Maryland House of Delegates District 19

What’s the job: One of 188 members of Maryland’s General Assembly, split between the House of Delegates and the Senate. Responsible for introducing and voting on legislation, approving state spending and providing oversight of Maryland government operations. Elected to a four-year term.

Democratic

Name: Charlotte Crutchfield

Candidate did not respond to The Banner’s voter guide questionnaire.

Name: Sunil Dasgupta

Age: 58

Personal: Married, three children.

Education: PhD, political science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Experience: Director of UMBC’s political science program at the Universities at Shady Grove; podcast host/producer, “I Hate Politics.”; ran for Montgomery County Board of Education in 2020; run a Facebook group called MCPS Parent Teacher Exchange which has over 2,000 members.

Questionnaire

Q: Maryland’s state government is facing a structural deficit in future years. Please describe how you would approach closing the gap. Be specific about any spending cuts or revenue increases you propose.

Q: What do you consider the three most pressing issues facing Maryland?

Q: What would you do to lower the cost of living for Maryland residents?

Q: The cost of implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan will exceed the money available in the Blueprint’s fund over the next few years. Should the state raise new revenue for the programs, or should the programs be rolled back or adjusted?

Q: Besides an election, how do you want constituents to review your job performance?

Name: Sebastian Johnson

Age: 38

Personal: Married, wife Keerat, daughter Aneesa.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, political economy, Georgetown University; master’s degree, public policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Experience: Founder and principal, ASKJ Advisory LLC; vice president, Center for Lived Experience, Think of Us; vice president of external affairs, Arnold Ventures; advocacy chief of staff, Arnold Ventures; state policy fellow, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy; third-grade teacher, Community Day Charter School; Aide to Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal; D-19 member, Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee.

Questionnaire

Q: Maryland’s state government is facing a structural deficit in future years. Please describe how you would approach closing the gap. Be specific about any spending cuts or revenue increases you propose.

Q: What do you consider the three most pressing issues facing Maryland?

Q: What would you do to lower the cost of living for Maryland residents?

Q: The cost of implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan will exceed the money available in the Blueprint’s fund over the next few years. Should the state raise new revenue for the programs, or should the programs be rolled back or adjusted?

Q: Besides an election, how do you want constituents to review your job performance?

Name: Gabriel Sorrel

Age: 43

Personal: Married, two daughters.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, computer science, University of Maryland, College Park.

Experience: My career is as software engineer, most recently with Angie’s List. During Trump’s first term I was active with the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee and the LGBT Democratic Club of Montgomery County.

Questionnaire

Q: Maryland’s state government is facing a structural deficit in future years. Please describe how you would approach closing the gap. Be specific about any spending cuts or revenue increases you propose.

Q: What do you consider the three most pressing issues facing Maryland?

Q: What would you do to lower the cost of living for Maryland residents?

Q: The cost of implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan will exceed the money available in the Blueprint’s fund over the next few years. Should the state raise new revenue for the programs, or should the programs be rolled back or adjusted?

Q: Besides an election, how do you want constituents to review your job performance?

Name: Vaughn Stewart

Candidate did not respond to The Banner’s voter guide questionnaire.

Name: Alec Stone

Age: 57

Personal: Wife Lisa, four children, three grandchildren.

Education: Master’s degree, public administration, Southern Illinois University; master’s degree, The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.

Experience: Executive director, National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists; executive director, National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs; president, Kemp Mill Civic Association; chair, Mid-County Citizen’s Advisory Board; Wheaton Urban Development Committee; Montgomery County Anti-Hate Task Force; Montgomery County Democratic Precinct Chair.

Questionnaire

Q: Maryland’s state government is facing a structural deficit in future years. Please describe how you would approach closing the gap. Be specific about any spending cuts or revenue increases you propose.

Q: What do you consider the three most pressing issues facing Maryland?

Q: What would you do to lower the cost of living for Maryland residents?

Q: The cost of implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan will exceed the money available in the Blueprint’s fund over the next few years. Should the state raise new revenue for the programs, or should the programs be rolled back or adjusted?

Q: Besides an election, how do you want constituents to review your job performance?

Name: Christa Tichy

Age: 64

Personal: Two children, two grandchildren.

Education: Graduate of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union’s apprenticeship training program; associate’s degree, construction management, Montgomery College; bachelor’s degree, political science, University of Maryland.

Experience: Small business owner; MHIC licensed contractor; Montgomery County High School teacher; director and instructor of the first Electrical Career Readiness Program; vice chair, Governor’s Board of Stationary Engineers; member, Executive Committee for the Construction Trade Foundation; a 4th District Delegate for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; assistant secretary for the Montgomery County Central Committee; representative for D-19 in the Montgomery County Democratic Party.

Questionnaire

Q: Maryland’s state government is facing a structural deficit in future years. Please describe how you would approach closing the gap. Be specific about any spending cuts or revenue increases you propose.

Q: What do you consider the three most pressing issues facing Maryland?

Q: What would you do to lower the cost of living for Maryland residents?

Q: The cost of implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan will exceed the money available in the Blueprint’s fund over the next few years. Should the state raise new revenue for the programs, or should the programs be rolled back or adjusted?

Q: Besides an election, how do you want constituents to review your job performance?