Think the 2020 election is getting close? Well, this Tuesday, November 5 there are local elections all around Maryland, and the people who get elected to make change in your local community are also very important to our lives. Don’t let these opportunities to build power and make change where you and your neighbors live slip by! Read about Progressive Maryland's endorsements here for Bowie, College Park, Greenbelt, Pittsville, Salisbury -- and Rockville, where voting is all by mail this time.
Think the 2020 election is getting close? Well, this Tuesday, November 5 there are local elections all around Maryland, and the people who get elected to make change in your local community are also important to our lives. Don’t let these opportunities to build power and make change where you and your neighbors live slip by!
Progressive Maryland is endorsing local elected officials for this first time this fall! Election day is Tuesday, November 5th. We are organizing canvasses and election day poll workers -- if you would like to volunteer for one of these candidates please email [email protected].
[With a special note about Rockville, which is conducting its first all mail-in ballot election! Rockville residents- Remember: your Rockville ballot must be received at City Hall by 8 PM on November 5 for your vote to count].
Bowie
Derrick Mallard was born and raised in Washington, DC but has lived in Prince George's County for over a decade. He chose to make Bowie his home, where he's raising his three children with his wife. Mallard is a proud union bus operator and knows firsthand how important it is to have City policies that protect working families and put the community first. He is running for Bowie City Council District 4 in this upcoming election because he wants to make sure that Bowie stays on a path towards responsible economic development, prioritizes community-focused public safety, and plans its transportation for the needs of the future.
College Park
Denise Mitchell is a long-term advocate for children having access to quality education and currently serves as an Early Childhood Education Consultant. Denise has served previously on the City Council from 2009-2013 and as Mayor Pro Tem from 2013-2015. Denise represented the city in various leadership roles: National League of Cities, Maryland Municipal League and the Prince George's County Municipal Association. Denise and her family moved to College Park Woods in 1975 and she began her service to the community by serving on the Board of Directors of the West College Park Civic Association, former member and Chair of the Education Advisory Committee. Denise received her Master of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Administration from The University of the District of Columbia and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health Administration from Rutgers’s University. Denise's theme continues to be One College Park and it's her goal to provide transparency, serve with integrity and bring various stakeholders to the table to collaborate and implement the vision of One College Park.
Greenbelt
Colin Byrd is finishing up his first term and is a lifelong Greenbelt resident. He is a member of the Greenbelt City Council. And he is a committed progressive Democrat. Byrd served as a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention on behalf of Senator Bernie Sanders, and is a member of the Maryland Democratic Party’s Diversity Leadership Council. In the past, he has served as the head of government relations and chairman of membership for the local branch of the NAACP. Byrd is also an alumnus of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he studied sociology and worked as a research assistant in the fields of psychology, economics, and public health. He also served in the Student Government Association, where he had jurisdiction over finance and transportation matters. Byrd was Mr. Black Student Union. And he won multiple accolades, including the James Otis Williams Award for Cultural Leadership and the MICA Award for Champion of Diversity. He has made TV appearances on several local news channels, and currently works as the chief of staff for Maryland State Delegate Julian Ivey. In addition to his service on the Greenbelt City Council, he served as a member of the Prince George’s County Municipal Association’s legislative committee. He served as this region’s regional director for the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO). And he is a fellow in the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance.
Pittsville
Since first getting involved in the community and political organizing at age 12, it has always been a goal of Jared's to build a local and state government that listens to and addresses the concerns and needs of Pittsville, Wicomico County, and the Lower Eastern Shore.
For too long our town has been misrepresented and our issues have gone unaddressed and ignored by leadership interested in only advancing themselves. Together we can build a Town Government in Pittsville that will be transparent and put forth solutions to the Economic, Social, Racial, and Environmental injustices we face.
Rockville
A career civil servant with a deep commitment to public service, James serves as the Vice-Chair for Rockville Housing Enterprises, where he works to preserve and expand affordable housing opportunities. He also served on the Twinbrook Community Association’s Executive Committee and on Rockville’s Boards and Commissions Task Force, helping to put the city’s volunteer boards on a solid foundation for the future. James holds a Ph.D. in political science from Rice University and works as a financial analyst for the Federal Housing Finance Agency. James and his spouse Rachel live in Twinbrook with their two daughters, Alice and Julia.
Virginia Onley is ready to lead as Mayor of Rockville. As a Rockville resident for 26 years with experience on 9 boards and commission, she is committed to creating a city that is welcoming, innovative, and affordable for all people. She worked for IBM for 35 years and is using her business experience to address economic needs in the City. As a Councilmember for six years, Virginia reformed economic and housing policies to encourage young couples and families, teachers, firefighters, police officers, and senior citizens to live in Rockville. She voted to refinance Fireside Park Apartments, which returned $1.7M to Rockville and maintained affordable housing for residents with limited income. She supported Twinbrook Quarters as an investment for all of Rockville. She advocated for increasing the number of councilmembers to ensure better representation. Virginia strongly believes that to create a City that works for all, you must foster a spirit of collaboration and respect. Her record speaks for itself as a leader who will make tough decisions and listen to all viewpoints.
Salisbury
Michele is the daughter of a British immigrant and a public school art teacher. She attended Delaware Tech and University of Delaware, and moved to Wicomico County in 1996. She married her husband, Christopher, and they have three beautiful children - Nicholas age 25, Jessica age 19, and Daniel age 18. Michele has been an early childhood educator for more than 20 years, with hundreds of happy families and clients, and recently closed her business to focus on new endeavors. Her oldest, Nicholas, is special needs and has many health issues, giving Michele a unique perspective to many issues, from healthcare to education.
Remember: if you would like to volunteer for one of these candidates please email [email protected].
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