Our Revolution Maryland: Montgomery County Chapter Questionnaire for County-level Candidates
Name Tom Hucker Office sought County Council District 5
------
About Our Revolution Maryland
Our Revolution Maryland, the State Chapter of Our Revolution, seeks to reclaim our democracy for the working people of our country by harnessing the transformative energy of the “political revolution,” by supporting a new generation of progressive leadership, empowering millions to fight for progressive change and elevating political consciousness. By transforming Maryland politics, Our Revolution Maryland aims to make our political and economic systems once again responsive to Maryland’s working families. Our Revolution Montgomery County seeks to promote economic, social and environmental justice and counter the corrupting influences of wealth and power through community organizing, political engagement, education and outreach. ------
Personal
1. What have you done professionally or as an activist that qualifies you for public office and that might stamp you as a candidate whom Our Revolution Montgomery members would want to support?
I am a lifelong progressive activist and I bring this experience and perspective to all of my work as an elected officia and continue my activism in this role. I started as a canvasser on environmental campaigns at age 18, continued for ten years as a student activist and regional environmental campaign director for the PIRGs, Sierra Club, National Environmental Law Center and other groups. I then pivoted into community organizing of labor-community alliances and by 1999, I served as Executive Director of Progressive Montgomery until I organized its merger with inactive Citizen Agenda and Maryland Citizen Action to form Progressive Maryland. I was Executive Director of Progressive Maryland from then until 2006, growing it to include 40 dues-paying affiliated organizations and 15,000 individual members. Some of my accomplishments there include:
● 2000: Successfully fought County administration proposals to eliminate rent guidelines and other anti-tenant measures ● 2002: Won a four year campaign to enact Montgomery County’s Living Wage Law
● 2004: Collected over 16,000 postcards from constituents to key lawmakers to successfully close the infamous “Delaware Loophole” that allowed megacorporations to avoid income taxes, winning hundreds of millions of dollars for Maryland schools, universities, and hospitals ● Led the charge to pass the 2004 living wage law through the Maryland General Assembly. Gov. Bob Ehrlich vetoed the bill, but the Assembly leadership agreed to raise the minimum wage rather than overriding the veto - resulting in the first minimum wage hike above the federal rate in Maryland history.
Some of my accomplishments in office include: ● 2007: Passed landmark legislation requiring that all workers on state contracts receive a Living Wage — the first state in the nation to do so. Helped pass the Maryland Clean Cars Act, drastically lowering vehicle emissions in MD Introduced legislation that prohibited housing discrimination against a person because of source of income ● 2008: Served on a Working Group that brought together manufacturers, environmentalists, and labor unions to create and pass HB 315, Maryland’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, the nation’s toughest state global warming law at the time ● 2009: Passed the MD Preschool for All bill requiring MD to finalize a business plan to offer free, voluntary pre-Kindergarten to all four-year olds Served on the White House Task Force of State Legislators for Health Care Reform, which provided policy advice and organized support for the passage and implementation of the President’s national health care reform efforts ● 2010: Passed HB 350 with overwhelming bipartisan support for federal funds to dramatically expand pre-K in Maryland; Re-elected as D20 delegate, endorsed by the MD Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice MD, EqualityMD, MCGEO, UFCW, SEIU, MCEA, MSEA, and many other organizations ● 2011: Helped pass the first-ever reliability standards for Pepco with state Senator Brian Feldman; Successfully ended Pepco’s practice of charging customers for utility usage during power outages. ● 2012: Passed the MD Watershed Protection and Restoration Program, guaranteeing that every major jurisdiction in the state will work together to address stormwater pollution and create green jobs across the region; Successfully fought to ban arsenic additives from chicken production, a policy later adopted by the FDA ● 2013: Passed the Pregnant Worker Protection Act, providing pregnant workers with better protection from firings and requiring all employers to accommodate their workers during pregnancy Worked closely with Gov. O’Malley to pass the MD Offshore Wind Energy Act, historic legislation creating thousands of green jobs and preparing MD to be a leading producer of wind energy in the country ● 2014: Worked with Councilmembers to help pass legislation to increase Montgomery County’s minimum wage, then successfully fought for statewide legislation to increase
Maryland’s minimum wage, giving a raise to nearly half a million workers. Helped defeat efforts in Annapolis to pre-empt Montgomery’s new higher minimum wage; Introduced legislation to establish a statewide retirement fund for private employees, similar to President Obama’s MyRA mentioned in the 2014 State of the Union ● 2015: Fought to ensure that the Council rejected last minute attempts to weaken County paid sick and safe leave legislation and offered a successful amendment providing that all types of workers that are laid off and later rehired are able to use previously accumulated time if they are rehired within 9 months; Exposed a GOP scheme to close the East County Early Voting site and then led a successful campaign to reverse that decision, protecting voter access at highest minority-early voting site in the County; ● 2016: Ensured workers can use their paid sick leave when they become new parents, including fathers and foster, adoptive, and same-sex parents, through common-sense expansion of County’s existing paid sick and safe leave law; Implemented strong community outreach, advocacy, and accountability measures in aftermath of tragic Long Branch apartment fire in Flower Branch Apartment community; Co-sponsored and successfully advocated for several amendments to strengthen protections for renters
Campaign Finance
2. Will you support continued funding of publicly financed elections? When I was the Executive Director of Progressive Maryland, we wrote and initiated successful 2002 legislation to create a Study Commission to look into the best way to implement public financing of elections in Maryland, and we fought successfully in subsequent years to pass public financing legislation through the full House and through the Senate committee, but the bill was never approved by the full Senate. On the Montgomery County Council, I have always voted to make sure the public financing fund has the money it needs for the program to be successful. I will continue to do so if re-elected.
3. In 2014, Montgomery County set up a public financing system for elections of County Executive and County Council.
Are you participating in this system?
We had not been eligible for public financing until very recently. With the sudden entrance of an opponent into our race, we are revising our campaign plan and will soon decide whether we want to pivot to public financing at this very late date.
If Yes, please explain how the process has gone? (good, bad, changes you would like to see, if you think it should be expanded to other offices).
If No, please:
(A) provide the percentage of funds your campaign has received in donations that are over $150.00 (the maximum an individual can contribute to candidates who are receiving public financing), (B) list any PACS, Corporations, and Labor Organization (groups not allowed to contribute to publicly financed candidates) that have donated to your campaign, and (C) set forth the steps you are taking to ensure that you will not give preferential treatment to these larger donors over residents who have not contributed large amounts of money.
------
Income & Wealth Inequality
4. Montgomery County recently passed a $15 minimum wage, but did not extend this to tipped workers. Would you vote to phase out the tip credit?
Of course. In 2015, I was the only member of the County Council to vote against a punitive bill that lowered wages for tipped workers.
5. Would you support legislation to make County taxes more progressive and if so what changes would you support?
As a Montgomery County Councilmember, I have supported this term a property tax increase and a recordation tax increase. I also sponsored successful legislation to create a tax on e-cigarettes. I would support other revenue measures if needed to ensure quality service. At the state level, I would support increasing the estate tax, the millionaire’s tax. I would support implementing combined reporting, and passing legislation to give the County Council authority to tax residential and commercial property at a different rate.
6. Would you support eliminating the property tax break for golf courses?
Yes, I would support passage of legislation to reduce or eliminate the property tax break for golf courses. This issue first was exposed by a report I issued when I was running Progressive Maryland in 2004, and we introduced legislation in successive years to close it.
------
Net Neutrality
Net neutrality is the principle that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Comcast & Verizon should not have control over what is viewed online, and should treat all data on
the Internet equally, and not discriminate or charge differently by user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment or method of communication. It recognizes the Internet as a common carrier.
7. Would you support a bill that would require ISPs operating in Montgomery County to abide by net neutrality protocols? Yes X No _____
8. Would you support the development of a County-owned ISP? Yes _X__ No ____
------Transportation
9. What steps would you take to reduce average travel time and vehicle carbon emissions in Montgomery County? Identify any transportation projects currently under consideration that you particularly support or oppose (for example, would you favor adding a reversible bus lane on US 29 or expanding MARC train service to be all day bi-directional and to include weekend service) and how you would prioritize them.
In order to reduce travel time and vehicle carbon emissions, I strongly support carpooling and work-from-home incentive programs, and prioritize zoning to create walkable communities. I support funding for mass transit projects such as the Purple Line, RideOn Express, BRT projects, and the CCT. I am a skeptic of Gov. Hogan’s Beltway widening proposal. I have also been a consistent opponent of M-83, and I strongly supported delaying the Montrose Parkway East to fund other transportation priorities.
I have always been a strong supporter of the Purple Line, campaigning in support of it at Progressive Maryland, then spending years as the representative of the General Assembly on the board of Purple Line Now and as the Chair of the Purple Line Caucus in the House of Delegates. When I joined the County Council, I successfully advocated for the Purple Line to be listed as the county’s sole #1 transportation priority for state funding - for the first time.
I have also fought to initiate pre-BRT RideOn Express on 29, and then to restore funding for it after the funding was cut. New limited stop RideOn Express service will build ridership for BRT on 29 and will now begin in May, 2018 to alleviate traffic. I will continue to fight for a fully transparent information gathering and decision-making process around BRT on US 29. I want to see BRT on 29 done right so that weekday commuter traffic is alleviated and the impacts to neighborhoods along 29 are minimized. I also voted to study a recent proposal to create a dedicated, reversible center bus lane.
10. How would you create a safer environment for pedestrians, bikers and drivers in Montgomery County?
I enthusiastically supported the Vision Zero resolution but my commitment did not end there. Numerous times over the last ten years, I have met with residents, DOT and SHA staff to advocate for pedestrian safety improvements. I recently met personally with State Highway Administrator Greg Slater and our Planning staff about pedestrian safety improvements on US 29, MD 97 and MD 198. Several of the requests I made included narrowing traffic lanes to slow down traffic, providing HAWK signals at key intersections, automating walk signals and expanding or redesigning pedestrian refuge areas - following up on a long letter detailing those suggested improvements. And I’ve been communicating frequently with the leaders of the Dale Drive Pedestrian Safety Coalition. Working with them, I had already won from DOT a commitment to improved signage, road markings, enhanced crosswalks, bump outs and shoulder repairs to be completed this summer. And just this week we also won a commitment for an additional $300,000 from the County Executive for a study of long-term improvements to the topography of that road to improve pedestrian safety.
11. What changes to revenue streams would you support to create funding for local transportation concerns including bike lanes and a sustainable, functioning Metro system?
We need to continue investing in improved sidewalks, additional crosswalks, bike racks and lockers and protected bike lanes. Taken together, I believe these improvements will tremendously reduce pedestrian fatalities in our county and can serve as a model for pedestrian safety nationwide. My efforts with Councilmembers Berliner and Riemer to delay the Montrose East project in order to fund alternate transportation projects included new bicycle safety projects. This is one example of my commitment to allocate money in the budget to these issues. I would also support a regional dedicated revenue source to support WMATA.
12. Will you oppose any changes into the collective bargaining rules of WMATA that would weaken union rights? I absolutely will continue to be an outspoken opponent of any efforts to weaken union rights including by WMATA. I am proud to have earned the endorsement of ATU 689 in 2006, 2010, 2014, and I hope my work with ATU over the past four years will earn an endorsement for my current re-election campaign.
------
Housing
13. There is a rising rent affordability problem in Mont. County. What would you do to protect existing tenants from unaffordable rent increases and displacement by development? Would you support a just cause eviction law? Are there other measures you would propose to stabilize rents?
I am a long-time tenant organizer, and a former Advisory Board Chair of the Montgomery County Renters Alliance. I favor laws to restrict retaliatory evictions and have pushed for them for years. I have worked with renters around my district to win protections, building improvements, and compensation from landlords. I was a lead sponsor with CMs Elrich and Navarro on the renters protection legislation, and I have also fought to fund additional inspectors, a new renters outreach program, for grant funding of the Montgomery County Renters Alliance, and for tenant advocate positions.
14. Zoning laws and ordinances have sometimes subtly and other times overtly been used as a way of creating segregation. Some other localities have looked at creating building height minimums, easing parking restrictions and allowing for more mixed use areas near transit. What policies would you like to implement to help create more affordable housing and more enjoyable neighborhoods?
Without any government intervention, the economics of housing production often results in new units that are so expensive that they cut out many of our longtime and new residents. More than half of our renters and more than a quarter of homeowners are “housing burdened” - paying more than 30% of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. We also lose approximately 3,000 units of affordable housing each year as affordable apartments get bulldozed or converted.
Unfortunately, for many years the County had not increased funding for affordable housing. Though we received a lot of criticism, the 2016 hike we voted for in the recordation tax raises an additional $30 million a year that is dedicated to affordable housing - creating 1,000 affordable units in our new and renovated multifamily apartment buildings. I’ve consistently voted for other efforts to increase affordable housing as well.
We also need to focus on maintaining the affordable units we have, which are often lost before the County government is engaged in efforts to save them. DC recently hired a former Montgomery County nonprofit leader and county employee, Ana Lopez van Balen, as their first Affordable Housing Preservation Officer. While we don’t have the problem with preservation that DC has, we could do more to focus on preservation.
Last year, I passed zoning legislation to raise the maximum height for buildings near the Silver Spring Metro Station. This change grants additional height for a project that provides a significant public amenity and has ground-floor retail for a grocery store. This increases neighborhood serving retail options and reduces local vehicle trips.
I also support the update of the County’s moderately priced dwelling unit (MPDU) program that the Council will be considering later this year. This update will provide more flexibility to developers to build bigger units for families and it will increase revenue into the Housing Initiative Fund for other affordable housing projects.
------
Governance
15. The County has been retreating behind closed doors hiding its work from citizen participation and scrutiny. The 311 system, claimed to improve interaction with government agencies has instead made our government more opaque and less responsive. If you are elected, what will you do to restore transparency, accountability, and encourage citizen participation in all branches of local government?
Tens of thousands of residents call the County’s 311 system each year to request information and services. Most calls are handled immediately, but too often other cases fall through the cracks. Many residents wait weeks or months for their issues to be addressed - particularly if their call is referred from the call center to a County agency for an answer.
Earlier this term, I requested the approval of the 311 budget be delayed until the agency followed through on a 9-year old promise to allow the Montgomery County Council direct access to oversee the use of the system. The Administration finally agreed to change their practice and share 311 cases. This victory shows my commitment to reforming the 311 system, and that I will use every tool available to me to fight for more transparency, accountability and citizen participation in all branches of local government.
To continue to increase transparency and citizen participation, we should broadcast council meetings on social media like facebook live, we should provide child care so more parents of young children can participate, we should take testimony and questions via social media as well, and we should host meetings around the county with a special effort to be close to affected populations, rather than holding all hearings in Rockville.
16. How do you feel about the County giving large tax considerations to attract or retain multibillion dollar corporations? How could you ensure improved transparency about future economic development decisions?
Tax subsidies for major corporations can be an important part of economic and workforce development when they are tied to specific metrics and goals, and when the incentives pass a strict “but-for” test, meaning the corporation would not be coming or expanding but for the incentive - so we are not foregoing any revenue we would receive in the event . While the initial negotiations with companies are proprietary and confidential, it’s important to present to the public the details of the incentives when they are finalized and receive feedback. With Amazon specifically, I look forward to having a robust discussion with the community if Montgomery County is chosen for their second headquarters.
------
Energy / Climate Change
17. Our Revolution Maryland is in support of achieving 100% renewable energy production no later than 2035, with the goal of zero carbon emissions. How will you help our state and county achieve this goal as soon as possible?
2017 was the hottest year on record since 1880, making it the fourth year in a row to reach a new high in global average surface temperatures. There are more greenhouse gases in our atmosphere now than at any other point in human history, and global flooding levels are estimated to be tripled by 2040.
Trash and biomass incineration release more CO2 emissions than burning coal. And black liquor gasification uses a toxic byproduct resulting in very harmful emissions. Yet under the current Maryland Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) regulations, trash and biomass incineration, and black liquor are each considered Tier 1 energy sources eligible for the same state subsidies as wind and solar power. As a state legislator in 2011, I was one of only two committee members that opposed these harmful changes to state law. From 2006 to 2015, Maryland’s RPS policy has resulted in over $125 million of taxpayer-funded subsidies for dirty energy suppliers, all in the guise of supporting renewable energy.
For these reasons, I fought for amendments to the Council’s clean energy resolution to urge our state legislators to strengthen the RPS and pass what we want: a state energy policy that only incentivizes renewable energy sources, and that strives towards the goal of a 100% renewable energy future by 2035.
------
Environment
18. Will you pledge to vote against renewing the Dickerson Incinerator Waste to Energy power plant in 2021? What plans if any do you have to reduce the ever-increasing waste stream, including what is currently being burned at this facility?
I recently organized a letter to Maryland Secretary of Environment Ben Grumbles urging him to install stricter air and water pollution controls at Dickerson (here). I also commit to voting against the renewal of the Dickerson Incinerator in 2021. I support efforts for a comprehensive and achievable County Zero Waste Plan. I think the highest priorities are reducing commercial waste, and prioritizing efforts to reduce waste that is sent to the incinerator. I also support increasing recycling, resource recovery, expansion of composting, and other strategies.
19. The State Dept of the Environment is supposed to issue a new Stormwater (MS4) permit to Montgomery County every five years. The permitting process aims at further reduction of pollutants, with the objective of reaching zero discharge. The County Executive is proposing wholesale privatization of the MS4 permit. Would you support privatizing the MS4 permit, or keeping it in-house where citizen oversight is greater?
Consistent with my long history of opposing privatization efforts, I oppose efforts for the wholesale privatization of the MS4 permit,
20. Given the (A) Montgomery County Parks department is joining a class action lawsuit alleging misrepresentation regarding the reliability of synthetic polymers, (B) there are legitimate concerns that synthetic polymers used in turf and playground surfaces pose health risks and (C) natural grass is a generally-preferred playing surface, would you support a bill to ban the use of synthetic polymers in Montgomery County and to revert to all grass fields?
Yes. I have a record of supporting grass fields over synthetic turf. As just one example, in 2016 I broke protocol to testify at the Board of Education’s CIP hearing to urge the Board not to invest in artificial turf fields due to cost, health, safety and equity concerns. I asked them to reallocate $11 million the Superintendent had proposed for artificial turf fields to other priorities. Research shows that plant-based infill is safer than tire crumb, however I prioritize real grass fields.
A commitment to real grass fields also requires a commitment to design them correctly to ensure drainage and to maintain them properly through irrigation, aeration, top dressing and overseeding - and to let fields rest when needed while they recover. It’s disappointing that our tendency to save money on field maintenance has produced a widespread myth that turf fields cannot succeed.
------
Health Care
21. What measures, if any, do you support to increase access to quality care for all Montgomery County residents?
Currently 28 million Americans, including 389,000 Marylanders, have no health insurance and tens of millions more across the country have inadequate insurance with high co-pays and deductibles that prevent them from seeking care. Most importantly, I am a vocal advocate for a publicly-administered, single-payer universal health care system set-up at the Federal or state level.
I have a long record of supporting increased access and quality of healthcare. In 2013, I served on a White House Task Force called State Legislators for Health Care Reform, which worked together with Sec. Sebelius and White House officials to advocate for healthcare reform. In Annapolis, I cosponsored the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013 to expand Medicaid, and provide a dedicated funding stream for the Maryland Health Connection.
At the county-level, I will continue to consistently support critical investments in healthcare, and social services to help our most vulnerable residents. East County in my District has more unmet need for social services than any other area of our county. I successfully fought to create two new positions to be added at the East County Regional Service Center. I also successfully have pushed for enhanced funding for the Care for Kids program, which provides primary health care to low-income children, and for restored funding for the Montgomery Cares behavioral health program, so that it can provide needed mental health services to uninsured adults. Lastly, I have also worked to increase funding for the three components of the Minority Health Initiative, and Montgomery Cares.
------
Education
22. Do you support debt-free post-secondary (vocational schools, community college) education?
Yes, I support efforts to make post-secondary education debt-free. Too many students are leaving college with massive amounts of debt. It cripples their ability to buy a home, start a business, pursue a graduate degree or save money for retirement. That’s why I am seeking to establish a self-sustaining county Student Loan Financing program to help county residents refinance their loans at lower interest rates, saving them thousands of dollars without burdening the county government.
23. The achievement gap continues to show up across the state, including in Montgomery County. What measures or initiatives do you support to address the problem?
I strongly support equity in our school system and methods to achieve it. Obviously, I supported the controversial 2016 tax increase after we struck the historic agreement with the BOE and the Superintendent that they would invest the additional revenue in hiring new teachers and staff specifically to address the achievement gap. Not only was that tax increase necessary after nine years of growing class size, no other tax increase in memory had been earmarked like that to address the achievement gap and class size. We still receive a lot of complaints about it, and it may have led to the passage of term limits for the Council, but it was the right thing to do.
In addition, I support MCPS' recent policy decision to ensure that all students are screened for accelerated instruction. Previously, students' parents and guardians had to opt in to screening, which often meant that certain students capable of enriched studies, particularly those of color, low income, and immigrant background, were not screened for accelerated learning. The transition to opt-out removes a burden on the student's family. By widening the net, we also ensure that teachers are better able to teach to the comprehension level of their students. This is one example of a change that I believe will help us make progress towards achieving equity in MCPS. I also support a significant expansion of our immersion and other language programs, coupled with culturally-competent outreach to ensure that low-income and of-color parents can take full advantage of those assets.
And of course I have consistently pushed for more high-quality pre-K programs to help ensure that all children are ready to learn when they start kindergarten and high-quality afterschool programs with strong educational/tutoring components to ensure adequate support for students, especially any who are falling behind.
------
Criminal Justice
24. Would you champion legislation that ensures civilians are active participants in police trial boards, including creation of civilian review authorities?
We must strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and our communities. I support legislation to ensure civilian participation in police trial boards.
25. Do you support the SAFE Act, HB 1461, which would prevent Maryland law enforcement agents from inquiring about immigration status or turning over individuals to federal immigration authorities without a warrant, and would you support similar action at the County level?
Yes, I support the SAFE Act.
Equality for Women and for Minorities:
26. We live in a majority-minority community and yet there are noticeable gaps in economic wealth and disparities in academic success. What evidence do you see of overt discrimination against racial or ethnic minorities in Montgomery County and/or across Maryland? What will you do to push back against and address these problems? Please be as specific as you can.
Over the last couple of years, and particularly during the 2016 presidential election, many members of our community were targeted by hate incidents. The morning after the election, I
joined with faith and civic leaders to strongly denounce the vandalism of a “Black Lives Matter” banner hoisted in front of Christ Congregational Church in Silver Spring and urge unity. I also strongly supported the County Executive’s supplemental appropriation request of $225,000 to enhance security at Jewish facilities after two received anti-Semitic bomb threats.
As a member of the Council’s public safety committee, I’ve kept in close contact with MCPD Chief Manger on the incidence of hate-related crimes throughout the County. I will continue to keep abreast of this issues and work collaboratively with my colleagues to address and prevent hate-based crimes.
27. Despite great social progress, women continue to be massively underrepresented in circles of authority including elected office. As we all know, women earn less than men. What will you do to advance real equality for women here in Maryland and in Montgomery County?
As you may know, the great majority of low wage workers and victims of wage theft are women. I have been a consistent and outspoken proponent of living wages, paid sick, safe and family leave programs, and raising the minimum wage. I was the lead sponsor of Maryland’s living wage law, a lead co-sponsor of the Council’s most recent minimum wage and earned sick leave legislation, and I authored successful legislation in 2016 to amend the County’s sick and safe leave law to allow parents to use their paid leave to care for children, including adoptive and foster children. I will continue to fight to expand these programs.
I also support tax reform so that large corporations and are wealthiest citizens contribute more; providing supplements so that working families can access high-quality pre-K; strengthening safety net programs such as SNAP and EITC; supporting apprenticeship training and other program.
At the County Council I was also vocal in pushing our County Attorney’s office to modernize our antiquated parental leave policies for County government employees. There was unfortunately a real perception in leadership that women take maternity leave because they “just want a vacation” and I was proud to speak up against that outdated view and force them to update these policies.
I worked for four years to sponsor and pass the Civil Rights Tax Relief Act. This legislation restored fairness to our tax code by exempting the settlements of victims of sexual discrimination and harassment cases from taxation.
I also sponsored and passed the Pregnant Worker Protection Act. This law now prevents employers in Maryland from firing or discriminating against workers during their pregnancy and forces them to provide accommodations such as seating, breaks and water for pregnant workers.
Concluding Argument
28. Is there one policy initiative you support that you would like to point to, in particular, as evidence that your priorities align with ours and give a final summation of why Our Revolution Maryland should endorse you?
I hope to earn Our Revolution Maryland’s endorsement because I am the only candidate in this race that has a lifelong record of fighting for and winning progressive legislative victories. In over two decades of elected office and professional activism, I am a proven voice that unites communities in common causes and gets results. As the District 5 representative on the Montgomery County Council, I continue to advocate for innovative solutions to the challenges our community faces. You can read more about my record of success on a variety of issues important to OR members on my webpage here: http://tomhucker.com/record/. I have been endorsed so far for re-election by Montgomery County Career Firefighters, Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, The Retired Teachers of Montgomery County, The Sierra Club, CASA de Maryland, Teamsters Local 730 & Teamsters Joint Council 92, Maryland-DC Building Trades, Laborers Mid-Atlantic Region, SEIU 32/BJ, and National Nurses United because I am a trusted and effective advocate for progressive causes.