2022 Voter Guide: Stacie MacDonald, candidate for Maryland Senate District 30

Why are you running for office?

I wish to give back to the community by using my extensive business and legal background to improve the quality of life in Annapolis for my constituents. My approach is much like Governor Hogan's, fair, thoughtful, and pragmatic. I take a common sense, bipartisan, and balanced approach to policies, and I am not going to vote merely because of a political party. To me, serving is not about a certain political party. I am an animal lover and owner of a Maryland assisted living business that accepts elderly residents and allows them to bring their pets to live with them. There is too much special interest money in politics and too many political favors. Therefore, I refuse all contributions from PACs, Lobbyists, and "Special Interest" groups!

What is the most pressing issue in your district?

Rising crime, especially violent crime. Governor Hogan has tried for years to do something about violent crime in our area and our incumbent Senator has refused to stand beside him to stop violent crime. Instead, she has pushed for more leniency. During the 2022 Legislative Session, I testified supporting a bill backed by Governor Hogan to reduce violent crime.

How will you help your constituents deal with inflation?

I support meaningful tax relief for Marylanders. We need to end the automatic gas tax increase passed by liberals in 2013 that increases the price of gas by the rate of inflation every year without a vote. For 2022, that's 7.9% percent! We also need to build on Governor Hogan's tax relief package that passed this year to include more working families and everyday Marylanders. I would like to make it easier to create jobs. Every year our current Senator backs legislation that makes it more and more expensive to hire workers and forces the cost of everything to increase.

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

Roads. I am glad to see that the General Assembly voted to give counties more money for local road maintenance. I would like to allocate the one-time Federal relief dollars to road transportation infrastructure.

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

Parents and caregivers need to be a larger part of the decision-making process. Education is a team sport and requires the involvement of educators, administrators, and families for student success. We need to weigh the entire wellness of the children and put them first. Many schools in our area are the social glue that keeps children's lives together - keeping them out of school, unsupervised is not good for our children.

How equitably do police officers treat people of color?

Everyone should be treated equally under the law, and we need to provide our law enforcement officers with the resources, training, and support they need to achieve this goal through proven practices such as community policing. I oppose efforts to defund the police. Support of this radical agenda has led to increased lawlessness in Annapolis and our surrounding communities as repeat, violent offenders have no fear of consequences. The solution isn't less money, it's concentrating resources on more robust training and recruitment. Crime in Annapolis and our surrounding area is out of control - making it unsafe for everyone.

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

Our voting systems are secure and accurate. Unfortunately, there are many people on both sides of the aisle who have begun to question the validity of our election process. To reassure these folks, I support regular audits of our systems. Most importantly, our election administrators need to follow the letter of the law and the best practices that people have grown so accustomed to over the decades. Changing the rules in the middle of an election breeds uncertainty and a lack of confidence in the system and its results. Changes to the election process should be made during years without elections.

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

I am a strong proponent of alternative energy but only if it is affordable and efficient for every citizen. We must empower all to be able to afford alternatives prior to mandating them. I support what Governor Hogan has done using a balanced approach to the environment and job creation. Balance is key to approaching this issue in the future.

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

Short-term investments with lasting impacts, such as improvements to our infrastructure. Specifically, roads, parks, and investments in technology and other systems that streamline government operations, improve customer service, and make it more efficient in the long run.