A former Glen Burnie High School senior class president launched his campaign for the Anne Arundel County Council District 2 seat recently.
Will Shorter, 28, a lifelong resident of Glen Burnie and former student representative on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, wants to guide his home district through what he called “times of uncertainty.”
“Living here throughout my whole life, I’ve seen the impact of what leadership can mean for a community,” Shorter said. “I want to make sure that my home district — not just Glen Burnie but also the Millersville and Severn area — has a strong advocate for their needs on the Anne Arundel County Council.”
Shorter, a Democrat, is the first candidate to announce for District 2.
Council member Allison Pickard, a Millersville Democrat, currently holds the seat. Her second four-year term ends next year. Though she’s eligible for a third consecutive term, Pickard is running for Anne Arundel county executive..
Shorter’s time on the board at the University System of Maryland came before he graduated from the University of Baltimore in 2018. Shorter represented more than 100,000 constituents from the 12 public institutions within the system while an undergraduate.
He joined the Anne Arundel County Public Library Board of Trustees in May 2019. He was elected chairman in June 2020 at the age of 23, making him the youngest board of trustees chairman in the United States, according to the Anne Arundel County Public Library.
Shorter then earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Maryland, College Park and will graduate from George Washington University Law School on Sunday.
He was also on the citizens’ advisory board that helped develop Plan 2040, which outlines how the county wants to protect the environment.
“I understand the issues that are impacting my community, not just as a lifelong resident, but also as someone who has stepped up in a variety of leadership roles at a nuanced level,” Shorter said.
If elected, Shorter intends to focus on housing in District 2 by establishing a growth strategy and modifying the zoning code to provide affordability and accessibility, a goal that Pickard has worked toward during her two terms on the council.
“We’re in a housing crisis and our generation is bearing the brunt of that,” Shorter said. “I would also say it isn’t isolated to one generation but affecting everyone and the future of what families look like as we go into the mid-21st century.”
As a recipient of an Anne Arundel County Public Schools K-12 education, Shorter said he’ll also place emphasis on ensuring the county’s schools are competitive with other districts in the region.
The emphasis on education and mentoring the next generation of community leaders comes from being a member of Gen Z, Shorter said.
“One thing my generation in particular values, is that we don’t see it as just a career but something of meaning,” Shorter said. “If we can develop meaning for our next generation, we’ll see a more vibrant community.”
Have a news tip? Contact James Matheson at jmatheson@baltsun.com, 443-842-2344 or on X @jamesmatheson__
from Baltimore Sun https://ift.tt/npsMtR2
via IFTTT
