Maryland House of Delegates District 27A

A: Maryland’s structural deficit requires a balanced, responsible, and forward-thinking approach that protects working families while ensuring the long-term fiscal stability of our state. I believe we must begin by prioritizing efficiency, accountability, and strategic investments that produce measurable results. We should conduct a comprehensive review of state spending to identify duplication, waste, outdated programs, and inefficiencies while protecting essential services such as public education, healthcare, public safety, transportation, and support for seniors, children, Veterans and vulnerable communities.I support targeted spending reforms that improve government operations without shifting the burden onto middle-class families. This includes modernizing procurement practices, strengthening oversight of state contracts, improving agency performance metrics, and expanding fraud prevention efforts. We must also evaluate costly tax incentives and corporate subsidies to ensure taxpayers are receiving a clear return on investment in jobs, economic growth, and community benefit.On the revenue side, I support a fair and balanced approach that asks the wealthiest individuals and large corporations to contribute their fair share while protecting working families, seniors, and small businesses. I would support closing corporate loopholes and strengthening tax enforcement on large entities that avoid paying taxes.

A: The three most pressing issues facing Maryland are affordability, education and workforce development, and healthcare access.First, Maryland families are struggling with the rising cost of living, including housing, energy, groceries, childcare, and prescription drugs. We must expand affordable housing, support first-time homebuyers, strengthen consumer protections, and pursue policies that help working families build financial stability. Second, our state’s future depends on strong public schools and a skilled workforce. As an attorney and former Chairperson of the Board of Education of Charles County, I have seen firsthand the importance of investing in education from early childhood through career and technical education, apprenticeships, community colleges, and universities. We must fully support the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future while ensuring students graduate prepared for college, careers, military service, and entrepreneurship.Third, access to affordable healthcare remains a significant challenge and represents Maryland’s largest expense. Too many Marylanders face barriers to mental health services, preventive care, maternal healthcare, and prescription medications. We must work to reduce healthcare costs, address provider shortages, expand behavioral health services, and improve health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.

A: Lowering the cost of living must be one of Maryland’s highest priorities. Families across our state are feeling the strain of rising housing costs, utility bills, childcare expenses, healthcare costs, gas and everyday necessities. I would support increasing the supply of affordable and workforce housing, expanding down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, and strengthening property tax relief programs for seniors and working families. I also support investments in reliable public transportation and childcare assistance that help families reduce monthly expenses while maintaining access to work and educational opportunities.In addition, Maryland must address rising energy and healthcare costs. I support measures to increase competition in the energy market, invest in a diverse and reliable energy portfolio, improve grid capacity, and ensure that large energy users pay their fair share of infrastructure costs. I would also work to reduce prescription drug costs, expand access to preventive and mental healthcare services, and strengthen consumer protections against price gouging and unfair business practices. Finally, by supporting small businesses, workforce development, apprenticeships, and good-paying union jobs, we can increase wages and economic opportunity so Maryland families are not just keeping up with costs but getting ahead, saving money and building generational wealth.

A: I do not support rolling back the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The Blueprint is a long-term investment in Maryland’s students, workforce, and economic future. As the immediate past Chairperson of the Board of Education of Charles County and a leader in public education at the local, state, and national levels, I have seen firsthand the importance of providing students with high-quality instruction, early childhood education, college and career readiness opportunities, and the resources they need to succeed. Abandoning those commitments now would undermine years of progress and ultimately cost Maryland more in lost economic opportunity and workforce readiness.At the same time, taxpayers deserve accountability. Before considering new revenue, the state should carefully evaluate implementation timelines, identify efficiencies, eliminate waste, and ensure funds are being spent effectively and producing measurable results. If additional revenue is necessary to fulfill the Blueprint’s promises, I would support fair and targeted revenue solutions that do not place additional burdens on working families. Maryland’s economic competitiveness depends on an educated workforce, and I believe we must honor our commitment to students while maintaining fiscal responsibility and transparency.

A: Besides elections, I believe constituents should evaluate my performance through transparency, accessibility, and measurable results. I will hold regular town halls throughout Charles and Prince George’s Counties, maintain open lines of communication through community meetings, social media, newsletters, and constituent services, and provide annual reports detailing my legislative actions, votes, budget priorities, and progress on campaign commitments. Constituents should know not only what I am doing, but why I am doing it. I am also seeking to build coalitions to provide input into legislation, priorities and practical equitable solutions.Most importantly, I want to be judged by outcomes. Are we improving educational opportunities for our children? Are we creating good-paying jobs and supporting small businesses? Are housing, healthcare, and public services becoming more affordable and accessible? Are we making our communities safer and stronger? Public service is about delivering results, and I welcome accountability through ongoing engagement, transparency, and feedback from my constituents.