Voters’ Guide General Election 2020 League of Women Voters of Howard County Introduction FACTS FOR GENERAL ELECTION An absentee ballot will be mailed to your The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan designated address. Emergency absentee ap- VOTERS plications are accepted in person until the polls organization of men and women working to pro- Questions about whether you are registered close on Election Day. For more information, mote political responsibility through informed and to vote can be checked online at https://vot- active participation in government. The League call the Board of Elections at 410-313-5820. erservices.elections.maryland.gov or by calling does not support any candidate or political party. PROVISIONAL BALLOT: A provisional ballot the Howard County Board of Elections at 410- Materials from this Guide may not be reproduced must be issued: if the voter’s name is not on 313-5820. in whole or in part without permission from the the polling place register; if the voter moved
League. The League assumes no responsibility for from the address listed on the polling place reg- YOU MAY VOTE AT ANY VOTING PLACE errors or omissions. ister more than 21 days before the Election; if IN THIS ELECTION! PLEASE NOTE: In keeping with League the voter is required to show identification and policy, the candidates’ answers in the Vot- You may take this Voters’ Guide into the poll- does not have it; if the register indicates that ers’ Guide appear as submitted. Thus, some ing place with you. the voter was issued an absentee ballot or has misspellings and typing errors may appear. Voters are not obligated to answer questions already voted. If answers exceeded the specified character about how they voted. For nonpartisan election information, limitation, the additional words were cut contact the League of Women Voters at from the end of the candidate’s statement. VOTE-BY-MAIL (ABSENTEE VOTING): The Voters’ Guide includes only the names of Any registered voter may request a vote-by- 410-730-0142 or [email protected]. the candidates on the official ballot certified by mail ballot application from the Howard County League Website: https://hoco.lwvhowardmd.org state and local officials. Some candidates may Board of Elections, 410-313-5820 or https:// League online voters’ guide at http://www. have withdrawn since the material was compiled, elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html vote411.org and not every candidate listed in the the Guide For the General Election, your request County voter and election information is avail- will appear on every ballot. must be received (not just mailed) by able at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/BOE Thanks to all candidates who replied to the October 20, 2020, whether you want to Download a voter registration application at: League of Women Voters questionnaire. receive your ballot by mail, fax, or ELEC- http://elections.state.md.us/voter_registration/ TRONICALLY from the State BOE website. documents/2011_English_Internet_VRA.pdf It must be postmarked by November 3! EARLY VOTING DROP BOXES October 26,27,28,29,30,31, November 1,2 (7:00 am to 8:00 pm) WILL ALSO BE Meadowbrook Athletic Center AVAILABLE AT ALL 5001 Meadowbrook Lane, Ellicott City EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, Wilde Lake High School Long Reach High School 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia 6101 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia AS WELL AT THE Reservior High School Marriotts Ridge High School BOARD OF ELECTIONS 11550 Scaggsville Road, Fulton 12100 Woodford Road, Marriottsville OFFICE 9770 PATUXENT WOODS GENERAL ELECTION: November 3 (7:00 am to 8:00 pm) DR., SUITE 200 Polls are open from 7am to 8pm at: COLUMBIA 21046 from Sept.30 All 12 County High Schools; Elkridge Landing MS, Patuxent Valley MS,
Meadowbrook Athletic Center, Laurel Woods ES, Lisbon ES
*** PLEASE NOTE - You can VOTE at ANY Voting Center for this election!!
League of Women Voters of Howard County, Inc. League of Women Voters of Howard County Education Fund, Inc. 5430 Vantage Point Road, Suite C, Columbia, MD 21044 tel/fax 410-730-0142 • email: [email protected]
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League of Women Voters of Howard County - General Election Voters’ Guide 2020 • 1 General Election in Have You Moved Recently or Missed an Election? federal offices Maryland (Learn how you can insure that November 3, 2020 you receive a ballot.) u.s. president and VP
Ballots will be mailed only to active voters, us- What You Need to Know ing the address on file with the Board of Elec- **Vote for 1 pair** to Vote! tions. If a mailing from the Board of Elections was returned because you had moved or were DUTIES: The President is: the head of state Campaigning will be severely restricted temporarily at another address and you have of the United States of America and is the by the need for social distancing – Infor- missed voting in the past 4 years, you may Chief Executive Officer and the Commander mation on candidates for offices in every have been placed on the inactive voter list. You in Chief of all military forces. The powers of county in Maryland is being provided by will not be sent a ballot unless you notify the the President are described in the Constitution the League of Women Voters at Board of Elections of your current address. You and federal law. Subject to Senate approval, www.lwvmd.org/2020_voters_guides, must make any changes to your registration by the President appoints the members of the VOTE411.org and local League websites. October 13. Cabinet, ambassadors to other nations and LWVMD will also continue to post updates the United Nations, Supreme Court Justices to election processes online at 1. You can verify your voter registration on the and federal judges. The President, along with www.lwvmd.org/covid_19_and_the_up- State Board of Elections website. the Cabinet and its agencies, is responsible coming_elections 2. Use the same website to update your ad- for carrying out and enforcing the laws of dress if it is not correct. the United States. The President may also 3. If you are temporarily staying at another recommend legislation to the United States Voting by Mail – How It Will Work location and would like your ballot sent there, Congress. you should request an absentee ballot – you can do this on the State Board of Elections Base Salary: $400,000 per year Most voters will cast their ballots by website. Term: Four years. Limit of two terms. mail for the Presidential General Election scheduled for November 3, 2020. Bal- lot applications were mailed to voters on What College Students Need to Criteria for Participation in VOTE411.org: the active voter registration list, and a Know to Vote All presidential candidates who will appear on prepaid postage envelope for returning Maryland’s ballot are listed below. Additional write-in candidates appear on the Maryland the ballot application was included in the If you registered to vote where you attended packet mailed to each voter. State Board of Elections website (https:// college and have since returned home, you elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/ may use the State Board of Elections website general_candidates/index.html). The League How to Complete & Return to: of Women Voters of the United States, through Your Mail-In Ballot 1. Update your voting address to your home the League of Women Voters Education Fund OR (LWVEF), established criteria to determine Ballots will be mailed with instructions for 2. Request an absentee ballot. which candidates to invite to respond to marking and returning them to the Board questions for the Voters’ Guide. of Elections. Follow the instructions care- Any changes to your information must be fully – you must sign an oath that accom- made by the close of registration on October Candidates qualified for invitations from panies the ballot. Failure to complete the 13. LWVEF to provide responses to specific return envelope correctly may result in questions if they met the following criteria: your ballot not being counted. If you had already applied for an absentee bal- 1) The candidate must have made a public lot to be mailed to your college address, con- announcement of her/his intention to run for Ballots must be postmarked no later than tact your local Board of Elections to ask how President; 2) The candidate must meet the 8:00 pm November 3, and must be re- to cancel your absentee ballot application. If Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act’s ceived by November 13 at 10:00 am. in you are unable to change your absentee ballot minimum contribution threshold requirements order to be counted, but voters are en- delivery, you may be able to vote a provisional for qualifying for matching funds, based on couraged to return them earlier if pos- ballot on November 3 at a voting center in the the most recent data publicly available on the sible. The Board of Elections website county where you are registered. FEC website by the date of publication; 3) The includes a form where you can check to candidate must qualify for the ballot in enough see if your ballot was received. If you do not make these changes, your ballot states to win a majority of electoral votes. will be mailed to your college address and may In addition to returning ballots by mail, not be forwarded – you risk losing your right to Additional information on the candidates may vote. voters may also choose to return their be available on VOTE411.org. ballots using secure drop boxes. These drop boxes will be located at Early Voting Voters with Disabilities sites and Board of Elections from Sept. 28. Issues Three more Drop Boxes will be available Each voting center will have ballot marking beginning October 15, at Elkridge Landing devices for use by any voter who would have COVID-19 RECOVERY: What actions would Middle Scool, Laurel Woods Elementary, difficulty reading and marking a paper ballot. you take to balance public health and economic and Lisbon Elementary School. Maryland also offers the option of internet recovery in the US, both in light of COVID-19 delivery of a ballot, with an online ballot marking and for the long term? Protect your ballot -- If you cannot de- tool that is compatible with adaptive technology TOP PRIORITY: What is the most important liver your ballot in person, and choose to enable those with disabilities to access the issue facing our country and how do you plan to not to mail it, you can give your signed internet. To request internet delivery of your address it during your first 100 days in office? and sealed ballot to someone you trust to ballot, apply for an absentee ballot on the State RACIAL INJUSTICE: How will you address deliver it for you. Board of Elections website, but you will need racial injustice in our country on day one of your access to a printer and postage to use this administration? option as the ballot cannot be returned via the Limited In-Person Voting IMMIGRATION: What aspects of our current internet. immigration policy will your administration Voters who need to use a ballot marking address first? device, those registering to vote for the first How Advocates Can Help Voters in HEALTHCARE: What will you do over the long time, and those who did not receive their ballot Jail or Prison term to ensure access to quality healthcare for application but believe they are registered, will all? be able to vote in person on Election Day, No- While a person convicted of a felony cannot vote vember 3, from 7 am to 8 pm at voting centers while they are in prison (but are eligible to vote that will be set up in each county. These may upon release), persons in jail or prison for a REPUBLICAN. be locations that were used for Early Voting. misdemeanor or who are waiting for their trial can still register and vote. Because of the risk of transmitting the Co- We recommend that the voter use their vid-19 virus wherever large numbers of people permanent address as their voting address, and are gathered, voters are strongly encouraged then request an absentee ballot to be sent to Donald. J. Trump and Michael to use Drop Boxes if at all possible and to use the correctional facility. If they do not request Pence in-person voting only if it is not possible to the absentee ballot, the vote-by-mail ballot for vote by mail or use a Drop Box. this election will be sent to their permanent Campaign Website: www.donaldjtrump.com address and need to be brought to the voter at Campaign Facebook: facebook.com/ the correctional facility. Visitation at correctional DonaldTrump facilities may be limited due to the coronavirus, Campaign Twitter: twitter.com/realdonaldtrump however. So, advocates will need to work with Other Instagram: instagram.com/ correctional supervisors to provide an inmate realdonaldtrump with a voter registration application when needed and an application for an absentee ballot No response received by print deadline. See from the State Board of Elections website. VOTE411.org.
2 • League of Women Voters of Howard County - Primary Election Voters’ Guide 2020 care and prescription drug costs. I’ll make all DEMOCRATIC COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccines U.S. representative free; double funding for community health cen- ters that are so often on the frontlines of care; Duties: Representatives make laws along with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and much more. the members of the Senate, and may conduct investigations on issues of national importance. Campaign Website: http://joebiden.com/ Copyright © 2020 by the League of Women Laws that impose taxes always begin in the Campaign Facebook: http://www.facebook. Voters Education Fund House of Representatives. Representatives com/joebiden/ determine whether a public official should be Campaign Twitter: twitter.com/JoeBiden tried, if accused of a crime. Campaign Instagram: http://www.instagram. com/joebiden/ libertarian How Elected: Each of the 435 Representatives Campaign YouTube: http://www.youtube. is elected to a two-year term, serving a com/joebiden specific district. Each State has at least one Jo Jorgensen and Jeremy Spike Representative, but the total number is based COVID-19 RECOVERY: It’s a false choice to Cohen on the population in the most recent census. think we have to choose between our public Representatives must be at least 25 years old, health and economy; they’re linked. On Day Campaign Website: www.Jo20.com have been citizens of the United States for at One, I’ll implement the COVID strategy I’ve Campaign Facebook: facebook.com/JoJor- least 7 years and be residents of the state they laid out since March – surging testing and gensen2020 want to represent. protective gear; distributing vaccines safely Campaign Twitter: @Jorgensen4Potus and free of politics; helping schools and Term: Two years small businesses cover costs; and getting This candidate did not meet the criteria for an Base Salary: $174.000 state and local governments resources to invitation to participate. keep educators, cops, and firefighters on the Website: www.house.gov job. I’ll respect science and tell the truth, pe- Questions - asked of all riod. And I’ll build our economy back better, green creating millions of good-paying jobs. I’ll re- candidates in each district. vitalize manufacturing, build a clean energy GOALS: Why are you running for this economy, and boost caregiving – easing the Howie Gresham Hawkins and office?OBJETIVOS: ¿Por qué se postula para squeeze on working families, providing paid Angela Walker esta oficina? leave, and getting caregivers the respect and IMMIGRATION: What, if anything, pay they deserve. Campaign Website: www.howiehawkins.us would you change regarding immigration TOP PRIORITY: Pandemic. Recession. Ra- Campaign Facebook: facebook.com/runhowi- policy?INMIGRACIÓN: ¿Qué cambiaría, si fuera cial injustice. Climate change. We’re facing erun2020 el caso, con respecto a la política de inmi- historic crises; we have to tackle them all at gración? Campaign Twitter: @howiehawkins once. Character and experience count. I’ll HEALTH CARE: Would you vote to continue listen to scientists, tell the truth, and make the Affordable Care Act as it is, expand it, or This candidate did not meet the criteria for an sure we’re never so unprepared for a pan- eliminate it? Please explain. ATENCIÓN MÉDI- invitation to participate. demic again. I’ll expand the Affordable Care CA: ¿Votaría usted para continuar la Ley de Act, lowering costs and making health care Atención Médica Asequible tal como es, ampli- a right for all. I’ll build our economy back arla o eliminarla? Por favor explique. ENVIRONMENT: What should be the federal better, and make racial equity central to bread and roses government’s role in addressing national and recovery. In these crises, we have an enor- global environmental concerns?MEDIO AMBI- mous opportunity, if we come together. As ENTE: ¿Cuál debería ser el papel del gobierno President, I’ll draw on the best of us, not the Jerome M. Segal and John de federal para abordar las preocupaciones ambi- worst. I’ll work as hard for those who don’t Graaf entales nacionales y mundiales? support me as for those who do. That’s a GUN SAFETY: What policies do you propose to president’s job: to represent us all. To take Campaign Website: www.segalforpresident. reduce gun violence? SEGURIDAD EN EL USO responsibility. To protect the nation. To unite org DE ARMAS DE FUEGO: ¿Qué políticas propone and to heal. para reducir la violencia armada? ECONOMY: How would you address the grow- RACIAL INJUSTICE: America is at an This candidate did not meet the criteria for an ing income gap in our society?ECONOMÍA: inflection point. It’s past time to end our invitation to participate. inequities and deal with the denial of our ¿Cómo abordaría la creciente brecha de in- gresos en nuestra sociedad? nation’s promise to too many for too long. DISCRIMINATION: What initiatives would I’ll fight to end the health inequities that you propose to address bias based on race, COVID-19 amplifies; and give every child the gender identification, sexual orientation, reli- same strong start in life by offering univer- gion, or disability?DISCRIMINACIÓN: ¿Qué ini- sal Pre-K, tripling funding for Title I schools, ciativas propondrías para abordar los prejuicios and making public college debt-free for most basados en la raza, la identificación de género, families. I’ll make racial equity central to la orientación sexual, la religión o la discapaci- our recovery, closing the racial wealth and dad? income gaps, boosting home ownership, and STUDENT LOANS: What actions would you investing in communities and entrepreneurs support to reduce burdensome student loan of color – building a stronger, more inclusive debt?PRÉSTAMOS ESTUDIANTILES: ¿Qué ac- ciones apoyaría para reducir la pesada carga middle class for the future. And, I’ll work for NOTE: real police reform and invest in shifting our que representa la deuda de préstamos estudi- antiles? criminal justice focus from incarceration to Under Maryland law, prevention. IMMIGRATION: My immigration policy is the built around keeping families together. It’s order of candidates on the congressional past time to reform our broken system, re- storing family unification and diversity as its ballot is determined district 2 core pillars. As President, I’ll reverse Trump’s first assault on our values on Day One, ending his Vote for no more than 1 cruel border policies that rip children from by the party their mothers’ arms. I’ll act immediately to of the governor, then by republican protect Dreamers and their families, and invest real political capital in finally delivering the principal legislative immigration reform, with a road- Johnny Ray Salling minority party, map to citizenship for the nearly 11 million GOALS: No response received by deadline. undocumented people who already do so then by other minority much to make our communities strong. We IMMIGRATION: No response received by deadline. have to enforce our laws, but in a way that’s parties in descending order humane, respects due process, honors our based on statewide party HEALTH CARE: No response received by values, and sees the big picture. deadline. HEALTHCARE: This pandemic makes clear: registration. ENVIRONMENT: No response received by All Americans need access to quality, afford- The order of listing in this deadline. able health insurance. That’s why I’ll pro- tect and build on the Affordable Care Act. I Voters’ Guide follows that GUN SAFETY: No response received by helped to secure the final key votes to pass deadline. directive. that landmark law, protecting 100 million ECONOMY: No response received by deadline. Americans who can no longer be turned away or denied coverage for pre-existing condi- DISCRIMINATION: No response received by tions, and bringing coverage to 20 million deadline. more. As President, I’ll build on that prog- STUDENT LOANS: No response received by ress with a public option and lower health deadline.
League of Women Voters of Howard County - General Election Voters’ Guide 2020 • 3 government must lead the effort to reach congressional congressional net-zero carbon emissions that includes a just transition for government goverment district 2 district 3 must lead the effort to reach net-zero carbon emissions that includes a just transition for all communities, including our most vulnerable. . Vote for no more than 1 We must rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, DEMOCRATIC reverse course on Trump’s deregulatory republican agenda, and promote green technology C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger that moves the nation towards a healthier, sustainable future.El gobierno federal debe Campaign Website: http://www. liderar el esfuerzo para alcanzar cero emisiones dutchforcongress.com Charles Anthony netas de carbono que incluyan una transición justa para todas las comunidades, incluidas las GOALS: No response received by deadline. más vulnerables. Debemos volver a unirnos al GOALS: Congress needs people, like me, IMMIGRATION: No response received by Acuerdo Climático de París, revertir el curso de working across the aisle and focusing on la agenda desreguladora de Trump y promover deadline. the basics like good schools, safe streets la tecnología verde que impulse a la nación and decent jobs. I want to keep focusing HEALTH CARE: No response received by hacia un futuro más saludable y sostenible. on national security as we prepare for the deadline. GUN SAFETY: I have voted to close loopholes threats of tomorrow, including cyber attacks ENVIRONMENT: No response received by and strengthen our background check and nuclear weapons. I also want to continue system. I also support an assault weapons my work on the Appropriations Committee, deadline. ban, banning large capacity magazines, a ensuring that Maryland and its communities GUN SAFETY: No response received by national system for extreme-risk protection get their fair share. deadline. orders, mandatory safe gun storage, raising IMMIGRATION: I’d stop the President from the purchasing age for certain firearms and ECONOMY: No response received by deadline. raiding our military facilities and families prohibiting persons convicted of hate crimes to build the wasteful border wall. I’d end STUDENT LOANS: No response received by from buying guns.He votado para cerrar family separation and move immigrants out deadline. lagunas y fortalecer el sistema de verificación of detention facilities as quickly as possible de antecedentes penales. Apoyo una by hiring more federal judges to reduce the prohibición de armas de asalto y de revistas courts backlog. I’ll work to pass comprehensive democratic de gran capacidad, un sistema nacional de immigration reform that provides both sensible órdenes de protección de riesgo extremo, el border security and a reasonable path to almacenamiento seguro de armas obligatorio, citizenship. elevar la edad de compra de ciertas armas y HEALTH CARE: We must continue the John Sarbanes prohibir a las personas condenadas por delitos consumer protections provided by the ACA, de odio comprar armas. but strengthen it by adding a public option that Campaign Website: http://www. ECONOMY: The key to addressing income creates competition and lowers prices. We can johnsarbanes.com inequality is fixing our democracy so that also allow Americans to buy into Medicare at economic power does not equal political power. a younger age. We also must address soaring We need to reverse decades of tax cuts for prescription drug prices that are generating GOALS: I am running to strengthen our the wealthy and big business and reinvest record profits for the pharmaceutical industry democracy by ending the influence of big those revenues in our people – including at the expense of Americans in need of life- money in politics, protecting the right to vote by reducing the financial burden of health saving medicines. and ensuring that public officials work for the care, housing and education. We must focus ENVIRONMENT: Since the U.S. is one of public interest. To make progress on the most on economic justice and building wealth in the world’s leading polluters, the federal pressing issues we face, we first need a political marginalized communities.La clave para government must take the lead in addressing system that responds to the many, not the abordar la desigualdad de ingresos es arreglar environmental concerns like climate change. money. Too many Americans feel shut out by la democracia para que el poder económico no We must re-join the Paris Treaty and work Washington; we need to bring them back in.Me sea igual al poder político. Necesitamos revertir toward carbon neutrality. As an Appropriator, postulo para fortalecer nuestra democracia décadas de recortes de impuestos para las I support full funding for programs such as poniendo fin a la influencia de mucho dinero grandes empresas y reinvertir esos ingresos the Chesapeake Bay Program, which benefits en la política, protegiendo el derecho al voto en la gente, reduciendo la carga financiera our economy, creates jobs and preserves our y asegurando que los funcionarios públicos de la atención médica, vivienda y educación. natural heritage. trabajen por el interés público, no por el Debemos centrarnos en la justicia económica y GUN SAFETY: I support banning assault dinero. Demasiados estadounidenses se sienten la creación de riqueza. weapons and high capacity magazines, excluidos por Washington; tenemos que traerlos DISCRIMINATION: I strongly support background checks for gun and ammo de vuelta. important civil rights legislation like the purchases, no-fly-no-buy and tougher IMMIGRATION: I oppose the Trump Equality Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, the penalties for straw purchases. People convicted Administration’s immigration policies including End Racial Profiling Act and the NO BAN Act. of certain hate crimes, as well as domestic zero tolerance/family separation, restricting I also support building on criminal justice abusers, should not be allowed to buy guns. I asylum, ICE operating in sensitive locations, the reforms like the First Step Act. I authored have introduced legislation to stop the cycle of public charge rule and efforts to end DACA and H.R. 1, which would expand access to the gun violence by providing hospital-based TPS, among others. We need an immigration ballot, particularly for racial minorities and interventions for recovering victims. policy that protects economic interests while persons with disabilities, who face additional ECONOMY: The middle class needs to make providing a path to citizenship and a humane, barriers to voting.Apoyo leyes como la Ley de more money, which is why I support extending legal framework for people to come to the Igualdad, la Ley de Equidad en el Pago, la Ley tax cuts for the working class, as well as a United States.Me opongo a las políticas de para Terminar el Perfil Racial y la Ley NO BAN. minimum wage increase. Congress needs to inmigración de Trump como tolerancia cero/ También apoyo la construcción de reformas de address paid leave and advance robust “Buy separación familiar, restricción de asilo, ICE justicia penal como la Ley del Primer Paso. Soy American” provisions as well as workers’ rights operando en lugares sensibles, la regla de carga el autor de H.R. 1, lo que ampliaría el acceso a to help strengthen the working class. I support pública y los planes para terminar con DACA y la boleta electoral, para las minorías raciales y investing in infrastructure to create jobs, as el TPS. Necesitamos una política de inmigración las personas con discapacidad, que enfrentan well as tax incentives for small business. que proteja los intereses económicos, barreras adicionales para votar. DISCRIMINATION: There is no place in our proporcione un camino hacia la ciudadanía y un STUDENT LOANS: I authored the Public society for discrimination of any kind. That’s marco legal para que las personas vengan a los Service Loan Forgiveness program to provide why I support ratifying the Equal Rights EE.UU. debt relief for individuals who work in public Amendment, as well as passing The Equality HEALTH CARE: I am a strong supporter of service. I introduced the What You Can Do Act and the Disability Integration Act once and the ACA and believe that we must stop and For Your Country Act, which strengthens PSLF for all. reverse years of Republican sabotage, which and ensures its proper administration by the STUDENT LOANS: I support legislation to has increased costs and limited access to health Department of Education. I oppose the Trump lower student loan interest rates and allow care. I also believe we can expand on the ACA’s Administration’s attacks on student borrowers students to refinance their student loans successes, including by passing a public option and believe we must better protect them from when rates decline. I support expanding or a single-payer, Medicare for All system – predatory lenders.Soy autor del programa de federal loan forgiveness programs for students both of which I support – and passing H.R. 3 condonación de préstamos de servicio público who choose certain in-demand careers, like to reduce the costs of prescription drugs.Soy para aliviar la deuda a las personas que teachers and nurses, and capping the dollar un gran defensor del ACA y creo que debemos trabajan en el servicio público. Introduje la Ley amount students must repay each month. We detener y revertir años de sabotaje republicano, Lo que puede hacer por su país, que fortalece also need to increase the maximum value and que ha aumentado los costos y el acceso el PSLF y garantiza su correcta administración number of Pell Grants. limitado a la atención médica. También creo que por parte del Departamento de Educación. podemos ampliar los éxitos del ACA, incluso Me opongo a los ataques de la administración aprobando una opción pública o un sistema Trump contra los prestatarios estudiantiles. de Medicare para todos, los cuales respaldo, y aprobando H.R.3 para reducir los costos de los medicamentos recetados. ENVIRONMENT: Climate change is the existential crisis of our day. The federal 4 • League of Women Voters of Howard County - General Election Voters’ Guide 2020 Congress. In 1994, I helped pass an assault congressional weapons ban that lasted 10 years. Congress Judicial Offices has not had the will to reinstate the ban once district 7 it was lifted. I will fight to change that if I earn the honor of serving the People in Congress. Howard County ECONOMY: I will work to increase the federal vote for no more than 1. minimum wage to $15/hour today, with that Circuit Court Judge figure indexed to inflation. I will also work to revisit the most recent tax cuts for the highest DUTIES: Judges preside in the Circuit Court, earning Americans so that we can invest that which is a trial court that hears major civil republican money into educating our children and expand- cases and more serious criminal cases, such as ing skills training opportunities. The policy those requiring a jury trial. Circuit Courts also focus is investing in opportunities that prepare may decide appeals from the District Court and Kimberly Klacik people to earn more money. certain administrative agencies. DISCRIMINATION: It sometimes appears as Campaign Website: http://KimKForCongress. if our society faces more biases today than we SALARY: $174,433, effective July 1, 2021 com did just a few years ago. The federal govern- ment must ensure existing anti-discrimination TERM: Fifteen years, no term limit. Mandatory laws are fully enforced by the people and retirement age of 70 years. GOALS: No response received by deadline. institutions created to do so. Next, our nation IMMIGRATION: Fix the legal immigration must acknowledge one form of bigotry is just HOW ELECTED: The state is divided into procedures and loopholes to make it more as harmful as any other form of bigotry so our 8 Judicial Circuits. The General Assembly beneficial to US workers and legal immigrants. laws must align to reflect that truth. determines the number of judges in each The current immigration policy exploits the STUDENT LOANS: The student loan crisis may circuit and county. When there is a vacancy, workers for the benefit of large business and cripple our future economy. We must act now the Governor appoints a qualified person to fill any change would have to focus o to ensure a financially stable future workforce. the office. Each newly appointed Circuit Court HEALTH CARE: The current Affordable Care I support allowing students to lower their judge then must stand for office at the first Act is not serving the needs of the customers student loan rates through refinancing, loan election that occurs at least one year after and needs to be either revamped or eliminated. forgiveness programs for graduates working the vacancy happened. One or more other ENVIRONMENT: No response received by in certain public interest fields with incomes qualified members of the bar may also run to deadline. below a certain level, and in the most extreme fill the vacancy. All candidates run on both the GUN SAFETY: Baltimore City has one of the cases full debt forgiveness. Democratic and Republican primary ballots. highest homicide rates in the country and has extensive gun control currently in place. I would The Issues work to provide opportunities for those who are QUALIFICATIONS: How does your committing the violence. WRITE-IN experience prepare you for the duties of this ECONOMY: No response received by deadline. office?CALIFICACIONES: ¿Cómo le prepara DISCRIMINATION: Enforcement of violations su experiencia para las responsabilidades del of bias would be a top priority. If there is bias Ray Bly cargo? STUDENT LOANS: I would revisit the law COURT NEEDS: What are the greatest that student loans could not be discharged in Campaign Website: http://raybly.com challenges facing Maryland’s court system and bankruptcy. how can these be addressed?NECESIDADES DEL TRIBUNAL: ¿Cuáles son los mayores GOALS: No response received by deadline. desafíos que enfrenta el sistema judicial de IMMIGRATION: No response received by Maryland y cómo se pueden abordar? DEMOCRATIC deadline. REPEAT OFFENDERS: What can the courts HEALTH CARE: No response received by do to reduce recidivism?DELINCUENTES deadline. REINCIDENTES: ¿Qué pueden hacer los Kweisi Mfume ENVIRONMENT: No response received by tribunales para reducir la reincidencia? deadline. DISCRIMINATION: What steps can Campaign Website: http://www. GUN SAFETY: No response received by dead- the courts take to reduce the risk that mfumeforcongress.com line. bias will influence the outcome of legal ECONOMY: No response received by deadline. proceedings?DISCRIMINACIÓN: ¿Qué medidas DISCRIMINATION: No response received by pueden tomar los tribunales para reducir el GOALS: I believe the 7th Congressional deadline. riesgo de que el sesgo influya en el resultado de District and our country face crucial crossroads STUDENT LOANS: No response received by los procedimientos judiciales? ahead. I also believe it is important to always deadline. replace leadership with leadership. We cannot miss the opportunity to send the strongest Candidates representation to Congress now. Having served in this position for 10 years, I am the only Vote for no more than 1. candidate who is proven, tested, and ready to go to work on day one - with seniority. Quincy L. Coleman IMMIGRATION: Immigration built America and it continues to be the heartbeat of the Campaign Website: http://www. American economy. I will fight to require quincycolemanforjudge.com/ humane immigration policies at our borders so Campaign Facebook: http://www.facebook. that we will not have to relive the tragedies of com/hococircuitct/ the last few years, e.g., policies that put people in cages or permanently divided children from QUALIFICATIONS: I have over 40 years of their parents. In addition, I will work to create a courtroom experience; including 20 years of sensible pathway to citizenship. experience as a Parole and Probation agent for HEALTH CARE: Healthcare is a right. I will the State of Maryland Division of Parole and vote to expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Probation and over 20 years of as an attorney, beginning with restoring the protections advocating for people in both criminal and civil stripped from the ACA by this Administration. matters. I am well-prepared to make fair and My healthcare vision includes expanded sound decisions according to the rule of law, healthcare access for low-income Americans, even in difficult or controversial matters. a public health insurance model like Medicare, COURT NEEDS: The greatest challenges would enhanced private and/or employer-sponsored include lack of resources. There is a shortage of insurance options, and a tax credit to offset public interest attorneys to conduct prosecution, premium costs. to defend those charged with crimes, and ENVIRONMENT: The federal government to represent people who have pending civil/ should be the chief architect and chief enforcer family matters. Also, there is a lack of effective of existing and forward-looking environmental substance abuse/mental health resources, policies. It should implement environmental which can be addressed through financial policies that incentivize responsible personal allocation and collaborative partnerships. choices, motivate corporations to make better REPEAT OFFENDERS: In order to reduce choices (by carrot, by stick or both), steer us recidivism, there needs to be more continuity towards an increasingly green economy, and The League of Women Voters is where and partnership between the courts and establish America as a global environmental hands on work to safeguard democracy rehabilitative service providers to continually leader. leads to civic improvement. Learn more at evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention for the offender and to more effectively hold the GUN SAFETY: Reinstating an assault weapons www.howard.lwvmd.org ban and adopting a national background check offender accountable for improving their lives. system focused on psychological competency Also, counseling offenders to help them realize are two key gun safety policies I will pursue in the value of improving their lives cannot be dismissed. League of Women Voters of Howard County - General Election Voters’ Guide 2020 • 5 DISCRIMINATION: It is imperative that The Issues REINCIDENTES: ¿Qué pueden hacer los tribunales the courts treat all litigants with the utmost QUALIFICATIONS: How does your para reducir la reincidencia? dignity, including being impartial. The court experience prepare you for the duties of this DISCRIMINATION: What steps can the courts must continually examine itself to determine office?CALIFICACIONES: ¿Cómo le prepara take to reduce the risk that bias will influence the whether it is making findings based on su experiencia para las responsabilidades del outcome of legal proceedings?DISCRIMINACIÓN: ¿Qué applicable laws and the merits of the case and cargo? medidas pueden tomar los tribunales para reducir el not on any preconceived notions or personal COURT NEEDS: What are the greatest riesgo de que el sesgo influya en el resultado de los preferences; and be willing to re-examine challenges facing Maryland’s court system and procedimientos judiciales? any previous rulings, if relevant information is how can these be addressed?NECESIDADES timely discovered. DEL TRIBUNAL: ¿Cuáles son los mayores desafíos que enfrenta el sistema judicial de Maryland y cómo se pueden abordar? Candidates John J. Kuchno REPEAT OFFENDERS: What can the courts do to reduce recidivism?DELINCUENTES Vote to confirm or not to confirm Campaign Website: http://www.johnkuchno. REINCIDENTES: ¿Qué pueden hacer los each candidate. com/ tribunales para reducir la reincidencia? DISCRIMINATION: What steps can Kathryn Grill Graeff QUALIFICATIONS: After a comprehensive the courts take to reduce the risk that bias will influence the outcome of legal vetting process, both at the county and state QUALIFICATIONS: I have 34 years of legal proceedings?DISCRIMINACIÓN: ¿Qué medidas levels, the Governor appointed me to the experience. The last 12 years, I have had the privilege pueden tomar los tribunales para reducir el bench as the most qualified and best-suited of serving as a judge on the Maryland Court of Special riesgo de que el sesgo influya en el resultado candidate. I have been an attorney for nearly Appeals, where I have written more than 850 opinions de los procedimientos judiciales? 35 years, in both private and public practice. and been appointed to leadership positions, including For nearly a decade, I served the public as a Chair of the Judicial Ethics Committee. Prior to Maryland Assistant Attorney General. I have becoming a judge, I was Chief of the Criminal Appeals He never met Dutch Ruppersberger. Dutch has reform so that we can get special interest money out carbon monoxide emissions is with a carbon tax. served on the Circuit Court, handling a variety Candidates Division in the Maryland Attorney General’s Office. not broken offrom cases. the party on one major issue in 10 of politics; and pushing for full implementation of COHowever,URT NEE a DquestionS: A big needs challenge to be facing asked. the What court is the years. He doesCO UwhatRT NEE he isD S:told Particular by party needs leadership. of the court the health reform law. proper climate. Is climate change necessarily bad? Vote to confirm or not to system these last several months has been the As a Libertariansystem I canare workset forth with by either the Maryland party on Judiciary. any coronavirusEFFECTIVE pandemic, GOVERNMENT: which hasAs Libertarian,impacted the should court’s idea I agreeAs with. a judge The democratson the bench and in republicansa Howard County, confirm each candidate. abilityI be elected to provide I will access by necessity to justice have while to reach protecting beyond both put partyI cannot ahead speak of country. with a separateLibertarians voice need from republican thepartisan health dogma and safety to resolve of all participantsissues. There involved. are no other The that of the judicial branch. Judicial ethics also EricE. GregoryDelano Knowles Wells Court of Special Appeals has addressed this challenge not follow theirrequires example. that I not comment on public policy Libertarians to caucus with. Perfect cannot be the PRIORITIES: Dutch Ruppersberger is the bravest Website: KnowlesforCongress.com byenemy utilizing of good.technology and holding remote court issues that may come before the court. I proceedings. man in the world when it comes to sending other IMMIGRATION:QUALIFICATIONS: The path No to response citizenship received for those by My first priority is to end the NDAA. defer to the leadership of the court system in deadline. REPEATPRIORITIES: OFFENDERS: One thing that courts can do peoples kidsAnnapolis to war. The on thosemillions issues. of dollars he wishingCO toURT come NEE toD S:the No country response should received be made by toMy reduce second recidivism priority is to understandbring all of andour addresstroops has receivedREPEAT from defense OFFEN contractorsDERS: As ais sitting just a judge, easierdeadline. and faster. We should welcome all who would underlyinghome and problemsclose all foreign contributing military to criminalbases. My activity. third coincidence!I Imust will remainlead the impartial fight against and without these wars.bias want REPEATto contribute OFFEN to DourERS: prosperity. No response It is receivedlargely due Forpriority example, is to theintroduce creation a often drug year courts, budgeting which plan help Spend that moneyor prejudice. here. InTherefore, 6 months I cannotDutch receivedcomment to theby fact deadline. that it is easier to come here illegally and offendersso that money address is notaddiction needlessly problems, spent hasbecause been of shown $70,000 fromon utility public companies.policy issues Wonder or the positionwhy your of the makeD moneyISCRIMINATION: that people choose No response that wrong received path, by todepartmental reduce recidivism. fears of losing funding. My fourth bills are so high?Maryland I will court not systemeven allow as set lobbyists forth by in our even withdeadline. facing the consequences of getting caught. DpriorityISCRIMINATION: is the introduction When I of became the Fair a judge,Tax. My I swore fifth Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera of the Court to be fair and impartial and to provide equal justice for my office. of Appeals. Sentencing is among the most Provide incentive for lawfulness, not lawlessness. priority is to balance the Federal budget. ENVIRONMENT: There is still much debate as to all. Courts can help to reduce the risk of bias in legal important roles of a judge. Each case is Judge, Court of Special proceedings in many ways, including educating all WRITE-INexamined on itsCANDIDATE own merits, and judges mustthe causes of ‘climate change’ which used to be members of theCANDIDATES judiciary on discrimination – and implicit make fair and just dispositions. ‘globalAppeals warming’ but now(C3: is able Western to encompass any bias.CONGRESSIONAL The judiciary recently formed DISTRICT a Committee on 7 republicanDISCRIMINATION: Our system of justice changeMaryland) hotter or colder due to the terminology. Equal Justice to identify improvements that can be Ray Bly demands that the court system act without Until the problem is universally defined and made to eliminate the risk of discrimination. bias or prejudice. Those mandates are made Vote for no more than 1. No response received by deadline. identifiedDUTIES: how Judgesdoes one preside formulate in the aCourt plan toof address clear in the oath I took when sworn in as an issue that is largely unknown? As far as the an Associate Judge on the Circuit Court Special Appeals, the intermediate appellate forCANDIDATES Howard County. For many – years before environmentcourt in inMaryland. general, The government Court reviews should the enforce Democratic assuming my position on the bench, I achievedstrict actionsproperty and rights. decisions of the Circuit Court and CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3 of the Orphans’ Court in cases brought before Elijah Cummings the highest possible rating for judicial ethics. EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT: I will stress the fact Website: www.cummingsforcongress.com/ I am not permitted to make policy statementsthat ifit. we The do Court, not work usually together sitting to in responsibly panels of three and Vote for no more than 1. IMMIGRATION: I support comprehensive for the Maryland Judiciary. voluntarilyjudges, reduce decides what if the government trial judge spendsfollowed our tax the law and legal precedent. The Court is immigration reform to better secure our boarders, dollars on; we will be forced to do it involuntarily composed of 15 judges: eight at large and one protect workers against abuse, limit the downward Democratic wheneach the economy from seven continues appellate to judicialdeteriorate districts. due to pressure on wages, and unify families – policies that John sJudge,arbanes Court of Special a weak dollar and inflation. On issues of Liberty are both realistic and humane toward the millions of Website: www.johnsarbanes.com (PatriotSALARY: Act, NDAA 178,633 provisions, annual base. etc.), I will inform undocumented families who currently are within the Appeals (At-Large) voters and let them vote out those who vote to IMMIGRATION: I support a policy that considers U.S. violateTERM: our liberties. Ten years, no term limit. Mandatory both nationalDU securityTIES: Judges and economic preside in interests, the Court as of retirement age of 70 years. ENVIRONMENT: Implement policies to (1) Create well as the need to provide a fair, legal framework for PRIORITIES: Repeal any legislation that violates millions of green jobs (2) Conserve 20% of our Special Appeals, the intermediate appellate our Bill of Rights. Force government to respect and individuals courtwho want in Maryland. to come The to America. Court reviews I support the HOW ELECTED: When there is a vacancy on energy by 2015; (3) Freeze pollution levels now, defend our Liberties. Monetary reform. Spending improved borderactions security and decisions and law of enforcement, the Circuit Court a and the Court of Special Appeals, the governor cutting them at least 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 focus on punishingof the Orphans’ employers Court who in knowinglycases brought hire before reform. appoints Reducing a qualified the burden person of governmentto fill the office, in and 80% by 2050; (4) Limit new coal plants; & (5) undocumentedit. The workers, Court, andusually a practical sitting in approach panels of to three the aspectswith the of consentour lives of that the itState is incapable Senate. ofOnce Invest in renewable energy. judges, decides if the trial judge followed administrating.appointed, Returnthe appellate powers judge delegated holds tothe the office addressing undocumented workers currently in the EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT: I have always worked to the law and legal precedent. The Court is until the first election that occurs at least one country. states, local government and individuals to their achieve consensus with other leaders, consistent with composed of 15 judges: eight at large and oneConstitutional year after balancethe vacancy in accordance happened. with At that the time, 10th ENVIRONMENT: The government can do many the values and interests of my constituents, and I each from seven appellate judicial districts. amendment.the judge runs for an uncontested election for things to slow the rate of climate change: invest a ten-year term on their record (yes or no for will continue to do so. in clean energySALARY: technologies; 178,633 cap annual and base.reduce continuance in office). No one is permitted to PRIORITIES: Expanding federal funding of public greenhouse gases; require utility companies to libertarianfile against them. If the incumbent judge is TERM: Ten years, no term limit. Mandatory approved, the judge faces another “retention generate energy from renewable sources; develop Paul W. Drgos Jr. capabilities retirementto capture ageand ofstore 70 years.carbon emissions; election” every ten years to continue in office. Website: pauld2012.com and advance smart grid technologies so electricity is If the incumbent judge is rejected by the HOW ELECTED: When there is a vacancy on IMMIGRATION:voters, the post America becomes is nation vacant, founded and the by delivered efficiently. the Court of Special Appeals, the governor immigrants.governor It makesis unAmerican a new appointment. to close the borders. EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT: I work every day to appoints a qualified person to fill the office, Frankly, it is also poor policy. Immigration is the advance responsible legislation that accomplishes with the consent of the State Senate. Once only wayThe to Issues be successful in the future. People come meaningful appointed,change and the will appellate have a positive judge holds impact the office QUALIFICATIONS: How does your here illegally because the laws are too hard. Simplify on the Americanuntil the people. first Theseelection successes that occurs give atme least the one experience prepare you for the duties of this them. That said, there must be order. You should energy and yearoptimism after tothe continue vacancy tohappened. work for At what that I time, office?CALIFICACIONES: ¿Cómo le prepara have to apply in your country of origin if you are believe is right.the judge runs for an uncontested election for su experiencia para las responsabilidades del a ten-year term on their record (yes or no forover 21 years old and not serving in the US military. PRIORITIES: My legislative priorities include cargo? continuance in office). No one is permitted to ENVIRONMENT:COURT NEED WhatS: What can are the the Federal greatest government leading efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay CONGRESSiONAL file against them. If the incumbent judge is do? Thechallenges US is not facing the onlyMaryland’s country court in the system world. and and protect the environment; expanding higher DiSTRiCTS approved, the judge faces another “retention In fact,how the can US these is producing be addressed?NECESIDADES less greenhouse gases education opportunities to help students attend election” every ten years to continue in office.because DEL it TRIBUNAL: is using more ¿Cuáles natural son gas los and mayores less coal, HOWARD COuNTY and afford college;If the incumbent advocating judge for campaignis rejected financeby the desafíos que enfrenta el sistema judicial de because it is cheaper. The only true way to curb voters, the post becomes vacant, and the Maryland y cómo se pueden abordar? governor makes a new appointment. REPEAT OFFENDERS: What can the courts do to reduce recidivism?DELINCUENTES General Election Voters’ Guide, 2012 ~ League of Women Voters of Howard County 6 • League of Women Voters of Howard County - General Election Voters’ Guide 2020 families. If we are going to fund additional effort, and potentially wasteful staffing. A howard county mental health services additional funding will modernization review of existing systems and be needed. processes in human resource management will offices SPECIAL EDUCATION: I’ll work to fully reduce administrative waste and expensive fund Special Education and ensure we have delays in staffing and employee management. highly qualified, appropriately trained teachers board of education working with students with disabilities. We’ve increased the number of support staff instead NOW ELECTED BY DISTRICT - of qualified teachers, and this ratio needs to board of education THE SAME DISTRICTS AS ARE be adjusted. We need a compliance position REPRESENTED BY THE COUNTY to check IEPs and identify areas for additional DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL. staff training to ensure IEP requirements are VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 1. met. SECURITY: We need to address bullying DUTIES: The Board of Education of Howard Larry Pretlow II County is responsible for setting local education consistently across our schools. There are too many parents and students not being told Campaign Website: http://www.larrypretlow. policy consistent with state and federal laws com governing public education. At the direction there is a formal process for reporting bullying. of the Board, the Superintendent and the We need to be vigilant in training school- TITLE 1: Title 1 schools require additional school system’s administrative staff develop based staff on bullying procedures and how to procedures and administrative regulations to appropriately interact with both the victim and support and have intervention needs that may support policy decisions. the alleged bully, and their families. differ from other school communities. When BUDGET: As an incumbent, and Operating we restructure school attendance areas based SALARY: $18,000 chair, $16,000 individual Budget Review Committee member for 3 years on the socio-economic status of the school TERM: 4 years, no term limit before being elected to the BOE, I have a very population, we make it harder to dedicate good understanding of the budget. We must needed resources to our Title 1 schools HOW ELECTED: The Board is composed of institute responsible budgeting and spending directly. I will work to ensure every Title 1 seven members: five members elected by of tax dollars that takes into account current school has resource funding to meet individual county council districts for four-year terms, and student needs. two members at-large elected countywide for and future needs, and link funding decisions to data-driven student outcomes. OPPORTUNITY GAP: I plan to ensure that we four-year terms. A student member is elected address the individual needs of every student by students for a one-year term. without causing inconvenience to the student Questions or their parents. There are socio-economic and Matthew D. Molyett racial opportunity gaps in Howard County. I Campaign Website: http://elect.molyett.com TITLE 1: Would you change how we allocate will hold the county council accountable to the Title 1 funding in Howard County? Explain: socio-economic needs and racial opportunity TITLE 1: I would consult with the PTSAs OPPORTUNITY GAP: What is your plan gaps of communities to develop practical for closing the socio-economic and racial of Title 1 Elementary schools, the Title I solutions to improve the quality of life for all opportunity gap within Howard County Public Staff Members, appropriate staff, and the residents. Schools?: Superintendent about how effectively the TEACHING FORCE: We have to make sure TEACHING FORCE: What strategies or ideas school needs are being met. If the usage in we have enough qualified teachers to educate do you have to help diversify our teaching force place is demonstrated to be ineffective or every child. HCPSS has a diverse student to include more teachers of color?: wasteful then I would refine the Schoolwide population, and so I would work to encourage MENTAL HEALTH: What strategies will you Program to be more targeted if that was a diversity of educator-applicants to match the implement to improve access to mental health required to be a better steward of the taxpayer diversity of our student population. We have services within our schools?: resources. SPECIAL EDUCATION: What plan do you to also focus on culturally relevant curriculum OPPORTUNITY GAP: I will support the DEI with parent, student, and teacher input before have to support special educators and families office efforts to educate our educators on the with special education students?: implementation. specialized needs of our diverse student body. I SECURITY: What additional security measures MENTAL HEALTH: I plan to work with Mental do you believe are needed in our schools?: will assess the educator qualifications, tenure, Health experts to ensure school counselors BUDGET: What experience do you have in and team efficacy of educators at each school receive practical training on how to assess, working with large budgets? How will you to ensure parity at all schools. Using student identify, and approach the root causes approach budgeting around our current deficit success data and student demographic data, of mental health issues. We must ensure without cutting necessary programs?: I will identify where achievement gaps occur counselors have a conceptual understanding and use the same data over time to assess of and can make practical recommendations to progress. help students work towards healthy resolves to TEACHING FORCE: I will support the DEI deal with root causes. board of education office efforts to amplify the voices of affinity SPECIAL EDUCATION: I believe that special groups to and within the administration education students are already underserved, DISTRICT 1 to make sure the existing members of the and there’s not enough funding allocated VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 1. teaching force are successfully retained and the to support special education. I first plan to hardships they have experienced are mitigated increase community input to provide special for future hires. I will support recruitment education parents and teachers the rightful efforts to be targeted at universities that opportunities to work collaboratively with Christina Delmont-Small minimize the acceptance impact of donor or myself and my colleagues to develop an Campaign Website: http://christinaforboe.org legacy admissions. effective plan to support special educators, MENTAL HEALTH: I will support the students, and their families. TITLE 1: No, not until we measure what we’re administration and principals’ efforts to SECURITY: I believe security measures we doing now, analyze the data, and determine if facilitate a culture shift to reduce bullying currently have in place have proven to be the current Title 1 allocation model is working. related mental health stress. I will support effective. We should never let a memorandum We need to identify the supports/programs that mental health staffing in all schools. I will of understanding with the police expire. I want best serve our students and determine which oppose armed and uniformed law enforcement to include community input to make necessary Title I funding model would reinforce them. We in the schools. I will require school safety updates to the memorandum to ensure it is should conduct a thorough review of what we practices to include mental health impacts respectful of student privacy and rights. I also do now and made decisions based on data, not on students and staff as a major aspect in all want to ensure that appropriate personnel on anecdotal information. strategic planning. receives updated training on safety and OPPORTUNITY GAP: If a school is closing SPECIAL EDUCATION: I will support the security policy. that gap, we should look at what best identification and removal of systemic barriers BUDGET: I have ten years of experience practices might be applied at other schools. to the identification of students in need of working in both management and supervisory We must also focus on each child’s individual special education support. Families of students roles, and I’ve gained the functioning achievement gap and apply appropriate should not have to bear the financial burden experience required to effectively manage supports - one size does not fit all. Reading is of retaining counsel for the purpose of getting employee relations, evaluate employee a foundation of learning and without the ability their students’ needs recognized. I will support performance, ensure productivity, and adhere to read the gap will continue to widen, so all a review of the efficacy of special education to an established operating budget. Our school students must be able to read at/above their support programs so that trouble spots can be budget must be reviewed with a fine-tooth grade level. fixed. comb with input from all stakeholders. We TEACHING FORCE: Recruitment is just the SECURITY: I will support a review of school have to see what is working. first step, we also need to develop and retain discipline policies to ensure students are safe our teachers of color. We must look nationally from disproportionate policing which involves at how other districts recruit/develop/retain the criminal justice system into situations Antonia Barkley Watts teachers of color, collect and review HCPSS that should be handled through proportionate Campaign Website: http://www. data to see where improvements are needed, education based conflict remediation. Students antoniawatts.com and implement a process that includes should not be exposed to firearms unrelated to measures so we can monitor success. educational pursuits. TITLE 1: I support the HCPSS policy of MENTAL HEALTH: HPCSS must continue BUDGET: I will focus on modernization, concentrating Title I funding at the elementary to work and partner with public and private automation, and centralization to identify level. Early intervention services can have a organizations who have expertise in providing inefficiencies in vendor and contract significant impact on educational outcomes mental health services, but do so in a way that management, data entry and duplication of and can increase long-term success. However, protects the privacy of the students and their League of Women Voters of Howard County - General Election Voters’ Guide 2020 • 7 the funding is used for school-wide TEACHING FORCE: I’m a fan of Malcolm a safe learning environment. I’ve learned that programming which can miss some of our Gladwell and he wrote about unconscious outside school hours custodial staff support neediest students. HCPSS should also use bias when he discussed how women were security, giving them less time to complete intensive one-on-one instruction to improve disproportionately shut out from Orchestra their assigned duties. The schools have both learning. openings. When they began doing blind SROs and SAs. These resources could be OPPORTUNITY GAP: Students from auditions, the number of women accepted rose staggered to fill the after-hours security gap. traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds have dramatically. I think BUDGET: Working on the OBRC, I significantly fewer educational opportunities MENTAL HEALTH: Previously I taught recommended PMs identify program areas compared to their peers. This gap starts even Resilience for the US Army - teaching Army that can withstand trimming and those that before kindergarten. Children without access soldiers the cognitive tools of resilience. are on the cusp of not being able to maintain to early education may enter school up to The idea was that we could inoculate them their vitality. The current budget deficits are two academic years behind their peers and against the psychological ills of war and the impacting programs, increasing class size and may never catch up. I will work to expand the military. This equipped them with the skills to depleting the general fund balance. Funding number of high quality and affordable pre-K bounce back and push through the inevitable formulas should include HCPSS student programs in our schools. adversities they would face. Similarly, I would enrollment as well as non HCPSS students TEACHING FORCE: Teacher diversity can propose teaching students the cognitive tools utilizing transportation service greatly improve ALL students’ outcomes of resilience.. through relationship building and cultural SPECIAL EDUCATION: I have a son who connections. We must actively recruit from has ADHD and appreciate the hard work that teacher education programs with large special educators do in our schools. A big populations of teachers of color like Historically challenge I’ve encountered and heard from board of education Black Colleges and Universities. Then, to others, has been compliance with special retain these teachers, we must also make education supports. A big part of that is that DISTRICT 4 the workplace welcoming through equity and teachers don’t have the time/resources to feel VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 1. implicit bias training. like they can comply. I would work to increase MENTAL HEALTH: To improve access to personnel support while decreasing non services, it is necessary to increase the effective tasks (eg. overcasting) Jen Mallo number of mental health professionals in each SECURITY: I’ve never thought HoCo schools Campaign Website: http://votejenmallo.com school. Also, it is important to expand training needed more security. In my experience they for everyone surrounding our young people have done well in this regard. TITLE 1: We need to be more intentional with to recognize warning signs and provide timely BUDGET: I’ve managed and led multi-million differentiated staffing, including Title I. HCPSS help. Early intervention is the best prevention. dollar programs while working with clients should allocate additional staff at all Title I We also need to work to create inclusive like the US Navy, Army, etc. I always kept my schools and schools with high socio-economic and safe school climates and to build strong budget on time, on budget, and within scope. need. Using Title I funds (only 0.5% of the relationships. I’m very good at this. One thing I would do budget) at the elementary level is critical-early SPECIAL EDUCATION: Some parents is work with teachers to identify what is NOT intervention has the great, long-term impact feel overwhelmed and intimidated by the working. I have no shortage of stories of on students. Changing would disadvantage our complex special education process creating a teachers telling me about things that are a neediest students even more. distrust in the system. This can be mitigated complete waste of time and money. Those are OPPORTUNITY GAP: To close gaps, budget by developing knowledge-based guidelines easy wins. priorities must staff positions that can have to make the process more transparent and the biggest impact. Successful programs like universally consistent. Special educators Jolene Mosley reading and math support teachers, Black, His- are stretched thin. Increasing the number Campaign Website: http://jolenemosley.com panic, and International Achievement Liaisons, of paraeducators alleviates some of their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion positions have workload and allows more focus on students. TITLE 1: I would like to see schools above not kept pace with enrollment growth. We must SECURITY: Any additional security 60% FARMs, supported by a potential increase develop budgetary formulas to increase these measures should be proactive and should in the distribution of Title 1 funding. There positions annually to support students. not interfere with the learning environment. should also be consideration in this analysis for TEACHING FORCE: Student teachers and This includes increasing access to mental the percentage of English Language Learners, recruitment should come from more HBCUs, health professionals, creating a positive students receiving special education services, like Howard, Hampton, and UDC. We need to school climate, and using restorative practices and actual class sizes. I believe a closer look at hire administrators of color and retain current to foster positive relationships. A balance the Title 1 allocations can contribute to closing educators of color. If we cannot keep those we between physical safety and psychological significant opportunity gaps. recruit, then diversification will be an endless health is important. OPPORTUNITY GAP: I prefer a holistic cycle of insufficiency. Newly hired educators BUDGET: As an engineer, I managed the approach that focuses on making students, need great mentoring, professional develop- budget of several multimillion dollar vehicle educators and families feel welcome and ment, and affinity/support groups of similar programs. I serve on the Howard County valued, quality instruction from the beginning teachers. Library Board of Trustees which requires and a reduction of chronic absenteeism. I MENTAL HEALTH: Continue and grow partner- understanding of a large budget and its impact plan on supporting HCPSS with incorporating ships with organizations that provide grants, on the fidelity of the system. I will focus on more inclusion work, updated anti-bias work services, and supports for our students ex- waste reduction and expanding partnerships for whole school populations, resources to periencing emotional crises. We need to seek with other county services. It is imperative incorporate diverse curriculum and materials, additional funding to pay for more school based that we prioritize services that directly impact and restorative justice practice mental health experts; teach social-emotional our children. TEACHING FORCE: I applaud the efforts learning to students to potentially short-circuit taken to recruit teachers of color. Steps must later problems; and provide robust education in also be taken to support and retain these digital citizenship to prevent cyber-bullying. educators. Expanding updated anti-bias work SPECIAL EDUCATION: We need to increase board of education to encourage an inclusive environment will help special education staff. Current educators us keep these valuable assets to our schools. are overburdened. Absent steady, consistent, DISTRICT 3 Additionally, we need to ensure diverse significant growth of staff, we cannot continue VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 1. materials are integrated into the libraries, text the current model nor improve service. Special books and literature used in the curriculum and education families already face difficult chal- classroom. lenges, HCPSS should not be the source of Tom Heffner MENTAL HEALTH: I would like to see more more. With increased staffing, we can relieve Campaign Website: http://tomheffner4boe. efforts made supporting and educating strain, reduce caseloads, and better meet ser- org students not only self-care but also where vice needs. safe places are to reach out for help. SECURITY: Every school needs to have secure TITLE 1: Traditionally, this funding is used Feedback I hear from students is that they vestibules where entry is controlled, a work- to provide additional staffing. I would be sometimes have questions and want to explore ing LobbyGuard™ system to check and keep propose funding resilience & character based options but are unsure what is available. track of visitors and check sex-offender regis- interventions. I can’t predict the future but Classroom, current event discussions, school tries. School Resource Officers in schools need I do know they will face adversity (more so announcements and assemblies are great continuing education to develop skills to build while living in poverty). So it’s best to teach places to discuss mental health topics. community, to practice restorative justice, and them the cognitive tools of resilience so SPECIAL EDUCATION: The diverse needs not be involved in discipline (which can in- they can bounce back and push through the of students demand that the school system crease the school to prison pipeline). inevitable adversities they face. adequately and transparently invest in a BUDGET: As a current Board member, I am OPPORTUNITY GAP: I’d work with County fully trained workforce. Early intervention, experienced in making tough decisions for the legislatures to identify initiatives for closing clearly-defined goals, workable caseloads, nearly billion-dollar school system budget, the gap. The gap begins long before school and communication should be emphasized so using my degree in economics and my train- starts and only widens. I’d leverage my children can perform to their fullest potential, ing in data analytics to make smart, prioritized expertise and experience in innovation to minimizing academic slides. We need to ensure choices. I collaborate and communicate well design a solution that meets the needs of HCPSS opportunities allow all abilities to be with our funding authorities and participated in those underperforming. This means, we’d included and supported. developing a plan to eliminate the deficit. I of- spend time researching (e.g. interviewing, SECURITY: Students and staff should feel fer solutions rather than just vote no. observing, etc) the specific unmet needs and safe without being inhibited by extra security how we could design solutions. controls that create tension and interfere with
8 • League of Women Voters of Howard County - General Election Voters’ Guide 2020 Sezin Palmer teachers representing our diversity. We need educators. The Schools need to raise special ed- Campaign Website: http://sezin4boe.org targeted, aggressive recruitment efforts at ucation awareness among parents, teachers, so local colleges and universities with teaching they can detect symptoms early. Early detection programs. And we need to encourage and and early intervention can help special educa- TITLE 1: I would revisit Title I funding alloca- enable diverse men and women to become tion, and recommend considering a shift from tion students improve significantly and relief the teachers through more programs like the Para work load of special educators in the long run. a school-wide model to a targeted approach to Teacher program. SECURITY: Fostering a welcoming and safe en- that better supports disadvantaged students. MENTAL HEALTH: We need to advocate to Also, Title I funds are currently used for a ensure there are enough mental health workers vironment helps improve security since a good range of activities, including general training. in schools to keep up with the increase in environment brings the best out of each other. I would advocate using funds only for targeted mental health issues. We also need to address The schools need to provide security trainings, activities that correspond to better educational the stigma that surrounds mental health. provide preparedness procedures, establish re- outcomes for disadvantaged students. Ensuring that there is an age-appropriate porting and monitoring system to detect secu- OPPORTUNITY GAP: I would begin by spend- curriculum on mental health from pre-K to rity threats early, and act accordingly. Schools ing Title I funds on the most disadvantaged graduation would destigmatize mental health can adopt security system to conduct quick care and encourage children to seek out students to provide these students with the background check on visitors. services when they need them appropriate support, including tutoring and BUDGET: I have been a Federal Acquisition SPECIAL EDUCATION: We need to advocate Certified Contracting Officer’s Representative supplemental instruction. I would also advocate for more special education funding and find for early screening for health/social services, for almost ten years and participated in the ways to also cut costs. To cut costs, I would procurement processes. I will approach budget- providing education opportunities to parents advocate for programs to train teachers to ing by closely looking at the contracts to see and consider creating magnet programs in appropriately assess and identify children in schools serving high concentrations of low in- early grade levels for learning disabilities and to whether they provide the best value for the come students. rapidly deploy remediation as early as possible. school system, looking into ways to attract more TEACHING FORCE: Minority teachers com- Early intervention is the least expensive and bidders and lower the contracting prices. I want prise 27% of the workforce, yet the percentage most successful intervention. It is fiscally to put the resources in the classroom. of minorities in the community is 44%. To close prudent. that gap, I would engage more minorities in SECURITY: Investing in mental health is an the recruiting process and better target recruit- excellent way to improve security at schools. Cindy Vaillancourt Mental health services lead to lower rates of ing efforts to improve the pipeline of minority Campaign Website: http://cindyvaillancourt. suspension, expulsion, and other disciplinary applicants. Hiring minority leaders, including incidents while improving attendance, com principals and central office staff, is also critical academic achievement, and graduation rates. to improving workforce diversity. We also need to examine if a different model TITLE 1: Many years ago the decision was MENTAL HEALTH: To address the mental of protector/enforcer could improve security made to concentrate the use of Title 1 funds health crisis facing our students, I would focus instead of police-affiliated student resource in the elementary schools. The theory being on training for all educators to recognize and officers. that early intervention is the most effective. I appropriately respond to the warning signs BUDGET: I write and administer multi-year continue to believe that is true. However, we of mental health concerns. We must provide multi-million dollar budgets that fund my have older students who have unmet needs. I educators and staff with the proper resources research group. Many of HCPSS’s current would like to see HCPSS evaluate options for to focus on student well-being. Emphasiz- problems leading to cuts in necessary problems using some Title 1 funding for the benefit of ing testing and measures that focus on school are due to the multi-year healthcare deficit. eligible older students. performance should not be the sole focus of our I am shocked at how wrong the actuarial OPPORTUNITY GAP: Adequate staffing and educators. estimates were for so many consecutive years small class sizes must be maintained for our SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are two critical and will work to ensure that this has been most vulnerable students. I support providing aspects of special education challenges that adequately addressed to ensure it does not elementary and middle schools that run on a I would address. First is proper training for happen again. 9week on/3 week off calendar that would be educators and support staff who interact with VOLUNTARY, with opportunities for enrichment, our special education students. While we need remediation, and mini camps offered at little or to increase the total number of special educa- no cost during the 3 week off periods. This has tors, we must ensure they are properly trained proved very effective for the most vulnerable (OG). Second, I would focus on regular assess- board of education students. ments of performance and make adjustments TEACHING FORCE: The HCPSS MUST alter its as needed. DISTRICT 5 hiring schedule and offer “open contracts” so SECURITY: The security challenges in our VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 1. active recruitment efforts (including at HBCUs) schools are twofold: physical security of build- can lead to hiring great candidates before they ings and the mental health of our children. Yun Lu commit to other systems. After hiring, however, While some measures have been taken to Campaign Website: http://www.lu4boe.org HCPSS MUST provide mentoring, support, and address physical security, at the core of many professional development for all of our new challenges are the mental health issues that TITLE 1: Yes. HCPSS allocates the funds to 13 teachers, but especially teachers of color who plague our children. We must better address Title I elementary schools to operate school face additional obstacles. depression, anxiety and bullying behavior wide programs. The disadvantaged students in MENTAL HEALTH: Starting with providing across our schools to prevent these crises from non Title I schools will not benefit from the pro- properly staffed and nurturing classrooms as a occurring. gram. I propose to continue using a large part preventive measure for the anxiety, stress, and BUDGET: I have executive leadership respon- of the Title I funding to school wide programs mental health issues that plague our children, sibility in a >$1.5B organization and extensive and start a pilot program to apply a small part we must provide training to the classroom experience successfully leading organizations of the funding to improve high school dropout educators to identify issues early, adequate while balancing limited resources. I would take rates for disadvantaged students. counseling and psychologist services at school, a more rigorous approach to decision-making OPPORTUNITY GAP: Addressing the root and a robust referral operation for ongoing care that would use data, community input, and cause of opportunity gap involves efforts out- - including on site access to follow up care. objective analysis to prioritize the most critical side of school system. The schools need to fos- SPECIAL EDUCATION: Appropriate staffing needs associated with educational outcomes ter a positive learning environment, take time levels of properly credentialed and trained and identify the most responsible solutions. to understand the students, help them gain educators and support staff, is critical to all confidence, motivate them to learn, and adopt students. None are currently receiving our Julie Hotopp (Write-In) teaching methods that sufficiently address stu- promised level of service, but especially our Campaign Website: http://hotopp4boe. dent need. The schools can provide free tutor- special education students. Years of cuts to wixsite.com/mysite ing services to disadvantaged students and help special education staff and programming have them improve. led to an untenable situation. Acknowledging TITLE 1: I would not change the allocation TEACHING FORCE: Since there are only a lim- this truth is the first step, with investment method. I grew up in poverty and know all ited number of teachers of color in the potential following. too well the stigma associated with poverty. teaching force pool, we need to encourage more SECURITY: The most effective security The current model, which provides services colored students to become teachers. To inspire measure is properly staffed schools with well to all students in a school with >40% FARMs students of color, we can help them identify trained educators and staff with the time and participation, ensures that kids targeted by the role models that they could relate to other than resources to know their students, and see program can get the assistance they need while and respond to distressed students in a timely avoiding that stigma. I want all kids to know race, such as a teacher who came from pov- erty, a teacher who is a non-native speaker, a way; to intervene before crisis situations erupt. that the world is their playground. Taking money out of the classrooms to build up OPPORTUNITY GAP: We need to address teacher who overcame obstacles. a system to respond to crisis caused by the lack more root causes. For instance, there are MENTAL HEALTH: In public health, education, of classroom resources has failed miserably. students who frequently switch between early detection, early intervention are effective adjacent schools mid-year due to apartment strategies. It is essential for school system to BUDGET: I have 8 years of first hand rent-related issues, causing educational raise mental health awareness among students, experience with the HCPSS budget, including instability. Let’s explore a program that allows parents, teachers, and communities, and pro- seeing what has not worked. “Zero based” those kids to remain at their original school for vide trainings so people know how to appropri- budgeting has not really occurred in the past, the remainder of the year, providing stability ately react. The Schools need to work on chang- but should be implemented as a reset for the for both the child and potentially staffing within ing the overall environment so students can feel system. The budget should be rebuilt from the the school system. comfortable talking about mental health. “bottom up”- starting with the classrooms, TEACHING FORCE: Given the nationwide SPECIAL EDUCATION: We need to advocate educators in front of students, and the shortage of African American and Hispanic resources they need. All choices should begin teachers, we need to make sure we retain for more local, state and federal funding for special education and more training for special with the classroom.
League of Women Voters of Howard County - General Election Voters’ Guide 2020 • 9 Special Sessions to override those vetoes. Spe- • Illegal sports betting already takes place. maryland Ballot cial Sessions come with a cost. Maryland should provide a legal way to place • Because the public will be advocating for new such bets to tap into that market and thereby Questions or increased funding for particular programs, reduce criminal activity. legislators could be swayed to support pro- • Depending on how it is implemented, Mary- grams that the Governor did not feel should be land could raise as much as $20 million a year Maryland State Question 1 funded at that level. that could be invested in education which could • It could take longer to pass a budget. yield long term benefits for Maryland residents. Constitutional Amendment (Ch. 645 of • Legislators may have more concern about the 2020 Legislative Session) State Bud- programs that affect their constituents, while Arguments Against: get Process the Governor may have a more statewide per- • Maryland already has legalized a lottery, slot (Amending Article II Section 17 and Ar- spective. machines and casinos with various gambling ticle Ill Section 14 and 52 of the Maryland table games. This would add another way to Constitution) A vote FOR the constitutional amendment raise money from people who may not be able means the legislature will be able to adjust to afford it and may become addicted to gam- spending in the Governor’s budget by reducing bling. The proposed amendment authorizes the Gen- some items and increasing others as long as • If sports betting is implemented in a similar eral Assembly, in enacting a balanced budget the total amount of spending does not exceed manner to casino gambling, most of the reve- bill for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year the amount of spending proposed by the Gov- nue raised will likely go to the gambling venues thereafter, to increase, diminish, or add items, ernor. with only a small portion going to education. provided that the General Assembly may not • Sports betting could have an impact on how exceed the total proposed budget as submitted A vote AGAINST the constitutional amend- fans watch games because they could be more by the Governor. ment means current law would remain in interested in making money than appreciating place and the legislature will only be able to the sport. It could impact the game for play- r For the Constitutional Amendment reduce the expenditures within the budget pro- ers as well, especially if wagering is allowed on posed by the Governor. college sports. r Against the Constitutional Amendment Maryland State Question 2 A vote FOR the referred law means the General Assembly will be able to pass legisla- Origin of the ballot question: The 2020 Commercial Gaming Expansion Refer- tion to establish a program of sports wagering session of the General Assembly passed leg- and event wagering in Maryland with a portion islation (SB 1028) proposing a constitutional endum (Ch. 492 of the 2020 Legislative Session) of the revenue going to support public educa- amendment to increase the authority of the tion. General Assembly in the budget process. A Expansion of Commercial Gaming-Sports and Event Wagering bill that amends the Maryland Constitution A vote AGAINST the referred law means requires a three/fifth vote in each chamber that commercial wagering on sporting events (Maryland Senate and House of Delegates) Do you approve the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize will remain illegal in Maryland. and approval by a majority of voters at the school. Targeted allocation is the key. next general election. sports and events betting for the primary pur- pose of raising revenue for education? Present Practice: The Maryland Constitution r prohibits the General Assembly from increas- For the referred law. ing any budget item or adding any new items r to the Governor’s proposed budget for any of Against the referred law. Local Ballot the government agencies except the Judicial branch and the operations of the General As- Questions sembly itself, nor can it move funds from one Origin of the ballot question: In 2007, the agency to another. The General Assembly can Maryland Constitution was amended to say Howard County Question A only recommend cuts to state agency budgets that the General Assembly may only authorize unless it identifies and enacts a new revenue additional forms or expansion of commercial Charter Amendment source to fund additional items. Once a budget gambling if approved through a referendum by passes the Senate and House, it becomes a majority of the voters in a general election. Redistricting Dates law and cannot be changed or vetoed by the In 2020 the General Assembly passed SB 04 Governor. that would authorize it to pass laws to estab- Changing the Howard County Charter to allow lish a program of sports wagering and event the County Council to set dates for drawing Proposed Change: If passed, the General wagering in the State if approved by voters in new Council district borders. After each official Assembly could move spending in the budget the next General Election. The bill also stated count of everyone who lives in the County, the proposed by the Governor from one agency that the primary purpose of this expansion of Council would quickly form a redistricting com- to another as long as the total amount of the gambling would be to raise revenue for educa- mission and set dates for the commission to budget does not exceed the total amount in tion. submit a plan for new Council district borders, Governor’s proposed budget. The General As- and for the plan to become law if the Coun- sembly could also add spending to a new item, Present Practice: In 2008 Maryland voters cil does not adopt a different plan. The dates as long as other item(s) of the budget are first approved gambling via video lottery termi- for these actions are now set by the County reduced to pay for the new expenditure. This nals (slot machines.) In 2012, voters approved Charter, which uses an outdated State election change would begin with the 2024 Budget bill expanding the allowable number of video lot- schedule. which is presented to the General Assembly in tery terminals and authorized table games in 2023. At that time, the Governor would be giv- casinos. Wagering on a contest, event, game, or match between individuals or teams spon- en the authority to veto items added or items Howard County Question B increased by the General Assembly. sored by a professional league or association or hosted by a college or university is currently Charter Amendment Arguments in Favor: illegal in Maryland. • The Maryland Legislature has less power in the budget process than any other legislature Proposed Change: If the referendum is ap- Citizen Board Term in the United States. proved, the General Assembly would then need • Members of the public might have more to pass legislation that authorizes the State Changing the Howard County Charter to ability to influence funding for programs of Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to shorten the term a resident would serve as importance to them because they have more issue licenses for sports and event wagering in a member on most County boards from five opportunities to interact with legislators during the State. The legislation must include the cri- years to three years. the General Assembly Session personally and teria for eligible applications for a licensee and during committee hearings, than they do to specify the permissible forms, means of con- influence the Governor or the state agencies ducting, and locations where sports wagering Howard County Question C when the budget details are negotiated and would take place. The bill that sent this ques- finalized for presentation. tion to the voters also requires a study by the Charter Amendment • For decades, Republican and Democratic leg- General Assembly to evaluate whether there is islators have proposed this change while Gov- reason to assist minorities and women in the County Employment Discrimination ernors from both major parties have been in sports and event wagering industry and mar- power. The provisions of this bill will not take ket. This study is to be completed by October Changing the Howard County Charter to pro- effect until the election of a new Governor and 1, 2020 so any recommendations that result hibit employment discrimination by Howard members of the General Assembly are elected. can be considered when the General Assembly County based on a person’s disability, color, na- • This Constitutional Amendment would not establishes criteria for licenses (assuming the tional origin, immigration status, age, occupa- change the current requirement that the Gen- referendum passes.) tion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender eral Assembly must pass a balanced budget. identity or expression,family status, or personal Arguments in Favor: appearance. The prohibition would no longer Arguments Against: • Allowing sports betting in Maryland would include the word sex and the County could still • Because the Governor would have the power enable the state to compete with the fourteen not make an employment decision based on to enact line item vetoes, there may be more states that are already raising revenue this a person’s political or religious opinions or as- way. sociations or race.
10 • League of Women Voters of Howard County - General Election Voters’ Guide 2020