Maryland House of Delegates District 39

A: Maryland’s structural deficit requires a balanced approach that protects working families while ensuring the state can meet its long‑term obligations. My priority is to close the gap in a way that does not shift the burden onto low‑ and middle‑income Marylanders who are already struggling with rising costs. That means examining our state’s inequitable tax code for revenue options—such as closing corporate loopholes, modernizing outdated tax structures, and ensuring that the wealthiest individuals and large corporations in our state contribute their fair share. At the same time, I support a careful review of state spending to identify inefficiencies and ensure that public dollars aren’t wasted. This legislative session we passed a balanced budget that makes historic investments in education, housing, public safety and healthcare. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I have consistently pushed for budgets that are balanced, equitable, and aligned with our values, and I will continue to approach this issue with that same discipline.

A: Affordability, Protecting Medicaid and Public Safety.

A: Lowering the cost of living requires addressing the pressures Maryland families feel every day—housing, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and energy costs. This legislative session I was proud to support the Utility Relief Act, that will provide much needed help to Marylanders with rising utility bills. Additionally, I was proud to vote for a budget that includes millions for low income rental assistance, $1.7 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and $14 billion for Medicaid and the Maryland Children’s Health program. Despite the actions of this federal administration, I’ve been working on lowering the cost of living and protecting Marylanders from the actions of this administration.

A: I’m proud to have voted for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a multi-year plan to transform our state’s education system. I believe we have an obligation to our children to provide them with a world class education regardless of zip code. The Maryland constitution is clear that public dollars should be used to fund public education which is what we’ve done. The Blueprint is an investment in our children’s education and we will continue to find revenue options to ensure that it is fully funded and implemented. I have long advocated for making our state’s tax code fair and equitable by taxing the wealthy and corporations who currently are not paying their fair share. Doing so is not only the right thing, it provides the revenue necessary to ensure important programs such as Blueprint have the resources it needs.

A: Beyond elections, I want my constituents to judge my performance by my voting record, the policies I champion, and whether I keep the commitments I make during my campaigns. A cursory look at my record shows critical investments in projects across District 39, passage of landmark legislation such as the Equal Access to Public Services Act and the responsiveness of my office to constituent concerns. I am committed to maintaining a people‑powered approach to governing, rooted in community engagement, coalition‑building, and policy work that reflects the needs and priorities of district 39.

A: Maryland should not balance the budget by cutting the services that people rely on the most or by further burdening working families. I would approach this as a values question and with the belief that our budget is a document that reflects our morals. Closing the gap starts with accountability and making sure that, before we cut services widespread, we assess whether the dollars we are spending are actually delivering the results we intended.

I also believe we can raise revenue in a way that is fair. For example, asking those at the top to pay a bit more and implementing budget-neutral ideas. I support a small increase on luxury vehicle registrations to fund smaller vehicle fees for working families. We can also raise the cost to file failure to pay rent cases just a few dollars to support legal services for immigrants without broadly raising taxes. Lastly, Maryland should further diversify its economy with continued investments in biotech, clean energy, and other industries so that we create opportunities for working families.

A: 1. Safe, fully funded, and transparent public schools. I will fight for accountability in school spending, multilingual transparency for families, and targeted investment in high-poverty schools. This includes stabilizing the childcare scholarship fund so that working parents, have reliable care that supports family stability.

2. Affordable housing and cost-of-living relief for working families. I will look to modernize housing affordability standards to reflect 2026 realities, strengthen renter protections, and ensure that state-county programs like PILOT agreements still support community needs, like school repairs. I’ll also pursue a working families vehicle registration credit to provide relief for working families who rely on their vehicles to work, drive their kids to school, and simply live their lives.

3. Immigrant rights and access. Immigrant workers are essential to Maryland, and they deserve equal access to services, legal protections, and language justice. I will defend due process, fight to expand access to counsel in immigration proceedings, and ensure state agencies treat every worker with fairness and dignity.

A: The cost of living is hitting working families hard, especially in Latino communities. In MoCo, over 50% of Latino families and families of color rent their homes, compared to only about 25% of white households. Inequality is at an all-time high.

I support affordability standards that reflect today’s reality and expanding renter benefits so that working families and first responders can live in the communities they serve. I would also stabilize the Child Care Scholarship Program with formula-based funding, so families are not left behind by program pauses. Childcare should be treated as essential infrastructure. I would support a Working Families Vehicle Registration Credit, funded by modest increases on luxury vehicles which keeps it budget neutral but provides direct relief. Lastly, on utilities, Maryland imports 40% of its electricity. The recent passage of the Utility Relief Act is a good step forward, but we need long-term solutions, including expanding clean energy resources and power generation.

A: The loss of federal jobs in Maryland made it clear that we need to do more to diversify our economy and create more opportunities for working families. I believe our budgets should reflect our values and education should be treated as an investment into our future, not just a line item.

Latino students in Montgomery County, for example, who make up the majority of our student population, graduate 10 points behind their peers! If we want a Maryland that can compete in the economy of the very near future, we need to fully fund and implement the Blueprint so we can start closing the educational and economic gaps many families experience. Yes, maintaining fiscal responsibility is important. By making sure the wealthiest pay their fair share and that state and county programs that incentivize developers, like PILOT agreements, also support community needs (like school repairs), we can protect the services people need most without balancing the budget on the backs of working families.

A: Constituents shouldn’t have to guess whether their representative is doing a good job. In my role on Montgomery County’s Police Accountability Board, I’ve helped develop public-facing dashboards so residents can easily access information and participate in conversations about policing.

In the same spirit, I would provide District 39 residents with clear, public-facing updates so they can track my progress on affordability, education, and other priorities. I would also prioritize accessibility by holding regular community meetings and ensuring communication is multilingual. Poder hablarle en Español a su representante, por ejemplo, es algo importante en términos de seguridad y confianza para muchos en nuestra comunidad.

A: I do not support deeper spending cuts to avoid tax increases entirely when it comes to addressing the structural deficit. From my perspective, deep spending cuts mean teacher aides who get laid off, seniors who lose home care services, and families in vulnerable communities who depend on programs without lifelines. I don’t think the answer is asking Maryland families who are already stretched thin to pay more. What I support is requiring major corporations profiting here in Maryland to contribute equitably before we go anywhere near individual taxpayers. My legislative decisions are guided by one question: do these actions put resources directly into services that help our communities thrive? When major corporations pay their fair share, we generate revenue that can fund programs such as free school meals and childcare. These are investments that make a real difference for everyday families. Hard-working Marylanders shouldn’t carry a heavier tax burden when inflation is already squeezing household budgets and the cost of living keeps climbing.

A: Education, Economic Opportunity, and Affordable Housing

A: Ensuring that working Maryland families have the financial stability will consistently be on the top of my legislative agenda. I will continue to pursue efforts that protect workers’ wages and help them earn a living wage. For example, I plan to reintroduce my bill to ensure that Education Support Professionals (ESPs) earn $25.00 per hour. I believe that ESPs deserve wages that reflect their dedication to keeping our school systems and educational institutions operating. Their work is often invisible. These types of bills are critical so that they can support their families during a time when living costs are rising. When families have the means to meet their basic needs, they can thrive and help strengthen our communities.

A: I am committed to fully funding the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future because it gives every student the opportunity to reach their full potential. I will evaluate all potential avenues to help sustain adequate funding for our public schools. This would be coupled by reviewing the Accountability and Implementation Board’s findings to ensure Blueprint funding is being used effectively and equitably. We should not have to spend money on educational efforts that are not working in our schools. When making budget and policy decisions, my priority will be ensuring that funding strengthens our public schools, invests in the education workforce, and upholds the intent of the Blueprint.

A: It is an honor to represent Legislative District 39 — a responsibility I do not take lightly. Accountability doesn’t begin and end at the ballot box. Constituents should be able to measure my performance every single day, not just every four years. I want residents to judge me by whether I show up. Am I accessible? Am I listening? When families in Germantown or Montgomery Village bring me a concern, do they hear back? Those things matter as much as any vote I cast in Annapolis. I also want to be measured by outcomes. Are working families in District 39 better off? Are our schools improving? Are we making progress on affordable housing and economic opportunity for those who need it most? I welcome feedback, ideas, and honest conversations. From my legislative work, I have found that real solutions come from listening to everyday Marylanders. My door is always open, and I look forward to meet-and-greets and community conversations year-round. Public service is a privilege. The people of District 39 deserve a delegate who earns their trust continuously and not just asks for it every election cycle.

A: Maryland’s economy needs to grow. We are lagging behind other states in the region, including Virginia. I work in the technology industry, and listen every day as folks say how much better the business climate is across the river. Maryland should focus on becoming the destination of choice for employers and employees particularly in the growth areas and jobs of tomorrow. With an expanding economy will come more revenue to meet budgetary demands. In the end, however, Maryland budgets must be balanced and it is incumbent on the General Assembly to both pass budgets that speak to our values, but also live within our means.

A: Making everyday life more affordable for the residents of Maryland; restoring our public education system to what our residents expect; and growing more jobs and becoming more regionally and nationally competitive.

A: It’s expensive to live, work and raise a family in Maryland. We need more affordable housing to drive down ownership/rental costs. We need more robust transit options to support growth of housing, employment and recreation centers. We need to invest in sustainable energy infrastructure to address rising utility costs, address things like rising insurance costs, and bring more businesses and good jobs to Maryland by building an ecosystem where employers want to invest. I will bring to Annapolis my experience serving Gaithersburg where we have focused on growing housing, supporting education and employment, and building a vibrant, welcoming community.

A: The Blueprint is ambitious, broad in reach, and critically needed. The chronic underfunding of school budgets is being felt across the state, and it is why we are where we are. Stories of the flight of educators from their chosen profession because of salary and/or work conditions, schools without adequate resources, or even in some cases basic necessities like air conditioning, shine the light on why the Blueprint was so sorely needed, and must be sustained as its benefits take root. Early childhood education, for example, would fundamentally change not only the trajectory of outcome for the student, but would provide essential services for parents to engage and remain in the workforce. But every ambitious undertaking will need recalibration. What works will need to be supported and encouraged. What does not work will need to be adjusted. In the end, however, the Blueprint is critical to Maryland’s success, and should be supported first by optimizing programs, and if necessary through support of additional revenue allocations.

A: Being an elected official, and public servant means that you should expect to receive constant feedback from the public on decision you have made, not made, or should make in your elected role. Some of my best experiences and interactions as a Council Member in the City of Gaithersburg are from residents who tell me what I am doing right, and what I could do better. In the end, we are all responsible to the residents we serve.