Yesterday, Delegate Heather Mizeur’s campaign for Governor of Maryland won the backing of Baltimore City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke. She also received endorsements from two community leaders: Pastor Delman Coates of Prince George’s County and Sonja Sohn from Baltimore City. In addition to the endorsements, Mizeur won the Progressive Neighbors Straw Poll by an overwhelming margin.
“I am incredibly honored to receive support from local leaders and progressive activists, who work little by little each day, hand in hand with their neighbors, to help our communities live up to their full potential,” Mizeur said. “Together, we can bring this leadership and energy all across our great state, never settling for just good enough.”
Councilwoman Clarke represents the 46,000 14th District residents on the Baltimore City Council. She previously served as the first woman President of the Baltimore City Council from 1987-1995. She also represented the old 2nd District on the Council between 1975-1983. Councilwoman Clarke has been a lead advocate for high-quality education and economic justice, having been the lead sponsor on the nation’s first “Living Wage” law and a co-sponsor of the first Charter amendment to reduce class size in Baltimore City Schools. Yesterday, she declared her strong public support at a Mizeur campaign meet and greet in Baltimore City.
“Thank you Delegate Mizeur for having the courage to get into the race for governor and giving us an exciting choice,” said Clarke. “Your leadership and values are exactly what Maryland needs at this time and I’m proud to support you in this race.”
Coates is the Senior Pastor at Mt. Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, Maryland, home to over 8,000 congregants. He is an advocate at the state and national levels for marriage equality, health reform, and social justice. Mizeur and Coates have worked side by side on many issues, including in support of marriage equality and in opposition of the 2012 gambling expansion to Nation Harbor. She has also attended services at Mt. Ennon Baptist Church on several occasions, including yesterday morning.
“I’m proud to endorse Heather Mizeur for governor,” Pastor Coates said. “Heather’s always been a fierce advocate for Maryland’s families and has never been afraid to dig in and find solutions for even our most difficult issues. She will be an excellent leader for our state.”
Sohn is the founder and CEO of reWIRED for Change, a Baltimore City-based outreach program that works to rehabilitate at-risk youth involved in criminal activity. She is also an actress, known for her role as Detective Kima Greggs in the HBO hit television show, The Wire. Yesterday, Sohn declared her support after the Mizeur campaign meet and greet in Baltimore City.
“Delegate Mizeur is willing to roll up her sleeves and do the hard work needed to truly reform our criminal justice system,” Sohn said. “After working side-by-side with her, and seeing her commitment to Baltimore and to the entire state, I know she’s the best person to lead Maryland to new heights.”
Mizeur also scored a landslide victory in the Progressive Neighbors Straw Poll held at yesterday’s Takoma Park Folk Festival. She earned 167 votes, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown picked up 23 votes, and Attorney General Doug Gansler received 14 votes, giving Mizeur 82 percent of the poll.
The three community leader endorsements and the straw poll victory follow last week’s backing from a dozen current and former members of the Takoma Park City Council. Mizeur’s campaign for Governor of Maryland has also been endorsed by the Women’s Campaign Fund and Blue America.
Press release from the offices of Heather Mizeur.
Friends of Heather Mizeur
Contact: Steven Hershkowitz, [email protected], 410-756-0408
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