MD-Gov: EMILY's List Backs Heather Mizeur (D) For Governor

Some times EMILY's List doesn't always back the right candidates (Colleen Hanabusa), but in the Maryland Governor's race, they made the right choice:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Maryland Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Heather R. Mizeur got a boost Friday from EMILY’s List, which announced it would use its national network to steer financial contributions to the campaign of the Montgomery County delegate.

The organization is well-known for its support of Democratic women running for office around the country, who believe in abortion rights, and claims 3 million members.

In a statement, Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, called Mizeur “a glass-ceiling breaker,” who her members would be excited to back.

“Heather Mizeur is a progressive powerhouse who will fight for the rights of Maryland’s women and working families from day one,” Schriock said. “Heather is poised to be the first elected openly gay governor in the country and the first woman to serve as governor in the Free State.” - Washington Post, 12/13/13

Now why is this a big deal you may ask?  Well here's why:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

EMILY's List, an increasingly powerful group that helps get progressive women elected to office, will announce on Friday that it is supporting Heather Mizeur in the race for Maryland governor. If elected, Mizeur would be the first female governor of Maryland and the first openly gay person elected governor in U.S. history.

Mizeur, who is viewed as the most progressive of the three candidates, has been a champion for health care reform during her time in the Maryland legislature. She led successful efforts to allow young adults to stay on their family’s insurance plans until they turn 25 and to help minors enroll in public health coverage. She also fought to increase low-income women’s access to Medicaid family planning services. President Barack Obama appointed her in 2009 to the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee and the State Legislators for Health Reform Task Force.

In 2011, Mizeur played a key role in the fight to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland, delivering an emotional speech on the House floor during the debate over the bill. She attracted media attention last month when she proposed legalizing marijuana in Maryland and using the tax revenue it generated to fund full-day pre-kindergarten education programs for 4-year-olds across the state.

Mizeur lives with her wife in Takoma Park, Maryland. They own a small business and a farm on the Eastern Shore. - Huffington Post, 12/13/13

And EMILY's List's backing is certainly going to come in handy to help her win the primary:

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/...

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Heather R. Mizeur will announce Wednesday that she will become the first contender for that office since 1994 to accept public financing of her campaign — effectively limiting her spending on the primary to about $2.5 million.

Mizeur, a two-term delegate from Montgomery County, will announce her decision as part of her roll out of a broad proposal to curb the influence of special interests on elections. Among the provisions will be replacement of Maryland’s current, limited financing scheme with a comprehensive system.

n a copy of her proposal released by her campaign, Mizeur said she and her running mate, the Rev. Delman Coates, decided to use the current system in order to “lead by example.”

Mizeur would be the first gubernatorial candidate to use the system since Republican Ellen R. Sauerbrey in 1994, the House minority leader who pulled off a stunning upset in the GOP primary but lost to Democrat Parris N. Glendening by a razor-thin margin in the general election. - The Baltimore Sun, 12/3/13

And I don't know about you, but this is a big reason why I'd like to see Mizeur win:

http://www.somdnews.com/...

Legal, regulated and taxed: That is how Democratic gubernatorial candidate Del. Heather Mizeur sees marijuana in Maryland’s future.

And she is not alone.

Mizeur of Montgomery County released her latest campaign policy earlier this month, a plan to decriminalize marijuana.

Her plan would not just make pot legal — it would regulate it in a similar way to how the state regulates alcohol.

Under her plan, those 21 or older could possess up to an ounce of pot or up to 5 grams of concentrated marijuana or marijuana-infused products with a THC total of 4.2 grams, all without violating state law. THC is the psychoactive compound that gives marijuana users a high.

However, regulations would prohibit pot from being consumed in public, both indoors and out, and would prohibit users from driving under its influence.

Employers would be prohibited from firing employees who use marijuana on their own time in their private life. But landlords could restrict tenants from using or growing it on their property.

Mizeur said she has been working with the Marijuana Policy Project and other advisers active in pursuing the issue in other states.

By taxing legalized pot, Mizeur’s plan estimates the state could gain as much as $157.5 million in annual revenue, money she would direct to substance-abuse programs and early childhood education.

Her plan would impose an excise tax of $50 per ounce between growers and sellers and charge consumers 6 percent sales tax plus an extra 2 percent tax. It also assumes a sales price of $7 per gram. - SoMd News, 11/27/13

Now the Maryland legislation is already planning on bringing marijuana legalization up for a vote next year but Mizeur is the only candidate in the primary running on a pro-pot legalization platform.  It's still important for the marijuana legalization process to have a Governor committed to the cause.  So Mizeur has my suppport.  If you would like to get involved or donate to Mizeur's campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.heathermizeur.com/