Jessica M. Feldmark Explained

Jessica M. Feldmark
Office:Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
State Delegate:Maryland
Term Start:January 9, 2019
Alongside:Terri Hill
Predecessor:Clarence Lam
Birth Date:1 August 1974
Birth Name:Jessica Marie Page
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Joshua Feldmark[1]
Residence:Columbia, Maryland, U.S.
Alma Mater:Goucher College (BA)
American University (MS)
Constituency:District 12 (2019–2023)
District 12A (2023–present)

Jessica Marie Feldmark (Page; born August 1, 1974) is a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates.[2]

Early life and career

Feldmark was born on August 1, 1974. She attended Goucher College, where she earned a B.A. degree in sociology and international relations, and American University, where she earned a M.S. degree in organization development. She moved to Columbia, Maryland in 1998 and was elected to the Wilde Lake Village Board in 2000. She resigned from the board in November 2002 to become a special assistant to Howard County councilman-elect Kenneth Ulman.[3] Feldmark followed Ulman into the executive's office following his election in 2006, first serving as a senior advisor until 2009, when she became Ulman's Chief of Staff.

Following the election of Howard County executive Allan Kittleman in 2014, Feldmark was let go from her position to make room for Kittleman chief of staff Diane Wilson. A few hours after her departure, the Howard County Council announced that Feldmark would serve as the council's administrator, replacing Sheila Tolliver.[4] In February 2018, Feldmark filed to run for Maryland House of Delegates.[5] She came in third place in the Democratic primary election, receiving 21.4 percent of the vote. Feldmark came in second place in the general election, receiving 21.9 percent of the vote.

In the legislature

Feldmark was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 9, 2019.

In January 2020, Feldmark filed to run as a convention delegate for Elizabeth Warren at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[6]

Committee assignments

Other memberships

Political opinions

Elections

Feldmark introduced legislation during the 2020 legislative session that would expand Maryland's public financing program to candidates other than the governor in statewide elections.[7]

Feldmark introduced legislation during the 2021 legislative session that would introduce universal ballot marking devices and prevent ballots cast by voters with disabilities from being set apart from ballots cast by voters without disabilities.[8] [9] She also introduced legislation that would codify a temporary policy adopted by the Maryland State Board of Elections during the COVID-19 pandemic that would require local election boards to accept an absentee ballot and reject a provisional ballot if they received both from the same voter.[10]

Government shutdown

Feldmark introduced legislation during the 2019 legislative session that would provide essential government employees to receive temporary assistance through the state during future government shutdowns.[11] The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan on March 26, 2019.[12] [13]

Social issues

In July 2020, Feldmark and 12 other state legislators signed onto a letter urging the Baltimore County Board of Education to ban the display of hate symbols, including the Confederate flag and swastikas, in schools across Baltimore County unless it is necessary for educational programming.[14]

Taxes

Feldmark introduced legislation in the 2021 legislative session that would alter the state's Job Creation Tax Credit program by requiring that new positions that qualify for the credit pay a local prevailing wage of 150 percent of the state's minimum wage and provide career advancement opportunities, paid leave, and collective bargaining rights. The bill passed but was vetoed by Governor Hogan on May 28, 2021;[15] the legislature voted to override Hogan's veto on the bill during its 2021 legislative session.[16]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 12 Democratic Primary Election, 2018[17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticTerri Hill9,92029.9%
DemocraticEric Ebersole9,32628.1%
DemocraticJessica Feldmark7,10421.4%
DemocraticMark Weaver1,9435.9%
DemocraticDario J. Broccolino1,8965.7%
DemocraticJames Howard1,2833.9%
DemocraticMalcolm J. Heflin8922.7%
DemocraticJohnathan Bratt7932.4%
Maryland House of Delegates District 12 General Election, 2018[18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticEric Ebersole30,47822.7%
DemocraticJessica Feldmark29,42721.9%
DemocraticTerri Hill29,31321.8%
RepublicanMelanie Harris16,53612.3%
RepublicanBob Cockey15,14111.3%
RepublicanMichael Russell13,50910.0%
Other Write-InsOther Write-Ins1260.1%

Notes and References

  1. News: Maryland Power Couples — 2022 Edition . March 3, 2022 . . February 14, 2022.
  2. Web site: Jessica M. Feldmark, Maryland State Delegate . Maryland Manual On-Line . . February 14, 2019 . January 24, 2019.
  3. News: Cadiz . Laura . Village board member to work for councilman . March 3, 2022 . . November 20, 2002.
  4. News: Yeager . Amanda . Staff turnover begins as Kittleman administration takes over . March 3, 2022 . . December 4, 2014.
  5. Web site: 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election State Candidates List . elections.maryland.gov . . March 3, 2022.
  6. News: Kurtz . Josh . No Surprise: Biden Is Dem Establishment Choice, Convention Filings Show . March 3, 2022 . . January 27, 2020.
  7. News: Hawkins . Samantha . Bill to Rescind Ban on Developer Contributions in Prince George's County Is Back . March 3, 2022 . . February 28, 2020.
  8. News: Leckrone . Bennett . Disability Rights Groups Seek Equal Access to Ballot through Voting Machine Bill, Lawsuit . March 3, 2022 . . February 2, 2021.
  9. News: Bergel . Tori . Maryland legislators aim for better voter accessibility . March 3, 2022 . . March 12, 2021.
  10. News: Leckrone . Bennett . Senate Panel Takes Up House Absentee Ballot Access Reform . March 3, 2022 . . April 1, 2021.
  11. News: Gaines . Danielle E. . Lawmakers Press for Unemployment Expansion for Federal Workers . March 3, 2022 . . January 29, 2019.
  12. News: Gaines . Danielle E. . Shutdown Relief Bill Passes House of Delegates . March 3, 2022 . . February 14, 2019.
  13. News: Gaines . Danielle E. . Federal Shutdown Protection Bill Is First Signed Into Law This Session . March 3, 2022 . . March 26, 2019.
  14. News: Ingram . Brandom . Delegates looking to ban display of Confederate flag, swastikas in Baltimore County Schools . March 3, 2022 . . July 13, 2020.
  15. News: Gaskill . Hannah . Kurtz . Josh . Hogan Vetoes Target Transit Spending, Collective Bargaining, COVID Oversight and More . March 3, 2022 . . May 28, 2021.
  16. News: Gaskill . Hannah . Legislature Prepares to Override Hogan's Vetoes During Special Session . March 3, 2022 . . December 5, 2021.
  17. Web site: Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates . elections.maryland.gov . . March 3, 2022.
  18. Web site: Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates . elections.maryland.gov . . March 3, 2022.