Elaine Belson

Elaine Belson was born in Washington, D.C. She served in the U.S. Army from 2008 to 2010. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1987. She earned a graduate degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 1993. Her career experience includes working as a clinical social worker.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’ve been a Clinical Social Worker for 28yrs and a resident of Charles County since 1997. At the age of 42, I joined the Army as a Social Worker Officer, including a deployment to Afghanistan where I served as the XO for Medical Command. I was elected to the Charles County Democratic Central Committee in 2002 along with Delegate Edith Patterson and Virginia Benedict. I taught at the College of Southern MD between 1997-2012, was a behavioral health consultant for Civista Women Center’s diabetes program, and a board member for the Charles County Department of Social Services. I’m currently a member of the School Safety Advisory Committee for the Charles County Public Schools. I've run my own private practice in Waldorf since 2011 and also from 2000 - 2007, when I joined the Army. In garrison, I handled domestic violence cases and ran an anger management class for Soldiers. Overseas, counseled Soldiers at a combat hospital and outpatient clinic before serving as XO. I provided crisis intervention services after Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 and bank robberies. I have a full-time practice focusing on stress management, communication, problem-solving, parenting, women's issues, work issues and child therapy.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

"It's time for new voices and fresh ideas in Congress." Steny Hoyer has been in Congress for 41years. Meanwhile, congressional gridlock has only gotten worse. As a clinical social worker, I have unique communication and problem-solve skills to help restore bipartisanship."It's time to bring mental health into the mainstream conversation." Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people. Death from drug overdose rose 30% in 2021. Domestic violence hotlines receive 20K calls a day. In 2019, 764K students ages 12-14 reported being victimized at school.It's time to stand up to big donors and lobbyists in Washington. Steny Hoyer spent $4.3 million on his last campaign, most of it from special interests. In a democracy, people shouldn't be allowed to use power to stay in power.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

MENTAL HEALTH: The tragedies of stigmatizing mental health are all around us. I have the expertise to educate Congress and improve mental health policies.

VOTING RIGHTS: 19 states have enacted 33 laws making it harder for POC to vote. Some swing states are restricting ballot access and making it lawful for electors to overturn results. While these measures are challenged in state houses and courts, Congress must pass the two voting rights bills before it's too late!

EDUCATION: We need a mental health curriculum. This isn't just an academic issue, it’s about safety. Teachers need training to handle behavioral problems and school-based social services to engage parents. I support college tuition reimbursement but we must also address tuition inflation.

HEALTHCARE: As a provider, I support universal healthcare and some features of Medicare for All (reproductive health, rug price negotiation, better access for underserved communities). However, I don't support a single-payer plan.

POLICE REFORM: Along with POC, the rate of domestic violence among officers is 15% higher than the national average. Rehabilitation must treat the effects of perpetual exposure to trauma and provide de-escalation training. Specialized team, not law enforcement, should respond to mental health calls.

VETERANS: As a Veteran, I've had my own frustrations with the VA system. I'm confident my social work skills could help streamline services just as I did as XO for Medical Command.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Moral character. I pride myself in doing the right thing, regardless of whether or not it's popular. People can have good reasons for making bad decisions. As a social worker, I see the damage we do to each other because we are quick to judge and slow to tolerate. The reality is, we are all fallible because we are all human. We must learn to embrace our humanity rather than feel shame over it.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Leadership. This means following your oath to the Constitution and doing what's in the country's best interest, not what's popular. It means practicing empathy - wanting to understand and finding compromise - with those you disagree with. Our country is suffering today because of a lack of leadership: a lack of good character combined with limited communication and problem-solving skills.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I am passionate about making a difference! My life motto is, "Leave the world better than you found it." As I've gotten older, (I'm currently 56), this has become the driving force in my life. It truly pains me to see the country in such upheaval. As a Veteran, I am particularly troubled by the peril of our democracy. I find it disheartening that so many Americans have come to take democracy for granted and don't pay attention to what's going on in their own government.

How we govern as a country and function as a society is inextricably linked to how we think, feel, communicate, and problem-solve. I know my knowledge and skills as a social worker could fundamentally change this country. An army commander once told me, "You don't know what you don't know." That's why I'm running: to empower the country to know what I know.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Overcoming bigotry, protecting democracy (free and fair elections), depoliticizing the Supreme Court, better preparing students for adulthood (providing life skills training in public schools), normalizing mental health on par with physical health.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I agree we need them. Public office should be accessible to everyone. Plus, the corrupting influence of money and power on governing would be less of a factor.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Absolutely! This is why I'm running for Congress. Democracy is more than a system of government. It’s a road map for coexistence, guided by the principles of mutual respect and fairness. But it can’t make up for a dysfunctional Congress or troubled society.

Whether the issue is reproductive health, gun control, voting rights or vaccine mandates, we keep going about it the same way: arguing, finger-pointing, demonizing, competing. No matter how logical your argument, how many facts you present, how emotional your pleas or how often you repeat yourself, you can’t talk people into changing. News reports, books, op-eds, panel discussions, speeches and social media rants don’t either. The evidence is all around them!

I have an expression, "You can win the battle but lose the war." Lawmakers have become so dependent on winning as a means of governing, there’s barely a distinction. As both parties rely on conquering over compromise, is it any wonder that money has increasingly corrupted the process and voters are abandoning both parties? The mistrust and resentment in Congress is so bad, they're barely functioning. And its the American people who are most hurt by this. The point is, changing the power differential will never be enough.

Just think how much Congress could accomplish if they WANTED to get along with each other. This requires sophisticated skills in building relationships, constructive communication and creative problem-solve.

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