Politics

Baltimore residents and local officials told state lawmakers that they want to see legislation improving public transportation, education, public safety and decriminalizing drug use in the city during the next legislative session, which starts in January. “This is a very important year for the future of the city. The 2020 census has given us some sobering reminders about where there’s work to be done,” Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore), chair of the Baltimore City House delegation, said at the start of a three-hour virtual public hearing on state legislative priorities Monday night.

The majority of council members in Prince George’s County approved a redistricting map Tuesday night that has been widely lambasted by residents in this Maryland suburb as a blatant example of politically motivated gerrymandering. More than 150 residents testified late into the evening against the map, which they said would divide communities, erode trust in government and hurt the reputation of county leadership.

After Maryland’s Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission released several “concept” congressional boundaries this week, Howard County residents weighed in on their representation at the national — and state — level at a public hearing Wednesday night. Beth Hufnagel of the League of Women Voters of Howard County thanked commission members for releasing the maps before they wrap up their public hearings later this month, and said panelists should consider deliberating their final congressional map in a public meeting.

Frederick Sen. Ron Young (D) announced over the weekend that he will retire at the end of his term. Young endorsed Del. Karen Lewis Young (D), his wife, to succeed him in representing District 3 in the Senate. “I think she’s by far the best person to follow me,” Young said in an interview on Sunday. “I can’t think of anyone who would do the job better.” Lewis Young announced her candidacy for the position in June, though Ron Young wasn’t ready at that time to announce his retirement.

Gubernatorial candidate and nonprofit executive Jon Baron, embarking on his first run for public office, says Maryland’s next top executive should focus on evidence-based policies as the state recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Baron founded and ran the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, a nonprofit group that “seeks to increase government effectiveness through the use of rigorous evidence about what works.” He said that he wants to bring that evidence-based approach to state government and institute policies that he has seen reduce poverty and boost educational outcomes in other states.

Acting County Executive John D. Psota — chosen by the Wicomico County Council more than a year ago to fill the term of the late Robert L. “Bob” Culver — has decided to ask county voters to keep him in that position for another four years. Psota, a Republican, formally filed Friday to be placed on the 2022 ballot, after earlier in the week declaring his intention to run at an event in front of the Government Office Building in downtown Salisbury. He faces competition in next June’s primary from Julie Giordano, a teacher in the Wicomico County Public Schools and a member of the county’s Republican Central Committee, who also filed her candidacy Friday.

Maryland gubernatorial hopeful Mike Rosenbaum is the first in the crowded field to air campaign ads, which will be seen on streaming TV services such as Hulu and YouTube. The Democrat launched the ad campaign on Wednesday across social media and “connected TV” services that will run for two months at a cost in the “low six figures.” The ads promote Rosenbaum’s economic development and jobs plan called Transform Maryland. The plan includes improving mass transit, expanding affordable child care and public pre-kindergarten, and enrolling 250,000 Marylanders in job training programs.

Rep. David J. Trone (D-Md.) urged Maryland Democrats to choose fellow Congressman Anthony G. Brown in next year’s race for state Attorney General. In a statement provided first to Maryland Matters, Trone praised Brown for his “compassion, competency, and civility.” “As a legislator and as Lt. Governor, Anthony has been a champion for quality, affordable health care for all, emphasizing the importance of mental and behavioral health which underlies so many problems in our communities,” Trone said.