Maryland House of Delegates District 9A

A: We need to rethink what services state government must provide and focus first on essential responsibilities. That means improving the quality, efficiency, and accountability of government operations by using the latest technology, reducing duplication, modernizing outdated processes, and measuring results more carefully. At the same time, the state should refrain from continued growth in government agencies and administrative overhead unless there is a clear public need and measurable benefit.

We also need to reorient spending toward the areas that matter most to Maryland families and the state’s long-term future, especially education, community safety and health care. Those investments should be protected, but they must also be managed wisely to ensure better outcomes, not just higher spending.We must also grow our economy by creating a more competitive business environment, supporting entrepreneurship, attracting private investment, and expanding job opportunities across the state. A stronger economy will generate more revenue naturally, reduce pressure on the budget, and make it easier to fund core priorities. In short, Maryland should focus government on essential services, spend more effectively, and grow the private-sector economy.

A: Maryland’s three biggest issues are education funding, community safety, and economic growth.

First, we need to take a second look at education spending, including whether the Blueprint is affordable and actually delivering better results for students. Strong schools matter, but taxpayers should know the money is being used well. We should also be open to other ways to achieve the same goals if they work better and cost less. Second, community safety is a basic responsibility of government. We all want safe neighborhoods, effective policing, crime prevention, and a justice system that works. That also means investing in prevention, youth programs, mental health, and stronger community partnerships. Third, Maryland needs a stronger economy and more job opportunities. Without real economic growth, it gets harder every year to fund schools, public safety, transportation, and health care. We need to make Maryland more competitive, support small businesses, attract investment, and create opportunity across the state.

A: I would focus on the biggest drivers of household costs: housing, energy, taxes, transportation, and child care.

First, Maryland needs more housing. That means making it easier to build housing near jobs, transit, and town centers, cutting unnecessary delays, and reducing local barriers that drive up prices. Second, we should work to keep energy affordable by reviewing policies that raise utility bills, improving grid reliability, and expanding practical energy supply choices without passing unnecessary costs to ratepayers. Third, I would look for ways to reduce the tax burden on working families. This will require us to examine our spending thoroughly and extensively. Fourth, transportation matters. Families pay more when gas prices are historically high and roads are congested. We should invest in practical transportation improvements that save people time and money. Fifth, child care and health care costs put real pressure on households. Maryland should support more child care capacity, reduce regulatory bottlenecks where possible, and improve competition and efficiency in health care. Most importantly, the long-term answer is stronger economic growth, better jobs, less bureaucratic regulation and higher wages so Maryland families can get ahead instead of falling behind.

A: In the future, we should not make major spending commitments without a clear understanding of how they will be paid for. Maryland needs to match new education spending with realistic long-term revenue, not assumptions that may not hold given the challenging economic situation.

On the Blueprint, I do not think the answer should be automatic tax increases or automatic rollbacks. All options should be on the table. The state should review the plan carefully and focus on the parts that make the biggest difference: teacher pay, teacher retention, work environment, classroom support, and actual student outcomes. At the same time, we have to look honestly at affordability and long-term sustainability. If certain parts of the plan are not producing results, or if there are more cost-effective ways to achieve the same goals, the state should be willing to adjust them. The priority should be protecting the most effective investments in education while making sure the overall plan remains financially responsible. Maryland can support strong public education, but it must do so in a way that is sustainable for taxpayers and credible over time.

A: I want constituents to judge me by the full record of how I serve. That includes the quality of my constituent service, the bills I introduce, the legislation I help pass, and whether I deliver real results for the community. I also want to be judged by how I treat people in public service—my professionalism, responsiveness, and respect for residents. I hope people will also look at how I invest in the next generation, including mentoring youth through summer internships and other opportunities. Just as important, I want them to consider whether I am bringing new ideas to help build Maryland’s future economy. One example is establishing a Maryland STEM and Emerging Technology Caucus to support education, innovation, workforce development, and long-term competitiveness. In the end, I want to be judged not just by promises, but by service, results, and vision.

A: Any revenue increases should come from economic growth and attracting new businesses and industries to Maryland, rather than raising taxes and fees. I would support the creation of a statewide Inspector General to help identify areas where the state could save money. While I strongly support the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, there may need to be adjustments and/or implementation delays given the program’s cost and complexity. The budget must continue to support our most vulnerable citizens.

A: The first is very slow economic growth relative to our neighboring states and much of the rest of the country. The second, which is related, is the lack of affordable housing that is driving young families out of the state. The third is the cost of health care and the changes to premium subsidies resulting from the One Big Bill, which have already led thousands of Marylanders to switch to lower-level plans with much higher deductibles.

A: The Utility RELIEF Act, passed this past session, includes numerous cost-cutting measures, from immediate relief to longer-term solutions, including incentivizing renewable energy, which is among the cheapest and quickest energy sources to bring online. We will need to focus on implementation and oversight to ensure residents see real relief in their utility bills.

The war with Iran is placing a significant burden on Maryland households and businesses through higher gas and diesel prices. While the state cannot affect those prices directly, voters can express their views in upcoming elections. In terms of health care, I plan to reintroduce a bill I sponsored last session to remove the tax deduction pharmaceutical companies receive for direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. My bill would allocate $5 million of the savings to Medicaid, with the remainder going to the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to help fund premium subsidies.

A: My hope is that with more experience we will be able to identify areas where adjustments can be made to the program and its timelines in a way that does not undercut what I believe is a critical effort.

A: Please contact our office with ideas, comments, and criticisms (and hopefully a few compliments), as well as join me and my fellow District member, Delegate Chao Wu, at our monthly meet-and-greets. We love hearing from constituents.

A: Maryland’s looming deficit requires difficult choices, but raising taxes and fees is not the solution. We already rank 46th for tax competitiveness, and the cost of living in Maryland is driving people away. For the first time ever, Maryland’s state payroll for employees exceeded $5 billion. We need to right-size the state government and eliminate duplicative positions to improve efficiency and reduce costs, which will help address the financial challenges faced by Maryland residents, particularly in light of the rising cost of living and the significant government waste identified in various agencies. We also need a statewide Office of the Inspector General to eliminate waste, as we’ve seen $4 billion in government waste across 8 agencies. Maryland also needs to reform the Blueprint for the Future. We could introduce multi-day enrollment counting for schools and remove funding for ghost students. We also need to make Maryland more competitive for economic opportunities to bring more money into the coffers of the government. We need to reduce our corporate tax rate from 8.25% to 6%, offer rapid permitting, and provide regulatory reform to attract more business. We will obtain more taxable income for revenue with a stronger business climate.

A: I believe the three most pressing issues facing Maryland are high taxes, high utility costs, and the lack of protection of rural communities. It is obvious that my opponents would like to nationalize local elections but I prefer to be hyper focused on local issues. I want to protect farmland in Western Howard County from predatory solar companies, lower utility costs for families, upgrade school infrastructure in Damascus and ensure that families in District 9A receive the much needed tax relief they are entitled to.

A: To lower costs in Maryland we need to address the energy crisis. Maryland does not generate enough energy and has been importing close to 40% of our energy from neighboring states to meet our energy needs as PJM states are bringing in new data centers. For too long, Maryland lawmakers have been acquiescent to the Sierra Club at the expense of ratepayers. We have closed down power plant facilities like Dickerson and now Brandon Shores will be closed by 2029. If Brandon Shores does close ratepayers in Howard County will have trouble having access to power and energy. We have also signed laws like the Climate Solutions now act and joined Regional initiatives like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) that operates as a carbon tax on power plants that are passed on to ratepayers. Renewable Portfolio Standards on power plant facilities that forces companies to pay Alternative Compliance Payments are also passed on to the consumer. First we need to withdraw from RGGI, end the EmPower Program, and repeal the Climate Solutions Now Act. We need to invest in all types of energy and bring power plants back online.

A: As Maryland has just endured the largest tax increase in history to the tune of $1.7 billion, we need to find a way to make fiscally responsible cuts. While education is a top priority to me along with many other Marylanders, raising taxes and fees is not a responsible option. I am certain that we could find a way to cut the budget while providing educational excellence. We need to seriously look at our funding formula for students and end funding for ghost students. We have spent nearly $1 billion since 2020 on students who are not in the class room. Planning time at 40% has been delayed, but it needs to be eliminated altogether. It is going to cost at least $1.5 billion to hire 10,000 new teachers to accommodate a 40% planning time, as salaries start at $60,000 and pensions and benefits are provided. My opponents know that the Blueprint is an unfunded mandate and have done nothing to solve this issue.

A: As a challenger, I can’t tell people to look at my voting record, but I can have them look at my history. In undergraduate school I helped lead my football team to a conference championship, and when I came back to Maryland, I started a business because I wanted to provide opportunities for other Marylanders. From running clothing drives to serving on the Montgomery Taxpayers League, I have been a strong advocate for Maryland. I am a fighter and entrepreneur, and I want to be a champion for the people of Maryland.