A Government That Works for Working People
Across every issue, my guiding principles are:
- Commitment to opportunity
- Protecting communities
- Practical solutions without ideology
- Equity without grandstanding
- Respect for working people, labor, and collective bargaining
District 19 doesn’t need grandstanding—we need results. I’m running to deliver practical progress that makes life more affordable, education stronger, and our community safer for everyone.
Priority
Affordability
Marylanders are getting squeezed—from healthcare bills to rising electric rates and insurance premiums. We need smart, targeted action that lowers costs without cutting corners.
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Utilities & Electricity
Affordability isn’t about gimmicks—it’s about fair rules, strong oversight, and putting working families ahead of monopolies.
Priority
Education
Public education is at a crossroads because the state’s fiscal situation and spending on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed by the General Assembly in 2021, are colliding. My opponents say they will fund the Blueprint, but how? Revenue and spending projections are showing an ever larger gap. The state cannot run a deficit, so where is this “funding” going to come from?
We need fair taxes. At the federal level, I am now a single-issue voter. We must match top tax rates to our collective ambitions. Fifty years of tax cuts have made the 1 percent richer while the burden of poor infrastructure, unfunded education, and rising healthcare costs is carried by working people. At the state level, tax talk is met with concerns about capital flight risk. But we haven’t also taken seriously the possibility of interstate tax compacts, which even if limited can fill the gap in federal leadership.
It is also true that money is never a sufficient condition for reform, but it is necessary. I have spent years wrestling with education issues. It is clear that some Blueprint goals will be adjusted–they already have been. When this happens, I want to make sure that students, staff, and the community remain at the center.
Recently, I joined Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), SEIU Local 500, and MCAPP, the principals and administrators union, to demand that the county fully fund next year’s school budget. While we debate the best ways to organize and deliver learning, we must keep in mind that in inflation-adjusted dollars, MCPS budget is similar to where we were in 2010.
I am a strong supporter of organized labor for another reason. A 100 years ago, unions midwifed our modern democracy. At a time when American democracy is under attack, unions are among the most-organized and the most-resourceful civic organizations we have to fight back.
I am honored to have been endorsed in this race by the Maryland State Education Association–the largest union and professional association in the state and by MCEA–the largest union in Montgomery County.
What questions do you have about public education? Post them here or send us a private message, and I will answer them.
To learn more about public education, take a listen to one of the dozens of public education episodes we’ve done on I Hate Politics Podcast looking exactly at the reform side:
Can Superintendent Taylor Return MCPS to its Heyday?
Priority
Road Safety
Traffic violence is not inevitable—it’s a policy choice. District 19 deserves streets designed for people, not just cars.
- Safer Road Design
- Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Transit Safety
- Accountability & Smart Enforcement
Safe streets support local businesses, protect families, and save lives—and they create good union construction jobs.
