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Democrat
Joshua Dowling (Information not submitted)
Anne Kaiser
What office are you running for? General Assembly: House of Delegates
Where you live: Calverton
Date of birth: Feb. 10, 1968
Current occupation and employer:
Member, Maryland House of Delegates, 2003-present
Clinical professor, University of Maryland School of Public Policy, since 2022; Adjunct professor since 2013
Political experience:
Maryland House of Delegates, elected in 2002 and every four years thereafter
Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, 1998-2002
Website: https://annekaiser.com/
Email: delegatekaiser@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/delegate.kaiser
Twitter: @delegatekaiser
Why are you running for this office?
I believe that public service is an honorable calling. Back in 2002, you elected me to represent the diverse interests of our District 14 communities. If reelected, my priorities are to be a voice in Annapolis for District 14 residents, provide exceptional constituent service and continue the legislative work that I have started: ensuring that we have excellent public schools regardless of zip code, fair tax rules and privacy and security at the ballot box.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
When I speak with voters, they express concern about the rising cost of living. This past session, I voted to eliminate the sales tax on certain household necessities, temporarily suspend the gas tax, enact tax cuts for seniors, make childcare more affordable, limit the cost of prescription drugs and more. If reelected, I will continue to support bills that make our tax system more fair and efficient, and I’ll continue to work to pass sensible policies that support working families and strengthen Maryland’s economy.
What is one criticism you have received while in office and what is your response to it?
My work may not make headlines everyday. However, I understand how to pull the levers of government, get things done and put our values into action. I put my experience and principles into action everyday: I believe in compromise and being steady and measured when dealing with some of the most complex and politically charged issues. It would be my honor to continue to serve as your representative in the Maryland House of Delegates. In fact, the District 14 legislative team (Sen. Craig Zucker and Dels. Pam Queen and Eric Luedtke) work together on behalf of our entire district.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
Experience matters. If we choose dentists or lawyers for their experience, we should do the same for elected representatives. Since 2002, I have served in the Maryland House of Delegates and held a variety of leadership positions: chair of the Ways and Means Committee, majority leader, vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, and chair of the Montgomery County delegation. This year, I was appointed to the Health and Government Operations Committee and two of its key subcommittees. Prior to being in the legislature, I was an economist with the Treasury Department and worked as a policy analyst.
Eric Luedtke
What office are you running for? General Assembly: House of Delegates
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Ashton
Date of birth: Nov. 13, 1981
Current occupation and employer:
Majority leader, Maryland House of Delegates
Associate clinical professor, University of Maryland School of Public Policy
Political experience:
Member of the House of Delegates, 2011-present
Currently serving as majority leader and chair of the Revenues Subcommittee
Formerly chair of the Education and Finance Resources subcommittees
Website: http://www.ericluedtke.com
Email: eric@ericluedtke.com
Facebook: @ericformaryland
Twitter: @ericluedtke
Instagram: @delegateericluedtke
Why are you running for this office?
There is more work to do to improve the quality of life for all Marylanders. From ensuring that kids in every zip code have a great school, to expanding economic opportunity and making it easier for families to get by. From addressing the threat of climate change to protecting women’s reproductive health care. From continuing to expand voting rights to making a college education more affordable. I’ve had the honor of working on these issues and more as a member of the House of Delegates, and hope to have the opportunity to continue that work.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
It’s getting tougher for families across the income scale to get by, particularly given the extraordinary inflation we’ve seen recently. Addressing cost of living in the county and across the state should therefore be a priority. Over the past couple years, I’ve worked to address that by working with colleagues to increase the earned income tax credit to the highest level in America, creating a new senior tax credit to help folks retire and state in Maryland, and eliminating sales taxes on basic items such as diapers and toothpaste. We should make the earned income credit increase permanent next year. We have made a good start on making child care more accessible and affordable but have more work to do there. And housing costs are a major challenge right now – the state should invest significant funding for affordable and middle class housing and expand programs to support first time home buyers.
What is one criticism you have received while in office and what is your response?
Given our current political environment, public servants get criticized a lot, sometimes fairly, sometimes not. It comes with the job, and frankly we should be subject to a higher level of scrutiny due to our important role. I try to take most criticism as being offered in good faith. But some criticism I just simply disagree with. For example, there have been some who have criticized me essentially for being too supportive of public schools. This is a criticism that sometimes comes from those who don’t support public education or who have a vendetta against teachers unions. My response to that is simple. I always have and always will support strong funding for our schools, good salaries for our teachers, investments in school buildings, and efforts to provide high quality special education, ESOL, and behavioral health services in schools. And I’ll work with parents, educators, students, and school employee unions to make those goals happen.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
Over a decade in the legislature I’ve learned a lot about how to best serve my constituents and, I believe, have become a better legislator for it. But honestly I think what prepared me best for the job was my 11 years as an MCPS middle school teacher. As an educator I learned to build strong relationships, to be a good listener, to be responsive, and to work effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds. All of these are skills I put to use in addressing concerns from my constituents and in working in Annapolis to pass legislation.
Collins Odongo (Information not submitted)
Pam Queen
What office are you running for? General Assembly: House of Delegates
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Montgomery County
Date of birth: Dec. 13, 1960
Current occupation and employer:
College professor at Morgan State University in the Graves School of Business and Management, Baltimore, 2010- present
Project manager, Science Application International Corp. (SAIC), as a certified project management professional (PMP) managing various, major government information technology (IT) projects, 1999 – 2010
Political experience:
State delegate from Legislative District 14 in Montgomery County, 2016-present
Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, 2010 – 2016
Website: https://www.pamelaqueen.com
Email: pam@pamelaqueen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DelegatePamQueen/
Twitter: @DelPamQueen
Instagram: @DelegatePamQueen
Why are you running for this office?
I am running to continue the legislative agenda in Annapolis that I promised, which is based on listening to all constituents, tackling root causes of social and economic inequities, addressing barriers to economic security for working families, ensuring that all children have supportive resources to excel, fostering community unity where people of different races, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds can live harmoniously, and working with my colleagues to pass, a balanced policy agenda that benefits many Marylanders.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
A key issue for this race is to ensure that Maryland continues to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. While serving on the House Economic Matters Committee, I have and will continue to champion legislation that enhances workforce development initiatives, reduces unemployment for hard to employ individuals, and supports working families. The Maryland General Assembly recently passed several bills to rejuvenate and rebuild the childcare industry which faced an exodus of children and workers during the pandemic. Additionally, to support workforce development, other bills were passed to provide tax credits to businesses that hire and retain workers from underrepresented communities.
What is one criticism you have received while in office and what is your response?
As an educator, my perspective is that all feedback is good. So, I view any criticism as an opportunity for me to improve. When out in public, I am more comfortable listening and learning from others. I prefer working behind the scenes to get things done. My approach is less talk, more action, and don’t worry about who gets the credit which is not always the best approach for an elected official. I don’t toot my own horn and my social media profile is very low-key. As an area of improvement, I can elevate my profile to more constituents.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
Having resided in Montgomery County, Maryland for over 40 years, my lived experiences, family ties, community involvement, managerial skills, and work as an educator, leader, and public servant, give me the knowledge, confidence, courage, collegiality, and temperament to serve in elected office. I know the values, needs, aspirations, and expectations of my constituents. I have gained their trust by championing value-driven policies and delivering on promises. I am accustomed to working with others on complex, critical issues to achieve superior outcomes. I know first-hand the impact of policy pitfalls. I anticipate unintended consequences and I always craft contingency plans.
Tom Smith
What office are you running for? General Assembly: House of Delegates
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Burtonsville
Date of birth: Nov. 16, 1984
Current occupation and employer:
I most recently served in U.S. Congress as a policy director. Prior to that, I worked several years overseas as a humanitarian aide worker as well as 11 years leading teams of combat medics in the U.S. Air Force.
Political experience:
I’ve worked on Capitol Hill for three years, first for Congressman Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and then for the bipartisan For Country Caucus, a 26-member caucus that works on legislation for veterans. I’ve also worked as a field director on a Democratic Congressional campaign, where we knocked on over 180,000 doors
Website: https://TomSmithForMaryland.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomSmithForMD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomSmithForMD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomsmithformd/
Why are you running for this office?
I’m seeking to serve my community because despite MoCo being one of the richest counties in the country, there are still large inequities here in our backyard – especially in our communities of color. I’m a foster parent of two children who attend our public schools, and I’ve seen this first-hand. I want to serve everyone in Annapolis and work to actually make a difference for those who need it most.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
The impact of COVID-19 has been felt the most in our education system, furthering inequality and leaving kids behind. I want to make historic investments in our children: universal pre-K, childcare support for every parent, and more social workers and counselors in schools to prioritize the wellbeing of our kids and teachers. I also want to make sure that classrooms are safe for both teachers and students, and finally pay teachers what they deserve.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
Public safety is a top concern I’ve heard from my neighbors at their doors. I believe that the most effective way to reduce crime is by tackling its root causes. If we can help provide good-paying jobs, childcare support, and addiction treatment to those in need, people won’t need to turn to crime. We must invest in the highest quality law enforcement, mental health professionals, and first responders and pay them enough so they can live in the same communities they serve!
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared to hold this office?
My lifelong commitment to service and my time on Capitol Hill have prepared me well. I have served as a combat medic, fought forest fires, worked in a Syrian refugee camp, and helped respond to an earthquake. Most recently, I was a Policy Director in Congress – so I know how to get legislation passed. I’m also the only candidate in this race who refuses to take any corporate PAC money.
Craig Zucker
What office are you running for? General Assembly: Senate
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Brookeville
Date of birth: March 23, 1975
Current occupation and employer:
State senator and employee in Maryland Comptroller’s Office when not in legislative session.
Political experience:
I have been a state senator since 2016. Prior to the state Senate, I served in the House of Delegates for five years, from 2011 to 2016. I ran unsuccessfully for the House of Delegates in 2002.
Website: https://www.craigzucker.com
Email: craig@craigzucker.com
Facebook: @senatorzucker
Twitter: @senatorzucker
Instagram: senzucker
Why are you running for this office?
I am seeking reelection to continue to provide top-notch responsive and respectful constituent service. I want to ensure we have the best public school system in the country and help strengthen our economy by supporting family farms, small businesses, and working families. I want to continue my advocacy for those with developmental disabilities
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
The last two years of living through the COVID-19 crisis and the recent rise in prices due to inflation have placed an immense strain on our most vulnerable residents and economic sectors. This past session, I sponsored and supported legislation that supports our working families, retirees, and small businesses. If re-elected it will be my top priority to provide much-needed relief as we continue to recover from the pandemic. I will strive to help our economy by filling jobs, controlling inflation, and easing the burden on working and unemployed families.
What is one criticism you have received while in office and what is your response?
I heard criticism that Montgomery legislators do not bring back our fair share of funding for the county. This past session, as chair of the Senate Capital Budget Subcommittee, I worked with my colleagues in the Montgomery County delegation to bring back record capital funding for our county. The more than $250 million we brought back in additional funding went to renovating schools, investing in transit, parks and open space, higher education facilities, hospitals, arts organizations, and our not-for-profit organizations. I am proud of the funding that Dels. Kaiser, Luedtke, Queen, and I have secured for projects within District 14.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
It has been an honor to serve as a state senator for the past seven years, and prior to that as a delegate for 5 years. I am a fiscal leader in the senate serving on the powerful Senate Budget Committee. I serve in a leadership position on that committee as chair of the Capital Budget Subcommittee. Prior to serving in elected office, I was deputy chief of staff to the Maryland Comptroller. I have more than 25 years of government and private sector experience.
Republican
Alex Bieber
What office are you running for? General Assembly: Senate
Political party: Republican
Where you live: Brookeville
Date of birth: July 18, 1972
Current occupation and employer:
Systems analyst – Grady Management Inc.
Political experience:
N/A
Email: bieber4statesenate@gmail.com
Why are you running for this office?
I’m running for this office to add a sensible voice and a discerning vote to the General Assembly that will represent the voters in MD-14.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Marylanders well being is the most important issue.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
Re-districting. I would have voted to approve Gov. Hogan’s original re-districting plan that was thoughtfully put together by Marylanders from all over the political spectrum.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
Living and traveling and playing and working throughout this great state for most of my life has prepared me to hold this office.
Kathy Gugulis
What office are you running for? General Assembly: House of Delegates
Political party: Republican
Where you live: Gaithersburg
Date of birth: Sept. 24, 1951
Current occupation and employer:
Former federal executive at the Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture with 18 years of senior executive service experience managing budget and administrative operations at major agencies.
Political experience:
No previous elective office.
Website: https://www.KathyGugulisforDelegate.com
Email: KathyGugulisforDelegate@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kathy-Gugulis-for-Delegate
Why are you running for this office?
As a lifelong Marylander and over 40-year resident of Montgomery County, I am concerned about the decline in student performance, the rise in crime, and stagnant economic and job growth. My three top priorities are kids, cops, and jobs—improving academic performance; ensuring public safety and improving community relationships with law enforcement; and reducing burdensome regulations and taxes on local businesses so they can thrive and provide good paying jobs. I can make government work.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Student performance is down; truancy and drop-out rates are up. Across Maryland, 81% of students tested in grades 3-5 are not proficient in math and 75% are not proficient in English. Students and parents deserve school choice, including vouchers, charter schools and trade schools, to escape failing schools. Instead of focusing on divisive social issues, let’s invest in our children’s education so they can compete in the increasingly technology-driven economy. Principals and teachers need tools, including the School Resource Officer program, to maintain classroom discipline. Rather than shuffling students between high and low performing schools, let’s make all schools high performing.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
“Reimagining” and defunding the police, tying their hands by misguided and mismatched state and county policies, undermines officers’ own safety and makes them personally liable while trying to defend and protect the public. This puts citizens more at risk. Crime, especially among juveniles, including murders, carjackings, vehicle thefts, and robberies, has spiked while misguided legislators pat themselves on the back for their “progressive” ideas and so-called citizens’ commissions stacked with anti-police advocates. Bad actors need to be held accountable, demoralizing and destructive policies need to be overturned, and positive relationships with the community and law enforcement established.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
As a former federal senior executive, I’ve overseen billion-dollar budgets and management programs for thousands of employees. I’ve fought systemic discrimination against minority farmers and employees and served on the boards of non-profits advocating for women leaders and entrepreneurs. A life-long Marylander, I serve on the County Charter Review Committee, was a chief election judge, and volunteered with local organizations. Throughout my career, I have focused on building coalitions to reach common goals. I will advocate for good government including education, public safety, and economic growth while lowering taxes and burdensome regulations, protecting the environment, and easing traffic congestion.
