Lara Westdorp

Lara Westdorp earned a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University in 1990 and a graduate degree from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 1992. Her career experience includes working as a healthcare professional.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Lara is a small business owner, mom, wife, and life long advocate for wild spaces, clean water, and individual rights. ​Her career in public service ranged from local and state boards and commissions to the Maryland General Assembly, Congress, and the White House.

In each position, Lara's guiding principles were to improve the lives of Americans, ensure taxpayer money was spent responsibly, and leave the position and/or program better off than how she found it. Most of the time Lara worked with elected officials on all sides of the political spectrum to get the best results.

At the local level she worked on zoning and land use, land preservation, social services, equality, and healthcare programs with such results as:

Gaining the release of federal funds to pay for overtime to process food stamp applications in the 2007 & 2008 recession;

Securing funding for the Maryland Deaf Community Center.

Negotiating approval by the state for a citizen on Medicaid to travel out-of-state for life-saving surgery.

Working at the state level, Lara helped achieve such successes as:

Enacting the Maryland Free Community College legislation.

Passing the Seizure Action Plan for Public Schools.

Expanding the reporting window for sexual assault victims.

Establishing reserve plug-in parking spaces for electric vehicles.

At the federal level Lara is particularly grateful for her time in Congress and the White House supporting our men and women in the military services.

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?

For the first time I am running for elected office because, like many of you, I am tired of partisan politics. I am tired of watching our elected officials choose their political party over their oath to represent the People.

Frederick County needs leaders in Annapolis that work to help families, small businesses, farmers, and our rural communities. As your next Senator, my promise is to use my experience to benefit all Frederick residents and communities, regardless of their party affiliation.I support:

Lowering the cost of essentials such as food, housing, energy, healthcare, and medications

The Frederick County Data Center Referendum and control on data center development

Paying everyone a livable wage

Term Limits for elected officials

Labor Unions

I am against:

Unlawful actions by ICE and 287g programs - no one is above the law in the USA

Raising property, income, or sales taxes for everyday residents

New Power lines - we need to update existing lines and use alternative energy sources

Cuts to our farming and agriculture preservation programs

Corporations paying little to no state or federal taxes - they use the same public services as the rest of us (water, sewer, power, roads, fire & rescue, police, and more)“Why am I running for office?”

I am running so that no other family has to lose their home or a loved one to cracks in the system.

I am running for my friend who was the kindest, most loving person who would be here today if her mental health issues were taken seriously.

I am running to build a stronger economy for all of us here in Maryland.

I am running to make sure kids have food to eat, the elderly have heating and cooling, and we all have healthcare.

I am running for all of us to be able to afford to live and thrive in Frederick County.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Clean water, air, land, - our future literally depends on these

Equality under the law for everyone

Healthcare as a Human Right

Livable wages

Access to basic human needs of food, shelter, heat/cooling, and community

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO

Maryland State Education Association

The Sierra Club

Progressive Maryland

CASA in Action

Economic Action Maryland

Municipal and County Government Employees Organization (UFCW Local 1994)