State Delegate

2022 Endorsement for Dr. Chao Wu

2022 Endorsement for Dr. Chao Wu for Maryland State Delegate

Here comes the endorsement for Dr. Chao Wu for Maryland State Delegate, District 9A. Although I have been endorsed by various organizations or persons, I believe it is not a specific organization that can speak for you.  It is you, our voters, by making some effort to understand the candidate’s background, experience, and vision for Maryland. Then you cast an informed vote. Your vote is my endorsement. 

My service on the Howard County Board of Education (2018-2022), one year as chair and more than 500 articles on various topics on this website will help you understand me better.

I am a data scientist, a proud father of two, an immigrant, and a community volunteer. I currently serve on the Howard County Board of Education (BOE) (Term 2018-2022). 

I will be your voice and you are my strength.

A Vote for Dr. Wu is a Vote for you. 

 

勇往前行再出发，伍超博士马里兰州众议员的征程

勇往前行再出发

伍超博士马里兰州众议员的征程

大家好，我是伍超。现任马里兰哈维郡教育委员(school board/BOE member, 任期 2018-2022)。2022年2月18日，我正式宣布竞选马里兰州众议员。恳请大家支持我！

我于马里兰大学获得博士学位。我在马里兰学习、工作、成家，迄今已经在马里兰生活了接近二十年。我和夫人有两个小孩。这些年我除了数据科学家的全职工作， 还一直在为社区做志愿服务。

2018年我第一次参加竞选，还记得11月6日大选投票日，华裔社区两百多位志愿者在大风大雨中，在哈维郡各大投票站点举着我的竞选牌子，给一个个选民分发我的BOE竞选传单。是社区的每一份捐款和每一张选票的支持，是大家顶风冒雨一票一票的争取下，我才能以五万四千多，第二高票，当选教育委员；是大家一起携手，创造了哈维华裔第一代移民草根参政的历史；是大家的力量，让我成为了你们的声音。我于2018年12月3日，正式宣誓就职哈维郡教育委员。 哈维郡公立学校有近十亿美元的预算，58000学生，八千教职员工。

这四年我莫不敢忘大家对我的支持！

很多住在哈维的华裔，和我一样也是为了孩子的教育才搬来这里。知识改变了我的命运，我们也希望教育可以让我们的孩子在更广阔的天空飞翔。

教育质量是我们华裔非常关心的议题。我刚上任那年，学校系统有财政亏空，财政预算讨论的时候，有教育委员想缩减G/T和音乐项目。 我第一个指出不能这么做，并成功说服大多数委员支持我的立场，保留了G/T和音乐项目不变。

学区重划也是对我们华裔影响非常大的议题。2019年因为有些学校过度拥挤，要进行全郡范围的学区重划。8月底学监提出的学区重划方案要挪动将近7400个学生，对我们华裔社区的影响尤其大。我立即推出自己的解决方案，以学生为本，只须挪动3000多学生就可以解决学校过度拥挤问题，尽量减少对学生的影响。可惜那一年我们在BOE没有足够的票数支持我的方案，我们不得不从另外一个教育委员的挪动9000多学生的方案开始。在形势不利的情况下，我通过反复努力和修改，从他们要挪动9000多人，改动到只挪动5000多人。当时我已经尽了最大努力，可惜我们没有足够的票数，来通过我当时提出的挪动3000人的方案。学区重划期间，还发生了一起华裔家庭被骂“go back to Asia” 恶性事件，我随即在接下来的一个board meeting 上严厉谴责了这种种族歧视行为。

因为2023年新的第十三个高中会启用，今年2022又要进行学区重划。在2022年1月27日，BOE投票决定学区重划的范围。开始的时候有两个议案是要全郡大规模重划，这次我们有四票反对，所以最后通过的议案是只围绕新高中做局部重划。

亚裔是少数族裔，还有文化差异，有时候会受到不公正待遇。我任职的这四年里，在公立学校系统里面，当听到几例对亚裔学生抄袭的不公指责时，我立即跟学监交涉，帮助学生们解决问题，同时在学校系统范围发出指导性修改政策。在我担任教育委员之前，也有亚裔学生和家长碰到类似事情不知道怎么处理，我上任后只要我知道了，一定一管到底。

很多华裔家长是第一代移民，都是第一次接触美国的公立学校系统。家长们通过微信，电话，email都可以找到我，咨询各种问题和向我反映情况。上任这四年里，我花了很多时间和家长们交流。在任上，我每年花时间，参观学校（哈维一共有77所学校)，有效地了解学校具体情况，和学生直接交流，鼓励他们参与学校的事情，同时也让亚裔学生感受到支持的力量。

亚裔的历史也是美国的历史，亚裔是美国的一部分。在亚裔社区的努力下，也在我们华裔教育委员的督促下，我们学校历史上第一次成立了AAPI Advisory Committee, 定期跟学监讨论各种亚裔关心的话题。在华裔社区和其他社区的共同努力下，学校系统开始系统性地庆祝各种宗教和文化节日，也包括农历新年，让学区文化更具有包容性。

2020年12月我被选为任期一年的BOE主席, 为了使议事更有效率，我顶住压力，改进BOE会议运行流程，给每个教育委员限时提问时间。这个新建立起来的制度从最开始的受到反对， 到被大家普遍接受和认可，现在被新一任BOE主席保持下来。

除了完成BOE日程安排，我还在做推动亚裔历史进入公校教程的努力。2022年二月BOE开会，我单独把支持增加亚裔历史的州立法拿出来投票；并带头在全国性的杂志National School Board Association Journal撰文: 亚裔历史也是美国历史， https://chaowu.org/2021/07/13/aapi-history-is-american-history/。2021年当选为Maryland Association of Board of Education的board member以来，我一直呼吁增加亚裔历史教育。最近正在跟National School Board Association交涉，要求他们重视亚裔教育委员们的声音，从而成立AAPI council. 我们需要时时努力争取话语权，团结可以团结的力量，才能提升我们的现状。

全国范围内，我多次带头领导和参加支持亚裔的civil rights运动。既有在DC的游行，也有在最高法院前的抗议，还有在司法部门前的示威。这些活动，不仅起到了支持社区的直接目的，还很明显正在提高着华人和亚裔的社区影响力。通过一件件具体的事情，一篇篇文章，一次次的抗议示威，我为我们社区的努力而骄傲，也感谢大家的一直以来的支持。

我也一直鼓励我们的年轻一代更勇敢追求自己的梦想，参加他们的活动，写卡片表扬他们的成就，带intern做各种项目，给孩子们写大学和奖学金推荐信，推荐实习机会，鼓励参加学校Committee等等，多管齐下，希望他们/她们在这个美丽的天空下自由飞翔。 

七年前，我写道: 不参与，就容易被边缘化；不发声，就容易被别人代言；不投票，很可能就只有接受的命运。我很高兴地看到我们社区的变化，参与，发声，投票，捐款，甚至参加竞选，而且赢得竞选。 

四年BOE任期将满，我拟迈上新征程。我希望能在州一级的层次上，改善我们的教育系统，增强社区安全，提高基础设施，改进交通系统，创造更多工作机会。 我们社区正以前所未有的姿态，改变着我们自己，和我们下一代以及美国的未来。参与里有你有我，成功中相庆相贺，让我们再次携手跨入2022年马里兰州立法委员的大门。我珍视您的每一份支持，每一份捐款，背负社区责任和践行自己的理想，为这个自由美丽的国家，让我们一起努力！

如果你愿意加入一份努力，请看 http://www.chaowu.org/donate .

Public Notice: Howard County Local Bills Hearing 11/17/2020

The Howard County Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly, chaired by Senator Clarence Lam and Delegate Jessica Feldmark, will hear testimony from the public on proposed local bills and Legislative Bond Initiative requests. No testimony on other issues will be permitted as a second hearing devoted to statewide bills will be scheduled. 

The hearing will be held virtually at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17.  Members of the public may register to testify or to watch the hearing through WebEx by going to https://howardcountymd.webex.com/howardcountymd/onstage/g.php?MTID=e1b32cd17996caef752a24df9f0944fd1 and clicking on “Register”. Registration will be available by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9, and will remain open until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 16. Written testimony may be submitted by email to HowardCo.DelegationStaff@mlis.state.md.us. Members of the public may testify on any or all of the proposed legislation within their allotted time to speak. Oral testimony will be limited to two minutes per bill up to a total of five minutes for three or more bills. The hearing will also be streamed live on the Howard County Delegation’s Facebook page.  

Full text of the proposed Howard County bills can be accessed, as they become available from Bill Drafting, beginning Monday, November 9, 2020, at 6:00pm on the Howard County website (Home>About HoCo>State Delegation>2021 Session Proposed Local Legislation):  https://www.howardcountymd.gov/About-HoCo/State-Delegation/2021-Session-Proposed-Local-Legislation. Please monitor this page regularly for the most recent updates. Short descriptions of the local bills and a list of bond initiative requests are included below.

Bond Initiative Requests

Humanim – Remodeling Gerwig, Ho. Co. 16-21; $150,000

By: Howard County Delegation

Patuxent Commons, Ho. Co. 17-21; $500,000

By: Howard County Delegation

8125 Main Street Reconstruction and Renovation, Ho. Co. 18-21; $500,000

By: Howard County Delegation

Centennial Park ADA Improvements, Ho. Co. 19-21; $500,000

By: Howard County Delegation 

Harriet Tubman Cultural Center Playground, Ho. Co. 20-21; $200,000

By: Howard County Delegation 

Robinson Nature Center Amphitheater and Stage, Ho. Co. 21-21; $100,000

By: Howard County Delegation

Expanded Tiber Park, Ho. Co. 22-21; $500,000

By: Howard County Delegation

Patapsco Female Institute Chapel, Ho. Co. 23-21; $300,000

By: Howard County Delegation 

Historic Barnard Fort House, Ho. Co. 24-21; $150,000

By: Howard County Delegation

East Columbia 50+ Center, Ho. Co. 25-21; $1,000,000

By: Howard County Delegation

Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, Ho. Co. 26-21; $750,000

By: Howard County Delegation

Ellicott City Quaker School, Ho. Co. 27-21; $150,000

By: Howard County Delegation

Proposed Local Bills

Howard County – Alcoholic Beverages – Delivery, Ho. Co. 1-21

By: Delegate Watson

FOR the purpose of authorizing a holder of a Class A alcoholic beverages license in Howard County to deliver alcoholic beverages in the county; authorizing certain employees of a license holder to deliver alcoholic beverages; requiring that an employee making certain deliveries be of a certain age; requiring an individual receiving a certain alcoholic beverages delivery to provide certain proof of age; providing for the manner in which an individual receiving a delivery of alcoholic beverages provides proof of age; requiring the Board of License Commissioners for Howard County to approve a certain certification; requiring the purchaser of certain alcoholic beverages or a certain designated individual of a certain age to be present to receive a delivery of alcoholic beverages; and generally relating to alcoholic beverages in Howard County.

Howard County – Class A Alcoholic Beverages Licenses – Quota by Election District, Ho. Co. 2-21

By: Senator Guzzone

FOR the purpose of altering the quota system for Class A licenses in Howard County so as to limit the issuance of the licenses to not more than one for a certain number of residents in each election district, rather than in the county; and generally relating to Class A alcoholic beverages licenses in Howard County.

Howard County – Alcoholic Beverages – Alcoholic Beverages Inspectors, Ho. Co. 3-21

By: Chair, Howard County Delegation

FOR the purpose of authorizing an alcoholic beverages inspector to issue a citation in Howard County; requiring an inspector to complete a training program in the use of arrest authority and pertinent police procedures; prohibiting an inspector from carrying a firearm in the performance of the inspector’s duties; requiring the Howard County Police Department to employ certain inspectors, rather than requiring the

Chief of the County Police Department to provide a sworn member of the County Police Department as an inspector; requiring the Chief of the County Police Department to have certain authority over the hiring of inspectors; and generally relating to alcoholic beverages in Howard County.

Howard County – Alcoholic Beverages – Class B Beer, Wine, and Liquor License – Off–Premises Consumption, Ho. Co. 4-21

By: Delegate Watson

FOR the purpose of authorizing the holder of a certain Class B beer, wine, and liquor license in Howard County to sell beer, wine, and liquor for off–premises consumption, subject to certain requirements; repealing certain provisions that authorize the Board of License Commissioners for Howard County to issue a certain permit to a certain holder of a certain Class B beer, wine, and liquor license; and generally relating to alcoholic beverages in Howard County.

Howard County – Board of Education – Redetermination of Geographic Attendance Area, Ho. Co. 5-21

By: Senator Lam

FOR the purpose of requiring the Howard County Board of Education to submit a certain annual report on the program capacity of each permanent school facility, beginning in a certain school year; requiring the county board to submit a certain report to the General Assembly and the Howard County Delegation to the General Assembly under certain circumstances; requiring the county board to implement certain processes set out in a certain policy to make a certain assessment; requiring the county board to submit a certain report to the General Assembly and the Howard County Delegation regarding the outcome of a certain assessment under certain circumstances; defining certain terms; and generally relating to the target utilization of permanent school facilities in Howard County.

Howard County – School Redistricting – Public Testimony, Ho. Co. 7-21

By: Senator Lam

FOR the purpose of requiring, during a school redistricting process in which the redistricting plan proposed by the Howard County Board of Education differs from the redistricting plan proposed by the Howard County Superintendent of Schools, that the county board allow a certain number of members of a household whose school assignment is changed only in the county board’s plan to provide public testimony before the final vote on either school redistricting plan; and generally relating to the Howard County Board of Education and school redistricting.

Howard County – Howard County Board of Education – School Safety Personnel, Ho. Co. 10-21

By: Delegate Atterbeary

FOR the purpose of requiring the Howard County Board of Education to develop a plan to implement certain school safety guidelines that does not assign school resource officers to public schools in Howard County and uses adequate local law enforcement coverage to implement the guidelines; and generally relating to school safety personnel in Howard County.

Howard County – Howard County – Commercial Building Excise Tax – Board of Education Deferred Maintenance, Ho. Co. 11-21

By: Delegate Atterbeary

FOR the purpose of authorizing the County Council of Howard County to impose a certain excise tax; requiring the County Council of Howard County to specify the types of buildings subject to a certain excise tax; authorizing the County Council of Howard County to impose different tax rates on certain construction; requiring the excise tax to be deposited into a certain fund to be used only for a certain purpose; requiring

the Howard County Board of Education to submit a certain report on or before a certain date to the County Council of Howard County, the Howard County Executive, and members of the Howard County Delegation to the General Assembly; requiring the County Council of Howard County and the Howard County Executive to submit a certain report on or before a certain date to the Howard County Delegation to the 15 General Assembly addressing certain recommendations made by the Howard County Board of Education; providing for the termination of certain provisions of this Act; and generally relating to deferred maintenance in the Howard County Public School System.

Howard County – Fee–in–Lieu of Moderate–Income Housing Units – Prohibition, Ho. Co. 12-21

By: Delegate Atterbeary

FOR the purpose of prohibiting Howard County from authorizing payment of a fee–in–lieu of a requirement under local law that a developer provide moderate–income housing units in a new residential development project; and generally relating to moderate–income housing unit requirements in Howard County.

Howard County – Homeowners Association Commission – Alternative Dispute Resolution Authority, Ho. Co. 13-21

By: Delegate Terrasa

FOR the purpose of authorizing Howard County to establish a homeowners association commission to hear and resolve, through alternative dispute resolution, certain issues between a homeowners association and a homeowner regarding certain documents; and generally relating to the resolution of disputes between homeowners associations and homeowners in Howard County.

Howard County – Residential Rental Licenses – Fee for Tenant Services, Ho. Co. 15-21

By: Delegates Feldmark and Terrasa

Bill still in drafting. Check this webpage for updates or email  HowardCo.DelegationStaff@mlis.state.md.us to request to be notified when bill text is available for review.