Tuesday, August 6, 2013

PRESS RELEASE: Delegate Susan Lee Announces Campaign for Brian Frosh's Soon-To-Be-Vacant District 16 State Senate Seat

Maryland Juice just received the following press release announcing a State Senate campaign from Delegate Susan Lee. Incumbent Senator Brian Frosh is vacating his District 16 seat (anchored in the Bethesda area) in order to run for Attorney General, and so far Lee appears to be the one to beat in the race to succeed Frosh. At this point, she is the only one decidedly entering the State Senate race. Lee's release below contains commentary from State Senator Jamie Raskin, Board of Education member Judy Docca, and State's Attorney John McCarthy:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Delegate Susan Lee Announces Run for State Senate Seat

Bethesda, MD - Delegate Susan Lee (D-16) has filed her candidacy for the Maryland State Senate just after her District 16 colleague Senator Brian Frosh announced his intention to run for Maryland Attorney General.  Lee told supporters, “In the state senate, I will continue to work hard, get results, and be a strong and effective advocate for the people of District 16, Montgomery County, and Maryland.  I want to ensure that we move forward as the leader in education, affordable college, clean environment, quality health care, public safety, transportation, and emerging technologies and jobs that will sustain us for the future.”

Lee's senate run is fast gaining support from her colleagues, other elected officials, and a wide cross section of community and political leaders.  Senator Jamie Raskin (D-20) stated, "As a Delegate, Susan Lee has been a dependable champion for the policies that make Montgomery County a great place to live—a healthy environment and excellent schools for our kids, transportation investment, and civil rights and liberties for all Marylanders. I look forward to this exciting new phase of her honorable career in public service."

In commending Lee’s ardent support for education, Montgomery County School Board Member Dr. Judith Docca, said, “Susan Lee is well known as a champion of Montgomery County’s outstanding school system.  She never lets up when it comes to supporting our kids, teachers, and high performing public schools.”  Lee stated, “Education is the key to our future and to the success of our county, state, and country.”

Lee has been praised for leading efforts to pass an aggressive agenda of laws to uplift women, children, and families during her two terms as President of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, which is comprised of state senators and delegates.  In 2012, she received the Legislative Leadership Award from the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women and an Award from the Maryland Chapter of the National Organization for Women in 2013.  “Susan Lee has been a tireless champion for women, children and families. She has authored important laws to fight domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking and worked tenaciously to economically empower and provide equal access to our judicial system to our state's most vulnerable individuals.  Building on her accomplishments, as a senator she will be able to continue her work to ensure that ALL Maryland's citizens have a strong voice on issues impacting them and their future," said Linda Mahoney, President Emerita of the Maryland Chapter of the National Organization for Women.

Lee has also authored and is a leading authority in the General Assembly on landmark laws dealing with cyber security, identity theft, online fraud, public safety, telemedicine, nanobiotechnology, emerging technologies and jobs creation.   Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said, "Susan Lee is an effective legislator who has a track record of passing laws to deter crimes against the elderly, women, children and families. She is also a recognized leader on cyber security, identity theft, and consumer protection issues and has ensured that Maryland, while benefiting from cutting edge technology, is able to keep pace with and protect our citizens against some of the most sophisticated crimes."

Lee was elected to the House of Delegates in 2002 and serves as a Deputy Majority Whip, House Judiciary Committee Member, Chair of the Family Law Subcommittee, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County House Delegation, and Co-Chair of the Maryland Commission on Cyber Security, Innovation and Excellence; Co-Chair of the Maryland Nanobiotechnology Task Force; and Co-Chair of the Maryland Task Force to Study Identity Theft.  She has received numerous awards for going above and beyond for the community, including being inducted into the Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame and Daily Record’s Maryland’s Top 100 Women, receiving the National Center for Children and Families Spirit Award for Humanitarian Leadership, Village of Friendship Heights Community Service Award, Equality Maryland’s Out for Justice Award, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Merit Award, Progressive Maryland Leadership Award, Charles E. Smith Communities Chairman’s Award for Commitment to the Elderly Community and recognized by the Maryland Health Information Management Systems Society for leadership on Healthcare Information Technology and Reform.

Lee, who is a respected civil rights and intellectual property attorney, grew up in Bethesda and Potomac.  She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park and Winston Churchill High School.  Lee has served in leadership positions in many community and political organizations, including the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board, Progressive Maryland Board, and Jewish Foundation for Group Homes Board and as Co Chair of the NAACP Multicultural Community Partnership, Member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, and Delegate to the Democratic National Conventions.  She was also appointed to the United States Patent and Trademark Advisory Board during the Clinton Administration.

###

No comments:

Post a Comment