Disclosure: I know Liz, we went to law school together, and I would consider her a friend. My wife and I have bumped into one her grocery shopping, and make vague plans to “get together,” but we have yet to do so.
Does this influence my support?
Probably. But when someone is a great person who loves my city as much as I do, and has certainly worked harder for it then I have, how could it not?
That said I have not been active in her campaign, I would like to have been, but a brand new baby girl, and an amazing two-year-old Son have proven adept at taking all of my time.
The fifth district is located in the northwestern corner of Baltimore.
Her priorities for the city:
- A Safe City. Elizabeth will champion good, trusted police work and community policing efforts so Baltimore is a safer place to live, work, play, and visit.
- A Clean, Green City. Elizabeth envisions a City free of grime and litter with open green recreational spaces and a clean Harbor.
- A Livable City. Elizabeth will sponsor livable City housing options for all, with reasonable homeowners property taxes and water bills, and increased homeownership incentives.
- A Working City. Elizabeth will work for local hiring, increased youth hiring, expanded job options for ex-offenders, and a living wage.
- A Healthy City. Elizabeth will bring healthy food to food deserts and to City school children, and create City-wide physical fitness opportunities.
- A Connected City with Upgraded Infrastructure. Elizabeth will advocate for a reliable transportation network that connects the entire City and for upgrades to the City’s water and sewer systems, bridges, streets, and sidewalks.
- A Smart City with Strong Schools for the Future. Elizabeth will invest in early education, quality elementary and secondary schools, athletic and artistic programs for City school students, libraries, and recreation centers.
- A City of Strong Neighborhoods and Local Businesses. Elizabeth will nurture the authentic Baltimore neighborhoods and celebrate their diversity, rejuvenate vacant areas, and encourage our local businesses and good neighbors to remain the backbone of the City.
Per the Baltimore Sun
Elizabeth Ryan Martinez, 35, is a Georgetown and University of Maryland-educated lawyer who has worked in the city law department for the last several years. She has political experience, having worked for Rep. Nancy Pelosi after college and Sen. Dianne Feinstein during law school, and a solid knowledge of how the city government operates. In addition to focusing on issues important to her district, like its lack of any recreational centers for youth, her goal is to make the council more proactive rather than reactive, to embrace its role as a watchdog to make sure city government is doing what it's supposed to.
Ms. Martinez gets our endorsement. She provides the best combination of experience, independence and big-picture thinking. She has the potential to become a leader on a new and reinvigorated City Council.
Not sure how many Kossacks are from District 5, but I thought I would throw my two cents in