2022 Voter Guide: Millicent A. Hall, candidate for Maryland House District 4

Why are you running for office?

I’m running to make District 4 a better place to live in. I have children in public schools. I own a small business in Frederick County. I have a vested interest in the future of Maryland. I want to see improvements to healthcare access, improvements in education, and I want to help mend the divide that has formed in politics. I want to see good jobs in District 4. I want to see less traffic congestion and safer roads. I will do my best to be an accessible representative, and do all that I can to make sure that the voices of District 4 are heard in Annapolis.

What is the most pressing issue in your district?

The two issues that I hear the most about are economics and infrastructure. People are worried about the rising cost of inflation and a lack of jobs that aren’t an hour commute away. Because we do have so many commuters, traffic is a big concern as well. I also see growing divisiveness as a huge problem. The ugliness on social media has spread from the computer screen to our daily lives. I want to see a coming together of our communities. And, I believe working with folks across the aisle will greatly benefit District 4.

How will you help your constituents deal with inflation?

Inflation is a complicated issue, that is made even more complicated by supply chain issues from COVID. I would like to see a greater implementation or enforcement of price gouging laws, especially for household staples. I would also like to see more manufacturing done in the US, which would help ensure that supply chain issues are not as impactful as we see during the pandemic, while also creating good jobs.

What do you see as the top transportation priority in your district, and how would you address it?

Traffic and road safety. US-15 is one of most dangerous stretches of road in the state, and there are funds allocated to improve and widen 15, but we need to make sure that it doesn’t worsen the gridlock that already exists. This is especially true because the widening project could take years to complete. We should make sure alternatives like telecommuting centers are readily available, especially since telecommuting has been become a much more viable option. We can also continue to explore expanding metro lines, and improving Amtrak service to help reduce congestion.

What should schools do differently during the next pandemic to help students, families and teachers?

No one was prepared for the pandemic. I think through out the closure of school, our education system did the best it could do keep students engaged and on task. Our local school system allowed for lunch pick ups for students in need, and provided free laptops to anyone who needed one. FCPS also already had some virtual schooling available, which I think gave them a leg up. Since we now know what to expect with a a system wide school shut down, I believe the schools are much better prepared if it happens again. The transition to online learning can be much more seamless. I would like to see clearly defined parameters for when schools will close, and when they can reopen.

How equitably do police officers treat people of color?

We need to do better. I believe we need better training, because we know just attending racial bias training reduces racial bias! Just being aware what racial bias is and how to spot your own can help improve the situation. We should also start having the police departments have their own social workers and psychologists or mental health professionals in staff to help deescalate situations. We also need to change the mindset in the police from “us versus them” to “this is our community.” Community policing policies, where the officers get to know the people they serve can go a long way. Also, if you really want to reduce crime, invest in education and affordable childcare.

What would you do to make sure Maryland’s voting system is secure and accurate?

Maryland’s voting system is secure. There is very little voter fraud. We have election judges that represent both parties equally during the voting and counting process. It’s a fair and effective system.

What are the right goals and deadlines for Maryland to reduce carbon emissions and develop renewable energy sources?

Maryland has done a lot to reduce carbon emissions and support renewable energy. We have set ambitious goals that exceed the Paris Accords. I would advocate that we ensure that job training and educational programs are readily available to help support the growing green economy with a highly skilled workforce. We can also partner with Maryland Universities to make sure that research into new technology that could help us reach the goal of 100% clean energy comes even sooner than projected.

What’s Maryland’s best use of federal COVID relief money?

Increasing access to healthcare providers, with a concentration on supporting telehealth visits. We should also continue to help small businesses that have been disproportionately affected by COVID. Finally, we should increase incentives to study healthcare, and provide opportunities to recruit more healthcare workers.