Elect me as Senator and bring back effective leadership to the Maryland State Senate for District 33. It's time we had a leader with a vision for our future.  It's time we had a  leader who will face the challenges ahead with an unwavering commitment to improving our community and our quality of life. When you elect me this fall, the hallmark of my term in office will be:  

Fully Funding Education 

I am a proud product of our public school system. When you elect me, I will fight to:

• Keep class room sizes manageable.
• Attract the highest quality teachers.
• Build and repair schools and provide students with a healthy, positive learning environment.
• Restore funding for music and arts in our public schools

Protecting Our Quality of Life  

As a lifelong advocate of protecting our natural resources, my tenure as Senator will include a steadfast commitment to:

• Protecting and restoring our rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay.
• Preserving open spaces and parks for our children to enjoy.
• Effectively managing growth to reduce traffic congestion.
• Working with stakeholders to ensure that our quality of life is equally balanced with the need for economic development.
• Making sure that funding is spent on our priority issues and where it will be the most effective.

Providing Access to Quality Health Care  

We have an obligation to our children, working adults, and our seniors to provide affordable health care. I will go Annapolis to work to:

• Ensure that Anne Arundel health facilities receive their share of state and federal funds.
• Provide our seniors with the retirement benefits they deserve by keeping prescription drugs affordable.
• Support tougher regulations and inspections on Elder Care Facilities to ensure our seniors are treated with dignity. 

Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility  

As a small business owner and member of our local Chambers of Commerce, I understand the importance of fiscal responsibility and maintaining a thriving local economy. I will protect small business owners and working families by:

• Holding the line on taxes.
• Providing programs to help small, local businesses succeed.
• Working with businesses to help processes and tools that help employers determine prospective workers’ immigration status.
• Leveraging state resources for our district to help maintain and revitalize our neighborhoods.

Public Safety  

Nothing is more important than the safety of our families and emergency responders. As State Senator I will:  

• Make sure our law enforcement officials, fire fighters, and emergency medical personnel have the tools, training and funding they need to protect us.
• Ensure Maryland receives our share of Homeland Security funding to keep our ports and cities safe.
• Securing the resources we need to be prepared for natural disasters.
• Help our local police departments by expanding State Police coverage and securing state and federal grants for local offices.
• Create and expand programs that connect retired police and firefighters with young people to encourage careers in public safety.     

Supporting our Veterans

We need to take care of those men and women who have served in our military taking care of our families and our country’s safety.  With Base Re-Alignment and the arrival of thousands of military professionals to our area, we must think long term about our state support of veterans by:    

• Providing tax relief on veteran pensions.
• Establishing a veteran’s home and outpatient facility at the former Crownsville Hospital Center.
• Restoring adequate funding to Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Encouraging our veterans to volunteer in our public schools.
• Allowing active duty military personnel stationed in Maryland to receive in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities.

Transportation

• Lead the effort to secure state and federal funds for transportation projects in each year’s budget.      
• Develop a realistic and long-term mass transit plan that includes extension of the Washington Metro to Anne Arundel County.
• Partner with local communities and county, state and federal officials to find innovative ways to reduce traffic congestion.