Tom Hucker for House of Delegates, District 20

Background:

More than anyone else in this race, I'm DFA's kind of candidate. I'm a career activist with a long track record of accomplishment in Annapolis. This job requires the winner to write and pass bills in Annapolis. I'm the only candidate in this race who has proven they have the relationships to rovercome tremendous special interest opposition to round up majorities behind controversial, progressive legislation.

During and after college, I worked for the Sierra Club and the PIRGs for ten years to strengthen federal and state environmental legislation. Then I founded Progressive Maryland, the state's largest grassroots advocacy group. In that role, I've led successful campaigns to raise wages, expand health care coverage, and expand funding for schools, hospitals, and colleges.

Because of my effective activism, I've already been endorsed by NOW President Kim Gandy, Sierra Club field director Bob Bingaman, former Cong. Kweisi Mfume, Councilmember Ike Leggett, Council President George Leventhal, Board of Ed member Valerie Ervin, Sen. Sharon Grosfeld, Dels. Herman Taylor, Susan Lee, Ana Sol Gutierrez; by the teachers union, the fire fighters, Progressive Democrats of America, Metro Washington AFL-CIO, and many others.

I live in downtown Silver Spring with my fiancee, Amy Fortin.

Goals:

There are 188 lawmakers in Anapolis. Most have little impact and pass a small number of very limited bills. But I've already led major campaigns to pass a first-in-the-nation living wage bill, to force Wal-Mart to provide health insurance, to push public financing of elections, to raise millions for public schools and hospitals, and to raise the minimum wage. I can use my experience and relationships to produce greater results for progressives if I'm inside the House of Delegates. Debates about who is the "most progressive" are meaningless. What matters is who has proven that they can produce results for progressives, measured in concrete improvements in people's lives.

Issues:

1) Continue my work to increase funds for public education, including K-12, expanded pre-K, universal afterschool programs, and affordable higher education.
2) Continue my work to expand affordable health care coverage to all Marylanders.
3) Pass public financing of elections to reduce special interest influence in Annapolis.

Grassroots Support:

I've spent my career using grassroots organizing to pass progressive social policies. It's the only way I'd want to run a campaign. We're involving hundreds of activists in our campaign, including targeted outreach among tenants, seniors, veterans, and leaders of Latino/Hispanic, African American, West African, Ethiopian, Thai, Lao, Viet, Korean, and Chinese American communities.

DFA Values:

I've led campaigns to raise wages, expand health care, and protect the environment. And when Gov. Ehrlich wanted to legalize slot machines or cut $1 billion in human services, we found $400 million we lose each year in corporate subsidies. And then we uncovered the fact that 2/3 of the largest multinational companies in Maryland pay no income tax at all. We led successful campaigns to close corporate loopholes; our bill to outlaw Delaware holding companies has raised $300 million to date and will raise $1 billion over this decade. Because we believe government is often part of the solutions to most problems, we Democrats have a special responsibilty to prove we can tax people progressively and spend their money responsibly.