An aerial view of the Maryland State House. Stock.adobe.com photo by Matthew Tighe.
Diane Fink, the one and only executive director in the history of the group Emerge Maryland, is stepping down after 13 years on the job.
Emerge was set up to recruit and train Democratic women who want to run for office. Each year, the organization has a new “class,” and has helped launch the political careers of dozens of women.
The very first class, in 2013, included current State Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) and state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel), who is heavily favored to win the 3rd District congressional seat this year. Subsequent classes have produced an equally impressive set of leaders.
“I’ve launched over 200 women in our program, and it’s really exciting to follow them,” Fink said in an interview. “I’ve watched them grow up.”
Emerge has evolved into a powerhouse in Maryland politics.
“I feel like I’ve brought Emerge to a really good place,” Fink said. “We’ve made a mark on Maryland to an extent. I feel like it’s a time for fresh ideas.”
Fink has also been motivated to leave by the recent birth of her first grandchild, who lives in Austin, Texas.
The Emerge board is taking applications for a new executive director through Oct. 15, and hopes to have a new leader in place by the beginning of 2025. Fink plans to stay around through late February to help with the transition.
“I think we’re going to do well,” she said.
Before joining Emerge, Fink served on the Maryland State Commission for Women, worked as a staffer in the General Assembly, and was a member of the Frederick County Democratic Central Committee. As for her next act, stay tuned.
The wisdom of Solomon
Del. Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery), viewed by colleagues as one of the most knowledgeable legislators in the General Assembly on education topics, will spread that wisdom as a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which helps set policies for the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), more commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card.
A member of the House Appropriations Committee and chair of its Oversight Committee on Personnel, Solomon sponsored several bills this year that were signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore (D). One of those measures, known as the Kids Code law, aims to provide privacy and other protections to children using online platforms.
Solomon, who also serves as co-chair of the legislature’s Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee, was one of two appointments to the National Assessment Governing Board announced Tuesday by U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. The state lawmaker will join Danielle Gonzales, school board president on the all-women Albuquerque Board of Education in New Mexico as the other new member.
Cardona also reappointed four members on the 26-member body, which was created by Congress in 1988. This year’s report card was scheduled for release in the fall, but will now be made public in early 2025.
“As the Department continues its work to Raise the Bar for academic excellence — and when so much is at stake in our fight to defend public education — the Nation’s Report Card and the National Assessment Governing Board are critical in our efforts to promote evidence-based strategies in student learning,” Cardona said in a prepared statement.
“The talented appointees announced today represent the breadth of skills and lived experience — as community leaders and educators with hands-on experience in the classroom and in districts — to make grounded decisions around assessment and student achievement,” his statement said.
State Superintendent of Schools Carey Wright previously served on the national governing board, but stepped down last year to take her current position overseeing Maryland’s public school system of nearly 890,000 students.
Seasons of Glass
Speaking of Maryland politicians and national boards, Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass (D) has joined the Board of Directors of the National Democratic County Officials, an organization dedicated to electing Democrats at the county level. It represents elected officials in more than 3,000 county governments across the U.S.
Dave Woodward, chair of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners in Michigan and chair of the National Democratic County Officials, hailed Glass’ addition to the board.
“Equal parts progressive policy champion and battle-tested in winning elections, Evan will bring new energy and leadership at the national level helping county leaders better deliver for the hardworking people across America,” he said in a statement.
Glass said he was “honored” to join the board, which focuses on electing first-time candidates to county positions.
“It is imperative that county leaders support each other and their efforts to promote public education, build needed infrastructure, protect our environment and secure our elections,” he said.
Glass is the only Marylander currently on the board.
The green team
At its annual “Changemakers” dinner last week, held on the University of Maryland campus in College Park, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters bestowed awards on three green lawmakers.
U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D) received the John V. Kabler Memorial Award, named for a prominent Maryland conservationist, for his career-long dedication to climate and conservation issues as his unprecedented 58-year political career nears an end. The LCV hailed Cardin as “a tireless advocate for Maryland‘s environment, from the Chesapeake Bay to the state’s forests and waterways. His leadership on issues such as climate change, water infrastructure, and agricultural pollution reduction has been instrumental in protecting Maryland‘s natural treasures and addressing the urgent environmental challenges facing our state and nation.”
Elfreth and state Sen. Sara Love (D-Montgomery) were named LCV’s Legislators of the Year. They were praised for co-sponsoring a measure that creates a pilot program and allocates $20 million over five years for targeted watershed restoration projects, with a focus on environmental justice communities.
Elfreth was praised for legislation that extends tax exemptions for community solar projects, while Love was cited for a bill that strengthens the ability of communities or individuals to file lawsuits over water pollution.
“At a time when the climate crisis continues to impact communities across our state, the long-standing dedication of leaders such as U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and state Senators Love and Elfreth are more critical than ever,” said Kim Coble, LCV’s executive director. “Their efforts are instrumental in advancing Maryland toward a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable environmental future.”