Democrat Raskin Enters Race for Dist. 20 State Senate Seat

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006
by Sean Sands
Staff Writer

Raskin, 43, announced his candidacy last week for the District 20 seat currently held by state Sen. Ida G. Ruben (D) of Silver Spring, a member of the General Assembly since 1975.

Raskin said his motivation for running for public office came after his five-year tenure on the Maryland State Higher Education Labor Relations Board ended in 2005. While on the board, he said the panel developed rules governing union organizing on state college campuses, and 7,000 employees entered collective-bargaining agreements.

‘‘I saw that people who go into state government with real energy and purpose can make tremendous changes for the good,” he said. ‘‘But I also saw a kind of closed and clubby culture in Annapolis which indicated to me that there was room for an energetic reformer to come and shake things up.”

Raskin said a progressive approach is needed to deal with some of the area’s most urgent issues, including transportation and affordable housing. He would begin pressing for a new ‘‘visionary investment” similar to the region’s support for Metro decades ago.

He also said he would draw on his experience defending tenants to bring about legislation supporting affordable housing. ‘‘I have worked pro bono to save tenants from the unfair practices and also to protect affordable housing. As a public official, I could be that much more effective in defending the wonderful diversity of our community.”

Education is another key issue for Raskin, and one that he said would be a priority if he wins the election.

‘‘I have three kids in the public schools, and I want to safeguard that investment,” he said. ‘‘... I want our teachers to have the resources they need, and I want kids who speak English as a second language to get the help they need to speak English as quickly as possible.”

He also said he supports campaign finance reform, adding that government should serve everyone, not just the people who have lobbyists in Annapolis and Washington.

‘‘Most people know little of what goes on in Annapolis,” he said. ‘‘There are lots of politicians who want to keep it that way, but I learned the people who have a real commitment to change and progress for the state can make a big difference there.”

Raskin graduated from Harvard Law School and is now both a law professor at American University and a public-interest attorney. He and his wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, live in Old Town Takoma Park with their three children.

District 20 includes Takoma Park and portions of Silver Spring north along the Route 29 corridor to White Oak.

Jamie Raskin
State Senate, District 20
43, Takoma Park
Democrat

Experience: Former chairman, Maryland State Higher Education Labor Relations Board; founder and director, Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project at the Washington College of Law, American University; professor of law, American University, and public-interest attorney.

Top Issues: Education, affordable housing, smart growth and environmental protection.

For more: Visit www.raskin06.com or call 240-350-2953.