Maryland



David Harding, Working Class Party
Bob Wallace, Independent

David Harding, Working Class Party:
Thank you for this opportunity to introduce my candidacy to your readers. The way schools are funded now isn’t working. They should be better funded – period. And some districts, like Baltimore, need even more money. There are not enough decent school buildings, nor enough teachers, not even enough Internet access. We were told the lottery and gambling money would go to the schools. Where did it go? The resources are not going where they are needed.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
As a product of Baltimore City Public Schools and a graduate of Poly, I know that education is the foundation on which we build strong, resilient communities. As mayor, I will enact a new holistic approach to educating Baltimore’s young people that prior administrations have neglected to put in place or even envision. We will work with regional and national resources to create a first class, accountable, fully funded system that will help our young people achieve higher test scores, attendance and graduation rates and will open the door for more students to go on to higher educational and skill training opportunities.

This starts by working with the governor and others to appoint influential, effective leaders to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. I will appoint city leaders from all walks of life, people who understand the challenges that impact the ability of many of our young people to learn and succeed. These leaders will demand performance and better guide the superintendent on ways to deliver results.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
Thank you for this opportunity to introduce my candidacy to your readers. The way schools are funded now isn’t working. They should be better funded – period. And some districts, like Baltimore, need even more money. There are not enough decent school buildings, nor enough teachers, not even enough Internet access. We were told the lottery and gambling money would go to the schools. Where did it go? The resources are not going where they are needed.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
Our city schools have historically been severely underfunded. As mayor, I will work closely with the state’s elected officials to ensure that our public schools get the funding our youth deserve and that these funding dollars are used strategically and thoughtfully to achieve the best results for our young people and our city.

I will conduct a forensic audit of every city agency to assess if we are spending our money deliberately and reassess how to better allot city agency spending. We will increase investment in education and build out reserve contingencies to fund and comply with the recommendations from the Kirwan Commission. I would also implement a sale and leaseback strategy on a number of city-owned underutilized assets, including properties and vacant buildings to help pay the costs to implement the necessary Kirwan Commission recommendations. This will allow us to capitalize off city-owned assets to fund the Kirwan recommendations, while retaining ownership over time.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
Thank you for this opportunity to introduce my candidacy to your readers. The way schools are funded now isn’t working. They should be better funded – period. And some districts, like Baltimore, need even more money. There are not enough decent school buildings, nor enough teachers, not even enough Internet access. We were told the lottery and gambling money would go to the schools. Where did it go? The resources are not going where they are needed.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
We cannot bring change to Baltimore without operating through a lens of equity. This pandemic has highlighted the digital divide and amplified inefficiencies and inequities in the educational system. We must comprehensively revisit the entire process of school equity. Our school system, much like the city itself, is still operating as if the city has the population of the past.

This is why we must conduct a full review of the current operations and assess how to improve our educational system to make it equitable for all students. My administration will review the technology and processes in place to ensure our students and educators are prepared for success in a high-tech environment where remote learning is the new norm. We must adjust our technology and processes to meet the current needs of our students. Under my administration, I will leverage public-private partnerships with the private sector to maximize opportunities and resources available to our students. I would partner the planning department with the city schools to create a comprehensive plan to ensure students and educators are equipped to succeed in a digital learning environment.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
I am not a scientist, but I think decisions for health must be made on the basis of science. One thing this pandemic shows is that health care decisions are made in this country on the basis of profit. This is what causes the population to sicken and die unnecessarily. Nurses lack enough PPE; aides go to work daily risking their lives. The disparities in health care spotlighted by Covid-19 have long existed.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
Baltimore’s race and class-based disparities in healthcare, which have been amplified by the coronavirus pandemic, need to be addressed immediately. As mayor, I will work with the Health Department to identify priority health issues and ensure access to healthcare and appropriate resources are available for all residents. I will use the White Paper from the Baltimore City Health Department as a guide to addressing health concerns and disparities. We need to set measurable goals and objectives and work based on what the professionals have suggested to be our biggest vulnerabilities.

As an experienced business leader, I have a plan to support small businesses recover from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic. My economic revitalization and jobs creation plan will provide newfound opportunities to residents in underserved communities.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
I am not a scientist, but I think decisions for health must be made on the basis of science. One thing this pandemic shows is that health care decisions are made in this country on the basis of profit. This is what causes the population to sicken and die unnecessarily. Nurses lack enough PPE; aides go to work daily risking their lives. The disparities in health care spotlighted by Covid-19 have long existed.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
Communities with the highest levels of poverty, crime and addiction face the greatest exposure to trauma caused by gun violence and violent crime. Historically, Black and Latino communities in Baltimore have been disproportionately affected by this trauma, which can lead to the development of mental health issues. This trauma can be especially detrimental to young people. The problem is compounded when access to resources are limited or non-existent, as they currently are in Baltimore. These issues are exacerbated by the pandemic and its detrimental effects on the economy, public health and education.

As mayor, I will expand the availability of trauma-responsive mental health services and drug addiction resources in the communities that need it most. I will build strategic partnerships with city, state and federal resources to secure the funding necessary to expand access to mental health care in Baltimore. These services are needed now more than ever in all underserved communities and we will address these needs, providing the resources required to keep our citizens safer.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
I am not a scientist, but I think decisions for health must be made on the basis of science. One thing this pandemic shows is that health care decisions are made in this country on the basis of profit. This is what causes the population to sicken and die unnecessarily. Nurses lack enough PPE; aides go to work daily risking their lives. The disparities in health care spotlighted by Covid-19 have long existed.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
Lead poisoning remains a critical issue in Baltimore, which has been overlooked by leadership for years. My administration will work to ensure federal funding to expedite infrastructure repair and ensure the lead levels are steadily decreasing over the years. We will also work to secure federal funding resources for a lead abatement program. As mayor, I will focus on creating a sustainable future for Baltimore by focusing on sustainable solutions and improving infrastructure. Under my administration, the Health Department will prioritize health issues, including lead poisoning and its neurological effects, and provide resources and a plan for reduction.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
If working people had a political party that really expressed the needs of the population, it would look at air pollution, water pollution and land pollution. These problems are caused by choices corporations make, and they are not addressed at the level of one city. But we could ask why Democrats and Republicans alike have ignored these problems for decades. That’s one reason I am helping to build the Working Class Party.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
As mayor, I will make Baltimore a world-class destination. That starts with cleaner streets and neighborhoods, improved and more abundant green spaces, addressing blighted neighborhoods and cleaning our harbor and waterways. An increased focus on maintenance and beautification of our communities will attract people and businesses to our city.

My administration will focus on protecting our waterways and uncovering the untapped economic opportunities that exist with us focusing on a clean harbor and bay. As an Independent, I will work across both aisles to ensure we are bringing in all available state and federal funding opportunities to address the significant environmental needs of our city.

I will create a public-private partnership to clean up our city focused on landscape enhancement, removal of litter and graffiti and the addition of public art installations in neighborhoods and parks across the city. The partnership will be powered by collaboration between the Department of Public Works, Department of Recreation and Parks, individual volunteers, and sponsorships of streets, neighborhoods, public parks and gardens.

As mayor, I will lead an equitable process of revitalization and sustainable development, not just downtown, but uptown and into the city’s underserved communities.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
If working people had a political party that really expressed the needs of the population, it would look at air pollution, water pollution and land pollution. These problems are caused by choices corporations make, and they are not addressed at the level of one city. But we could ask why Democrats and Republicans alike have ignored these problems for decades. That’s one reason I am helping to build the Working Class Party.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
Under my administration, we will get rid of the incinerator as it exists today and assess alternative options. The incinerator sits in the middle of a residential community and casts its unhealthy environment into a community that is already plagued with some social problems. Southwest Baltimore has one of the highest murder rates in the city and is home to one of the state's most impoverished zip codes. The incinerator sits just outside of Southwest Baltimore, but the effect is felt in the communities adjacent. We must act immediately to understand how we have disproportionately disenfranchised lower income segments of our community.

I will form a workgroup to study the most feasible way and location for us to properly dispose of our waste without having such a direct effect on neighborhoods in Baltimore City. I believe the incinerator needs to go and I am committed to pushing forward with the conversations of how we make that happen, reasonably and expeditiously.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
If working people had a political party that really expressed the needs of the population, it would look at air pollution, water pollution and land pollution. These problems are caused by choices corporations make, and they are not addressed at the level of one city. But we could ask why Democrats and Republicans alike have ignored these problems for decades. That’s one reason I am helping to build the Working Class Party.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
The consent decree must be abided by and we will be committed to ensuring we continue with progress in that. At the same time, we cannot ignore the issue that causes backups in people’s homes, sewage runoffs into the harbor, and a discoloration of the water, among many other environmental concerns. I will leverage my relationships with our state and federal representatives to ensure we seek funding to address these upstream issues. We will prioritize our commitment to finally address this environmental nightmare that has existed for far too long. In addition, I will use my global business connections to persuade investment in Baltimore while using creative deals to leverage extra resources that can go directly towards addressing this continuing concern.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
Providing people with decent-paying jobs is a start, and there is plenty of work to do in housing, for example by training people in the building trades, who can then build more affordable housing. Funds are now used for the development of expensive housing. Instead this money should go to develop affordable housing. Until working people can make the whole society work for everyone, instead of just for a wealthy few, we won’t have the housing or transportation we need. That’s why I am part of building a Working Class Party.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
As mayor, I will focus on ensuring that all residents have access to affordable housing. I will work to revitalize blighted neighborhoods fraught with vacant houses through public-private partnerships to rebuild and rehabilitate vacant homes and transform them into affordable housing. I will work to make loans available for low-income families in communities across Baltimore to help city residents achieve their dreams of home ownership. I will create a program to make a pool of funds available for affordable housing loans and eliminate the barriers to home ownership of many of those in our communities across the city. I will also create a coalition of experts and community leaders from across the city, state and country to help Baltimore create innovative and effective solutions to address our city’s housing needs.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
Providing people with decent-paying jobs is a start, and there is plenty of work to do in housing, for example by training people in the building trades, who can then build more affordable housing. Funds are now used for the development of expensive housing. Instead this money should go to develop affordable housing. Until working people can make the whole society work for everyone, instead of just for a wealthy few, we won’t have the housing or transportation we need. That’s why I am part of building a Working Class Party.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
Baltimore must provide safe, sustainable and accessible transportation for residents of all neighborhoods. Our current transportation system is broken. Many residents are unemployed or underemployed because they lack access to public transportation that makes it possible for them to get to their jobs. Improved public transportation increases access to jobs, schools, community centers and other resources for all residents.

To address the lack of accessible transportation, I will implement a plan to expand public bus routes to reach historically disinvested neighborhoods to better connect the city. I will also work to expand access to e-scooters, bicycles and ridesharing services, as well as expand the Charm City Circulator from specific population hubs in the city to various city job hubs.

My experience as a business leader who has built several successful companies will be a key asset as we allocate financial resources to accomplish this goal. Where public dollars are lacking, we will build private-public partnerships to provide funding for these essential transportation improvements. I will also work in coordination with surrounding counties to support and lead a regional transportation strategy.

David Harding, Working Class Party:
Providing people with decent-paying jobs is a start, and there is plenty of work to do in housing, for example by training people in the building trades, who can then build more affordable housing. Funds are now used for the development of expensive housing. Instead this money should go to develop affordable housing. Until working people can make the whole society work for everyone, instead of just for a wealthy few, we won’t have the housing or transportation we need. That’s why I am part of building a Working Class Party.

Bob Wallace, Independent:
As a business owner in Baltimore City, I am the only candidate with a proven record of creating jobs and spurring economic development in our city. I am committed to supporting small businesses, helping residents get back to work, and creating job opportunities for our youth, as well as unemployed and underemployed citizens. My administration will work to ensure equitable investment opportunities for Black and minority-owned businesses.

I have a plan to attract at least $1 billion of investment into Baltimore City. We will grow emerging industries and create a business environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. I will use my global business connections to attract new businesses to the city from across the state and nation. Within my first term, I am confident that we will bring 100,000 new jobs to the city and make Baltimore a city where families can live, work, and thrive.

I’ve developed a focused neighborhood economic development plan called the Nehemiah Plan. Under the Nehemiah Plan, we will organize the city into specific neighborhood zones and have an economic development plan for each neighborhood zone. Our first area of focus is to ensure that each zone has access to local grocery stores, recreation centers, technical training, and other necessary community services. My plan is to encourage equitable, sustainable development not just by the waterfront, but also throughout all the city’s various neighborhoods.


Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12
Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
As Councilperson, I will ensure our state and city pay their fair shares for our kids’ education. Currently, Baltimore City allocates only about 15% of its budget to Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPSS). Meanwhile, the average Maryland county contribution to education in 2018 was 36% of its total operating budget. While we must ensure that the state of Maryland fulfills its constitutional responsibility to provide an adequate education to its residents, and while Baltimore City cannot be expected to pay as much as wealthier counties, City Hall must still pay its fair share. The Kirwan Commission determined that Baltimore must steadily increase education funding each year until reaching 161M in additional funds by 2030. As Councilperson, I will ensure our state and city pay their fair shares for our kids’ education.

Additionally, I will work with the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) to support the recruitment of Black and Latinx educators, ensure the curriculum represents Black and Brown experiences, and fund anti-racism workshops for staff. In addition, I will promote fair educator evaluation practices and demand BCPSS educators be represented on an elected school board. It is important for our kids to have schools that are well funded, have teachers who represent them, and have staff to support them to ensure their success in college or a career.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
First, we will encourage the General Assembly to override the Governor’s veto of the BluePrint for Maryland’s Future. This is the culmination of many years of work under the Kirwan Commission. The recommendations include investment in schools that have been traditionally underfunded, adding career and technical education to more schools and more. Once Kirwan is passed, that also mandates each jurisdiction to put more money into our education system. So as the City Council, we need the power to move money around to make this work. There is a ballot question this year that will, if the voters approve, change the charter to allow for the City Council to move and add money to the budget. We have to do this so that we can make sure our priorities of a fully funded education for all young people is a reality.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
Currently, Baltimore City allocates only approximately 15% of its budget to Baltimore City Schools. This is in sharp contrast to other districts which allocate an average of 36%. I will fight for our City to pay their fair share to ensure a quality education for our students.

As councilperson, I will also advocate for the statehouse school funding formula and initiative titled “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future”. This will dramatically increase investment in our state’s schools and also take into consideration important variables, such as concentration of poverty, when determining school funding.

Finally, I believe that we must examine our public safety budget and invest these funds towards addressing root causes of crime, such as the chronic underfunding of our schools and recreation centers.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
The 21st Century Schools initiative is working to renovate or completely construct new schools. While it’s a little slow, my district has already seen success here, with the renovation of the Harbor School to the REACH! School in Clifton Park, and the next schools are City College High School and Lake Montebello School. This is state funding for these efforts.

We need to also make sure there is funding at the City level to ensure there is heat in the building. While it’s likely the schools will be closed for the foreseeable future for virtual learning, we have the opportunity to look into this more. Baltimore City Schools also was given bonding authority a few years ago, and should use it to borrow to ensure there are enough capital dollars to meet the needs.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
40.7% of Baltimore does not have access to broadband internet. In Baltimore City, like elsewhere, these challenges fall on deep racial lines: 73.3% of white households in Baltimore City have this service, compare that with 50.2% of African American households and 46.4% of Hispanic households.

Students and adults need this basic essential utility to equitably pursue their education; to file for unemployment and other important (non-mobile friendly) city, state, and federal forms and documents; to engage in telehealth and telework; to organize together for a better future; and to live modern lives. For these reasons, the United Nations has rightly declared internet access a basic human right.

I will fight to establish a plan for municipal internet for Baltimore City. Organizations around the City are already taking on this challenge and providing free high-speed internet for communities. It is our job as a city to imagine how these efforts can be expanded city wide, support community internet infrastructure financially, ensure this work is being powered by community voice, and that community internet is accomplished with pro-worker labor practices.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
While I applaud Comcast for offering discounted internet, it is not high speed internet. This has to change. More importantly, we should be developing a public option for internet like other cities are doing, making it free and sliding scale as needed.

The City provided an additional $3million to get more computers for students, and yet there are more students still in need of chromebooks.

The other factor here is that many employers have not been very flexible to families given the fact that students are home. That means that if mom/dad have to work, it might be an older adult that cares for the young person and does not have high speed internet or the skills to help with the computers. This is the fault of our employers. We called for employers to be more flexible in a recent oped, and they need incentives for doing that. https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/op-ed/bs-ed-op-0824-school-reopenings-delegate-views-20200903-oxtyvzg56zeindl2rojfkopj7q-story.html

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone in our city, but Black, Latinx, low-income and working-class residents have been disproportionately harmed. I am taking action now. Throughout the campaign, we have distributed food, water, PPE to the communities in District 12. We have also provided residents with COVID-19 testing and prevention information. Our campaign is dedicated to connecting District 12 residents to the services and community support that we need to survive, and even thrive, during this unprecedented health, labor, and housing crisis.

To accomplish this goal, our campaign is building a team that will nurture relationships with mutual aid organizations, listen to the needs of District 12 constituents, and connect them with the resources they need. If we win, I will continue to fight for more resources to combat the COVID-19 crisis, and transform our campaign structure into a summer job program for youth.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
First, COVID-19 has actually impacted all people of color disproportionately, in Baltimore, Latinos in particular are disproportionately impacted especially those who might be undocumented don’t end up going to the doctor, and tend to live in tight quarters, and are also essential workers. https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-covid-latinos-20200512-s3cjb6swbbfofmmfg7afmj3zw4-story.html .

Second, the unemployment system failed many workers. At a time when we have to concentrate on people’s health, the payments to workers were important to pay them to stay home. We still need to address the fact that Maryland’s system was hard to access, and difficult for marylanders to maneuver. While I think the Governor’s office is working on this, we have to be sure we’re ready here in Baltimore, having aid for businesses, and have more rent relief to ensure people can stay in their homes. If they are evicted, and start living in tight quarters with other families or end up homeless, could spread the virus. I will fight hard to continue to use the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which I lead the creation of, for more rent relief.

Third, the City needs to start supporting small businesses. As the former chair of the Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and a former small business owner, I know that we do not have an infrastructure to help them grow, get financing, etc. And yet it will be the small businesses that can help get us out of this economic crisis, we have to help them to do so. While Governor Hogan has announced more aid, we’re still not seeing it go to where it is needed. I have 5 retail / restaurant districts in my district, and we have to direct some of these funds for rent relief (because the landlords are not always forgiving), and more.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
One of the root causes of crime is lack of mental health resources. As a city, we are not providing our residents access to mental health, especially our youth. According to the Kirwan commission, the counselor to student ratio is 1:900. I plan to direct our city funds into our public school systems to make sure our students are receiving the mental health care they need. When we invest in our youth and their well being, we are also investing in a better community. I will work to reorient our public city safety budget to invest in physiological and emotional health services that respond to and care for those struggling with mental health for ALL Baltimoreans.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
Health centers and clinics need to be providing mental health services, In addition, often the police are called to intervene in a mental health crisis, when they are not skilled to do so. We do not have enough mental health counseling available or rapid response. We have to work with the state and the city to make sure all residents have access, including working with insurance companies to cover mental health, which does not always happen.

In addition, there is still a stigma around getting mental health help. That has to be broken, either through comprehensive campaigns to ensure people feel it is ok to get help, more help in the schools so that young people can access the services (and a campaign to say it’s ok to do so, with training for teachers to help the students get the help they need), and more.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
As councilperson, I will fight to protect the children of Baltimore City by supporting legislation that will ensure a healthier and affordable housing that will be lead free. Exposure to lead paint has shown to cause permanent and severe damages to children in our city and it is carried with them into adulthood. We need to greatly expand our lead abatement operation, until every building is free from lead that will cause long-term damage to our children. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the poisoning of Baltimore residents. I will also support legislation that will ensure the safety of our city’s drinking water. It is important that there is an effective and safe water supply and delivery system in place for the betterment of our community and environment. In the short term, we need to directly provide filtration systems to residents and put them in our schools to ensure that they are able to drink the water they are being delivered. This is costly, and will require a longer term solution of replacing the complex plumbing network in Baltimore City to ensure that no Baltimorean is given contaminated water.

Additionally, we must also hold the paint industry accountable for the damage they have caused and place greater regulations on properties with lead.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
This is a long standing issue, and one that the City and state thought was taken care of but it is still not. Landlords must get lead inspections for their homes, but often just paint over the problem, rather than fully remediate the issue. Also, the threshold for intervention is too high. If a child tests a 6 level (or similar), then intervention occurs, but any level below that should include some intervention early.

Baltimore’s soil is full of lead. Our cars give off exhaust which also has lead in it. The entry-way to homes generally have more lead than internal because of these issues. Fewer cars, or cars that are electric would be great.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
I will support zero waste principles like Baltimore’s Fair Development Plan for Zero Waste. I will fight to ensure that there will be adequate funding to invest in any legislation that will help move our city forward into becoming 100% green. My plan will include to:
1. Expanding recycling services and ensuring their accessibility to residents and businesses.
2. Creating green jobs and expanding green jobs in the Youthworks program that will include paid-training.
3. Investing in neighborhood clean ups especially in Black and Brown communities.
4. Holding businesses and developers accountable by charging a fee for not meeting requirements of creating local job opportunities and providing fair wages and benefits.
5. Divesting Baltimore City funds from any investment fund profiting from oil, gas, or fossil fuels corporations.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
Please review my full environmental plan, it includes goals for zero waste, increasing tree canopy, addressing impervious surfaces, use of community solar, and more. https://odetteramos.com/latest-news/f/today-baltimore-city-student-strike-for-climate-justice.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
I will support closing down Wheelabrator Baltimore waste-to-energy incinerator because it is affecting the air quality that our residents of Baltimore City are inhaling. Our city has some of the highest asthma and cancer rates and the incinerator contributes to this bad air quality in our city. It is affecting particularly African-American and Hispanic communities who live near the Wheelabrator. It is polluting the air which is bad for our environment and our people. I will advocate for the closure of the biggest source of pollution in our city. The contract between the city and BRESCO must end in 2021 as planned. I am against any deals that attempt to continue it.

As mentioned above, I will support legislation that will promote zero waste initiatives. I plan to push for a robust composting and recycling program. It would create more fair-wage paying jobs for our city residents. By closing down the incinerator and creating a recycling program we give Baltimoreans job opportunities and a healthier city to live in.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
I have been opposed to the incinerator from the beginning. The issue now is that we are dependent on it to address our trash issues, and those of other counties who pay us to burn their trash.

We have to do away with the harmful incinerator because of what comes out of it, harmful chemicals that communities downwind of it breathe (which happen to be black and brown communities). We have to immediately reduce our waste by implementing a bottle deposit bill, widespread compost education and collection, regulate packaging (at the state level), and more. This should have been done years ago when the deadline for the contract with Bresco was looming. Also, Baltimore City should let the other counties know they need to find other ways to dispose of their trash, immediately.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
I will work closely with DPW to ensure that our residents are receiving the appropriate assistance they need from the city to repair sewers and prevent backups. It is necessary for the health of our environment and our residents to make sure there is appropriate funding to ensure that these efforts are taken care of as soon as possible.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
I just learned yesterday that some of our sewage backflows stem from a blockage at the Backwater Sewage Treatment Plant that will be corrected starting in January. This will help significantly, but not everyone will see relief. The Consent Decree is designed to help upgrade our systems so that backflows don’t happen.

The other issue is the significant inland flooding that happens in my district and across the City. This flooding leads to water and sewage back ups and is not related to or included in the Consent Decree. The 100 year floods are happening each year. In July, people saw on the news a major flood near MERVO school where an MTA bus was stuck. That was in my district, and the ladies on the corner who have lived there for over 50 years shared photos with me when this happened in 1960, and where their basements flood each time (water and sewage). While the City provided more drains, the run-off and immense amount of water cannot be handled by the current pipe under that street. The manhole covers were popping up, a sign that there was too much water in the pipe. I am working with the neighbors, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and others to work on strategies to address this Citywide, and specifically to advocate for neighbors on 35th Street and the other flood areas I have in the district. We will pass a full plan for addressing inland flooding, and work hard for additional funding from the State and federal authorities to replace the infrastructure. My colleague in the 8th District is also working on this for Frederick Avenue.

The plan needs to include not only replacing infrastructure that is below capacity, but also preventive measures like removing impervious surfaces, allowing for contractors to add permeable driveways, and more. I will be working hard to change the permitting to allow for such construction.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
Modern day red-lining exists in Baltimore in the form of predatory loan practices, such as charging high loan rates for Black and Brown residents. Residents are pushed into cycles of debt which lower their credit, making the dream of owning a home, or renting in certain neighborhoods, nearly impossible.

As a Councilperson, I will fight to:

➔ Implement greater regulation of mortgage and short-term lenders like payday, auto-loans, and bail bonds;
➔ Establish universal rent control and city-wide tenant unions; and
➔ Seize and redistribute vacant housing to community controlled institutions, such as community land trusts;
➔ Educate residents on how to use Section 8 vouchers to pay a mortgage, and fight to ease City and State restrictions on this program.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
I have extensive experience in affordable housing, community development and homeownership preservation. I was the leader of a coalition to create the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in our city. I have a comprehensive plan for addressing these issues that can be found here.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
In agreement with the Baltimore Green Party, I believe that Baltimore City needs an “equitable, accessible, efficient, multi-modal transit system which allows everyone to get where they need to go in a timely and safe manner, and to spur economic development for Black and Brown communities.” Our public transit system must be controlled locally, and Baltimore community members should have a meaningful voice at the decision making table. Additionally, our city must invest in an increase in bike infrastructure that helps keep riders safe and encourages bike ridership.

➔ I will push for institutions like Johns Hopkins to redirect the money they spend on private busing infrastructure to free MTA passes for their students and staff. This will both reinvest funds into our public transit and help pay for BCPSS student bus passes to be extended to a 24/7 pass;
➔ In agreement with the work of the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition, I believe our public transit system must be controlled by a Regional Transit Authority where Baltimore community members must have a meaningful voice at the decision making table;
➔ I will fight for bicycling infr
➔ I support the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) platform to work towards free public transit and the return of plans to implement the Red Line.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
I believe we need to create our own Regional Transit Authority and go completely out of the MTA system. The MTA has not benefited Baltimore, and is at the mercy of whomever is Governor. We saw that with the cancelation of the Red Line, which would have provided an east-west transit line for people to get to jobs. This Regional Transit Authority will be owned by Baltimore City and it’s partners, but have local planning. We have to completely redo our system. The LINK that the Governor gave us is not working, and it’s shameful that the first set up cuts would have come from Baltimore’s transit (which is not happening now because of the great advocacy of riders, unions and other advocacy groups). We must invest in the Red Line, and create transit that is easy for riders.

It is shameful that Baltimore City did away with the streetcar trolly system that we once had, in favor of cars getting to downtown. It breaks my heart when I see the rail lines removed for other projects. The complex web of transit we had then was what worked. We can’t bring that back, but we can own our own system with our county partners to have a better system for riders.

Franca Muller Paz, Green Party, District 12:
As a 10-year union member, 3-term elected union representative, and if elected as a Councilperson, I will advocate alongside community organizers and workers and support:

➔ the creation and transformation of more Employee-owned businesses,
➔ a minimum wage that is a living wage of $15/hour that automatically rises with inflation and includes youth and tipped workers;
➔ the Project Labor Agreements bill to ensure that proper contracts are made with workers with deserved pay and benefits, and
➔ Resources and legislation to combat anti-worker and anti-tenant crime, such as wage theft and tenant exploitation.

It is critical that we promote and support employee ownership. When workers have ownership of and leadership positions in the businesses they are working for, recent studies show that those businesses are more resistant during economic downturns. This will be crucial in the COVID19 economy. Employee-owned businesses provide higher wages and are more environmentally friendly. They also increase wealth for employees who would usually fall under low socio-economic status in comparison to traditional businesses. There are several worker owned businesses in or near the 12th District, including Baltimore Bicycle Works and Red Emma's. I will be an ally to them and encourage the proliferation of this more just ownership model.

I will also work to improve and expand our public transit system. This ensures that employment opportunities are truly accessible to all Baltimore residents.

Odette Ramos, Democrat, District 14:
I want to facilitate business and job growth outside of the Inner Harbor. Our neighborhood corridors and our entrepreneurs have had little success getting affordable financing, and have had horrible time with landlords. This our neighborhood corridors can be the places for job growth. I have five of them in my district: the Avenue in Hampden, St. Paul Street in Charles Village, the area of Ms. Shirley’s on Coldspring Lane, Waverly Main Street on Greenmount Avenue, and R. House/29th Street in Remington. Potentially we could have another successful business corridor along Harford Road in Coldstream Homestead Montebello across from historic Clifton Park. We also have residents interested in starting businesses and need guidance and financing. My emphasis will be on making sure these areas are successful, and that we grow them to be successful, and coming up with a strategy to help the businesses own their buildings. As a former small business owner myself, and the former chair of the Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, I understand what business owners are going through and will work with them to be successful.


Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1
George Gluck, Green Party, District 6
Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
Like most other societal pressures, communities of color, fenceline communities, and frontline communities bear the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic. Congress must take immediate action to send vital resources to all communities in need. Every American should have available and reliable testing, healthcare, personal protective equipment, and social support to get through the Covid-19 Pandemic. Congress must also work to ameliorate the social injustices that lead to disparate effects in American communities by investing in our communities, ensuring all of us, regardless of zip code, are able to prosper and handle crises.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
A paper recently published by the Kaiser Family Foundation indicates that 8% of white Americans under age 65, 11% of Blacks, 19% of Hispanics, and 22% of Native Americans lack health insurance. Clearly, an improved Medicare for All to replace the ACA would greatly benefit minority communities. In addition, continued housing, food, fuel, income, and transportation bills aiding lower income individuals would help to avoid health-related problems.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Many members of minority groups have been affected by Covid-19, because of disparities known to exist for these groups. Poverty, access to health care, and higher rates of pre-existing conditions have resulted in higher percentages of these groups contracting the virus. These issues need to be addressed on the larger scale; programs that address reducing poverty such as jobs training, small business opportunities, etc.; improved access to healthcare through replacing Affordable Care Act; and more education regarding healthful lifestyles, including programs for our youth.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
I believe that once a vaccine is proven to be safe and effective, first responders should be prioritized. Those who put their lives on the line to serve their communities day in and day out deserve immediate protection and receive vaccinations first. After first responders, people at high risk, including the elderly and those with preexisting conditions, should be the next focus of distribution. Eventually, everyone who would like to be vaccinated should be able to receive one. The vaccine distribution process will be long and filled with uncertainty, but utilizing current medical organization and infrastructure, reliable vaccines could be available at doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and hospitals nationwide.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
Scientific experts have developed what seems to me to be a rational vaccine distribution approach. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine just issued a report calling for a “four-phased equitable allocation framework that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) authorities should adopt in the development of national and local guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine allocation.”

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
It is anticipated that when a vaccine is available, it will be available on a large scale, with replication and manufacturing at a very fast pace. Having distributions plans and procedures developed and approved is key. The process should also be tested. For example, have a small population and team run through the distribution plan and actually carry out the vaccination process. If a priority system is inevitable, people at the highest risk should be first in line. These include health care workers from physicians to attendants. Next would be the elderly and individuals with compromised health conditions. First responders, police, fire, and military would follow. At that point, the vaccine would likely be sufficiently available to take the route common for other vaccines, for example, the common flu shots.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
No one should have to break the bank on medical bills; no one should have to skip health care simply because they cannot afford the incredible price. Remdisivir, a coronavirus drug that received over $70 million in taxpayer dollars, charges patients $3,000 for treatment but costs less than a dollar to manufacture. It is outrageous that a potentially lifesaving publicly funded product be sold for incredible profit margins. I propose Medicare for All, funded by taxing billionaires fairly, to ensure that Americans are able to afford the medical costs of staying alive. To ensure that medical innovation progresses, I also support funding grants and research with the understanding that since the discoveries are financed by the public, they should be enjoyed by the public.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
Allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to negotiate the price of drugs as the Department of Veterans Affairs is presently doing, while Federal grants for drug research should continue.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Science must continue to advance. This is especially necessary in the field of medicine. New threats will continue to arise, obvious by the current pandemic with Covid-19 virus. Our medical field must be supported in keeping current with such issues. Also, medicine is still a “young science.” We do not have prevention and cures for many of the known diseases. A combination of government and private funding has been effective in some cases. On the other side, lowering the cost of prescriptions to the general public can be addressed in several ways: an improved healthcare program, government support of scientific investigation, and private support.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
I believe that our mental health is just as vital as our physical health; Americans have just as much of a right to be happy as they do to be healthy. Currently, the road to mental well being is difficult and expensive. Mental health providers are difficult to come by and charge as much as lawyers, sometimes exceeding $450 an hour. We need to stop treating people as a number, and instead focus on rehabilitation and progress. I plan to fully fund mental health programs, making it easier to find good mental health providers who care and take the time to guide us through progress.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
An improved Medicare for All bill should include mental health care. The Mental Health Systems Act (MHSA) of 1980 provided grants to community mental health centers but was mostly repealed in 1981. We should reenact the MHSA.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Mental health care has never been given its fair share of financial support. Healthcare programs must cover mental health services. Awareness of signs of trouble should be a part of educational programs in a broad sense. School counselors, teachers, parents and students all need input regarding signs of mental stress. And a part of this is encouragement of a healthy lifestyle, diet, exercise, relaxation.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
Pandemic preparedness is a crucial goal to maintain our economy and public health in the coming decades. We know with high confidence that warming climates, along with an increasingly globalized world, will contribute to greater risks from infectious disease. We also know from the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic where the weakest chains in our society are: poor leadership and unequal vital access to resources. To prepare for future public health emergencies, we need to establish fair and competent leadership that makes determinations based on experts and scientists, not politics; we all know too well how the incompetent, delayed response affected our nation. The color of your skin or your zip code should not determine your chances of survival, so we must also properly fund underprivileged communities so no American struggles to find testing or healthcare. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic will not be the last, but if we prepare today, it could be the worst.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
We should strategically stockpile Personal Protective Equipment and testing kits around the country. Hire and train contact tracers and enact strict quarantine requirements and enforcement, recognizing the need to supplement incomes of those quarantined.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
By its very nature a pandemic of an unknown virus, is not something one can entirely prepare for. However, the experience of the current pandemic should serve to give some lessons learned. Due to the great diversity of the 50 of our United States, a one-size-fits- all approach is not desirable. Especially as one looks at the maps with “hot spots” a local, county, state approach seems most feasible. This is where decisions regarding mask-wearing, opening of businesses, restaurants and schools, and social distancing should take place. The federal government should be responsible for providing general guidelines, procurement of supplies and equipment if not readily available to states, negotiating with other countries who might be the necessary suppliers, and especially supporting the scientific research and development for vaccines and treatments. The United States should maintain sufficient manufacturing capabilities of personal protective equipment so we are not dependent on foreign suppliers.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
The United States should be leading the world into a sustainable future by demonstrating a centralized transition to a carbon-free society, developing the technology to power the future, and deploying resources to mitigate the dangers of a warmer planet. The Federal Government must push a strong, steady transition to a sustainable future by implementing and enforcing necessary nationwide standards and regulations. Dirty industrial practices and economic models must be responsibly transitioned out by 2035, making way for sustainable, more efficient ones and creating millions of well-paying jobs nationwide. The United States must also take lead in developing sustainable energy and carbon capture technology crucial to restoring a balance to the climate. Furthermore, the Federal Government must prepare for the already unpreventable effects of climate change. Our infrastructure must be reinforced as wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, heatwaves, and flooding become more devastating and more common. Economic resources must also be distributed to minority, frontline, and fenceline communities that have, and will continue, to unequally experience the effects of climate change.

To protect its people, economy, and heritage are at risk of succumbing to climate change, Maryland should continue to progressively lead the way in the fight against climate change. In 2007, Maryland established the Commission on Climate Change and tasked it with developing an action plan for climate mitigation, adaption, and education. After passing the Clean Energy Jobs Act in 2019, Maryland is on track to reach 100% clean power by 2040 and is still committed to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and joined the U.S. Climate Alliance. Furthermore, Maryland is taking advantage of its renewable resources by developing offshore wind farms, generating both clean power and well-paying jobs. Maryland should continue to set a national and global example of action by continuing its aggressive action.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
From the Green Party 2020 Platform Climate Planks: “The Green Party strongly urges the United States [and the state of Maryland] to adopt an actively responsible position in this crisis and to take significant action to address the problem.”

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Science demonstrates to us that climate change is inevitable. Our planet, Earth, has, and will continue to evolve and change, as it has over many millenniums. We, its inhabitants, have the responsibility to cause no more damage, and to preserve our resources for the future generations. The federal government should fund research, science and technology that already does, or promises to develop policies and programs that improve methods to protect and preserve our natural resources. This ranges from clean energy vehicles, to wind energy, to space exploration. On the state level, we should support clean energy projects, and the many opportunities for employment that they bring.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
Contrary to what Fossil Fuel Corporations believe, climate action is the smart investment. A steady, responsible transition to a sustainable economy will create millions of well-paying jobs, not the opposite. While environmental protection may inhibit certain, cheaper business practices, they protect priceless natural resources and the communities that depend on them. Take the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed for example. Environmental regulations affect farms practices all the way to New York, but without them, the 18 million people that depend on a healthy Chesapeake watershed would suffer health and economic repercussions. In fact, environmental regulations benefit economies; the World Resources Institute estimates that while EPA regulations from 1999 to 2009 cost around $26 billion, the benefits ranged from $82 to $533 billion. We can pay now and reap the benefits, or stall and pay the price.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
“Enact an emergency Green New Deal to turn the tide on climate change, revive the economy and make wars for oil obsolete. Initiate a WWII-scale national mobilization to halt climate change, the greatest threat to humanity in our history. Create 20 million jobs by transitioning to 100% clean renewable energy by 2030, and investing in public transit, sustainable agriculture, conservation and restoration of critical infrastructure, including ecosystems.”

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
By selecting appropriate projects, communities can benefit greatly by developing and employing programs that have less negative effect on the environment and positive effect in terms of local jobs; and overall, for example, cleaner air through wind turbines.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
I believe that clean air and water is a fundamental right for all Americans. I promise to restore Obama-era environmental protections that safeguard our environment. This includes reinstating the methane pollution rule to limit existing oil and gas projects from releasing harmful pollutants.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
“Stop ‘dirty clean energy.’ Many of the ‘solutions’ offered in climate legislation aren't real solutions. Biomass incineration (trees, crops, construction debris and certain types of waste), landfill gas and many types of biofuels will dump massive quantities of toxic pollutants into the air and water, and some of these energy sources produce more greenhouse gas emissions than coal. Natural gas is primarily methane, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Consequently, when pipeline leakage is considered, the clean-burning characteristics of natural gas can be lost, resulting in a fuel with climate impacts as bad as coal. Biomass and biofuels will also increase deforestation, contributing to more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”

“We need strong national and international laws to promote conservation, reclaim polluted water systems, develop water-supply restrictions, ban toxic and pesticide dumping, control or ban corporate farming, and bring the rule of law to transnational corporations that pollute water systems. Mining and depleting the present underground aquifers must be severely restricted. Implement strong laws to promote conservation, reclaim polluted water systems, develop water-supply restrictions, ban toxics and pesticide dumping, control corporate farming, and bring the rule of law to trans-state and trans-national operations that pollute water systems ...”

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Especially in certain areas that are repeatedly negatively affected, such as those in hurricane and tornado areas, long-term solutions should be addressed, rather than repeatedly reacting to disastrous circumstances, with emergency responses. The federal government should support such projects, which would again result in creating more local jobs. These projects should be developed with the expertise of those scientists who specialize in them. Some examples include wind energy, mass transportation, elimination of ocean dumping, conversion of gas powered vehicles to electric.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
Improving mass transportation should be a priority. Millions of Americans rely upon public transportation, many as their only means of travel. For some, transportation is utilized for travel to and from places of employment, medical treatments, shopping and all essential travel. The more people who use it, the less pollution will occur from individual vehicles. This should be a no-brainer, trains, for example, are cheaper, faster, and more comfortable than sitting in a car in a lane of polluted air.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
"Mass Transit
- Redirect resources that currently go to enhancing auto capacity into expanding human-scale transit options.
- Develop affordable mass transit systems that are more economical to use than private vehicles.
- Encourage employer subsidies of transit commuter tickets for employees, funded by government Congestion Management grants.
- Use existing auto infrastructure for transit expansion where possible. Light rail could be established in expressway medians through metropolitan high-density corridors.
- Include land use decisions in transportation issues, with consideration of the need for mass transit to have a market and be viable, and with attention paid to cross-commuting the practice of people commuting to a place where they could and should live.
- Expand our country's network of rail lines, including high-speed regional passenger service.
- Transfer ownership and operation of all intercity railroad trackage currently under control of freight railroads to responsible and adequately funded public agencies, as is done with highways, to provide for efficiency and safety of all rail traffic.”

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Especially in certain areas that are repeatedly negatively affected, such as those in hurricane and tornado areas, long-term solutions should be addressed, rather than repeatedly reacting to disastrous circumstances, with emergency responses. The federal government should support such projects, which would again result in creating more local jobs. These projects should be developed with the expertise of those scientists who specialize in them. Some examples include wind energy, mass transportation, elimination of ocean dumping, conversion of gas powered vehicles to electric.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
While the Climate Catastrophe does not discriminate, the effects are felt harder in communities of color. Systematically denied a healthy environment and the resources to ameliorate the damages, these communities bear the brunt of unsustainable industry. The transition to a sustainable environment must not leave affected communities behind to suffer. While updating building codes, rezoning out of flood zones, and investing in weather protection are important, I also support restoring and maintaining natural defenses against flooding and storms, like shorelines and marshlands.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
As part of an effort to review and adopt international green building codes, we should include International Code Council standards on storm shelter construction.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Storm and flooding should be studied scientifically. Plans to prevent damage, should be developed on a large scale, with input from state and federal administrations. Because of the scale of such projects, the federal government should assist in funding. However, one must also consider again, the potential for job creation for such large scale efforts.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
In Congress, I will ensure that scientific agencies, research institutions, and schools receive the funding they need to achieve their mission statements. Historically, federal investment into discovery and innovation has been rewarded with increased quality of life for the American public and the global community.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
I am old enough to remember (and actually have benefited) by the Sputnik crisis, “which spurred the US to make considerable federal investments in research and development, education...” Our policies should reflect a need to repeat our response from the 1950s, but this time to increase, as Robert F. Kennedy stated in 1968, not Gross National Product (GNP), but some measure of national wellbeing.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
The last 50+ years of space has given the nation a sense of pride and accomplishment. The U.S. has invested in the technology to expand space operations and completed needed non-recurring engineering to kick start a new space economy. In the next 20+ years, this investment is expected to pay off with the space economy anticipated to skyrocket to $1 trillion. I will use my experience in space systems to help guide new space policy. I will simplify regulations and space flight requirements, and deliver a common framework for the nation to operate in space. I want to maintain the U.S. leadership in space technology and help make U.S. industry the market developer of this new space economy.

In order to ensure that all Americans have access to the best in areas such as medicine, clean environment, safety, and technology; we must continue to compete on a global basis. It is essential for the development and improvement of goods and services, that we continue to progress in the four main areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the building blocks of research and development. We cannot exist at a standstill. It is becoming more and more essential that our country become as independent as possible, in order to avoid being shut out by competing countries. Therefore, we must support policies that encourage research and development and the advancement of the STEM areas. We should also attempt to develop and maintain positive relationships with nations on a global basis, to ensure maximum cooperation on research and development projects.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
While any research that could provide benefits to taxpayers is worth funding, environmental, health, and communication infrastructure projects are my top priorities. Maryland’s First Congressional District, with over 3,000 miles of shoreline, is dependent on a healthy environment. Scientific research is vital to understanding ecological, geographic, and economic changes our district expects to see as global temperatures rise. As for health, I believe that all Marylanders, and Americans, deserve adequate, equal, and affordable healthcare. This healthcare must be effective and constantly improving, so I will ensure medical innovation and research will be able to worry about finding cures, not its next paycheck. And finally, all American communities deserve connection to power and communication systems. Much of Maryland’s Eastern shore is still without broadband internet, preventing the communication and business development that much of the nation enjoys. Federal research funding has the power to develop much-needed communication infrastructure that can better serve rural Marylanders and Americans.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
Microbiology/Climate (LIFE), Cybersecurity (LIBERTY), and Infrastructure (the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS). We ought to consider using the scientific method to set up some sandboxes to once-and-for-all decide when or if the “trickle-down,” supply-side theory is helpful or harmful to our economy.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Priority areas should be first, medicine. The planet is not immune to developing new diseases, and we have not conquered many of the current medical/health issues. We must have ongoing research and development, in order to fight old, longstanding medical issues, and we must be prepared to address new threats quickly. Therefore, we should keep our medical research thriving. The second priority should be energy. The search for new energy sources is non-stop. Our country is working to become independent in this area, such as our oil supply. But we need to develop newer sources known to be effective, such as wind energy. And we need to explore additional new sources. This brings us to space exploration. Although the space race may seem an issue of national pride, it is much more, in terms of our future. We are exploring alternate sources of materials. Also, the space race addresses the third priority, our Safety. We live in a volatile world. Like it or not, there are threats to our safety in existence. Therefore, we must continue to build an effective military, and to explore through scientific engineering, not only the best planes, ships, missiles and artillery, we need a space force in order to protect our country from enemies on the same track.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
When we vote, we chose representatives who will govern in our interest, staying well informed on the issues that we care about. Science should always be considered when creating responsible policy, and it is the job of a representative to weigh both public opinion ​and scientific knowledge.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
Eleven new scientists were sworn into the 116th Congress in 2019. It is better that folks like these eleven question other scientists called before Congressional committees. George Bernard Shaw once wrote, "Some people see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say, why not?" Shaw may have seen these as two separate groups, but most scientists belong to both.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Legislators should be skilled in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics when considering the introduction of new bills, the modification of existing policies, and the consideration of problems and issues that arise and need immediate attention. Rather than a stream of bickering politicians, and a chaos of media propagandists, legislators like me that are skilled in STEM can conduct orderly method of inquiry, and proposed actions.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
I believe in the American Dream and support those fighting to reach it. The only difference between students and skilled workers coming to the Land of Opportunity and those born here is bureaucratic paperwork. Hardworking people who benefit this nation, regardless of where they are born, should be rewarded with the guaranteed rights and protections all citizens enjoy. I support making visa options fairer, creating a path towards citizenship, and finally eliminating an absurd pay to pay merit system.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
Knowledge is the one thing we may both keep and give away. International cooperation by science students and skilled STEM workers may lead to wider cooperation in other areas. I am an immigrant, grateful to have been STEM-trained here, and would like to see others given the same opportunity.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
I want to promote and welcome legal immigration and put a stop to illegal border crossings. Illegal immigration is not good for this country or the individuals participating in it. Passing legislation to increase the legal immigration caps while simplifying legal immigration processing is key; especially when the individuals have studied in the U.S. and have employment sponsored support. I want to attract the best people from around the world. I want to keep the criminals and illegal immigrants out, thereby reducing the burden on U.S. law enforcement and welfare systems.

Mia Mason, Democrat, District 1:
As Helium stockpiles dry up, one of the most abundant elements in the universe must be rationed with Congressional policy. Scientific and medical uses should receive priority access, while parties and festivities may have to let go of balloons. Furthermore, federal regulations can encourage recycling Helium, ensuring there is more to go around. Looking farther into the future, advancements in technology, including our return to the moon, may provide more solutions.

George Gluck, Green Party, District 6:
Evidently, there is plenty of Helium to be found in the US, and, given the present price of the gas, private companies have found it profitable to obtain it. The US government should consider once again the strategic need for storing Helium, and, if necessary, open (or reopen) the Federal Helium Reserve.

Gregory Thomas Coll, Republican, District 8:
Helium continues to be a critical resource for researchers in a number of scientific and technical fields and in medical applications. As it is vital to be responsible with the taxpayers' dollars, it is important to minimize waste of this vital resource by recapturing and reusing helium as much as possible. While it is preferable to allow the private sector to have primary responsibility for industrial processes, we must also ensure that researchers and medical providers have assured access to this critical resource.