Maryland House of Delegates District 42A

A: I believe that the tax on the wealthiest people in Maryland (and Maryland has a LOT of very wealthy people) needs to be increased to reflect progressive taxation norms. We also need to reform our corporate tax system to close loopholes that allow corporations to pay minimal tax. Additionally, we need to look carefully at our strongest sectors — farming, cannabis, manufacturing, government employment — and envision the future of these sectors in the context of the seismic changes brought about by developing technology. Governor Moore has proposed strong support for data centers and IT companies. I am cautiously optimistic within the context of responsible development, which means that Marylanders should not find their energy bills or water bills overextended or their utilities at maximum capacity due to Data Center use.

A: Affordability, robust job creation and a reformed and fair taxation system.

A: Increase access to local food production to lower costs associated with long-distance transport and spoilage. Make utility companies maintain their infrastructure in optimal condition. Increase housing supply and develop walkable communities. Expand Earned Income Tax, and Child Tax Credit. Increase energy efficiency and strengthen renters’ protections against eviction and unlawful fees and surcharges.

A: There needs to be some combination of both. Expansion of the blueprint did not lead to expected, tangible improvements in student performance. We need to decide what to prioritize in the blueprint for immediate and complete funding, and what other programs can be sustained through delayed funding, alternate revenue or even public-private partnerships. The state also needs to raise new revenue by pivoting to public transportation, progressive taxation and other measures.

A: I want constituents to review my job performance primarily by my constituent service and how effective I am at responding to and resolving their issues. Secondly, I want to be reviewed by the amount of development I bring to the district, either by attracting new business and new residents or by advocating for state funding for district projects. My priority will remain service and accountability to constituents.

A: The state’s structural deficit is the single most important issue facing Maryland. As someone who worked in the Maryland state government for over 18 years, I have seen my share of budget challenges, but never have I seen something like this. We quickly went from having a significant surplus in fiscal 2023 to facing a $3.3 billion deficit in fiscal 2026. Despite a combination of tough cuts and new taxes last year, a structural deficit of $4 billion is now projected by fiscal 2030. Further taxing Maryland citizens is not the solution. Doing so will only contribute to more people leaving Maryland and further reducing the tax base over the long term. Rather, the state needs to right-size itself. The state must stop spending money it does not have. No more unfunded mandates. No more uncapped punitive damages. No more duplication of services between local and state governments. A comprehensive Return on Investment analysis must be done which determines what programs are to be resourced, realigned, restructured or replaced.

A: The structural deficit (as mentioned above) is the most pressing issue facing Maryland. The next two most pressing issues are out-migration and energy.

Out-migration: Maryland experienced a net loss of 300,000 residents due to domestic out-migration between 2010 and 2023, a trend that appears to be accelerating based on constituent conversations. Historically, the state has seen an exodus of retirees seeking more tax-friendly environments in states like Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. However, this trend is now compounded by working-age Marylanders moving to neighboring states, such as Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, in search of a lower cost of living and a more affordable place to raise a family.

Energy: A poorly managed policy initiative has created an energy crisis in Maryland that is not being seen in other states. While the shift from fossil fuels to renewable and low-carbon energy sources is vital for the health of Marylanders and the environment, setting rigid implementation deadlines without fully accounting for the necessary transition has proven irresponsible. The state has prematurely disinvested from reliable legacy energy sources, even though the current grid is not yet capable of relying solely on renewable and low-carbon alternatives.

A: The most immediate relief available to Maryland residents struggling with the high cost of living is to reduce taxes and fees. Unfortunately, as seen in the most recent legislative session, there is no willingness by the super majority to do that because they need every dollar available to address the structural deficit that they created. Nonetheless, efforts must continue to push for short-term tax relief. There needs to also be a prioritized effort to address affordability through long-term tax relief in the form of eliminating estate and inheritance taxes in Maryland. Only 13 states have estate taxes and only six states have inheritance taxes. Maryland is the only state to have both. This is problematic for two reasons. First, it encourages out-migration as previously mentioned. Second, it limits the transfer of generational wealth, leaving the younger generation with less of an opportunity for a financial head start.

A: While well-intentioned, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is the epitome of irresponsible legislation in that it has committed $4 billion of state and county funds over a 10-year period without any assurances that the money would be available. It is an unfunded mandate that has crippled the government. Raising new revenue for the purpose of keeping the blueprint on schedule must not occur. Any new revenue raised by the state must be used to offset the structural deficit created during the past five years by over-committing money to the blueprint. There is an immediate need to amend the blueprint, preferably by extending the time frame for implementation consistent with actual available funding, which will hopefully allow for the complete plan to come to fruition. However, if there are still insufficient funds, even after extending the schedule, then the state must be prepared to roll back unaffordable aspects of the plan.

A: The measure of a successful legislator is the number of bills they sponsor, co-sponsor, or advocate for, that ultimately pass and become law. This metric reflects the respect they command within the legislature and their ability to foster collaboration, even with the opposing party. While some prioritize unwavering adherence to idealized views and reject compromise, real-world progress is typically achieved through the essential process of give-and-take. My tenure in state government is defined by a strong record of working with colleagues to find solutions. A key example is my work in the General Assembly on forensic investigative genetic genealogy legislation. Over three years (2019-2021), I helped transform an initial bill that proposed an outright ban into a collaborative compromise. This effort resulted in Maryland becoming the first state in the nation to pass a law that established crucial guardrails for the proper use of this new technology.