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District
6 Legislators Announce Re-election Plans
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Senator Norman Stone and
Delegates Joseph “Sonny” Minnick, John Olszewski, Jr. and Mike Weir,
Jr. announced to supporters their intentions to seek re-election.
The “Forward Together” team, consisting of all four legislators,
represents the gamut of public service and work experiences - including
a retired firefighter and restaurant owner (both of whom are veterans),
as well as an attorney and educator.
Senator Norman Stone, who serves as President Pro Tem Emeritus and a
member of the Judicial Proceeding Committee, is the longest-serving
member of the Maryland legislature. His legislative
accomplishments including passing the original sex offender
registration act, “Megan’s Law,” and measures to protect the rights of
crime victims. He shared his passion for the communities
represented by District 6. “During my time in the legislature, I
have always admired and stood for the strong work ethic and values that
have made our district great,” Stone said. “Experience matters
and working together our district will continue to move forward.”
Delegate Joseph “Sonny” Minnick, who serves on the Economic Matters
Committee, takes a particular interest in small-business issues.
During his time in the legislature, he has become an expert on
electricity and health care coverage for small business. Minnick
shared, “We passed legislation in 2008 that gave BG&E the ability
to purchase energy from the open market at any time resulting in lower
costs.” The impact of this legislation will soon be felt, as
Baltimore Gas and Electric recently announced that customers will save
as much as $161 annually when rates go down this summer to their lowest
level since 2006. “We will continue to do all that we can to
lower costs to our residents,” said Minnick.
Delegate John Olszewski, Jr. is completing his first full term in the
House. He is a former high school and special education teacher
at Patapsco High School and current resource teacher in the Baltimore
County school system. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee
and Education Subcommittee, he is known in Annapolis for his advocacy
on education issues. “In just one term, I am proud of the
tremendous progress that our district has made. Our communities
will be stronger because of the two brand new schools slated for
construction, the scores of new community centers built, and other
improvements made through streetscapes and park improvements,”
Olszewski said.
In his announcement, Olszewski also mentioned the work of the
delegation in Annapolis, saying “not only am I proud of the progress we
have realized at home, but I am proud of our record in Annapolis:
cracking down on child sexual predators, protecting the environment,
and passing tax credits specifically geared to benefit our established
communities.”
Delegate Mike Weir, Jr. is finishing up his second term in the House of
Delegates, serving on the Environmental Matters Committee. One of
his many interests, the Chesapeake Bay, realized significant gains in
recent years. As Weir shared, “Working together, we fight every
day for the health of our waterways. For example, we were able to
install a new trash boom in Back River that has been very successful in
halting the flow of trash and debris downstream.”
“I believe,” said Delegate Weir, “that we have an obligation to
our children and grandchildren to clean up the Bay and its tributaries
and I am very pleased that as indicated by the record growth in the
blue crab population this year, we are heading in the right
direction.”
Additionally, the Forward Together Team remains sensitive to the
families of the district, with all four voting against the increase of
the sales tax from five percent to six percent, all the while helping
to trim Maryland’s general fund budget to levels lower than when they
began the term. They have also been supportive of the efforts to
construct a new berth at the Seagirt facility of the Port of Baltimore
- a project that will create thousands of new employment opportunities
in the immediate area of the district.
The legislators will officially kick off their re-election efforts at a
campaign headquarters grand opening, scheduled for Saturday, June 12.
All residents of the district will be invited to attend.
- by Authority: United
Together Slate, JoAnne Stone, Treasurer -
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