Takoma Park's Mizeur: ‘I’m Running for Governor Because I Love This State’

By Whitney Teal

Del. Heather Mizeur, a Democrat from Takoma Park, today became the third candidate to formally announce intentions to run for Maryland governor in 2014. Mizeur is one of three delegates representing District 20—which includes parts of Silver Spring and Takoma Park—in the Maryland General Assembly.

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, a Democrat, and Harford County Executive David Craig, a Republican, have also kicked off gubernatorial campaigns, with plenty of other elected officials of both parties publicly flirting with a run, including Attorney General Doug Gansler (D) and former Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R). (See a list of hopefuls, here.)

Mizeur released the following statement about her campaign:

I’m running for governor because I love this state and I see limitless possibilities on what we can accomplish together to grow our economy, improve our schools, protect our environment, promote our health, and create safe and thriving neighborhoods in every community across Maryland.

I want to see Maryland live up to its full potential rather than settling for “good enough” – and the most effective way for me to do that now is as governor.  I know that the solution at every turn is found by working together. We are one community, and we need to start talking and interacting and working together like we understand that in our core.

It’s time to fundamentally change the way we do business, the way we govern. And that starts with a different kind of candidate, running a different sort of campaign.

We’re running this campaign out in communities across Maryland – not just giving speeches, or holding rallies, but working side-by-side with our neighbors – working to make Maryland stronger. I’ve been warned that this will take too much time, draw too little press, keep me from fundraising full-time. But I believe that the best way to help Maryland is to lift up our communities and get our hands dirty. That starts on the campaign trail.

Outside of Annapolis, Mizeur's government experience includes time on Capitol Hill as Sen. John Kerry's domestic policy director and a stint on the Takoma Park City Council.

As a delegate, Mizeur has pushed a progressive policy agenda that includes expanding health care for children, women's health, environmental safeguards and fostering job growth in the technology sector.

Mizeur and her wife Deborah own and operate an organic farm on the Eastern Shore. If elected, Mizeur would be Maryland's first woman governor and the first openly gay governor in the country.

Candidate Mizeur spent Wednesday at the J. Millard Tawes Clam Bake in Crisfield. The daylong festival of crabs, clams, beer and entertainment is a popular stop for politicos stumping on the Eastern Shore.

Mizeur's campaign has planned house parties and service projects around the state throughout the summer, including painting the playground at Galway Elementary School in Silver Spring at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

What do you think? Would you vote for Mizeur in 2014? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments.

Editor Sean R. Sedam contributed to this article.

Read more: 

• Lt. Gov. Brown Hopes to Make Historic Step Up to Governor's Mansion
• Mizeur Considers an Unprecedented Run for the Governor’s Mansion