What an honor it would be to represent the historic district of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. I hold dear that faith that was central to their achievements. It is fundamental to my campaign for State Senate.
And how in need of replacement is my opponent Addie Eckardt. Her earnestness perfectly suits the ceremonial role she plays that one forgets she is a State Senator, not just capable of feeling your pain but doing a tremendous amount about it, which she does not. She voted against raising the minimum wage from $7.25, opposed paid sick leave, controlling the cost of prescription drugs, and Medicaid expansion which now provides health insurance coverage for over 13,000 residents of District 37 counties. And she has a record that would make anyone interested in caring for the environment, sensible gun safety and voting rights cringe.
Of concern are the 35% of the District’s white working families who cannot put food on the table and pay for car repairs and over 50% among African American and Hispanic working families. I will work for an increase in the minimum wage and universal Pre-K for four year-olds. I will work to protect retiree benefits and the forests which give the Shore its beauty and help keep air and water clean and to use public funds for public schools.
Raised in a military family, it would be a great honor to fight for District 37.
Holly Wright
St. Michaels
Julie Imirie says
Ms. Wright’s attacks on Senator Eckardt are just plain unfounded. They are factually incorrect. In addition, Senator Eckardt has worked tirelessly over the past years as a Delegate and as a Senator to sit on numerous committees doing the hard work of legislation writing and negotiating. If Ms. Wright is elected, she will be in for a rude awakening when she finds out how wholly unprepared she is and how much Senator Eckardt has done behind the scenes for our district.
Holly Wright says
We voters are so fortunate in the State of Maryland that we have the mgaleg.maryland.gov website where we can go to look up the history of bills, including votes by individual legislators on bills in committees and on the floor of the House of Delegates and Senate. It’s all there for the general public to see. I’m happy to learn where I got any part of my opponent, Addie Eckardt’s, record wrong.
You can even see that when she references in a Press Release/Weekly Update email sent to constituents regarding “Notable Legislation That Took Effect June 1, 2018” that the only environmental bill she mentions, HB 3-Environment-US Climate Alliance-Membership, that requires the Governor to include Maryland as a member of the US Climate Alliance and to report annually on the State’s participation, was a bill she voted against.
You can notice if you look on her website today in her legislative accomplishments, of the few bills that passed most had many, many co-sponsors and virtually unanimous votes. Beware the incumbent who tells you, in these circumstances, that they had to work hard for a bill or amendment, or that it mattered that they were there at all.
You can notice that in 1998, 20 years ago, she did cross the aisle and vote for Maryland’s Children’s Health Program in a 109-25 vote and in one subsequent expansion of the program and should be commended for that. I’m not sure that her record shows that she ever found her way across the aisle in a meaningful way again.
What we do know is that she voted against raising the minimum wage from $7.25, opposed paid sick leave, controlling the cost of prescription drugs, and Medicaid expansion which now provides health insurance coverage for over 13,000 residents in District 37 counties. And she has a record that would make anyone interested in caring for the environment, sensible gun safety and voting rights cringe.
Jonathon Powers says
Dear Editor:
I’ve been back on The Eastern Shore for 18 years plus another 8 before my job relocation break. Never in that time have I ever heard such a knock against Addie Eckardt.
Think what you may about our overall national political scene, but leave The Lady in Pink alone. No one works harder for The Mid-Shore than Senator Eckardt.
Thank you,
Jon Powers
Jim Franke says
The Senator says on her website that: “Oyster restoration, clean water, and clean air, are things that I support “. Yet she and all the GOP legislators voted against a bill to “Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from reducing or altering the boundaries of specified oyster sanctuaries until the Department develops a fisheries management plan for the scientific management of the oyster stock following completion of a specified study and reports.” Words are different from actions.
Susan Olsen says
I would like to echo Jim Franke’s concerns regarding the Senator’s voting record on environmental issues. She has a zero rating from the League of Conservation Voters in 2017. Yes, you read that right. Zero. She has voted against HB 1325 to prohibit fracking in Maryland in addition to voting against SB 458 which increases liabilities for fracking. (Remember, fracking is believed to cause earthquakes as reported by PBS.) Senator Eckart also voted nay on SB 198 which sought to prohibit certain dangerous pesticides. In addition, she voted against the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Green Fund (HB 1220) as well as HB 853 prohibiting hydraulic dredging for oysters and clams in Atlantic Coastal Bays. So, Ms. Imirie, Senator Eckart may be working hard, but she is definitely not working hard to protect our environment.