During a recent tour of inner city Baltimore, Maryland Republican Party Executive Director Joe Cluster said, "The first thing is showing them the Republican Party is out there listening to their concerns." ("After unrest, GOP looks to make inroads in Baltimore," June 11.)
The article further reports that "Tessa Hill-Aston, president of the Baltimore NAACP, said the organization is glad Republicans are volunteering to help in the city. She said her organization has helped 35 people start the process of expunging criminal records in the last week. She said expungement and voter registration are the group's two biggest goals this year."
Legislation to broaden the circumstances in which an individual could expunge certain criminal convictions passed the House of Delegates, 95-45. Only four Republican delegates and two senators voted for the final version of House Bill 304, which I sponsored.
Legislation making it easier to register to vote will be introduced at next year's session.
Listening to people's concerns is an important part of an elected official's job. However, legislators and their political parties should be judged by the votes we cast.
Del. Jill P. Carter, Baltimore
The writer, a Democrat, represents Baltimore's 41st District.