomery County’s most vulnerable communities.
The MCDCC does important work, which more people need to know about and be meaningfully involved in— I didn’t know that providing input on the vacancies process was an option until a candidate I knew posted about it! I have a proven track record of effective nonpartisan public service, education, and lived experience relevant to this role. I will apply my background in community organizing and social media to help build the transparency, accessibility, and sustainability that the MCDCC needs.
I will proactively seek robust community input, transforming voter engagement from a seasonal push into a year-round conversation. We must utilize MCDCC’s existing VAN infrastructure to text-bank and email registered district Democrats about vacancies. I will advocate to formalize online portals for letters of support, ensure public candidate forums offer remote participation, and post immediate multi-lingual social media updates to keep the community meaningfully involved.
