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Heather Mizeur
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 20th district
In office
January 10, 2007 – January 14, 2015
Preceded byPeter Franchot
Succeeded byDavid Moon
Personal details
Born (1972-12-06) December 6, 1972 (age 51)
Blue Mound, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDeborah Mizeur
EducationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (no degree)
WebsiteCampaign website

Heather R. Mizeur (/mɪˈzɪər/ mih-ZEER; born December 6, 1972) is an American politician who served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from January 10, 2007, to January 14, 2015, representing the 20th district in Montgomery County. She was a candidate for governor of Maryland in the 2014 election but lost the Democratic primary to Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown. In 2021, she announced her intention to run for Maryland's 1st congressional district in the 2022 election against incumbent Republican congressman Andy Harris.[1] Mizeur won the primary election on July 19, 2022, defeating R. David Harden by nearly 40 points to become the Democratic nominee in the November 8 general election. She lost the general election to Harris by 11 points.[2]


Early life and education

Mizeur was born on December 6, 1972, in Blue Mound, Illinois. Her father, Dale Mizeur, was a welder at the Caterpillar Inc. factory and a member of the United Auto Workers.[3] She attended Blue Mound High School, where she graduated as valedictorian of her graduating class.[citation needed] Mizeur attended the University of Illinois from 1991 to 1994, but dropped out to pursue a career on Capitol Hill.[citation needed]

Career

Mizeur began her career as an aide to Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky (D-PA) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). In 1995, she became Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II's legislative director. In 1998, Mizeur was named director of state affairs at the National Association of Community Health Centers, an organization advocating for improved access to health care for the uninsured.[4] In 2003, she became John Kerry's director of domestic policy and authored much of his health care platform for the John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign.[citation needed]

Mizeur was first elected to public office in 2003, when she won a seat on the Takoma Park City Council.[5]

Maryland House of Delegates

Elections

In 2006, Mizeur ran for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates in District 20, which comprises Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Colesville, and White Oak in southeastern Montgomery County. In the Democratic primary, Mizeur garnered the most votes in a seven-candidate field for three seats, receiving 8,176 votes.[6] She faced only nominal Republican opposition in the general election and was elected by a wide margin.

In 2010, Mizeur and fellow incumbent Delegates Sheila E. Hixson and Tom Hucker defeated three primary challengers by a wide margin and then won unopposed in the general election.[7]

In both elections, Mizeur secured endorsements from The Washington Post,[8][9] the Montgomery County Education Association,[10] the League of Conservation Voters,[11] the Sierra Club,[12] and NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland.[13]

Tenure

Education

In 2012, Mizeur voted against a proposal to shift teacher pension costs to county governments.[14]

Environment
Delegate Mizeur speaking at the "Surround the White House" Rally in 2011.

Mizeur supports stricter regulations on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. In 2010, she authored a Baltimore Sun op-ed, "Water on fire," calling attention to the drilling practice.[15] In 2011, she introduced the Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act to require strict safety studies on fracking in Maryland.[16] Mizeur's bill passed the House but failed in the Senate. The Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Initiative was created under a gubernatorial executive order.[17] Mizeur served on the Initiative's Commission, which is charged with studying the environmental, economic, and health impacts of fracking.

Government transparency

In 2010, Mizeur introduced the Maryland Open Government Act[18] which sought to post General Assembly committee votes online; eliminate an $800 fee and enable free public access to the General Assembly's "up-to-the-minute" bill tracking service; post General Assembly committee agendas a day in advance; webcast committee hearings; and bring greater transparency to the proceedings of the state Board of Public Works.[19] The bill was ultimately referred to an interim summer study that led to adoption of many of these reforms.[20]

In 2011, Mizeur introduced a bill that created the Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government.[21]

Healthcare

Mizeur introduced and passed the Family Coverage Expansion Act[22] to allow young adults to stay on family health plans until age 25. In 2009, Mizeur introduced and passed the Foster Kids Coverage Act[23] to extend Medicaid coverage to former foster care youth.

In 2008, Mizeur introduced and passed the Kids First Act[24] to find and cover an estimated 100,000 children who were uninsured but eligible for public coverage.[25] According to the 2009 Joint Chairmen's Report on Barriers to Enrollment at the Community Level, from July 2008 to December 2009 the Kids First Act helped cover an additional 50,000 children.[26] The Kids First Act was instrumental in delivering more than $75 million in federal health bonus funds for Maryland.[27]

In 2011, Mizeur introduced and passed the Family Planning Works Act[28] to expand family planning services to low-income women at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Guttmacher Institute estimates this expansion would have the potential to avert as many as 7,980 unintended pregnancies, 2,650 abortions, and 4,150 Medicaid births annually.[29] The Maryland Department of Legislative Services noted that "general fund savings from those averted births alone could be as much as $39.5 million".[30] Mizeur co-authored a Washington Post editorial with Republican co-sponsor Delegate Mike Smigiel to champion both the fiscal savings and health benefits to this legislation.[31]

Job creation

In 2008, Mizeur introduced and passed legislation alongside Senate President Mike Miller to create the Coordinating Emerging Nanobiotechnology Research (CENTR) in Maryland Program.[32] CENTR is a state-administered grant program for nanobiotechnology projects that develop potential life-saving technologies.[33]

In a Washington Post editorial opposing the 2012 plan[34] to expand gambling in Maryland, Mizeur outlined her economic priorities for Maryland.[35]

In 2012, Mizeur worked with the Maryland Energy Administration in 2012 to create a Biomass Heating Grant Pilot Program to enable homeowners to purchase EPA-certified wood and pellet stoves.[36]

Marriage equality

As one of nine LGBT legislators in the Maryland General Assembly, Mizeur has been a vocal supporter for marriage equality. She has written editorials urging Maryland to enact same-sex marriage[37] and worked with several national LGBT organizations[38][39] to affirm marriage equality on Maryland's Question 6 referendum. Mizeur's floor speech during the 2011 debate on the Civil Marriage Protection Act went viral after it was picked up by national LGBT blogs.[40]

Committees and commissions

Mizeur served as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over the state budget. In 2011, she was appointed the Vice Chair of the Education & Economic Development Subcommittee.

In addition to her role as Vice Chair, Mizeur was a member of the Montgomery County House Delegation. She also served on the Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee,[41] the Marcellus Shale Safe-Drilling Initiative Advisory Commission,[42] the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust,[43] and the Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government.[44]

2014 Maryland gubernatorial election

Main article: 2014 Maryland gubernatorial election
Mizeur and Coates campaigning together for the Democratic nomination for Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Mizeur was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in Maryland's 2014 gubernatorial election. Reverend Delman Coates was her running mate.[45] Mizeur has co-sponsored a bill to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in Maryland. On January 31, 2014, she received the support of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.[46] She has also received the endorsements of the Maryland National Organization for Women,[47] the Sierra Club,[47] and the Women's Campaign Fund.[48]

National politics

In 2004, Mizeur served as Maryland state director for the John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign.[49] In 2006, she was elected as one of Maryland's Democratic National Committee members. In 2009, President Obama appointed Mizeur to the DNC's Executive Committee.[50]

As a DNC member, Mizeur was a superdelegate in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary.[51] In an effort to support the party above any of the candidates, Mizeur opted to stay neutral.[52] In explaining her decision to stay neutral for as long as she did, Mizeur said, "We have a democracy, not a monarchy. We're not about coronating candidates." When it became clear that he would win the nomination, Mizeur endorsed Barack Obama on June 4, 2008, saying, "It's time for everyone to rally around our nominee. I intend to pledge my support for Barack Obama. I am going to extremely enthusiastically support him."

In 2009, Mizeur was appointed to the White House Task Force of State Legislators for Health Reform,[53] where she advised the Obama administration on state best practices to be included in the Affordable Care Act.

2016 U.S. Senate endorsement

In March 2016, Mizeur announced her endorsement of Chris Van Hollen over Donna Edwards for U.S. Senate; her district overlapped both of theirs. In a Baltimore Sun article, she stated, "there is a huge difference between the candidates seeking to replace U.S Senator Barbara Mikulski, and Chris Van Hollen wins by a landslide," saying that the problems of her constituents in Edwards' district were often ignored, while Van Hollen's office quickly resolved his constituents' problems and even helped with Edwards' constituents when Mizeur turned to them for assistance.[54]

2022 U.S. House campaign

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland

Mizeur announced her campaign for Maryland's 1st congressional district against Republican incumbent Andy Harris, citing his response to the 2021 storming of the Capitol.[1] She won the Democratic nomination with 69 percent of the vote, defeating her opponent by wide margins in all 11 counties that comprise the district. Mizeur has focused her campaign on her history of bipartisan collaboration and on economic revitalization, releasing a 35-page, 10-part strategy titled EconomyFirst. She also crafted an “Agri-Climate” plan that seeks to involve farmers in efforts to combat climate change.

Personal life

Mizeur married her wife, Deborah, in a private ceremony in 2005 on the Chesapeake Bay. They were legally married in California in 2008. They reside on a 34-acre organic farm in Chestertown, Maryland, named "The Apotheosis of Washington" after the famous fresco that adorns the dome of the United States Capitol.[55][56]

References

  1. ^ a b "Democrat Heather Mizeur Hoping To Oust Rep. Andy Harris In Maryland's 1st District; Harford County Executive Mulling Primary Challenge". 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  2. ^ "Maryland First Congressional District Election Results". Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  3. ^ Johnson, Jenna. "Heather Mizeur's progressive politics deeply rooted in her past". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  4. ^ Patch, Jeff. "Suite Talk: International and Domestic Developments". Politico.
  5. ^ "2003 Montgomery County Election Results". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ "2003 Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Legislative District 20".
  7. ^ "2010 General Election Official Results".
  8. ^ "Washington Post: Choices in Montgomery 2010". The Washington Post. August 23, 2010.
  9. ^ "Washington Post: Choices in Montgomery 2006". The Washington Post. September 10, 2006.
  10. ^ "Teachers union's backing is key in Montgomery". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  11. ^ "Md. environmental group sides with Senate challengers". The Washington Post.
  12. ^ "Sierra Club 2010 State and Local Endorsements". Archived from the original on 2013-09-01.
  13. ^ "NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland PAC Announces More Endorsements". July 27, 2010.
  14. ^ "Teachers union's backing is key in Montgomery".
  15. ^ "Water on fire? Time to put this on ice". Archived from the original on 2011-02-20. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  16. ^ "Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Initiative Advisory Commission". Archived from the original on 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  17. ^ "Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act of 2011" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  18. ^ "Maryland Open Government Act".
  19. ^ "Mizeur Builds Massive Support for Open Government Act". January 28, 2010.
  20. ^ "Maryland government makes a leap online". The Washington Post.
  21. ^ "Mizeur-Sponsored Open Government Bill Signed Into Law". Archived from the original on 2013-06-20.
  22. ^ "Family Coverage Expansion Act".
  23. ^ "Foster Kids Coverage Act" (PDF).
  24. ^ "Kids First Coverage Incentive Act" (PDF).
  25. ^ "HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE IN MARYLAND THROUGH 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-05.
  26. ^ "Joint Chairmen's Report – 2009 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene" (PDF).
  27. ^ "CHIPRA Performance Bonus Awards, FY2009-FY2012". Archived from the original on 2013-09-22.
  28. ^ "Family Planning Works Act".
  29. ^ Sonfield, Adam (January 21, 2011). "Estimating the Impact of Expanding Medicaid Eligibility For Family Planning Services: 2011 Update" (PDF).
  30. ^ "FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE HB778" (PDF).
  31. ^ Mizeur, Heather R.; Smigiel, Michael (April 8, 2011). "Partisan gridlock over family planning? Not in Maryland". The Washington Post.
  32. ^ "Coordinating Emerging Nanobiotechnology Research (CENTR) in Maryland Program".
  33. ^ Rucker, Philip (February 27, 2008). "Coordinating Emerging Nanobiotechnology Research (CENTR) in Maryland Program". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013.
  34. ^ Mizeur, Heather R. (July 27, 2012). "More gambling isn't the answer for Maryland's economy". The Washington Post.
  35. ^ Wagner, John (July 27, 2012). "O'Malley announces special session on Prince George's casino, other gambling issues". The Washington Post.
  36. ^ "Md. to launch wood stove rebate pilot program".
  37. ^ "In search of marriage equality for all". Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  38. ^ "Same-Sex marriage fight to return to legislature". Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  39. ^ "Lesbian Heather Mizeur Makes List of 'Catholic Women Making a Difference". July 4, 2012.
  40. ^ "Md. Rep. Mizeur: You can't stop us!". January 24, 2012.
  41. ^ "Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee".
  42. ^ "Marcellus Shale Safe-Drilling Initiative Advisory Commission".
  43. ^ "Maryland Affordable Housing Trust".
  44. ^ "Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government".
  45. ^ Wagner, John (November 14, 2013). "Mizeur: Lieutenant governor pick, pastor Delman Coates, can 'move mountains'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  46. ^ Wagner, John (January 31, 2014). "Maryland gubernatorial hopeful Mizeur wins backing of national marijuana reform group". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  47. ^ a b "Sierra Club endorses Mizeur". The Baltimore Sun. January 20, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  48. ^ Riley, John (July 25, 2013). "Mizeur Makes It Official". Metro Weekly. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  49. ^ "Vice Presidential Nominee To Rally State Democrats in Annapolis Friday". Archived from the original on 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  50. ^ "Mizeur goes National". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  51. ^ "Superdelegate Heather Mizeur". February 18, 2008.
  52. ^ Rucker, Philip (June 4, 2008). "On the Fence and in the Spotlight". The Washington Post.[dead link‍]
  53. ^ "House of Delegates: Heather Mizeur".
  54. ^ "Baltimore Sun".
  55. ^ Alexander, Kate S. "In bid for governor, Mizeur hopes 'to blow doors off'". Gazette.net. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  56. ^ Brodey, Sam (March 15, 2021). "The Capitol Riot Pissed Off These People So Much They're Running for Office". DailyBeast.com. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
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Maryland House of Delegates
Preceded by Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 20th district
2007–2015 		Succeeded by
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