A Forward-Looking Platform for Maryland’s Future
Alicia Contreras-Donello for Delegate, District 14 (Montgomery County)
Maryland stands at a pivotal moment. We have the talent, institutions, and values to lead—but we must modernize how we educate our children, grow our economy, keep our communities safe, and govern in a rapidly changing world.
My platform builds on proven Democratic leadership in Maryland and Montgomery County, including the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, while offering a forward-looking vision centered on strong schools, resilient communities, and economic growth that creates true opportunity for everyone, regardless of their demographics.
Stronger Schools
World-class education for every student
Education is the foundation of opportunity, economic mobility, and strong communities. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future represents a major commitment to equity and excellence. My focus is on effective implementation, responsible oversight, and making sure investments reach the students who need them most.
I support expanding access to high-quality early childhood education, strengthening teacher recruitment and retention, and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens so educators can focus on teaching. I will work to align career and technical education with real workforce needs in fields such as cybersecurity, healthcare, green energy, construction, and information technology.
Preparing students for today’s world also means using technology responsibly. I support modern, secure school technology systems, expanded broadband access, and clear safeguards for online safety and student mental health. I also believe financial literacy, multilingual education, and strong civics instruction should be part of preparing students to succeed and participate fully in our democracy.
Environmental literacy belongs in that list too. Maryland already requires environmental education in our schools, and our students live in the Chesapeake watershed. I will fight to fully fund Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences and the Outdoor Learning Partnership. The Chesapeake is in our students' backyard, and they should be part of caring for it, and understanding the wider impacts of human-caused climate change on their lives and futures.
Education must serve learners at every stage of life. I will advocate for affordable pathways for adult learners, displaced federal workers, and career changers through community colleges and universities. I support safe, modern school facilities and investments in energy-efficient infrastructure that protect students and educators while reducing long-term costs.
As your MD14 Delegate, I will:
Fully implement and oversee the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to ensure equity and accountability
Expand access to high-quality early childhood education and universal pre-K
Support teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development
Fight for a tax credit for educators, similar to the Public Safety tax credit.
Align career and technical education with real workforce needs like technology, healthcare, and green energy
Strengthen dual enrollment, apprenticeships, and college and career pathways
Modernize school technology while protecting student safety and mental health
Fully fund environmental literacy and Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) tied to the Chesapeake Bay
Ensure that today’s students understand today’s environmental impacts and pathways for future sustainability.
Expand financial literacy, multilingual education, and civics instruction
Create affordable pathways for adult learners and displaced federal workers
Invest in safe, modern, and energy-efficient school facilities
Support for special education and English learners
Resilient Communities
Safe and healthy communities built on trust and evidence
Strong communities are safe communities. Real safety comes from health, stability, access to care, and trust between institutions and the people they serve. Enforcement a core piece of that, but not the whole picture.
I support investments in proven violence prevention programs, youth engagement, and accessible mental health and crisis response services. Addressing the root causes of harm, including housing instability, untreated mental health needs, substance use, and economic inequality, makes communities safer over the long term.
A safe community is also one where the air our kids breathe and the homes they grow up in keep them healthy. Air quality, lead in older housing, and access to green spaces are part of the same conversation as violence prevention and mental health care. Families who can least afford environmental harm are usually the ones bearing it most.
Healthy communities require strong systems that work together. I will support coordinated approaches across public health, housing, education, and social services so families can access help early and avoid crises whenever possible.
The right technology makes our communities more resilient. Modern data systems can improve coordination between agencies, strengthen emergency response, combat corruption, and ensure public resources are used efficiently while protecting community members regardless of status.
I believe in smart justice policies that prioritize prevention, accountability, and rehabilitation. Expanding reentry and workforce programs strengthens families, reduces recidivism, and contributes to long-term community safety.
As your MD14 Delegate, I will:
Invest in evidence-based violence prevention and youth engagement programs
Expand access to affordable healthcare, including mental health, substance use, and crisis response services
Protect reproductive rights
Address root causes of harm, including housing instability and economic inequality
Address environmental health risks like lead in older housing, mold, and air pollution that hit underserved communities hardest
Support immigrant and marginalized communities and oppose policies that undermine trust
Strengthen coordination across public health, housing, education, and social services
Improve agency coordination using modern, secure data systems
Protect privacy and civil rights as we modernize agency technology
Focus on prevention and rehabilitation while holding violent offenders accountable
Expand reentry and workforce programs to support long-term stability
Inclusive Growth
An economy that works for everyone
Maryland’s economy should reward work, support entrepreneurship, and provide real opportunity for working families. Economic growth has to be inclusive and affordable to last. It also has to account for what climate change is already doing, and for the heavier toll it takes on underserved communities.
I support targeted investments to lower everyday costs and expand access to childcare, elder care, and paid family leave. I will strengthen consumer protections and competition in public procurement to reduce prices and expand opportunity for small businesses.
Workforce development matters more than ever. I will fight for rapid reskilling through employer and college partnerships, paid apprenticeships and internships, and expanded vocational programs. I will stand with workers displaced by federal funding cuts and the shifting economy.
Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. I support streamlining licensing and regulatory processes, expanding access to capital and technical assistance, and improving public procurement so small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses can compete.
Sustainability is also a fiscal issue. Pollution drives up healthcare costs and slows our workforce. Climate-driven floods and heatwaves destroy infrastructure and disrupt the agriculture our region depends on. Investing in clean technology, resilient supply chains, and sustainable land use is not a tradeoff against growth. It is how growth lasts, and provides economic opportunity for future generations.
Housing and food access are also economic issues. I support sustainable housing and transit investments that reduce costs for families while protecting the environment. I will support evidence-based policies protecting renters from unfair practices, helping first-time homebuyers, and making the American Dream affordable. I will strengthen food access through partnerships among farmers, schools, food pantries, and the private sector.
As your MD14 Delegate, I will:
Strengthen consumer protections
Expand access to childcare, elder care, and paid family leave
Support rapid reskilling and job training through public-private partnerships
Tie job growth to cleaner industries and resilient infrastructure that hold up over time
Provide strong support for marginalized groups and workers displaced by the changing economy
Expand paid vocational opportunities for young adults and career changers
Streamline business licensing and regulatory compliance
Improve access to capital and technical assistance for small businesses
Strengthen opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses
Strengthen food access through partnerships with farmers, schools, and food pantries
Support investments in housing and public transit that lower costs for families and reduce environmental harm
Support Alicia’s Vision!
Alicia has spent nearly two decades in public service because she believes government should be a force for opportunity, dignity, and real results. As the daughter of immigrants and a longtime community advocate, she knows that strong communities don’t happen by accident. They’re built, together, through integrity, hard work, and care for the next generation. Your contribution helps Alicia bring that same commitment home and build a brighter future for all of us, together.
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