Jessica M. Feldmark

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

Jessica M. Feldmark
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Serving with Terri L. Hill
Preceded byClarence K. Lam
ConstituencyDistrict 12 (2019–2023)
District 12A (2023–present)
Personal details
Born (1974-08-01) August 1, 1974
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJoshua Feldmark[1]
Residence(s)Columbia, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materGoucher College (BA)
American University (MS)
WebsiteOfficial website

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.[2] 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.[2]

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]

Feldmark with Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford in 2018

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.[6] Feldmark came in second place in the general election, receiving 21.9 percent of the vote.[7]

In the legislature

Feldmark was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 9, 2019.[2]

In January 2020, Feldmark filed to run as a convention delegate for Elizabeth Warren at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[8]

Committee assignments
  • Member, Ways and Means Committee, 2019–present (election law subcommittee, 2019–present; revenues subcommittee, 2019–present)
  • Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology, 2019–present

Other memberships
  • House Chair, Howard County Delegation, 2020–2021
  • Member, Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, 2019–present
  • Maryland Legislative Transit Caucus, 2019–present
  • Women Legislators of Maryland, 2019–present

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.[9]

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.[10][11] 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.[12]

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.[13] The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan on March 26, 2019.[14][15]

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.[16]

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;[17] the legislature voted to override Hogan's veto on the bill during its 2021 legislative session.[18]

Electoral history
Maryland House of Delegates District 12 Democratic Primary Election, 2018[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Terri Hill 9,920 29.9%
Democratic Eric Ebersole 9,326 28.1%
Democratic Jessica Feldmark 7,104 21.4%
Democratic Mark Weaver 1,943 5.9%
Democratic Dario J. Broccolino 1,896 5.7%
Democratic James Howard 1,283 3.9%
Democratic Malcolm J. Heflin 892 2.7%
Democratic Johnathan Bratt 793 2.4%
Maryland House of Delegates District 12 General Election, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eric Ebersole 30,478 22.7%
Democratic Jessica Feldmark 29,427 21.9%
Democratic Terri Hill 29,313 21.8%
Republican Melanie Harris 16,536 12.3%
Republican Bob Cockey 15,141 11.3%
Republican Michael Russell 13,509 10.0%
Other Write-Ins Other Write-Ins 126 0.1%

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