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Members of the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee:
I write to urge you to vote for Delegate Dana Jones to fill the seat representing District 30 in the
Maryland Senate that will be vacated when Senator Sarah Elfreth is sworn in to the United States
Congress in January. I have known Delegate Jones since 2020. I am her constituent, and we
also share many constituents as I currently represent Councilmanic District 6 on the Board of
Education of Anne Arundel County, and have done so since 2020.
I have deliberated carefully on my decision to support Delegate Jones and, as with all my
decisions, I have done so, primarily, through the lens of what I believe is best for our children. As
a member of the Board of Education, I have seen firsthand how important her work has been to
so many of our students. Through the pandemic and beyond, Delegate Jones has been a tireless
advocate for all children and families in our district, ensuring that all parts of our community have
access to what they need to thrive. When food pantries were not providing diapers during the
pandemic, she made sure diaper pantries were available to families who were desperately in
need of those supplies. The work, and the need, did not stop with the end of the pandemic, and
the has continued to organize a yearly diaper drive that serves so many of our families. She made
lasting change for so many when she co-sponsored and passed a bill to eliminate the taxes on
diapers and other baby supplies, saving $1,200 a year for a family with just one child.
Delegate Jones has also fought to ensure that every child has access to another basic need,
namely, the freedom to read. She fought back against book banning by passing the nationally
recognized Freedom to Read Act. As a member of the Board of Education who has fought against
the extremist demands of groups such as the Moms for Liberty, I am all too well aware of how
important this Act is to our children and their ability to have access to the full range of authors and
ideas. Again, Delegate Jones has followed this legislative work up with ongoing work in the
community, organizing a book drive every year she's been in office that delivers thousands of
books to our children through organizations such as The Annapolis Juneteenth Festival, The
Lighthouse Shelter, The Stanton Community Center, Annapolis Boys and Girls Club, and many others.
Additionally, she has shown herself to be a powerful advocate for those who are marginalized,
including the LGBTQ+ community, at a time when so many face increased hate and bullying.
Throughout her time in office, she has worked to defend against those who seek to hide the truths
of America’s history, and suppress the writings of Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ authors.
These issues are all critical to our students, especially our most vulnerable students, and
Delegate Jones has been the champion that they needed in the Maryland General Assembly.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Delegate Jones has maintained impeccable ethical
standards throughout her time in office. As Democrats who decry the lack of respect for the rule of
law, and the seeming dismissal of ethics, by so many in the Republican party, it seems to me
incumbent upon us to maintain the very highest ethical standards for Democrats in office. If we do
not, on what grounds can we criticize those in the opposing party? Even more urgently, as we are
presented with public servants at the national level who do not respect the rule of law and the
need to adhere to ethics, it is my belief that we need public servants who can offer our children
and young people the role models that are so desperately needed in our country. Delegate Jones,
in her devotion to public service, her respect for ethics, and her demonstrated commitment to
supporting every part of the community she represents, is exactly the sort of role model that is
required.
For these and many other reasons, I am proud to offer Delegate Jones my support, and I urge the
members of the Central Committee to vote in her favor.
Sincerely,
Joanna Bache Tobin, Ph.D.
Member
Representing District 6
Board of Education of Anne Arundel County
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