Political notes: Another departure, Henson makes it official, Alsobrooks and Johnny O hires, more

Another state lawmaker is leaving the General Assembly before the end of her term.

Del. Brooke Grossman (D-Washington) told the website DCNewsNow this week that she is resigning midway through her first term because her family is moving out of the district, making her ineligible to serve. The Washington County Democratic Central Committee is scheduled to meet later this month to recommend a replacement to Gov. Wes Moore (D), who gets to pick Grossman’s successor.

“It was a difficult decision, but my family always comes first, and I am excited to see who the central committee appoints to this position, and offer as much support and help to them as I can,” Grossman said.

Grossman was elected to represent a single-member House district centered in Hagerstown in 2022, ousting Republican Del. Brenda J. Thiam 54% to 46%. It’s one of the few purple legislative districts in the state, so Democrats will likely be looking to replace Grossman with someonewho can run a competitive campaign in 2026.

Grossman, a top executive at Horizon Goodwill Industries in Hagerstown, has served on the House Ways and Means Committee. In the last legislative session, she was the primary sponsor of a bill that refines the way election recounts are administered, and also worked on affordable housing legislation.

Grossman becomes the 14th state lawmaker to resign her seat since the 2022 election. Del. Rachel Muñoz (R-Anne Arundel) plans to step down on Jan. 1, and U.S. Rep.-elect Sarah K. Elfreth (D-3rd) will resign her state Senate seat in Anne Arundel to enter Congress on Jan. 3. Two House members are the leading contenders to replace Elfreth, meaning another vacancy could be in the offing.

The Washington County central committee is scheduled to interview candidates in Hagerstown at 6 p.m. on Dec. 19. Democrats seeking the appointment must email their letter of interest and resume to [email protected] by 5 p.m. on Dec. 18.

Henson’s pitch

Speaking of fights over legislative vacancies, Del. Shaneka Henson (D-Anne Arundel) made it official this week: She’s seeking the appointment to replace Elfreth in the state Senate.

“Every Marylander deserves a chance to live well, and I have spent my career fighting to make that a reality,” Henson said in a statement announcing her intention to seek the seat. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, but there’s so much more to do. I’m ready to bring my experience, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the Maryland Senate to keep delivering for District 30 and for the entire state.”

?Henson is competing for the appointment with her fellow District 30A delegate, Dana Jones (D), who announced her bid last month.

In making her case, Henson cited her legislative record and her community outreach. She also announced endorsements from Cindy Busch, widow of the late House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D), whom Henson replaced in the House after his death; Annapolis Alderman Rob Savidge, who served alongside Henson on the city council; state Sen. Cory V. McCray (D-Baltimore City); and Roxanna Rodriguez, a local business owner and Latino community leader.

?”Shaneka Henson embodies the same spirit of service and commitment to Maryland families that my husband championed,” Cindy Busch said. “As a strong advocate for the community, Shaneka has shown time and time again that she has the heart, drive and experience to make a real difference.”

The Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee will recommend a replacement for Elfreth to Moore after the departing senator joins Congress next month.

Angela’s assets

U.S. Sen.-elect Angela Alsobrooks (D) has tapped a veteran of the Biden administration and Capitol Hill to to lead her staff when she takes office next month.

Punchbowl News reported Thursday that Alsobrooks has hired Zephranie Buetow to serve as her chief of staff.

Buetow is currently the assistant secretary for legislative affairs at the Department of Homeland Security and before that was a special assistant to the president and a White House liaison to the U.S. Senate, where she helped secure passage of the CHIPS and Science Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, among other legislation.

On Capitol Hill, Buetow served as legislative director for Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan), and before that was legislative counsel to then-Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana), handling the senator’s homeland security and judiciary portfolios.

Buetow grew up in Illinois and served in the Illinois National Guard. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University and Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Team Johnny O

U.S. Rep.-elect Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D-2nd) on Wednesday announced some key hires for his congressional office. Olszewski, who will step down as Baltimore County executive in early January to take his seat in Congress, is bringing some of his colleagues from county government with him to Congress, and has also recruited some Capitol Hill veterans for his team.

Sean Naron, Olszewski’s current chief of staff in Towson, will take the same position in his congressional office. Naron previously served as communications director and press secretary for the Olszewski administration and held senior roles with former Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana Wen and former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (D). He also worked on the Maryland gubernatorial campaigns of Tom Perez and Kevin Kamenetz.

Isabel Sanchez, who is currently executive director of the Future Forum Caucus, which comprises several dozen young Democratic members of Congress, will become Olszewski’s legislative director. She formerly served as policy director for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and also worked for former Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-California).

Jaime Lennon will be Olszewski’s communications director, a role she currently fills for Olszewski’s predecessor, outgoing Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-2nd). She is a former journalist.

Mandy Remmell, currently Baltimore County’s director of the Office of Community Engagement, has been named Olszewski’s district director. She has also worked as outreach program manager for the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office and as special projects coordinator at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Chris Uhl, a veteran Maryland political strategist, has been named director of Intergovernmental and External Relations. He currently serves as a special adviser to Olszewski in Baltimore County and was an Olszewski campaign adviser in 2018 and 2022. He is a former vice president at Martin-Lauer Associates, the Baltimore-based fundraising firm, and has also worked for Rawlings-Blake and former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D).

“As we prepare to take office, I am thrilled to introduce a leadership team that brings the experience, energy, and enthusiasm to hit the ground running on day one,” Olszewski said in a statement. “These dedicated public servants are reflective of the diverse communities we will represent, share a common drive to help all our residents, and reflect my core values of compassion, empathy and, most importantly, getting stuff done.”

A helping Hans

Former Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer (D), who has been working at the U.S. Department of Energy since his council career ended in late 2022, has landed a job at Arnold Ventures, a large national philanthropic organization.

Riemer has become Arnold Ventures’ vice president of advocacy, infrastructure. The foundation, which works a variety of issues, only recently added infrastructure to its portfolio, focusing on affordable housing, reliable and affordable energy, and efficient and safe transportation systems. An Arnold Venture news release says its infrastructure team works “to understand the root causes behind housing shortages and increasing housing costs, rapidly changing energy needs, and aging roads and transit. The team evaluates evidence regarding possible solutions and translates these solutions into meaningful public policy.”

“Addressing complex issue areas such as housing, energy, and transportation requires a comprehensive understanding of how these systems operate and how they affect individuals and families, not just nationally but at a community level,” said James Williams, executive vice president of advocacy, communications and external affairs at Arnold Ventures. ?”Hans has witnessed that impact firsthand, from neighborhood initiatives to nationwide policies, and that experience is invaluable in our drive to implement meaningful change.”

Riemer spent a dozen years on the Montgomery County Council and then lost a race for county executive in 2022. Most recently, he was a senior consultant at DOE’s Loan Programs Office, leading the state engagement team. In his new position, Riemer will work closely with researchers, public officials, industry leaders, and local activists to advance policy changes.

“There is growing momentum for reforms in infrastructure policy,” Riemer said. ?“If we are going to achieve the housing, transportation, and energy solutions that our communities need to thrive, we will need to make sure that the groups involved communicate effectively, from the researchers to the policymakers to industry leaders.”