LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS of Montgomery County OTERS’ GUIDE PRIMARY ELECTION: VOTE BY MAIL Limited In-Person Voting, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at Four Vote Centers, 7am - 8pm

Hyattstown

124 650 Laytonsville DISTRICT 108 DISTRICT 6 270 3 Gaithersburg 650 Poolesville 200 28 Burtonsville

Rockville DISTRICT 270 29 Montgomery County, MD 190 8 495 495 Silver Spring

Go to vote411.org to find personalized voting information and to read candidates’ responses that may not be in this Guide. Contents For ALL Voters General Voting Information...... 2 Information for Special Election Procedures...... 2 All Montgomery Candidates for Board of Education...... 24 County Ballots For Republican and Democratic Voters Candidates for President of the United States...... 5 Information Candidates for Judge of the Circuit Court...... 17 for All District Ballots

Candidates for U.S. Representative – Information Congressional District 3...... 10 for District 3 National Political Party Convention Delegates...... 21 Ballots

Candidates for U.S. Representative – Information Congressional District 6...... 12 for District 6 National Political Party Convention Delegates...... 22 Ballots

Candidates for U.S. Representative – Information Congressional District 8...... 14 for District 8 National Political Party Convention Delegates...... 23 Ballots

Material from the Voters’ Guide may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission of the League of Women Produced and Voters of Montgomery County. The League assumes no Published by: liability for errors or omissions.

Share our Guide with others! League of Women Voters of Montgomery County 12216 Parklawn Dr., Suite 105 This Guide and all candidate responses Rockville, MD 20852-1710 Email: [email protected] 1 are also on our website: lwvmocomd.org 301-984-9585 lwvmocomd.org About the Voters’ Guide and The voter registration deadline has been extended to May 27. Voters who register by that date will receive a ballot in the mail or the League of Women Voters (LWV) electronically from the Board of Elections. Voting is your right and your responsibility. This Voters’ Guide, Look for your ballot in the mail in early May. It will have instructions published by the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Montgomery for marking and returning it to the Board of Elections. Follow the County, gives you information about each candidate, in their own instructions carefully. You must sign an oath that accompanies the words, that can help you make decisions when you vote in the June ballot. Vote your ballot, sign the oath as your name appears on your 2020 Primary Election. The LWV, a nonpartisan organization of voter registration, and return your voted ballot by mail. Failure to women and men promoting informed participation in government, complete the return envelope correctly may result in your ballot does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. not being counted. The LWV sent questions to all candidates requesting responses You will not need a stamp to return your ballot. The return before our print deadline. Their answers, exactly as written by the envelope will already have postage on it. Make sure your ballot is candidates, can be found in the following three locations: postmarked on or before June 2. You can also return your voted • This printed Voters’ Guide, which includes responses from ballot at a secure Board of Elections ballot drop off box at any of candidates received before our print deadline date. the four Vote Centers, the Board of Elections, or Rockville City Hall between May 21 and June 2 at 8:00 PM. • The League’s vote411.org website, which has all responses from candidates, including those received after our print deadline. Protect your ballot—Do not give your ballot to anyone who vote411.org and lwvmocomd.org also have responses to offers to collect ballots. Put it directly in the U.S. Mail or a Board of questions not printed here due to space limitations, including Elections drop off box located outside a Vote Center. all the responses received from candidates for delegates to the If you need a ballot delivered electronically or sent to a different Democratic or Republican National Conventions. address, submit an application for an absentee ballot. Go to the • The Montgomery County League of Women Voters website, Maryland State Board of Elections website at https://elections. lwvmocomd.org, provides links to this Voters’ Guide and the maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html. Spanish edition which will be published as an insert in El Tiempo If you have already requested an absentee ballot, go to Voter Lookup Latino in May 2020. at https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch to learn the status of your absentee ballot request. If you have questions, contact the Montgomery County Board of Elections at Special Election Procedures Due to 240-777-8500. COVID-19 Pandemic There will be no early in-person voting. In accordance with the Governor’s Proclamation on April 10, 2020, the Primary Election will be conducted mainly by mail to slow the spread of COVID-19. All active registered voters will receive a ballot Vote Centers on Election Day—Limited In-Person Voting in the mail from the Board of Elections and may return the voted Four Vote Centers will be available in Montgomery County for ballot by mail or at a secure Board of Elections drop off box at any in-person voting on Election Day, Tuesday, June 2 for voters who of the four designated Vote Centers. are unable to vote by mail. Examples of voters who may choose to vote in-person include those who: Vote by Mail • Need to use a Ballot Marking Device or Active registered voters will receive their ballot in the mail at the • Did not receive a ballot in the mail, or address listed in the voter registration records. You may be an inactive voter if you have moved or were temporarily at another • Have not registered to vote by May 27 and wish to register for the address and have not voted in the past four years. Check your voter first time and vote on Election Day, June 2. registration at Voter Lookup https://voterservices.elections. maryland.gov/VoterSearch and update your address or party (Continued next page) affiliation if necessary.

2 The four in-person Vote Centers in Montgomery County are open Am I Registered? from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Election Day, June 2. You may vote at any of them. Do I Need To Update My Registration? Because the June 2 Primary Election will be conducted primarily • Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg by mail, it is more important than ever to make sure your voter 20877 registration record reflects your current address. The Board of • Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Elections will send your ballot to the address they have on file. Road, Germantown 20874 Go to Voter Lookup https://voterservices.elections.maryland. gov/VoterSearch to verify and update your address and/or party • Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old affiliation if necessary online. Columbia Pike, Burtonsville 20866 You can also look at your voter registration card or call the • Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place at Fenton & Montgomery County Board of Elections at 240-777-8500. Ellsworth, Silver Spring 20910 In Maryland, registration is permanent as long as you have not A limited number of voters will need to go to a Vote Center on changed your address. However, if a mailing from the Board of Election Day. All other voters will use the ballot they received in Elections was returned because you had moved or were temporarily the mail. Stay safe, protect your neighbors, and vote by mail. at another address and you have missed voting in the past four years, you may have been placed on the inactive voter list.

About the Primary Election and Registration Deadlines to Know: Political Parties • Wednesday, May 27 at 9:00 PM: Deadline to be registered online The Primary Election takes place on June 2, 2020, and the General or by mail or to change your party affiliation or address for this Election is on November 3, 2020. The Democratic and Republican election. political parties are required by Maryland law to choose their • If you have not previously registered to vote in Maryland by May candidates for the General Election in party primary elections. All 27, you may register for the first time, declare a party affiliation, registered voters may vote for the non-partisan Board of Education and vote the same day at a Vote Center on Primary Election Day, in the statewide Primary Election. June 2. To do so, you must bring required identification such as a Voters will receive a ballot that corresponds with the political party Maryland driver’s license, identification card, learner’s permit, or affiliation listed in their voter registration record. In the Primary, other proof of residency. you must be registered as a Democrat or Republican to vote for To vote in the Primary Election in June, you must be 18 years old on that party’s candidates. This means: or before the November 3, 2020 General Election. • Registered Democrats will receive a ballot containing Democratic candidates. Get Ready To Vote • Registered Republicans will receive a ballot containing Republication candidates. You can learn about the issues and candidates’ positions from the League’s printed and online Voters’ Guides at lwvmocomd.org, • Voters registered as Unaffiliated or with any other party will and vote411.org, and from candidate forums, websites, and receive a ballot containing non-partisan Board of Education social media. candidates only.

3 Key Changes for the 2020 Primary Election

Voting will be done mainly by mail

Voter registration is extended to May 27 (online & by mail)

Limited in-person voting on June 2 at four Vote Centers in Montgomery County

No in-person early voting

Same day in-person voter registration on Election Day, June 2 only

The following pages contain descriptions of the offices being contested, the candidates in the Primary Election, and their responses to questions asked by the League of Women Voters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates. Additional questions and answers for some offices may be found at vote411.org and lwvmocomd.org. Candidates who did not respond by the deadline are indicated. Check vote411.org for responses from candidates that may have been submitted after the print deadline.

4 On the Ballot President of the United States (see Candidates on pages 6 - 7)

Duties: The President is the head of state of the United States of America, the Chief Executive Officer and the Commander in Chief Questions to the candidates for U.S. President: of all military forces. The powers of the President are described in the Constitution and federal law. The President appoints the • ELECTIONS AND VOTING: What policies do you members of the Cabinet, ambassadors to other nations and support to improve and secure elections and the United Nations, Supreme Court Justices and federal judges, voting in our country? subject to Senate approval. The President, along with the Cabinet and its agencies, is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the • COMMON GROUND: Please explain where you see laws of the United States. The President may also recommend opportunities for Democrats and Republicans to legislation to the United States Congress. find common ground on the very serious issues Term: Four years. Limit to two terms. facing our country. Base Salary: $400,000 per year. • IMMIGRATION: What, if any, steps will you take to reform current immigration policies? • GUN VIOLENCE: Please explain the policies, if any, you support to address gun violence in America. Criteria for participation by candidates for U.S. President in VOTE411.org and LWV Voters’ Guides: • CLIMATE CHANGE: What, if any, actions would you All presidential candidates who will appear on Maryland’s ballots work towards in your first 100 days to address the are listed, but only those who met the following criteria, established threats facing the US due to climate change? by the League of Women Voters of the United States through the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF), were invited to Questions to and responses from candidates for President respond to the League’s questions in this Voters’ Guide. are ©2020 League of Women Voters Education Fund. 1. The candidate must have made a public announcement of her/ Responses to the questions may be found at vote411.org. his intention to run for her/his Party’s nomination for President; and, 2. The candidate must meet the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act’s minimum contribution threshold requirements for qualifying for matching funds, based on the most recent data Who May Vote? publicly available on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) website. You must be registered with the Republican LWVEF is required to have at least two candidates for President or Democratic party to vote for a Presidential from the same party meet the above criteria before they are invited candidate in their Primary. to answer the League’s questions and to print their responses in a voters’ guide. If you are a registered Republican you may vote for only one (1) Republican candidate. If you are a registered Democrat you may vote for only one (1) Democratic candidate.

5 Republican Primary Candidates for President See previous page for details about the Office of President.

LWVEF requires that at least two candidates for President from the same party meet their criteria. At this time since only one candidate running for the Republican Party’s nomination for President has met the LWVEF criteria, no Republican presidential candidates have yet been invited to respond to the League’s questions. If two Republican candidates meet the criteria during the primary season or after the party’s national nominating convention occurs, LWVEF will invite the qualified candidate(s) to respond to the questions. Candidates who meet the LWVEF criteria after the print deadline for this Voters’ Guide will be invited to answer the questions. Their responses will appear online at vote411.org. The following two Republican candidates for U.S. President appear on the Maryland primary ballot.

Donald J. Trump Bill Weld

In addition to Presidential candidates, your ballot will list candidates for delegate to their party’s convention. See page 20 for more information about delegates.

6 Democratic Primary Candidates for U.S. President See page 5 for details about the Office of President.

All of the Democratic candidates for U. S. President listed below appear on the Maryland primary ballot. The following Democratic candidates met the LWVEF criteria and provided responses to the League’s questions. However, since there are not two active candidates on the Maryland ballot remaining in the race, LWVEF guidelines do not allow printing responses from just one candidate. Candidate responses can be found at vote411.org. Candidates who have withdrawn or suspended their campaign are indicated with an asterisk.

Joe Biden *Cory Booker *Pete Buttigieg *Tulsi Gabbard *Amy Klobuchar *Bernie Sanders *Elizabeth Warren *Andrew Yang

The following Democratic candidates did not meet the LWVEF criteria and were not asked to provide responses to the League’s questions. Candidates who have withdrawn or suspended their campaign are indicated with a double asterisk.

**Michael Bennet **Michael Bloomberg **Julian Castro **Deval Patrick **Tom Steyer **Marianne Williamson

In addition to Presidential candidates, your ballot will list candidates for delegate to their party’s convention. See page 20 for more information about delegates. 7 NOT on the Ballot U.S. Senator

The terms of the current Maryland Senators do not end in 2020 and therefore U.S. Senator is not on the Maryland Ballot in 2020.

Why Your Vote Makes A Difference! It’s about... Vote? Money: how your taxes are spent. Education: how to strengthen the quality and performance of the schools.

Mobility: how to balance the needs of drivers, transit riders, bikers, and walkers.

Environment: how to protect natural resources and ecosystems.

Community: how to decide among many priorities such as health, housing, and parks.

FillBe out your Counted! census form online, by phone, or by mail. Visit https://2020census.gov/en.html 8 On the Ballot U.S. Representative in Congress (see Candidates on pages 10 - 16)

Duties: Representatives make laws along with the members of the Senate and may conduct investigations on issues of national Questions to the candidates for U.S. Representative: importance. Laws that impose taxes always begin in the House of Representatives. Representatives can recommend that the Senate • GOALS: Why are you running for this office? remove from office a public official accused of a crime. • IMMIGRATION: What, if anything, would you change Term: Two years regarding immigration policy? Base Salary: $174,000 • HEALTH CARE: Would you vote to continue the How Elected: Elected by voters in each congressional district. Affordable Care Act as it is, expand it, or eliminate Maryland has eight of the 435 Representatives, based on the it? Please explain. state’s population in the 2010 Census. Montgomery County is represented by three Congressional Districts – 3, 6 and 8. • ENVIRONMENT: What should be the federal government’s role in addressing national and Website: house.gov global environmental concerns? • GUN SAFETY: What policies do you propose to reduce gun violence? Who May Vote? • ECONOMY: How would you address the growing You must be registered with the Republican or income gap in our society? Democratic party to vote for their candidate for Representative. • DISCRIMINATION: What initiatives would you propose to address bias based on race, gender If you are a registered Republican you may vote for identification, sexual orientation, religion, or only one (1) Republican candidate. disability? If you are a registered Democrat you may vote for • STUDENT LOANS: What actions would you support only one (1) Democratic candidate. to reduce burdensome student loan debt?

See pages 10 - 16 for candidate responses. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates. No edits of Candidates for Representative are grouped by any kind have been made. Congressional District. Your ballot will be specific to Due to space limitations, only responses to the first your district. five questions are printed. Responses to the remaining three questions may be found at vote411.org and District 3...... pages 10 - 11 lwvmocomd.org.

District 6...... pages 12 - 13 To find your Congressional District go to District 8...... pages 14 - 16 https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch

9 Republican Primary Candidates for U.S. Representative - District 3 See previous page for details about the Office of Representative. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Reba A. Hawkins Rob Seyfferth The following Republican Party R - Republican R - Republican candidates were invited to respond but provided no Website rebahawkins2020.org facebook.com/robseyfferthforcongress answers by the print deadline:

I want be an advocate for the Baltimore Maryland To serve the interests of the country, state and the Charles Anthony Goals region by: promoting macro-economic growth 3rd Congressional District by providing everyday Why are you running for this development, and promoting legislation that life experience to the job of legislating! No website provided office? defends middle class values and Constitutional rights, securing federal funds to rebuild and con- Thomas E. “Pinkston” Harris struct new infrastructure, and create a culture of No website provided accountability, transparency, and respect for the rule of law. Joshua M. Morales No website provided I support the full-enforcement and expansion of Enforcement of our borders and our laws. However, Immigration all e-verification and I-9 compliance laws that I do support a path to citizenship based on service What, if anything, would you holds employers accountable, the permanent in the military, foreign service or civil service or the change regarding immigration denial of citizenship to criminal illegal aliens, Peace Corps or AmeriCorps. For others, a path to policy? and the denial to undocumented persons social legality, but not citizenship. welfare programs and assistance. Congress needs to fix our broken immigration system that honors Americans and those that properly participate in the legal pro The ACA has serious fiscal challenges and this must Eliminate and replace it with a state based plan Health Care be remedied in a bipartisan effort. Americans need to allow the states to design and implement their Would you vote to continue access to safe drinking water and nutritious food own plans according to their own needs with sup- the Affordable Care Act as it is, as preventative medicine. Debt-swaps, tax-relief, port from the Federal government. restrictions on PPO/HMO/EPO monopolies, & pro- Go to vote411.org or expand it, or eliminate it? Please lwvmocomd.org to read explain. bono programs need to be introduced to reduce runaway costs and health professionals changing responses from candidates careers. for U.S. Representative to questions about the Environment The government should reverse its preference for I believe we can use the tax code to make finan- Economy, Discrimination, the fossil fuel sector and for corporate polluters. cially rewarding for private firms to use clean fuels and Student Loans not What should be the federal The EPA must be de-politicized and empowered and being good stewards of the environment. included in this Guide due to to protect the air, water, and vital environmental government’s role in space limitations. addressing national and global standards. We must make our country as green as environmental concerns? possible promoting sustainability, recycling, and renewable energy and eco-friendly development.

We need a national database wherein all gun Expand mental health checks and firearms safety Gun Safety purchases are vetted. All persons guilty of using a certification. What policies do you propose to gun for a crime must be denied the right to buy or reduce gun violence? own a gun for no less than 10 years. We must make harsh examples of persons who commit violent crimes with firearms.

10 Democratic Primary Candidates for U.S. Representative - District 3 See page 9 for details about the Office of Representative. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Joseph C. Ardito John Sarbanes The following Democratic Party D - Democratic D - Democratic candidate was invited to respond but provided no Website joeardito2020.com johnsarbanes.com answers by the print deadline:

I am running to represent Maryland’s 3rd congres- I am running to strengthen our democracy by end- John M. Rea Goals sional district because our current representative ing the influence of big money in politics, protect- Why are you running for this has served 7 terms (nearly 14 years!) and I believe ing the right to vote and ensuring that public offi- No website provided office? that is enough—we must have term limits. While cials work for the public interest. To make progress I have lived in the 3rd district, I have neither seen on the most pressing issues we face, we first need nor heard from our representative. The time for a political system that responds to the many, not absentee representation is over. We deserve pas- the money. Too many Americans feel shut out by sionate, engaged, and energetic representation. Washington; we need to bring them back in.

The unconscionable cruelty exhibited by the US I oppose the Trump Administration’s immigration Immigration towards immigrants and refugees must come to policies including zero tolerance/family separa- What, if anything, would you an immediate end. In Congress, I will protect the tion, restricting asylum, ICE operating in sensitive change regarding immigration DREAMers by codifying DACA and ensuring a path locations, the public charge rule and efforts to policy? to citizenship. It is time for the US to implement end DACA and TPS, among others. We need an humane policies that safeguard the lives of our immigration policy that protects economic inter- fellow human beings, many of whom are escap- ests while providing a path to citizenship and a ing circumstances most of us are not capable of humane, legal framework for people to come to comprehending. the United States. We must either protect and continue to improve I am a strong supporter of the ACA and believe Health Care the ACA by adding a public option and trying hard- that we must stop and reverse years of Republican Would you vote to continue er to make it work for all Americans, or we must sabotage, which has increased costs and limited the Affordable Care Act as it is, have Medicare available to all of us. The current access to health care. I also believe we can expand health care system in this country is an abomina- on the ACA’s successes, including by passing a Go to vote411.org or expand it, or eliminate it? Please lwvmocomd.org to read explain. tion. Its complexity and corrupt, profit-driven pri- public option or a single-payer, Medicare for All vate insurance company-benefitting model, at the system – both of which I support – and passing responses from candidates expense of human life, is criminal and must end. H.R. 3 to reduce the costs of prescription drugs. for U.S. Representative to questions about the Environment The US should be the world LEADER in address- Climate change is the existential crisis of our day. Economy, Discrimination, ing the global environmental crisis. The federal The federal government must lead the effort to and Student Loans not What should be the federal government’s current position on global warming reach net-zero carbon emissions that includes a included in this Guide due to is pathetic, dangerous, and inexcusable. Once just transition for all communities, including our government’s role in space limitations. addressing national and global in Congress, I will pass legislation that will help most vulnerable. We must rejoin the Paris Climate environmental concerns? eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels, which are Agreement, reverse course on Trump’s deregula- responsible for polluting our atmosphere and con- tory agenda, and promote green technology that tribute directly to the global environmental crisis. moves the nation towards a healthier, sustainable future.

The NRA will not bully me. We can defend the I have voted to close loopholes and strengthen Gun Safety Constitution AND enact sensible gun laws that our background check system. I also support What policies do you propose to can save the lives of our children and loved ones. an assault weapons ban, banning large capac- reduce gun violence? We must ban assault weapons, conduct universal ity magazines, a national system for extreme-risk background checks, restrict magazine size, provide protection orders, mandatory safe gun storage, for a waiting period, impose criminal penalties on raising the purchasing age for certain firearms and individuals who do not restrict access to firearms, prohibiting persons convicted of hate crimes from and institute robust national mental health buying guns. 11 counseling. Republican Primary Candidates for U.S. Representative - District 6 See page 9 for details about the Office of Representative. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Kevin T. Caldwell Chris P. Meyyur Neil C. Parrott Party R - Republican R - Republican R - Republican Website caldwellforamerica.com meyyur2020.com neilparrott.org

To offer my fellow citizens (my country) the oppor- I care about our future as a nation. I run to act Washington DC is a mess. District 6 needs a rep- Goals tunity to have a Rep.who will perform their most on the issues that will help the middle class and resentative who lives in the District and who will Why are you running for this basic duty, protecting you from those who would to end hostilities in Asia and bring troops home. work to improve our community and our country. office? use your Government against you. To defend the Invest eight trillion dollars on domestic priori- I care about our nation and want to ensure that ideas & principles that my father (Vietnam), my ties. My priorities are bringing the cost of college our children, that future generations, will have wife & I (Post 9/11) have served & sworn to pro- education down and wipe out portions of student the same opportunities and freedoms that we tect. I am running because I understand that my debt and bring tax burden of families making less enjoyed. Instead of playing political games, I’ll freedom is directly related to yours. than 300K. Strengthen public education. work for you to bring common-sense, practical solutions to DC. Secure our borders. End sanctuary cities for violent No change is needed. Existing immigration laws need to be followed. Immigration criminals. Protect Americans by ensuring those Lack of immigration enforcement and a porous What, if anything, would you who come into our country mean its citizens no southern border have led to suffering from gangs change regarding immigration harm. After securing the nation, we must focus on like MS 13 who terrorize our District, opioid and policy? dealing with those who have been in the country fentanyl deaths, and increased human trafficking. already. Sanctuary cities need to be stopped, the border wall needs to be constructed, and companies who take advantage of illegal aliens should be heavily fined.

I would end the Affordable Care Act. We need to ACA needs to be revised and improved. My goal The Affordable Care Act is anything but affordable. Health Care move this sector of our economy back to market- is bringing a third medical school to Maryland. I Since passing, health insurance, health care, and Would you vote to continue based solutions. We must allow the consumers to envision a large medical university and VA hospital prescription drug costs skyrocketed. The quality the Affordable Care Act as it is, control the $3.6 trillion spent on health care, not closer to Fort Detrick and National Cancer Institute of care has also degraded; when did you last see expand it, or eliminate it? Please Gov. officials & special interest. Like all resources, in Frederick. I will strive to remove various barriers a real doctor instead of a PA? Our country can do explain. either we decide through our choices their cost & to improve the healthcare delivery. better by repealing and replacing Obamacare by allocation or others decide for us. using free market solutions that will bring costs down and increase quality of care.

No response received by deadline. Clean air, land and water is essential for us and The primary world polluter is China. They dump Environment future generations to come. I will support follow- over 96% more plastic into the ocean than the What should be the federal ing actions. Chesapeake Bay Regional Authority US and contribute the largest percentage of the government’s role in will be established to mitigate and clean our land worlds CO2. Given that, the US should not sacrifice addressing national and global and waterways and restore the ecosystems with 5 our manufacturing jobs to countries that do not environmental concerns? billion dollar investment over a decade. have effective environmental laws. Trade laws as a negotiating tactic to get China and other countries to pollute less.

No response received by deadline. I am very sensitive on this topic as my son’s friend Access to firearms is guaranteed by the 2nd Gun Safety and his sister and mother were murdered by his Amendment. Our country has a violence epidemic. What policies do you propose to father. Second Amendment Rights must be pro- A major cause of the problem is that we no longer reduce gun violence? tected and also we need to come together with adequately treat the mentally ill as we should. an understanding and consensus on measures to Instead, they often live untreated until they com- prevent mass killings. mit an act of violence. Jails have been turned into our new insane asylums. Our jails should be for the career criminals who terrorize our communities. 12 Democratic Primary Candidates for U.S. Representative - District 6 See page 9 for details about the Office of Representative. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Maxwell A. Bero David J. Trone Party D - Democratic D - Democratic Website maxwellbero.com davidtrone.com

I believe that real, progressive change, such as the I’m running for reelection because we need people Goals Green New Deal and Medicare-for-all, is both pos- in Washington who think long-term and are com- Why are you running for this sible and necessary in our country. The 6th District mitted to helping America’s most vulnerable. office? is my home; I grew up here, I live here, and I work While we have made strides towards this goal, we here. I’m tired of not seeing my representatives must do more to end the opioid epidemic, reform in Congress fight for real progressive change, and our criminal justice system, and ensure every child want to do my best to deliver real change for my receives a quality education. I’m committed to district. remaining in this fight for people.

I support simplifying the path to citizenship and Immigrants are vital to maintaining the success Immigration invest in widespread English education for all im- and spirit of our nation. I support comprehensive What, if anything, would you migrants, to make it easier for immigrants to in- immigration reform, and I was proud to help change regarding immigration tegrate into, and partake in, American society. We the House of Representatives pass H.R. 6, the policy? need to end the policy of separating families at the Dream and Promise Act, which would protect our border; our country should not be in the business Dreamers and those granted Temporary Protected of building walls and turning people away, but Status. I will continue to work to against inhuman rather welcoming people from all backgrounds. and cruel policies such as travel bans and family separation.

I support implementing single-payer Medicare- The ACA helped millions of people access care, Health Care for-all. While the current Affordable Care Act helps and it has played a crucial role as a step toward Would you vote to continue some people, it does not go far enough to guar- universal coverage. While we work to stop the the Affordable Care Act as it is, antee comprehensive health care to all citizens. Administration from sabotaging it, we also need Health care should not be tied to one’s job; no one to work to build a healthcare system that lives Go to vote411.org or expand it, or eliminate it? Please lwvmocomd.org to read explain. should make a career decision based on insurance up to our values and guarantees healthcare as a coverage. The government should provide com- human right. I support allowing every American to responses from candidates prehensive health coverage to all citizens. buy into Medicare, creating a public health insur- for U.S. Representative ance option. to questions about the Environment The federal government needs to come together I’m proud to be endorsed by the Sierra Club, and Economy, Discrimination, to pass the Green New Deal, and make environ- I am honored to serve on the Foreign Relations and Student Loans not What should be the federal mental protection and addressing climate change committee, which is dedicated to crafting inter- included in this Guide due to a priority across the entire country and economy. national environmental policy. Climate change government’s role in space limitations. addressing national and global The US should also take a leadership role on is real, and we must act to combat this urgent environmental concerns? the world stage by rejoining the Paris Climate threat before it is too late. House Democrats have Agreement and working with other countries to acted to pass, the Climate Action Now Act, which address climate change on a global scale. requires the federal government to remain in the Paris Agreement

I support increasing background checks and red Thoughts and prayers from politicians do nothing Gun Safety flag laws to prevent dangerous people from being to reduce gun violence. Action from Congress, like What policies do you propose to able to own and purchase guns. I also support H.R. 8, does. We need to enact common sense reduce gun violence? reinstating the assault rifle ban and limiting the gun legislation, including universal background size of magazines available to consumers, and ex- checks, closing the gun show loophole, banning panding voluntary buyback programs, so people bump stocks and military-style assault weapons. can voluntarily get guns off of their streets and out We also need to take the power back from the gun of the hands of criminals. lobby. The lives of all Americans are too important 13 to risk. (Continued next page) Republican Primary Candidates for U.S. Representative - District 8 See page 9 for details about the Office of Representative. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Gregory Thomas Coll Bridgette L. Cooper Nicholas Gladden Party R - Republican R - Republican R - Republican Website gregorycoll.com facebook.com/cooperforcongress2020 GladdenForCongress.com

I, Gregory Coll, am happy to announce my run This is my second time running for office in District For a multitude of reasons but in district 8 we have Goals for U.S. Congress Maryland District 8 to represent 8. I received my B.M. from East Carolina University, real problems and we have elected officials who Why are you running for this the people. Work in Washington is at a standstill, and MBA from Strayer University. I am a single par- refuse to see or listen to their constituents. office? I, Gregory Coll, want to stop the distractions and ent, I work over 40 hours per week for a small busi- keep focus on the key issues impacting Americans ness in Montgomery County, I am an entrepreneur including: employment, budget, healthcare, edu- and classical singer. I have a passion to serve oth- cation, environment, military and defense, gun ers, and will bring added value to my constituents violence, and the national space policy. www. and as a Representative. gregorycoll.com I, Gregory Coll, want to promote and welcome My father’s family came to the United States, with Sanctuary cities and the crime it gets implemented Immigration legal immigration and put a stop to illegal border a love for their county, yet still seeking more op- with due to the policies of the federal government What, if anything, would you crossings. Passing legislation to up the legal im- portunities. My goal is to reduce the red tape and are not followed. We see numerous time’s when change regarding immigration migration caps, and making it simpler for legal the amount of time it takes to process paperwork rape and sex trafficking skyrocketed when a city policy? immigration processing is key; especially when that will help immigrants become citizens of the becomes a sanctuary City now we have Sanctuary the individuals have studied in the U.S. and have United States. The entire process needs to become states trying to be an enacted. We should follow employment sponsored support. I, Gregory Coll, more efficient and effective regarding securing the federal law and anyone that breaks or prevents want to attract the best people from around the our boarders, and the road to U.S. Citizenship. prevents a detainer hold should be placed under world. arrest. No, I, Gregory Coll, believe patients should come I have seen both sides up close. When it was intro- I agree with the Affordable Care Act Health Care first in U.S. healthcare. Healthcare systems run duced the first time I did not have healthcare, and Would you vote to continue by governments are inefficient, reduce standards I went without it so my daughter could have it. I the Affordable Care Act as it is, of care, and diminish patient and physician was grateful that I could finally be covered. Spend expand it, or eliminate it? Please relationships. Healthcare based in free market more on preventative health treatment, reduces explain. principals, promotes competition, drives down the rising cost of prescription medications, elimi- costs and gives the power to patients and physi- nate negative predatory practices by insurance cians. Flexible Spending Accounts unspent money companies creates an increase in pricing. should roll over. Our environment needs to be conserved and main- Reducing pesticides that affect our health creat- I believe we do have a problem with the environ- Environment tained for future generations. I, Gregory Coll want ing which impacts our health care costs, work ment but I do not believe he have any answers to What should be the federal to study and address environmental concerns, together with other states to find effective ways the problem. we need more subsidies for com- government’s role in stop pollution, and stop over-stressing our natural to reduce global warming. This also includes the panies moving to Green energy and zero carbon addressing national and global resources, especially marine resources like fisher- impact of technology, our carbon footprint and emissions. environmental concerns? ies. I, Gregory Coll, believe climate change is real gaining a global perspective on how counties can and needs to be addressed rationally and with an work together to reduce negative environmental associated risk and return posture. concerns.

I, Gregory Coll, want to support local police stop Working together with groups such as the NRA, gun violence as result of overexposure to media Gun Safety criminal activity and crack down on illegal posses- state and local lawmakers. 1 out of 4 people will and psychological problems. But lets not for get What policies do you propose to sion of fire arms, without sacrificing law abiding be know someone who has been affected by gun the technology we have nowadays that we didn’t reduce gun violence? citizens’ rights to bear arms. For more information violence. We need to look at all of the loopholes have before and how it results to bullying. Bullying please visit www.gregorycoll.com. that are already there and fix those. We need to is a huge factor in school shootings and if we can have input from responsible gun owners and un- stop bullying we might be able to stop a lot of derstand that we have to compromise in order to school shootings. produce policies to reduce gun violence. 14 Republican Primary Candidates for U.S. Representative - District 8 See page 9 for details about the Office of Representative. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Patricia Rogers Shelly Skolnick The following Republican Party R - Republican R - Republican candidate was invited to respond but provided no answers by the Website facebook.com/PatriciaRogersforCongress No website provided print deadline:

I am running because we need more women in To reduce gridlock in Congress, I believe more Michael Yadeta Goals Congress. When women lead, things get done and moderates should be elected to the U.S. House Why are you running for this partisan issues become solved instead of becom- of Representatives. As a moderate Republican, michaelyadetaformdcongress.com office? ing problem. my campaign motto is Make America Fair To All (MAFTA). For example, I am proposing changes to make our taxes more fair by having social security retirement benefits tax free at age 70; and waiving the employee social security payroll tax at age 70.

I do not want to see sanctuary cities in Maryland The immigration system must be fair to those Immigration that violate federal laws and protect criminals and people who wait to enter the U.S. legally. I would What, if anything, would you drug dealers instead of protecting local residents. provide a path to citizenship for the “dreamers” change regarding immigration I want to see comprehensive immigration reform who came to the U.S. illegally as minors. However, policy? that is fair to all immigrants applying to come to for adults who entered the U.S. illegally as adults, our country. I would like to see the immigration they would only have a path to green card status bill S.874 that Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced in -- but no path to citizenship, unless they honor- 2019, law. ably served in the U.S. military.

We cannot throw the baby out with the bath I would add two public options to the Affordable Health Care water. I will vote to continue the ACA but work Care Act. One option is to allow any U.S. citizen to Would you vote to continue on how and what states do with federal funds to purchase Medicaid coverage. The other option is to the Affordable Care Act as it is, make healthcare more affordable on the exchang- allow any U.S. citizen to purchase Medicare cover- es in regards to Medicaid and Medicare and private age. These voluntary options provide more choices Go to vote411.org or expand it, or eliminate it? Please lwvmocomd.org to read explain. insurance premiums. without taking away private insurance Also, these purchase options do not create unfair taxes. responses from candidates for U.S. Representative to questions about the Environment I do not support federal regulations to address : The federal government should provide tax and Economy, Discrimination, environment issues because all they do is create patent incentives for the discovery and use of new and Student Loans not What should be the federal more regulations that interrupts business. We technologies to reduce global warming. High pri- included in this Guide due to need to focus on the private sector to fill that ority should be given to the generation of electric- government’s role in space limitations. addressing national and global role as stewards of the environment and invite ity and the development of new electric vehicles. environmental concerns? the community they serve into the role of earth stewardship. The free market will then empower consumers and regulate companies privately.

I support background checks for citizens purchas- I support a universal background check before a Gun Safety ing firearms to separate lawful gun owning citi- gun is purchased. Also, I support the finger print What policies do you propose to zens from criminals who seek to do evil. technology that only allows the gun owner to reduce gun violence? shoot the gun, to reduce accidental shootings; and to reduce gun thefts.

15 Democratic Primary Candidates for U.S. Representative - District 8 See page 9 for details about the Office of Representative. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Jamie Raskin Lih Young The following Democratic Party D - Democratic D - Democratic candidates were invited to respond but provided no Website jamieraskin.com vote-md.org answers by the print deadline:

To provide the best possible constituent services to Reformer/advocate/activist. Promote fairness/ Marcia H. Morgan Goals the people of Montgomery, Frederick and Carroll freedom/justice/peace; productivity/account- Why are you running for this Counties; To restore the government as an instru- ability/cost-effectiveness. Identified “socio- marciahmorgan.com office? ment of the common good and social progress; economic-political- election- 21 media- bud- And to defend the Constitution and Bill of Rights, get- legislation- system problems”; local- global; Utam Paul strong democracy, and the rule of law. testify/recommend to officials, law enforcement, utampaulforcongress.com 3 branches. TV programs producer speaker; field/ studio. Expertise, commitment: intensive/exten- sive/diversified civic servi We need to end the cruel and inhumane treatment SUPPORT: Comprehensive immigration reform. Immigration of children and families at our border and stop Promote humanity, productivity, justice, peace. What, if anything, would you funding the president’s dangerous and profligate Protect people, families, environment. Prosecute change regarding immigration border wall; restore protections for refugees and “official misconduct-government gang- MURDER policy? asylum seekers; and pass HR 6, the Dream and FRAUD- CRIME- INJUSTICE networks”; unjust Promise Act, to provide a pathway to citizenship practices, victimization, deprivation, destruction; for DREAMers and families that have lived here threat, coercion; unjust arrest, detention, torture. for years due to disaster or conflict in their home Reduce fees, fast processing of citizen application/ countries. replacement card I have consistently fought to defend the ACA and Support single-payer healthcare by government, Health Care the lifesaving coverage it provides to millions of affordable health care. Our health care system Would you vote to continue individuals with preexisting conditions. While I should not be controlled by for-profit corpora- the Affordable Care Act as it is, work to protect the ACA, I strongly support mov- tions. To improve quality, affordable health care ing towards a single-payer universal healthcare for all as a fundamental right and should be Go to vote411.org or expand it, or eliminate it? Please lwvmocomd.org to read explain. system that does not exclude anyone and saves achieved by the government. Medical costs should hundreds of billions of dollars spent on insurance not be shifted onto other programs (e.g., Medicare responses from candidates bureaucracy. and Medicaid beneficiaries). Promote productiv- for U.S. Representative ity, accountability to questions about the Environment We must reorganize the federal government to End: dependence/subsidies for fossil fuels, Economy, Discrimination, effectively confront this civilizational crisis. I sup- coal, nuclear energy, offshore oil drilling, spills. and Student Loans not What should be the federal port policies to transition to a green economy, Curb carbon pollution, medical costs. Improve included in this Guide due to invest in clean energy technologies and help regulation/oversight. Promote clean air, water, government’s role in space limitations. addressing national and global fossil fuel industry workers retrain for new jobs. renewable energy. Protect public health, environ- environmental concerns? My colleagues and I are also working on a plan to ment. Promote efficiency, technology, research. revitalize America’s ailing infrastructure in a way Reduce unjust practices, acking, manipulation, that advances our urgent environmental goals. obstruction; false excuses, distortion. Prosecute wrongdoers.

I support a universal background check; a ban on Equity/equality/safety/productivity: affected by Gun Safety assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; income/resources/environment; noise; stress; What policies do you propose to and barring violently dangerous people from pos- health, food; sleeping, learning facilities; bru- reduce gun violence? sessing or purchasing firearms; and will not rest tality, torture; misdiagnosis; unjust injection/ until we hold the gun industry accountable for its medication/poisonous food/ accidents/murder; in role in deadly firearm-involved violence. I worked jails, detention, hospitals, rehab centers; most are and voted to pass several bills out of the Judiciary silenced down/concealed. USA mass incarceration Committee including HR 8, HR 1186, HR 1236 & HR is on top among nations, but no human rights 2708. violations? 16 On the Ballot Judge of the Circuit Court – Sixth Circuit (see Candidates on page 18 - 19)

Duties: Judges preside on the Circuit Court, which is a trial court that hears major civil cases and more serious criminal cases, such Questions to the candidates for Circuit Court as those requiring a jury trial. Circuit Courts may decide appeals Judge: from the District Court and certain administrative agencies. The Sixth Circuit Court serves Montgomery County. • QUALIFICATIONS: How does your experience pre- How Elected: Elected Countywide. The state is divided into 8 pare you for the duties of this office? Judicial Circuits. The General Assembly determines the number of judges in each circuit and county. When there is a vacancy, the • COURT NEEDS: What are the greatest challenges Governor appoints a qualified person to fill the office. Each newly facing Maryland’s court system and how can these appointed Circuit Court judge then must stand for office at the first be addressed? election that occurs at least one year after the vacancy happened. REPEAT OFFENDERS: One or more other qualified members of the bar may also run to •  What can the courts do to fill the vacancy. All candidates run on both the Democratic and reduce recidivism? Republican primary ballots. • DISCRIMINATION: What steps can the courts take to Term: Fifteen years, no term limit. Mandatory retirement age of reduce the risk that bias will influence the outcome 70 years. of legal proceedings? Salary: $174,433 per year, effective July 1, 2021 See pages 18 - 19 for candidate responses. Responses are Salary: montgomerycountymd.gov/cct/ shown exactly as provided by the candidates. No edits of any kind have been made.

Who May Vote? You must be registered with the Republican or Democratic party to vote for a candidate for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge. Democrats and Republicans may vote for no more than four (4) candidates.

17 (Continued next page) Primary Candidates for Judge of the Circuit Court See previous page for details about the Office of Judge of the Circuit Court – Sixth Circuit. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Bibi M. Berry David A. Boynton Christopher C. Fogleman

Website electsittingjudgesmcs.com electsittingjudgesmcs.com electsittingjudgesmcs.com

I worked in the legal field for over 24 years. I have For the last 16 years as a judge, and prior to that, As an Assistant Public Defender for 3 years and an Qualifications represented adults and children in family cases, for 17 years as a prosecutor and 3 years as a trial attorney in private practice for 30 years, I have rep- How does your experience am mediation trained, and have taught fam- lawyer in private practice, I have handled thou- resented a diverse group of people who often were prepare you for the duties of this ily law and litigation at multiple educational and sands of criminal, civil, family and juvenile cases. at the lowest point of their lives. This experience office? professional levels. This experience is ideal for That experience, along with that gained from has well prepared me to be a judge, where I often developing great listening skills, strong instincts, raising a family and community involvement has see people confronting possible jail time, seeking empathy, legal acumen and strong decision- provided me with the knowledge, wisdom, judge- compensation for financial losses, or experiencing making abilities. ment and compassion needed to serve as a judge. the breakup of family relationships.

Education and broadening perspective are sig- Ensuring easy court access and managing increas- The court system is challenged by the increasing Court Needs nificant challenges. I am on the Judicial Education ing caseloads create big challenges. To facilitate number of litigants who cannot afford an attorney What are the greatest challenges Subcommittee of the Judicial Council for access, our court provides free child care to liti- to assist them with the judicial process. The court facing Maryland’s court system Maryland’s Judiciary where we work to develop gants, knowledgeable and helpful support staff, system needs to ensure a fair and balanced judicial and how can these be addressed? educational programs that focus on identifying free legal advice regarding legal procedures, and process for all litigants regardless of whether they and combating bias, understanding human de- foreign language interpreters. Growing caseloads are represented by counsel. Also, access to the velopment, learning cultural differences and ap- require policies that streamline procedures and courts must be enhanced for non-English speakers preciating the value of non-traditional solutions. provide opportunity for early resolution of cases. and persons with disabilities.

The courts must support intergovernmental co- Where appropriate, the rate of recidivism can Specialty courts, like drug courts and mental Repeat Offenders operation and partnerships to supply substance be reduced by recognizing and addressing the health courts, play an important role in address- What can the courts do to reduce abuse and mental health treatment for offenders, root causes of most criminal behavior. Addiction ing recidivism. Our drug and mental health courts recidivism? work release programs, vocational training, and treatment services, medical and mental health have had success in reducing recidivism. I am one reentry services for adults and youth. services, job training and educational certificates, of three judges assigned to our mental health and other important life skills can be provided in court. Judges should also consider the offender’s Drug Court, Mental Health Court and community- potential for rehabilitation, consistent with public based court supervision in the form of probation. safety, in their sentencing decisions.

We must acknowledge the existence of implicit The risk of bias influencing the outcome of court After they have been appointed, judges partici- Discrimination and explicit bias and understand the myriad ways cases can be reduced by selecting the right appli- pate in the New Trial Judges Orientation program, What steps can the courts take bias impacts us in our interactions, daily choices, cants to serve as judges. Adhering to a stringent which includes a focus on bias. Each year thereaf- to reduce the risk that bias will values, belief systems and our decision-making, application, vetting and appointment process is ter, judges attend a judicial conference which also influence the outcome of legal and we must support and participate in education- vital to identifying those who possess the highest includes programs addressing bias. This judicial proceedings? al programs that teach us different perspectives. legal qualifications as well as the understanding education helps reduce the risk that bias will influ- of and sensitivity to ethnic, racial, cultural, gender, ence the outcome of judicial proceedings. Judges socio-economic and other diversity issues. must always be aware of potential implicit bias.

18 Primary Candidates for Judge of the Circuit Court See page 17 for details about the Office of Judge of the Circuit Court – Sixth Circuit. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Thomas P. Johnson, III Michael Joseph McAuliffe Marylin Pierre

Website No website provided electsittingjudgesmcs.com pierreforjudge.com

Solo practice since 1993; Licenses DC, MD & LA. I have been a trial lawyer in Montgomery County I have been practicing law for over 28 years. I am a Qualifications Handle cases in administrative, federal and state for 32 years. I have tried hundreds of civil, crimi- litigator with significant experience representing How does your experience court proceedings nal and family cases ranging from homicides to clients in trial and appellate courts. Some of my prepare you for the duties of this divorces, and from medical malpractice cases to cases have established precedents in Maryland. office? workers’ compensation claims. In the course of I am an army veteran, a winner of Maryland’s this career, I have represented individuals, families Top 100 Women Award (3X), and a winner of the and small businesses. This career has shown how Leadership in Law Award and the Montgomery to make sure people receive justice in our courts. County Democratic Central Committee Community Service Award.

The Court needs temperate judges. Judges with no So many litigants seek help from our Courts but Racism, sexism, and classism are the greatest chal- Court Needs implicit or explicit biases. do not have lawyers helping them. Many feel lenges facing Maryland’s court system. The system What are the greatest challenges overwhelmed. Our Courts do not exist just for the is getting worst. Maryland incarcerates a higher facing Maryland’s court system wealthy, or just for English speakers. Montgomery percentage of its young black men than any other and how can these be addressed? County has created centers for free advice on state in the country. (See my website.) Women’s legal procedures, provided interpreters, and pro- voices are routinely ignored, to their detriment. vided childcare to needy litigants. Every judge Regardless of your race or gender, the higher your encourages self-represented litigants to use these class, the more likely you are to receive mercy. resources.

Juvenile repeat offenders Courts must evaluate We often see recidivism related to drug addiction, To reduce recidivism, people have to be given the Repeat Offenders the mental health of the individuals. It is impor- alcoholism and mental health issues. Montgomery tools they need to succeed. Sometimes the dif- What can the courts do to reduce tant for adult individuals with substance abuse County judges formed the Drug/Alcohol Court and ference between success and failure comes down recidivism? challenges. the Mental Health Court to deal with these under- to something small but necessary (education, lying issues. We give people the opportunity to economic opportunity, substance use treatment, take control of their lives and change destructive transportation). The courts cannot provide these behaviors. We all benefit from these programs, services but they can help connect people with which are being copied around the state. agencies and nonprofits that provide the resources they need. As a male judge of color. I have no explicit or im- Bias can destroy people’s faith in the judicial sys- Leadership will reduce the risk that bias will Discrimination plicit biases; no economic or gender biases. We are tem. The best way to deal with it is through strict influence the outcome of legal proceedings. My What steps can the courts take all the same. I will be fair and respectful to all who vetting of judges. We need judges who have dealt military commander had a zero-tolerance policy to reduce the risk that bias will come before me. with serious matters throughout their professional towards any type of discrimination. He internal- influence the outcome of legal lives and shown the highest levels of fairness, eth- ized equality and we, in turn, learned to internal- proceedings? ics and professionalism. In addition, hearings in ize it too. Because he saw us as equals, we saw Court are open to the public and are recorded so each other as equals and we did not discriminate that we have a solid record of what happens. against each other. It sounds simple but it really works.

19 On the Ballot Delegates to the National Political Party Conventions (see Candidates on pages 21 - 23)

Duties: Convention delegates elected in the primary are part of the state delegations who officially elect their party’s Presidential Questions to Convention Delegates: candidate at the national conventions, along with the party’s Congressional members, Governor and some party officials. • QUALIFICATIONS: How does your experience Presidential nominees are not elected directly by the voters in the prepare you for the duties of this office? primary. Rather, voters in each state choose delegates to represent them at the national conventions. • SELECTION CRITERIA: What factors are most How Elected: Both party ballots list candidates for delegates important in determining whom you will support to the Democratic or Republican National Convention and the for president? Presidential candidate each one supports. Go to vote411.org and lwvmocomd.org for candidate Republican voters in each Maryland congressional district (CD) responses. will elect three (3) delegates and three (3) alternates, who will attend the Republican National Convention, which will be held August 24-27, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Delegates are grouped by Congressional District. Your Democratic voters in Maryland will elect 52 of the 102-person ballot will be specific to your district. Maryland delegation, apportioned by Congressional District (CD). Montgomery voters will help select eight delegates in CD 3, seven delegates in CD 6 and eight delegates in CD 8. The District 3...... page 21 elected delegates will fairly reflect the presidential preference of the district voters for candidates receiving a 15% threshold. The District 6...... page 22 Democratic National Convention will be held August 17-20, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. District 8...... page 23

To find your Congressional District go to https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch Who May Vote? You must be registered with the Republican or Due to space limitations, responses from Convention Democratic party to vote for their Convention Delegates are not printed in this Guide. Responses may be Delegates. found at vote411.org and lwvmocomd.org.

20 Candidates for Convention Delegate - District 3 See page 20 for details about Delegates to the National Political Party Conventions.

Republican voters in District 3 may vote for three (3) delegates and three (3) alternates.

Republican Candidates Republican Alternates Kory Boone (Trump) Megan Ann Carpenter (Trump) Harry Ralph Jackson Jr. (Trump) Anne Koutsoutis (Trump) Shannon Wright (Trump) Anne White (Trump) Chris Yates

Democratic voters in District 3 may vote for four (4) female delegates and four (4) male delegates.

Democratic Female Candidates Democratic Male Candidates Pamela Beidle (Biden) Patrick M. Armstrong (Biden) Evan L. Serpick (Warren) Cheryl Bost (Biden) Michael Narine Baney (Sanders) Will Smith (Buttigieg) Sharon Brackett (Warren) Nathan S. Betnun (Patrick) Keanuu Smith-Brown (Sanders) Carole Brown (Warren) Damon C. Blackman (Warren) Devin F. Tucker (Warren) Sonia M. Feldman (Sanders) Richard Bruno (Sanders) Roberto Veloso (Biden) Camille Guevara Fesche (Bloomberg) Jason Benjiman Carney (Gabbard) Peter W. Ward (Buttigieg) Gabrielle Mona Glendening (Biden) Kevin A. Carter (Yang) John Nelson Wells (Klobuchar) Heather M. Hatfield (Gabbard) Joseph P. Corbett (Gabbard) Bill Woodcock (Klobuchar) Shelly Hettleman (Biden) William D. Dusold (Klobuchar) Robert Yochem (Bloomberg) Chrissy Holt (Sanders) Roel Manuel L. Evangelista Deeba Jafri (Warren) (Klobuchar) Sarah Kathleen Calvert Jewell (Warren) Marshall Perry Johnston Everett Tasnuva Khan (Sanders) (Yang) Audrey D. Lengbeyer (Yang) Mark Feinroth (Biden) Nancy C. Lineman (Klobuchar) Josh Friedman (Klobuchar) Due to space limitations, Mikkyo McDaniel (Uncommitted) Richard Geiwitz (Gabbard) responses from Convention Donna S. McDowell (Steyer) Max Green (Warren) Delegates are not printed in Maggie McIntosh (Buttigieg) Anwer Hasan (Biden) this Guide. Responses may Jessy Mejia Terry (Warren) Mohammed B. Khader (Warren) be found at vote411.org Cheryl Ann Menke (Klobuchar) Brian M. Kwesiga (Buttigieg) and lwvmocomd.org. Tracy E. Miller (Klobuchar) Noel Levy (Uncommitted) Carmina Perez-Fowler (Buttigieg) Eric Luedtke (Warren) Dawn M. Popp (Warren) Quinyardo Renard McClain (Yang) Lisa G. Radov (Buttigieg) Josh Medlock (Yang) Allison H. Restauro (Sanders) Neal J. Naff (Buttigieg) Christiana Rigby (Warren) William T. Patton, Jr. (Gabbard) Grace C. Siu (Yang) Todd Reynolds (Warren) Jen Terrasa (Warren) Shahan Rizvi (Sanders) 21 Mica Varga (Buttigieg) Mike Rogers (Uncommitted) Candidates for Convention Delegate - District 6 See page 20 for details about Delegates to the National Political Party Conventions.

Republican voters in District 6 may vote for three (3) delegates and three (3) alternates.

Republican Candidates Republican Alternates Wendell R. Beitzel (Trump) Barrie S. Ciliberti (Trump) Marie A. Fischer (Trump) Jerry DeWolf (Trump) Joeylynn Hough (Trump) Luanne Ruddell (Trump)

Democratic voters in District 6 may vote for three (3) female delegates and four (4) male delegates.

Democratic Female Candidates Democratic Male Candidates Suzanne Sable Beall (Yang) Gabriel Acevero (Sanders) Nicholas L. Smith (Steyer) Mary Bierman (Bloomberg) David A. Anderson (Gabbard) William P. Spencer, II (Yang) Ismatu F. Daramy (Yang) Mumin A. Barre (Klobuchar) Jayson L. Spiegel (Bloomberg) Sophie Ehrlich (Warren) Bobby Bartlett (Sanders) Vaughn Stewart (Sanders) Jessica Fitzwater (Warren) Ronald A. Beattie (Steyer) Philip Sunshine (Klobuchar) Barbara Goldberg Goldman (Biden) Joseph Brecker (Biden) James Vaccaro (Gabbard) Elise F. Goldstein (Warren) Christopher DeVore (Warren) Mudit Verma (Yang) Maureen D. Grayzeck (Klobuchar) Andrew Duck (Warren) Camber A. Vincent (Warren) Aesha Greer (Sanders) Brian Gaither (Warren) Martha L. Kahn (Yang) Jerry S. Garson (Uncommitted) Nancy J. King (Biden) Brian K. Grim (Buttigieg) Maria Lane (Buttigieg) Raef Haggag (Sanders) Angela R. Lowry (Sanders) Jason Ray Hutchison (Bloomberg) Mary Ellen Mitchell (Buttigieg) Csanad Petru Ignat (Yang) Adrienne Oleck (Gabbard) Nickolas A. Jackson (Yang) Due to space limitations, Arlene Proebsting (Bloomberg) Daniel Jacoby (Warren) responses from Convention Lily Qi (Buttigieg) Mark Jafari (Klobuchar) Delegates are not printed in Elizabeth S. Stiefvater (Klobuchar) Roy D. Jaquez (Gabbard) this Guide. Responses may Tarolyn C. Thrasher (Warren) Larry Kasecamp (Biden) be found at vote411.org Venattia W. Vann (Uncommitted) Barry Kissin (Gabbard) and lwvmocomd.org. Linda Wagner (Sanders) Jason A. Malott (Buttigieg) Myrna Whitworth (Klobuchar) Manuel Martinez Salgado Karen Lewis Young (Biden) (Buttigieg) Joseph Merchlinsky (Yang) Jim Michaels (Bloomberg) Kirill Reznik (Buttigieg) Devang Shah (Biden) Thomas G. Slater (Biden) Benjamin Smith (Yang) 22 Candidates for Convention Delegate - District 8 See page 20 for details about Delegates to the National Political Party Conventions.

Republican voters in District 8 may vote for three (3) delegates and three (3) alternates.

Republican Candidates Republican Alternates Ruth Horton Melson (Trump) James A. Calderwood (Trump) Jeffrey Shockey (Trump) Dan Cox (Trump) Margaret S. Shorten Patricia Ann Fenati (Trump) Mark Uncapher (Trump)

Democratic voters in District 8 may vote for four (4) female delegates and four (4) male delegates.

Democratic Female Candidates Democratic Male Candidates Dana M. Alzouma (Gabbard) Shaw Li (Yang) Benjamin Howard Cole Beaury Matthew Murguia (Uncommitted) Kristen Ballantine (Yang) Caren W. Madsen (Klobuchar) (Warren) Frederick A. Olowin (Yang) Liz Barrett (Buttigieg) Yaheiry Mora (Sanders) Liam F. Berry-Drobnich (Sanders) Camden Raynor (Warren) Julie Blum (Warren) Mairi Nicola Morrison (Gabbard) Alan S. Bowser (Biden) William Reid (Biden) Ysela Bravo (Warren) Stefani Olsen (Sanders) Ronald E. Cohen (Yang) Martin Russell (Gabbard) Brandy H. M. Brooks (Warren) Jill Ortman-Fouse (Warren) Jordy R. Diaz (Sanders) Jeffrey Zane Slavin (Bloomberg) Alyssa L. Cain (Gabbard) Jennifer Peyton (Yang) Joseph P. Esposito (Bennet) Andrew Vermilye (Bloomberg) Lorig Charkoudian (Warren) Alyssa Picard (Warren) Ari Michael Feuer (Klobuchar) Cameron Walkup (Warren) Stephanie Cheng (Yang) Sanjida Rangwala (Warren) Kade Friedlander (Bloomberg) Benjamin Matthew Wolff (Buttigieg) Kathryn Cohen (Yang) Elly I. Rostoum (Sanders) Evan Glass (Warren) Marc J. Zwillinger (Biden) Lisa Cookson (Klobuchar) Peggy Sand (Warren) Scott Evan Goldberg (Warren) Karylena Maria Cruz (Warren) Emily Shetty (Uncommitted) Richard H. Goodwin, Jr. (Gabbard) Ana J. Curtis (Warren) Patricia L. Sims (Warren) Henry K. Ho (Yang) Tracey Friedlander (Biden) Jennifer Stein (Warren) Tom Hucker (Uncommitted) Linda Fuller (Warren) Susan Turnbull (Buttigieg) Juan Carlos Iturregui (Warren) Raezel S. Geiser (Buttigieg) Mary D. P. Wagner (Klobuchar) Ashwani Jain (Buttigieg) Carrie Goux (Bloomberg) Jheanelle Wilkins (Warren) Milton L. Jones (Biden) Due to space limitations, Terrelyn S. Greszler (Yang) Teresa Saavedra Woorman Ken Kerr (Uncommitted) responses from Convention Susan K. Heltemes (Klobuchar) (Buttigieg) Edward Kimmel (Uncommitted) Delegates are not printed in Laura Henderson (Warren) Joyce C. Yang (Yang) Samuel J. Lieberman (Klobuchar) this Guide. Responses may be found at vote411.org Susan R. Hoffmann (Biden) Peter MacGahan (Gabbard) and lwvmocomd.org. Elena Hung (Warren) Joseph David Maka (Yang) Beyhan M. Ibici (Yang) John Maslin (Gabbard) Mary Virginia Ingram (Klobuchar) Joseph McCarthy (Buttigieg) Cheryl C. Kagan (Bloomberg) Richard L. McCarthy (Uncommitted) Helen Rozsics Kerr (Biden) David Moon (Warren) Renee J. Kotz (Warren) Danny I. Moreno (Sanders) Dawn Krusemark (Biden) Bob Muehlenkamp (Sanders) 23 Avital Li (Sanders) Thomas Mulczynski (Buttigieg) On the Ballot Montgomery County Board of Education (see Candidates on pages 25 - 29)

Duties: The Montgomery County Board of Education is respon- sible for the direction and operation of the public school system. Questions to the candidates for Montgomery Members of the Board of Education determine and enforce County Board of Education: policies that govern the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The Board’s responsibilities include but are not limited • QUALIFICATIONS: How does your background to the following: selecting and appointing the superintendent prepare you for the duties of this office? of schools, adopting operating and capital budgets, establishing curriculum guides, and establishing school boundaries. • OPPORTUNITY GAP: What approaches do you How Elected: The Board of Education is composed of two at large support to provide equitable countywide student members who may live anywhere in the county and five members access to experienced teachers and administrators who must reside in the districts that they represent. The terms are and a diverse set of programs? staggered, with one at large and two or three district members being elected every two years. Elections for Board of Education members • BOUNDARY CHANGES: What factors do you think are non-partisan. All voters, regardless of the district they live are most important in considering changes to in or party affiliation, may vote for one at large candidate and school boundaries? one candidate from each district. • FUNDING: Which recommendations by the Kirwan Term: Four years, no term limit. Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education should be given the highest priority? Salary: $25,000 per year. Website: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/ • SCHOOL SAFETY: How would you address school safety issues such as gun violence, gang problems and bullying? • VOCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES: What programs do you Who May Vote? propose to address vocational preparation and opportunities for non-college bound students? You do not need to be registered with a party to vote for the Montgomery County Board of • COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: How will you obtain Education. and use community and parent/student views in making Board decisions? You may vote only for one (1) candidate for • PRIORITIES: What are your top three priorities? at large Board of Education member and one (1) candidate for District 4 Board of Education See pages 25 - 29 for candidate responses. Responses are member. The two candidates receiving the most shown exactly as provided by the candidates. No edits of votes for at large and District 4 will appear on the any kind have been made. General Election ballot in November. Due to space limitations, only responses to the first Note: Candidates for District 2 will not appear on five questions are printed. Responses to the remaining the Primary Election ballot as only two candidates three questions may be found at vote411.org and lwvmocomd.org. have filed in that District. Both will appear on the General Election ballot in November. 24 Primary Candidates for Montgomery County Board of Education At Large See previous page for details about the office of Board of Education. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Mitra Ahadpour Stephen Austin Anil Chaudhry

Website dra4students.com stephenaustin4boe.com chaudhryforchange.org

I am an MCPS parent, a results-oriented executive Given that this election is heavily focused on the Child of educators. Both parents retired from the Qualifications addressing complex health policy issues, and an future of MCPS boundaries and the possibility NYC BOE. 1st generation immigrant. Educated in How does your background accomplished primary care physician who listens of moving children for socioeconomic diversity, public schools and colleges. Military veteran with prepare you for the duties of this deeply. I will bring to the board fresh ideas, evi- my childhood experience is powerful. I was both combat duty. In Iraq, my civil-military team estab- office? dence-based decision making, and collaborative a FARMs-eligible kid, and changed schools 3 lished a provincial police force and school system. partnerships with a wide variety of community times against my will. Additionally, my career in Public servant. Run a national program support- stakeholders. I chair several committees and task financial analysis has prepared me to manage the ing audits of $75B in annual trade revenue. Family forces at my daughter’s school and meet students growing budget needs of MCPS. man. Married with three children in MCPS schools. regularly. We need to understand and reduce inequalities so I am a firm believer in educating children in 1. Make closing achievement gaps a county-wide Opportunity Gap that all students have the opportunity to flourish. their neighborhood schools because the social responsibility 2. Provide safe, orderly learning en- What approaches do you support We should have metrics for the system to best networks and accessibility are critical to families. vironments for students and educators 3. Use test to provide equitable countywide understand the learning conditions necessary for MCPS has some amazing examples of innovative data and other research on students’ performance student access to experienced all students to thrive, and the outcomes those con- programs that were very effective at closing the to inform instruction 4. Leverage community di- teachers and administrators and ditions can bring about. There are plenty of best achievement gap (like Broad Acres, and others), versity 5. Use meaningful data driven input from a diverse set of programs? practices to draw from to improve equitable edu- and I think we need to look at how to incorporate all local families, communities, and educators 6. cation outcomes, using a whole student approach. those lessons. Provide school choice for children in failing schools

Fostering inclusion, diversity, equity and civility Number one consideration is to have kids in the proximity - zone students for the schools closest Boundary Changes benefits all students. Multi-faceted policies are schools that are closest to their homes, where to their homes quality of life - optimize use of What factors do you think are needed in transparent collaboration with students, possible. Where it is not possible due to capac- logistical assets and reduce transit times quality most important in considering parents, educators and community members to ity issues, we need to look at ways to either grow of community - limit split articulation and provide changes to school boundaries? address this complex issue. Simply collecting and capacity or build more facilities to achieve that compact feeder patterns diversity - build flexibility using raw numbers to examine boundary lines goal. Some modest boundary adjustments are un- to reduce community opportunity gaps sustain- does not begin to give us a complete picture of derstandable if it is in the spirit of neighborhood ability - optimize the usage of existing facilities the realities of our community and neighborhood schools. stability - ensure school assignment stability schools.

I am supportive of all the Kirwan Commission I am a firm believer in the advantages of early 1. Expand publicly funded full-day pre-K. 2. Funding recommendations; this is an amazing opportunity childhood education, and hope Kirwan will make Expand number of Family Support Centers that Which recommendations by to close the opportunity gap. There is need for a that a priority. provide access to wraparound services to low- the Kirwan Commission on whole student approach that includes high qual- income families in areas of concentrated pov- Innovation and Excellence in ity early learning, school climate that is conducive erty. 3. Redesigned career and technical education Education should be given the to learning and well-being, and improved family (CTE) pathways that lead to industry-recognized highest priority? engagement by removing any linguistic or cultural workforce credentials at high school graduation. barriers. 4. Establish independent oversight boards.

The ability of students to learn is impacted by their I would start with facilities that all have a high Improve staffing ratios to allow for the delivery School Safety surroundings. There are several safety issues such standard in security features. The temporary class- of a full range of mental services and effective How would you address school as mental health, substance use, bullying, and rooms at many schools are not secure, and some school–community partnerships; Develop evi- safety issues such as gun gun violence which can be addressed through the of the older facilities do not have many of the dence-based standards for district-level policies violence, gang problems and implementation of evidence-based programs. A modern safety features. For gangs and bullying, to promote effective school discipline and positive bullying? safe and supportive school environment is critical I think that has to be dealt with in a meaningful behavior; Fund continuous and sustainable crisis to the success of our children. We must have con- way. Our schools have to be safe environments for and emergency preparedness, response, and re- sistent administrative support for these programs. children to learn. covery planning and training that uses evidence- 25 based models. (Continued next page)

Go to vote411.org or lwvmocomd.org to read responses from candidates for Board of Education to questions about Vocational Alternatives, Community Involvement and Priorities not included in this Guide due to space limitations.

Sunil Dasgupta Paul Geller Jay Guan Lynne Harris sunildasgupta.com PG4BE.com jayguan4boe.com lynne4students.org

I am a first-generation immigrant and a parent MCCPTA President and VP (2013-17), school As a kid who grew up in a poor immigrant Years of experience in nursing, law, public of 3 MCPS students. I have 20 years of classroom volunteer (2008-present), full-time volunteer family, I experienced the opportunity gap health & teaching prepare me to address the teaching and policy research experience, 11 of advocate for MCPS (2012-present). Led charge first hand. It lent me powerful insights on the array of issues confronting our school system. them teaching MCPS graduates. I have worked for historic 2016 Education First Budget by effects of the opportunity gap and a unique My deep knowledge of MCPS gained from ten with budgets, financial reports, and data. I forming coalition with BOE, County Council, perspective on how best to address it. Through years of substantive MCPS advocacy means I have been an MCCPTA committee chair and community nonprofits, MCEA, SEIU Local 500, my roles as an education and transportation will be ready to serve on day one. Having priori- PTA president and am the founder of an annual and MCAAP to secure required unanimous advocate, I gained valuable insights into com- tized student & family engagement, I know the countywide Mental Health and Wellness Forum Council approval. Visited schools countywide, munication, community engagement, state wisdom of students, teachers, parents & staff is for students/families. successfully led multiple key advocacy efforts. legislative process, and MCPS operations. essential to all MCPS decision-making We need to reduce class size/staff ratios by Reward outstanding teachers, staff, and prin- I support approaches that consider geographic Place experienced, highly effective teachers & hiring more teachers, staff, and counselors. We cipals with incentives to thrive long-term at diversity, automatic access to advanced courses administrators in the most challenged schools. should consult with teachers and staff to bring Title I and Focus Schools. Evaluate and correct based on grades. To ensure access to experi- Ensure all academic & other opportunities are more training, diverse content, and an inclusive inequitable access through policy changes enced teachers, we must first retain teachers, truly accessible to all students – looking at school culture for all. We need to keep staff and and union agreements. Provide more profes- to that end, I would support preference to the geographic placement across the county, tran- programs in schools currently facing pressures sional development opportunities. To support promotion of teachers who taught in high sit as a resource, & as a last resort online access. of under-enrollment, expand hiring to encour- students, add counselors, school psychologists; need schools, competitive pay, and tuition Implement the community schools model at age diversity, and consider the possibility of provide fun extracurricular programs such as assistance. schools where poverty level (FARMs as proxy) higher pay. STEM, field trips, and language classes. exceeds 37% (countywide FARMs) I have studied and written articles investigat- Important factors are: how over/under enrolled Boundary study, in essence, is a trade study System-wide, at all levels, MCPS enrollment ing this complex issue. After decades of mas- an existing school is; benefits of neighborhood between various factors. Which factors are about equals MCPS capacity yet we have mas- sive demographic and population change— schools and how some provide wraparound more important depends on the objectives of sively under- and over- enrolled schools. We and 100 overcrowded and 99 under-enrolled services; proximity; changes desired by stake- the study and context. I typically consider facil- need a commonsense reboot to end that imbal- schools--boundary changes are inevitable. We holders; diversity; and addressing facility utili- ity utilization and geography to be the most ance and use our capital dollars more effectively. can guarantee predictability and adjacency of zation by allowing school choice for students in important. As over-utilization and geography We also need more equitable schools- no more school assignments by developing a regular, schools at or above 105% of capacity to attend have an overwhelmingly negative impact on pockets of poverty where FARMs rates greatly transparent, and fair process of systemwide re- a nearby school at or below 95% of capacity a school’s operation, safety, security, and most exceed the countywide rate of 37%. view and adjustments. https://bit.ly/2SMdVv7 without a boundary change. importantly, on students well-being. We have to prioritize pre-k expansion, then Kirwan Commission recommendations must be All Kirwan Commission recommendations All 5 policy areas are mission critical. I would academic support and wraparound services wholly enacted for true success. I would place shared the same level of urgency. If I had to pick prioritize High Quality and Diverse Teachers and including counselors, high quality and diverse extra emphasis on: expanding pre-K avail- one as the “highest priority”, I would go with the Leaders, and More Resources for Students to be teachers, and career pathways for students. ability; elevating the teaching profession and expansion of Pre-K. It is one of the best equal- Successful. Those address the need for instruc- Achieving these goals really means hiring more high quality we desire with pay on par with izers of student performance. Furthermore, tional excellence in every classroom, ensuring teachers and staff. This election itself is about other degreed professions; allocating greater Montgomery County has already begun this teachers have the tools they need to support governance and accountability, the last Kirwan resources for struggling and differently abled work, so it is important to support it. diverse learning needs, and the importance of recommendation. I want a BOE that is able to students; and college or career readiness for all students seeing themselves reflected in their govern MCPS more effectively. students by the end of 10th grade. school’s staff

Address physical security by reducing portable We should expand the availability of high qual- Community building, engagement, and trust- School climate and student safety & well-being use, adding entrance vestibules, and cameras ity, free or low cost, extracurricular activities and building with families are key. Clear, unfeath- go hand-in-hand. All teachers & staff need that work. Long-term, use educational ap- school media center accessibility districtwide ered, reporting procedures for students and substantive training in trauma-informed prac- proaches, not more police officers inside schools. before and after school so students have a place families, coupled with legal and/or disciplinary tices to ensure our schools are warm, welcom- More counselors, trauma-informed, restorative to be and a positive experience. I would create consequences for responsible adults are also ing spaces in which all students & staff feel safe practices, teacher diversity, and ultimately programs in partnership with MCPS-TV show- critical. On issues such as student mental well- & valued, and no one falls through the cracks. teacher/staff ratios so students actually have a ing/addressing the effects these issues have on ness and vaping, awareness, education, and ac- Mental wellness services need to be readily trusted adult in the building. Rebuild the home society, featuring students and teachers sharing tive intervention are key. I would also advocate available, & self-care needs to be inten- and school partnership. their experiences. for relevant legislative actions. tionally included in every school day 26 Primary Candidates for Montgomery County Board of Education At Large See page 24 for details about the office of Board of Education. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Dalbin Osorio Cameron Rhode Darwin Romero

Website dalbinosorio.com facebook.com/RhodeWorkAhead darwinromero.com

Every step of my professional career has begun As a recent (2012) graduate of Montgomery I believe in order to be successful as a school board Qualifications with families asking me to teach, help, mentor, County Public Schools, I know our successes and member one must have the desire to help people. How does your background and protect their children. My unique professional challenges firsthand. Including my bachelor’s And that is what I have been doing all my life. prepare you for the duties of this experience both in and out of the classroom, as and master’s degrees, I spent 19 years as a public From the neighbor who I helped get more busi- office? well as in spaces where policy is developed and school student. My lifetime of benefiting from ness when I was barely a teenager to the countless implemented, has prepared me for this role at this public education makes my candidacy for Board of families I have had the privilege of helping make specific time. The main thing, though, is that I did Education a natural fit. I’m proud to be endorsed their dreams of home ownership a reality, I will do all of that work before running for office. by Delegate Kumar Barve and former delegate the same for our students - help them succeed. Andrew Platt. I support enhancing cultural competence, pro- I agree with Superintendent Jack Smith that sim- To increase equity, diversity and access to all our Opportunity Gap viding comprehensive support for students, ply considering race has not worked to narrow the students I would provide incentives to teachers What approaches do you support consistent outreach to families, extended learn- opportunity gap. If students are lumped into broad who are bilingual and want to teach at schools to provide equitable countywide ing opportunities, community schools, providing categories, their needs cannot be adequately met. with high needs. I would also provide additional student access to experienced resources to classrooms that support learning, and Like all people, children are multi-faceted. Efforts support and resources to those schools so that our teachers and administrators and recruitment and retention of qualified staff. to ensure opportunity for all students should be students are succeeding both in academia and in a diverse set of programs? informed by more detailed data collection of stu- life. dents’ performance.

We have to factor in how specific, measurable, ac- The boundary analysis is long overdue. I appreci- When considering school boundary changes we Boundary Changes cessible, time-oriented, and realistic the changes ate that the consultant’s analysis -- per Board of need to look at several factors - school utilization What factors do you think are that we are proposing are. Are we burdening Education policy -- is considering linguistic, ethnic, being the most important in my opinion. Many most important in considering students and families with extended travel times? and socioeconomic diversity in addition to proxim- teachers are currently teaching classes that are changes to school boundaries? Are we prepared from a staffing standpoint? ity and capacity. The benefits of diverse schools are overcrowded and receive little to no help. This Have we considered all options before making not superficial; they are tangible and long-lasting. leads to students becoming disengaged and bored boundary changes? And can our desired outcomes If elected, I will consider the consultant’s report at school and teacher burn out. Let’s use our build- be reached? All of those are things I’d consider heavily in my decision-making. ings in the most optimal way to help our students important. learn. The Kirwan Commission had alot of recommenda- The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future took effect I would give high-quality early education the Funding tions that would fundamentally put a dent in the on my birthday last year -- a welcome birthday highest priority because I believe it is the one rec- Which recommendations by Opportunity Gap, but i’d give highest priority to gift! It makes important investments in pre- ommendation that will close the opportunity gap the Kirwan Commission on expanding prekindergarten for low-income fami- kindergarten, teacher salaries, and special services and increase diversity in the long-run. Innovation and Excellence in lies, increasing teacher salaries, revamping high for schools with high poverty rates. The Kirwan Education should be given the schools to offer students training for well-paying recommendations can be fully funded: several highest priority? jobs right after graduation, establishing more bills have been introduced in the 2020 Maryland community schools and expanding special educa- General Assembly session to generate significant tion services. revenue.

Investing in mental health professionals and Bullying and other social issues among students Each school needs to foster a culture of respect School Safety dedicated support staff, while providing profes- shouldn’t be dismissed as inevitable. Students and civility and this starts from pre-kindergarten. How would you address school sional development to staff members on how have understandably expressed frustration at I would encourage our educators to start working safety issues such as gun to recognize and respond to behaviors that are a being assigned different counselors in different with our students at an early age in creating safe violence, gang problems and natural part of a child’s development, is a first step years of high school. Developing a relationship and welcoming environments in the classrooms bullying? towards addressing school safety issues. Every with one counselor is valuable in establishing and the school. I would also promote public ser- child has a right to learn and be safe by doing so, trust and in securing a quality recommendation vice announcements that highlight the character but we cannot criminalize our youth with more letter for college. I will work to increase continuity traits that we want to see in our community. 27 law enforcement. in counseling. Pavel Sukhobok Lumpoange Thomas The following candidate was invited to respond but provided no answers by the print deadline. pavelforboe.com No website provided Check vote411.org for responses submitted after the print deadline.

As the founder of a local tutoring company, I am I have had the great honor and privilege to support Collins Odongo keenly aware of the challenges that our students MCPS in a variety of volunteer positions during the No website provided face. I see too many students in high school who past eleven years, beginning the very first day my struggle with basic math and lack proper reading son entered the school system. I’ve volunteered and writing skills. It is not the students’ fault. It is and served alongside educators, administrators, not even the teachers’ fault. The board is currently parents, and students. too busy playing politics with our education sys- tem while our students are falling behind.

Right now, there is a vicious turnover of teachers I believe that the foundation from which to ad- going on at lower-performing schools. The least dress the opportunity gap for under-represented experienced teachers often end up in the most minority students begin in elementary school. All challenging classrooms, and we wonder why students in elementary school should be provided many teachers leave within a few years. The incen- with the same opportunities to access curriculum tives to have the most experienced teachers teach that will prepare them for a range of rigorous at lower-income schools simply aren’t working. courses by the time they reach high school. Let’s strengthen those incentives and add more programs. Redistricting is not the answer. 1) Forcing students I believe the following factors are equally impor- to leave their friends and teachers behind will take tant when considering boundary modifications a heavy emotional toll on them. 2) Many families, – proximity, school capacity, and building utiliza- including minority families, used their life savings tion, and diversity. to buy homes so their children can attend a differ- Go to vote411.org or lwvmocomd.org to read ent school. Forcing them back into schools they moved away from is wrong. 3) Let’s change the responses from candidates for Board of Education to way the schools are run, not the students. questions about Vocational Alternatives, Community Involvement and Priorities not included in this Guide due to space limitations. Free pre-K education for lower income families. I believe access to early childhood education Studies consistently show that students who start should be given the highest priority. Studies have earlier, end up going farther in education. Children shown early intervention and access to Pre-School start learning at a very young age, so let’s foster and Pre-Kindergarten for children in underserved that curiosity so that students are more prepared communities have positive outcomes and estab- for school when they enter kindergarten. Not to lishes a solid foundation for success later in school. mention, providing free pre-K will also reduce the financial burden on lower-income families.

Bullying happens every day in every school around I strongly believe that the first initiative needs to the county. While bullying may be hard to detect, expand our focus on mental health. We need to bullying often leads to serious, long-lasting ef- remove the stigma associated with mental health fects. Incorporating activities to educate students and ensure students have access to mental health on the harms of bullying while continuing to train counseling. I think it’s also important to train our the teachers on how to spot and prevent bullying educators to recognize when bullying behavior is can help address that issue. We can also provide occurring and how to appropriately manage the a heavier security presence to tackle gun violence. classroom safety. 28 Primary Candidates for Montgomery County Board of Education – District 4 See page 24 for details about the office of Board of Education. Responses were limited to 400 characters. Responses are shown exactly as provided by the candidates.

Candidate Shebra Evans Ehren Park Reynolds Steve Solomon

Website shebraevans.com openseatlotteryoption.com votestevesolomon.com

As a current board member, I am proud of the I am a citizen, taxpayer, homeowner, and parent of I am a lifelong resident of Montgomery County. I Qualifications work we are doing to address disparities in stu- two small kids. I have spent my whole life in public have been active on several boards, committees, How does your background dent outcomes by closing gaps in opportunity and service. I currently serve in the National Guard, so and issues in Montgomery County. Working in prepare you for the duties of this achievement. We continue to make progress, but this would be another part-time job in the public radio my whole career has allowed me to work office? there is still work to do. I believe my experience interest for me. With a $2.8 billion education bud- collaboratively with others on a daily basis and on the board since 2016 coupled with my leader- get representing the bulk of MoCo’s outlays, we interact with the public. ship as the board president will be an asset as we have to get this right. advocate for resources to ensure the success for all students. The board has been committed to equity and I am advocating the implementation of an Open We need to maintain the best teachers and staff.. Opportunity Gap excellence. We believe this can only be achieved Seat Lottery Option (OSLO). This would mean that Did you know that nearly half the teachers in MCPS What approaches do you support when all students have equitable access, oppor- at every overcapacity school, the parents would be leave in their first three years? Training and keep- to provide equitable countywide tunities and resources. We now have five two-way given lottery spots equal to the number of open ing the best teachers leads to the best chance for student access to experienced immersion schools, expanded access to AP & IB, seats at nearby undercapacity schools. This way, students to succeed. Also, we need more access to teachers and administrators and free SAT/ACT or Licensure tests, expanded access you could resolve the capacity mismatch (10,000 special programs and vocational programs across a diverse set of programs? to PreK, investment in smaller classes, dual en- kids in overcapacity schools and 10,000 empty more schools. rollment w/ Montgomery College earning an AA seats), while no one has to leave a school they like. degree and so on. Every factor is being considered in the analysis. It With an OSLO, families would be given a choice I believe the most important factors in terms of Boundary Changes is a fiscally responsible approach to have the board that they don’t already have, while avoiding some boundary changes are: geographical location and What factors do you think are review the entire district when considering new of the harsh blowback (including expensive litiga- fixing overcrowding in the schools that need it. I do most important in considering schools and additions. Our student enrollment has tion) prompted by families being forced to leave not believe in putting a child in a school far away changes to school boundaries? grown by more than 25,000 students since 2010 schools they like. I have yet ever to meet a parent from their home. That means more travel time to and we expect 11,000 more students over the next who resented being given more choice about their and from school, being pulled from a school where six years. This boundary analysis will give us a bet- children’s schooling. This is an immediate and your friends are, and not knowing what school ter overview and inform decisions in the future. cost-free resolution of the boundary issue. you’ll go to in the future.

As president on the board, I have had the oppor- Pre-kindergarten has such well-documented I agree with many recommendations by the Funding tunity to testify before Chair Kirwan and members benefits to cognitive development that it should Kirwan Commission. I support expanded pre-K to Which recommendations by of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence be funded as a top priority. DC has it. Why don’t 3 and 4 year olds. I also support curriculum chang- the Kirwan Commission on in Education. The board supported HB1300 and we? It is also important that we adequately fund es to better prepare students for real world jobs, Innovation and Excellence in the funding it would provide to support improving college- and career-readiness programs to ensure as well as more resources for special education. Education should be given the access, opportunity, learning for all children and that our high schoolers are prepared for life after My concerns are who is going to pay for this since highest priority? the new ways to improve the success of educators. graduation. it will cost $4 billion. Will the bigger/wealthier We recommended adding funding for non-teacher counties like Montgomery County bear a bigger personnel. burden?

It is important that students/staff feel safe and Educators, administrators, counselors, and all Gang activity is a real problem in our area. We School Safety secure in their learning and work environment. other adults in educational institutions must to be need to start in middle school with outreach and How would you address school MCPS has procedures on emergency preparedness empowered to support students in need, be they prevention programs. Also more cooperation safety issues such as gun in the event of an attack of some sort or if someone the targets of bullying or gang activity or those in between MCPS and Montgomery County police is violence, gang problems and has a weapon. The board supported the “Be Well the act of harming others. It is important to ensure needed to keep gang activity from expanding. bullying? 365” initiative because it promotes being healthy, adequate reporting mechanisms so that issues can being kind and being you. Students are equipped be addressed early on before situations deterio- with tools to build academic and social resilience. rate and endanger the community. 29 Contact Information League of Women Voters of Montgomery County: Montgomery County Board of Elections: 12216 Parklawn Dr., Suite 105 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210 24 hour information: Rockville, MD 20852-1710 Gaithersburg, MD 20879-3121 240-777-VOTE (8683) Web: lwvmocomd.org Mailing address: PO Box 4333, Tel: 240-777-8500 Election Hotline: 301-984-9585 Rockville MD 20849-4333 800-222-VOTE (8683) 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM weekdays Web: 777vote.org FAX: 240-777-8560 email: [email protected] Web: elections.maryland.gov MD Relay/TTY: 1-800-735-2258

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Membership (tax deductible): Make check payable to LWVMC Donation (tax deductible): Regular membership $65.00 Make check payable to LWVMC 2nd member, same household $32.00 Amount ______Student membership FREE

Mail to: LWV Montgomery County, MD, 12216 Parklawn Dr, Suite 105, Rockville MD 20852

LWVMC is a 501(c)3 organization and your donation is tax-deductible to the extent approved by law.

A copy of the current financial statement of the LWVMC is available by writing us at the address above or by calling (301) 984- 9585. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis MD 21401, (410) 974-5534.

30 Non-Profit Org. VOTERS’ GUIDE US Postage PAID Suburban MD 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION Permit #77 Produced By:

100 Years of Making Democracy Work. Nationally respected, locally engaged. lwvmocomd.org

Vote by Mail in the 2020 Primary!

To slow the spread of COVID-19, the Primary Election is being Limited In-Person Voting at four Vote Centers on June 2, from conducted mainly by mail. 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM. • Look for your ballot in the mail. • For voters who must use a Ballot Marking Device, or • Vote your ballot, return it in the postage paid envelope by June • Did not receive a ballot in the mail, or 2 or at a ballot drop off box at one of the four Vote Centers, the • First time registrant—same day registration Board of Elections, or Rockville City Hall between May 21 and June 2.

The League of Women Voters wishes to thank the following for their generous support: For the Voters’ Guide For the Voters’ Guide in Spanish

Montgomery County Community Grant

Greater Washington Community Foundation, Watkins Voter Empowerment Fund of the Resilience Fund Grant Montgomery Community Foundation

Would you like to join or contribute to the League of Women Voters? See page 30.

2020 PRIMARY ELECTION: VOTE BY MAIL or at FOUR VOTE CENTERS, TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 7am - 8pm.