Maryland
Evan Glass running for Montgomery County executive
Former journalist would be first gay person to hold office
Evan Glass is running for Montgomery County executive.
He is currently serving his second term as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council.
Glass has been a councilman since 2018; he is the first openly gay person to hold a seat on the council. Glass has also been its president and vice president. He is now running to succeed incumbent County Executive Marc Elrich, who has reached the end of his two-term limit.
Glass on Wednesday announced he is entering the race for county executive, which, if elected, would make him the first openly gay person to lead Montgomery County’s executive office.
In an email to the Washington Blade, Glass outlined key campaign priorities, including standing up to President Donald Trump and his “aspiring oligarchs,” supporting vulnerable members of the Montgomery County community as federal budgets are slashed, and protecting residents’ quality of life by ensuring that “Montgomery County remains a place where people can afford to live, raise their families, and retire with security.”
Glass is holding a campaign launch event on March 22 at 11:30 a.m. at 7 Locks Brewing in Rockville to officially kick off his bid for county executive, outline his campaign platform, and connect with supporters.
Over the past seven years, Glass has served on several key committees within the Montgomery County Council. These include the Transportation and Environment Committee, where he has worked to implement policies benefiting both public transit users and the environment, and the Economic Development Committee, which focuses on fostering and sustaining economic growth in Montgomery County.
In addition to his committee work, Glass spearheaded the creation of the Anti-Hate Task Force, which aims to “prioritize policies that promote safety and combat hate crimes” for marginalized communities, including LGBTQ residents. He also helped organize the county’s first Pride celebrations.
During his tenure, Glass has worked to reduce housing costs in Montgomery County by passing legislation to make it more affordable to build and rent homes, particularly near public transportation. He has also championed policies to address the climate crisis, including securing funding for clean energy initiatives.
Glass has helped pass numerous laws to expand grant opportunities for entrepreneurs, ensure fair wages, and increase oversight, and transparency within Montgomery County Public Schools. He also led efforts to expand the county council from nine to 11 members.
Before entering Montgomery County politics, Glass spent 12 years as a journalist for CNN, covering national politics.
Maryland
Joseline Peña-Melnyk elected Md. House speaker
Family immigrated to New York City from the Dominican Republic
By PAMELA WOOD | Moments after being elected speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Tuesday, state Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk stood before the chamber and contemplated her unlikely journey to that moment.
Born in the Dominican Republic, the Peña family lived in a small wooden house with a leaky tin roof and no indoor plumbing. Some days, she said, there was no food to eat.
When she was 8 years old, the family immigrated to New York City, where Peña-Melnyk was dubbed “abogadito” or “little lawyer” for helping her mother and others by translating at social services offices.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
Maryland
FreeState Justice launches 501(c)(4) group
FreeState Equality will focus on policy and advocacy
FreeState Justice, an LGBTQ organization that provides legal services, community programs, and public education in Maryland, announced the launch of FreeState Equality on Wednesday.
The new, independent organization intends to pursue advocacy and policy work beyond the legal capability of FreeState Justice, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. FreeState Equality functions as a 501(c)(4) organization, meaning it can partake in political activity.
“We are committed to transparency throughout this process and look forward to continuing our work together in service of LGBTQ+ Marylanders,” said FreeState Justice Executive Director Phillip Westry.
FreeState Equality will take on policy, advocacy, and civic engagement initiatives while FreeState Justice will pursue legal and direct-service work, according to Westry.
While both organizations adhere to similar values, they will feature separate leadership, operations and compliance.
FreeState Equality is hosting its first launch fundraiser on Dec. 10 at the Brass Tap in Baltimore. The event, held from 5-7 p.m., will feature insight from FreeState Equality staff about how Maryland policy can support the state’s LGBTQ community.
Attendees can purchase fundraiser tickets on Zeffy for $25 general admission, which includes a free first drink. The organization also welcomes additional donations.
By LEE O. SANDERLIN, PAMELA WOOD and BRENDA WINTRODE | Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, the first woman and first person of color to hold her position, stepped down from her leadership post Thursday, effective immediately.
Jones, 71, has been a member of the legislature since 1997 and ascended to the top role in 2019 following the death of longtime House Speaker Michael E. Busch.
Jones held a meeting with top House Democratic leaders Thursday afternoon, sources said, at which she informed them of her decision. In a statement, Jones described the changes of life’s seasons and said she was ready to focus on what lies ahead.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
-
Politics3 days agoLGBTQ Democrats say they’re ready to fight to win in 2026
-
District of Columbia2 days agoBrian Footer suspends campaign for Ward 1 D.C. Council seat
-
Chile5 days agoFar-right José Antonio Kast elected Chile’s next president
-
Opinions3 days agoLighting candles in a time of exhaustion
