Maryland House of Delegates District 31

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: Joan Barone Cole

Age: 60

Personal: Married, two adult children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, management science and operations management, SUNY Geneseo; MBA, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Experience: Experience in small businesses and large corporations; stay-at-home mother; local group co-lead for a major national safety organization in Anne Arundel 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: Heidi Buchanan Schmidt

Age: 43

Personal: Married, one son.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, political science, Northeastern University.

Experience: Anne Arundel County Commission for Women; Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee (2024-present); board member, Pasadena Business Association (2023), secretary (2024) and vice president (2025); small-business owner.

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: Ryan Shaban

Age: 33

Personal: Married with children.

Education: Associate’s degree, intelligence operations, Cochise College; associate’s degree, small group management, Purdue; bachelor’s degree, professional studies, supply chain threats to national security, Purdue; anticipated MBA, Purdue, 2027.

Experience: Senior cyber supply chain risk management analyst; U.S. Army, 13 years, including Reserve duty and combat deployment to Afghanistan (2013-2014) and as counterintelligence special agent; logistics; federal contracting.

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?

Republican

Name: Brian A. Chisholm

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

Name: Mike Jacobs

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

Name: Del. LaToya Marie Caldwell-Nkongolo

Age: 48

Education: Bachelor’s degree, social work, Delaware State University; master’s degree, organizational management and leadership, Springfield College; master’s degree, social work, University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Experience: Member, Maryland House of Delegates, District 31 (2025-present); chair, social and emotional, Anne Arundel Board of Education Citizen Advisory Committee; co-creator, Naptown Anti-Dope MoveMeant; Maryland state director, Women in Government.

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?