Howard County Residents Engage with Representatives at District 9 Night in Annapolis

By Eileen Wu

On a recent winter evening, residents of Howard County gathered in the Legislative Services Building in Annapolis. Lively conversations filled the room as the attendees awaited the arrival of their four Maryland Legislative District 9 representatives: Senator Katie Fry Hester and Delegates Courtney Watson, Chao Wu and Natalie Ziegler.

The legislators started off the evening by explaining their priorities for this year’s Maryland legislative session, which began in January and ends in April. The representatives discussed which issues are their priorities and explained the bills they planned to introduce. Following the presentations, they mingled with the audience. Constituents had the chance to ask questions, champion their interests, and get to know the people who would be representing them in the state legislature.

One constituent in attendance, Tanvi Modugula, is a junior at Mt. Hebron High School. She attended the event to advocate for the reinstatement of the composting system in the Howard County Public School System. Composting, which had been available the previous school year, was removed this year due to budget cuts. By attending D9 Night, Modugula hoped to bring awareness of the composting cuts to her delegate.

As a proponent of the Second Look Act, Serena Lao sought a chance to speak to her representative, Delegate Courtney Watson. The Second Look Act has been introduced in several states, as well as in Congress. The sentencing reform bill seeks to provide an opportunity for incarcerated convicts to have their sentences reevaluated after certain conditions have been reached. Lao, when interviewed, said that one of her relatives had been incarcerated for 36 years, but “he’s one of the kindest people I know.”

Following the meeting, constituents were invited to watch an official legislative session. In the majestic State House, audience seats are located high above the assembly floor, overlooking the delegates and senators seated in their respective halls.

For information about state representatives, how to contact them, the bills they are sponsoring and upcoming constituent events, visit the Maryland General Assembly website: www.mgaleg.maryland.gov.

Eileen Wu is a student at the Bryn Mawr School and enjoys writing short stories.