ESSAY QUESTIONS
A. Most significant achievements:
- My two daughters.
- Success in restructuring the MTA's paratransit system, raising its on-time percentage from the mid-70's to over 90% (In doing so, we were able to prevent the US Department of Justice from filing its file-ready lawsuit against the MTA paratransit system).
- Getting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge repaving project completed in time to have all five lanes open for the summer travel season, and accomplishing a measurable long-term reduction of congestion on the Bay Bridge, by creating and implementing
- the BAYSPAN hotline (gives you the current status of traffic on the bridge)
- The "Go Early -- Stay Late" program
- E-ZPass On the Go (Mars grocery stores carry a limited E-ZPass that can be purchased and used the same day
- Other minor changes that made a significant impact on the summer congestion.
- Being instrumental in negotiating the $30 million economic incentive package for Marriott International, in late 1990's
B. Please outline our top three public education priorities and how you would measure and achieve success on each.
I look to the elected School Board and the PTA's to best understand what the priorities of our education system should be.
C. Please explain how you would work with your state and local education association when faced with potential legislation relating to education issues (i.e., discipline, suspension, school safety, special education, teacher certification.)
I listen well and communicate freely & honestly.
D. Please explain how, as a member of the General Assembly, you would specifically build respect for the education profession in order to help attract and retain the highest quality educators in pre-k through secondary education.
I believe that Howard County is positioned to attract most of the top talent in teaching. Teachers teach for a number of reasons, but primarily because they love kids and they enjoy the opportunity to be creative in preparing and presenting lesson plans. Right now, the confusing and conflicting demands on teachers is creating exactly the wrong atmosphere, and we risk losing teachers if it is not corrected.