Nine Democrats told members of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee Tuesday night why they would be the best person to represent District 16.
Melissa Bender, Diana Conway, Joe Hennessey, Jason Nuñez, Steve Shapiro, Amol Tripathi, Heather Weaver, Scott Webber and Teresa Woorman are competing to fill the seat left vacant when Delegate Sara Love resigned to become state senator in the same district.
Central committee members will make their choice known July 11 and then it is up to Gov. Wes Moore to appoint Love’s replacement.
This process has been in place for many years, although there has been a public outcry to let voters choose their representatives in Annapolis.
Here is a brief look at each candidate.
Bender is a Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) graduate who worked with AmericCorps for one year. She was a legislative aide in the Maryland General Assembly for the House Health and Government Operations Committee and chief of staff to Del. Debra Davis (District 28).
Conway is a law school graduate who is active with the Women’s Democratic Club and has twice been its president. She also is involved with several local organizations and has been a PTA president.
Hennessey is a lawyer at his own law firm in Friendship Heights and has worked on political campaigns throughout the country.
Nunez is chief of staff to Delegate Deni Taveras of Prince George’s County and has worked in the county council office in Prince George’s County. He is chair of the Latinx Diversity Leadership Council for the Maryland Democrats.
Video of the July 2, 2024 Maryland District 16 Delegate Candidate forum is posted at https://t.co/frMX9PYZ2I. Visit https://t.co/u9fNGq8fNk for information on the vacancy appointment process. pic.twitter.com/nX8mOO8ZfA
— Montgomery County (MD) Democratic Party (@mcdcc) July 3, 2024
Shapiro has degrees in law and engineering and served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He is retired from the federal government and is active in the Little Falls Parkway issue.
Tripathi has worked in commercial real estate and is a startup advisor.
Weaver is an elementary school teacher at MCPS and has an MBA from Georgetown University and a Master’s degree in Education from George Washington University.
Webber described himself as a progressive activist with a background in technology and real estate.
Woorman, who is a naturalized citizen, was County Executive Marc Elrich’s campaign manager in 2022 and now works in the county public information office. She speaks four languages.
