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Democrat
Enoch Bevel
What office are you running for? General Assembly: Senate
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Silver Spring
Date of birth: Jan. 16, 1985
Current occupation and employer:
Enoch passed the February 2022 bar exam and anticipates a career in litigation. Most recently, he has been a stay-at-home dad and an Uber driver.
Former – chief of staff, state Sen. Arthur Ellis, District 28
Former – Assistant to executive director for Switzerland, Poland, Serbia, and the Caucus Region, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Political experience:
Commissioner, Baltimore City Charter Commission, 2018
President, University Student Government Association, University of Maryland, Baltimore, 2017-2018
Chief electionjJudge, Silver Spring, 2014
Commissioner, Takoma Park Landlord Tenant Commission (COLTA), 2007
Member, Takoma Public Safety Citizens Advisory Committee (PSCAC), 2007
President, Student Senate, Montgomery Community College, 2004-2005
Website: https://www.enochbevelforsenate.com
Email: info@EnochBevelforSenate.com
Facebook: Enoch Bevel for MD Senate
Instagram: enochforsenate
Why are you running for this office?
I am running to secure a future for my daughter where she can grow and prosper in a free and just world. My daughter’s birth last year changed my perspective and charged me to work on her behalf.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Education and the environment are the most important issues in this race for me. Specifically, I believe that community college should be free, teachers should be paid more, and solar panels should be in every public school parking lot – to start. This work will be a continuation of my previous engagements.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
I believe that criminal justice reform/mass incarceration, mental health, and maternal health disparity issues all require a thorough and ceaseless push. When I worked in Annapolis as chief of staff for state Sen. Arthur Ellis, I saw firsthand how many elected officials failed their constituents and skirted their responsibilities. When I am elected to the state Senate, I will tirelessly work on behalf of the voters to end mass incarceration, provide more resources for mental health, and slash the disparities in maternal health.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
I proudly worked alongside then-Managing Director Christine Lagarde at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and helped tackle the global financial crisis. I served as a court appointed special advocate (CASA-DC) to supports at-risk youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system; I worked in the Obama White House; I served on the Takoma Park Landlord Tenant Commission (COLTA) and the Takoma Public Safety Citizens Advisory Committee (PSCAC); I served as chief election judge for downtown Silver Spring; lastly, I served on the Baltimore City Charter Commission.
Lorig Charkoudian
What office are you running for? General Assembly: House of Delegates
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Takoma Park
Date of birth: Feb. 14, 1973
Current occupation and employer:
State delegate, Maryland General Assembly;
Executive director, Community Mediation Maryland
Political experience:
Delegate, Maryland General Assembly, 2019 – present
Website: https://www.LorigD20.com
Email: FriendsofLorig@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LorigForD20
Twitter: twitter.com/LCharkoudian
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lorig.charkoudian
Why are you running for this office?
I am running because I am committed to building a more just and inclusive Maryland. We face complex challenges, which I believe can be addressed through informed analysis, thoughtful legislation, and meaningful engagement of residents and other stakeholders. Likewise, as a public servant, I work hard to make sure our state government is responsive to and effective in addressing individuals’ needs.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Climate change and economic inequality are our biggest issues. They are related to exploitation of the planet and of people. As we change to a clean energy economy to prevent further climate damage, we can do so in a way that is just. We must ensure jobs have family-sustaining wages and benefits and the systems we redesign support vibrant local economies, sustainability, and healthy people.
What is one criticism you have received while in office and what is your response?
Early in the pandemic, far too many people had difficulty receiving their unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. In addition to advocating for individuals and their cases, I developed a helpful flow chart that was widely shared throughout the state to explain the UI process and the available benefits. I then drafted comprehensive legislation, which passed in 2021, to reform the customer experience and to maximize federal funds coming to the state for UI benefits. I am now the chair of the Subcommittee on Unemployment Insurance and am dedicated to continue to restructure and provide robust oversight of the UI program.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
As a delegate, I have already put my decades of experience as a community activist, skills as a mediator and problem-solver, and legislative know-how to work. My Ph.D. in Economics allows me to analyze complex financial issues when I develop my policy stances and draft legislation. I have used these skills to develop and pass legislation addressing complex problems related to climate change, food systems, mental health and economic justice.
David Moon
What office are you running for? General Assembly: House of Delegates
Political party: Democratic Party
Where you live: Takoma Park
Date of birth: Jan. 28, 1979
Current occupation and employer:
Senior adviser at Demand Progress
Former instructor for UMBC at Universities at Shady Grove
Former national director at Democracy Summer
Political experience:
House of Delegates, 2015-present; vice chair, House Judiciary Committee
Website: https://davidmoon.us
Email: david@davidmoon.us
Facebook: facebook.com/DelegateDavidMoon
Twitter: @davidmoon2014
Why are you running for this office?
I am running to advance social and economic justice, ensure a sustainable planet, and to build on the work of the public advocates who came before me. Given that we’re often swimming against pendulum-like political swings and human tribalism, this is a task that requires constant watch-guarding, foresight and vigilance. I’m here for it and to help lay the groundwork for those who will come after. I’d like your vote for another term advancing justice.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Combating policymaking based on selfish and tribal instincts is a core problem both in Maryland and nationally. Locally we see this play out with negative regard for the environment, zero-sum attitudes about school resources and boundaries, hostility toward more housing (or neighbors) and resistance to rebalancing taxes to address historic inequality. I was born and raised in MoCo and came up through public schools here, so I’m intent on continuing to find ways to raise these issues through the legislative process.
What is one criticism you have received while in office and what is your response?
Like many seeking to advance justice, it’s often hard to tell if your choices will lead to the strongest reforms. This can lead to tough debates about whether and when compromise is warranted, versus holding out for more aggressive demands. All I can say in response is that I’ve been on both sides of this dynamic, and I do my best to solicit input and evidence and thoughtfully assess options. My heart is always for helping people with actual policy changes, so I do my best to produce measurable good and admit when I could’ve gotten better results.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
My life’s work thus far has been committed to advancing justice, but not to a single tactic or issue. I’ve attempted to promote stronger, more just communities as an activist, blogger, educator, lawyer, nonprofit professional, campaign manager, digital organizer, legislator and more. I’m constantly learning new topics and tools for reform to deploy in Maryland politics and policy. I’ve worked at groups ranging from Democracy Summer, FairVote, CASA, ACLU and the National Organization for Women’s Legal Defense Fund, along with local organizations working to get the FLASH rapid bus lines and Purple Line built.
Will Smith
What office are you running for? General Assembly: Senate
Where you live: Silver Spring
Date of birth: Feb. 6, 1982
Current occupation and employer:
Maryland state senator; attorney (Solomon Law Firm, PLLC); lieutenant commander (United States Navy Reserve)
Political experience:
Maryland state delegate, 2015-2016
Maryland state senator, 2016-present
Website: https://willsmithformaryland.com
Email: josie@willsmithformaryland.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillSmithForMaryland
Twitter: @willcsmithjr
Why are you running for this office?
As a Silver Spring native, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities my community has afforded me. While our quality of life has improved, challenges in education, transportation, the environment, criminal justice, and equal access remain ever-present. Residents of the district demand strong, progressive leadership and responsive constituent service. I am running for office to give back to my community and fight for a more just and equitable Maryland.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Our response to Covid-19 remains the most pressing issue in my district. Although we have slowly moved from pandemic to endemic, the virus continues to expose and exploit our societal vulnerabilities. From learning loss and the logistics of delivering quality public-school education amidst variable case outbreaks to transportation, job security, and housing, the people in my district continue to cope mightily. The challenges posed by the virus have, however, offered us an opportunity to think anew and act anew to broaden our definition of equality and opportunity. This is why I believe in the importance of our state government. If we are willing, those of us in the legislature have the capacity to address a number of these challenges and unleash opportunities for every Marylander.
What is one criticism you have received while in office and what is your response?
I receive criticism for every decision I make as chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. As in any situation in which there are a multitude of different interest, once a decision is made at least one stakeholder will be less than pleased. I have to address and mitigate this inevitability by being an inclusive convener. A friend of mine once told me the greatest power of an elected official is the power to convene. I would add that in our efforts to convene we also need to be radically inclusive. If we seize upon the opportunity to bring people together and we do so in an inclusive manner, there is no limit to our potential.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
I am a father, a husband, a civil rights attorney, a veteran of the War in Afghanistan, and a naval officer. These life experiences coupled with my professional background have enabled me to understand the potential of the position I currently occupy. If reelected, I will continue to strive to grow and evolve to take full advantage of the opportunity. Before assuming office I served on a variety boards and commissions in my district. Since serving in office and as the chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, I have been a staunch advocate for criminal justice, police reform, education, and our environment.
