Maryland House of Delegates District 18

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: Aaron M. Kaufman

Age: 39

Personal: Not married.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, American studies, University of Maryland, College Park.

Experience: Member, Maryland House of Delegates; member, Montgomery County and Maryland State Democratic Central Committees; senior manager of legislative affairs, The Jewish Federations of North America.

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: Emily Shetty

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

Name: Jared Solomon

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

Name: Kate Stein

Age: 58

Personal: Married, husband Steve, three children (Emma, 28, Harry, 24, and Thomas, 16) and a son-in-law.

Education: Public leadership credential, Harvard Kennedy School; master’s degree, cellular and molecular biology, University of Missouri, Saint Louis; MFA, creative writing, University of Michigan; master’s degree, English and American literature, Syracuse University; bachelor’s degree, English and American literature, New College of Florida.

Experience: Retired from Deloitte in 2023; chair, Public Policy Committee for the Montgomery County Commission on Aging; lead advocacy for the Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club (WDC).

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?