The following are brief profiles of the new state delegates from Baltimore County.
Name: Todd Schuler, Democrat
District: 8
Age: 29
Occupation: Workers? compensation and personal injury lawyer
Education: Undergraduate degree from Springhill College, law degree from Tulane University
Residence: Overlea
Committee: Judiciary
Like other county rookies, Schuler said his top goal is simply to get acclimated ? with a few lofty goals on the side.
Schuler said he intends to partner with Baltimore City Democrat Del. Peter Hammen to sponsor a “bottle bill” that would establish a 5-cent deposit on recyclable bottles and cans. Schuler said the average recycling rate in states with bottle bills is double that of non-bottle bill states. The program also would create jobs and curb litter and Bay pollution, he said.
“We could also turn around deposit money and invest it in Bay cleanup,” he said. “We?d raise revenue without raising taxes, so it?s an all-around win.”
Assigned to the judiciary committee, Schuler won?t likely see his bottle bill or his other priority: education. Schuler said he is looking forward to working with other county delegates to secure County Executive Jim Smith?s goal of $95 million in state funds for school renovation and construction. Schuler noted the county has the second-oldest stock of public schools in Maryland.
Name: John Olszewski Jr., Democrat
District: 6
Age: 24
Occupation: American Government and History teacher at Patapsco High and Center for the Arts
Education: Undergraduate degree from Goucher College, Master?s degree from George Washington University
Residence: Dundalk
Committee: Ways and Means
Olszewski, who was first appointed as delegate to fill a vacancy left by the late John Arnick, said he doesn?t expect to introduce “a million bills” during his first session.
Like Lafferty, Olszewski said learning will be a key step to representing his constituents in the sixth district for the next four years. He does, however, plan to introduce a bill to keep convicted child sex offenders at least one mile from schools and parks and establish regulations for motorists? cellphone use.
A high school teacher and member of the education and revenue subcommittees, Olszewski said he hopes to secure adequate funding for local school construction projects.
“If we?re not prepared to make difficult decisions, we shouldn?t be here in the first place,” he said.
Name: Dana Stein, Democrat
District: 11
Age: 48
Occupation: Executive director of Civic Works Inc.
Education: Undergraduate degree Harvard University, law degree from Columbia University and a master?s degree from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University
Residence: Pikesville
Committee: Environmental Matters
A longtime Democratic activist, Stein has outlined specific and ambitious goals for his first session in Annapolis. He said he wants to increase incentives for renewable energy and, possibly, conservation and tailor the vehicle emissions test process.
Under existing policies, vehicles manufactured after 1995 fail emissions test automatically if a “check engine” light comes on. Stein wants to implement a $12 option to allow vehicle owners to also request a tail pipe test if they fail the routine inspection.
Stein said he also plans to introduce legislation to increase tax exemptions for seniors. He said he is looking forward to working with the other District 11 Delegates ? who have a long-standing tradition of cooperation ? on his three initiatives.
Name: Stephen Lafferty, Democrat
District: 42
Age: 57
Occupation: Deputy director for planning and zoning for Howard County government
Residence: Stoneleigh (just south of Towson)
Education: Law degree from University of Baltimore, undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park
Committee: Environmental Matters
For his first session, Lafferty identified “learning as much” as he can as a top priority. He said he is busily preparing himself for key bills that will likely pass through the Environmental Matters committee, including vehicle emissions standards, Chesapeake Bay restoration funds and regulations to resolve ground rent disputes.
He said he is looking forward to working on a committee chaired by Del. Maggie McIntosh, a Baltimore City Democrat who had the distinction of being the House?s first female majority leader.
“Not only is she smart and thoughtful, but she?s also known to be a good committee chair and leader,” Lafferty said. “I know I will learn a lot from her.”
