After One Year as Your Delegate, Some Takeaways from the MACo Conference & Looking Ahead.

Dear Neighbor,

A little more than a year ago I was sworn in by Speaker Adrienne Jones as your Delegate for District 16! I got to mark that anniversary last week by attending the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Summer Conference for the very first time.

The conference was a great chance to learn from county government partners and local leaders about the challenges and opportunities our communities face. It was especially valuable to hear how counties across Maryland are approaching these challenges and to exchange ideas with peers who are finding creative solutions that I can help bring back to District 16.

Photo: Delegate Jamila Woods, Delegate Teresa Woorman and Chair Joseline Peña-Melnyk chatting about upcoming legislation with Sharon Dols from The Arc of Maryland.

I joined a number of discussions on important healthcare issues we face. One dealt with rising healthcare costs as Maryland’s workforce ages and how Medicare Advantage plans are being used to control retiree healthcare costs. Another important session focused on women’s mental health and how issues like vitality, imposter syndrome, and access to services ripple through families, workplaces, and communities. I also learned more about how AI and other new technologies are reshaping healthcare delivery with the potential to improve patient care and lower costs if implemented thoughtfully. These are some of the same healthcare concerns I hear from families in District 16 while I’m out doorknocking, and they will be part of my work this upcoming session.

I also took part in a session on the impact of recent federal policy shifts on Maryland communities. From infrastructure and workforce development to new regulations and legal considerations, the changes coming out of Washington are reshaping how local governments can plan, deliver services, and protect their residents. These decisions have real consequences for Montgomery County and District 16 with so much of our workforce depending on the federal government in many different ways.

Photo: Del. Ashanti Martinez moderating a panel on immigration 

Another highlight was joining a timely and often difficult conversation on immigration enforcement. After seeing Nikita Baker, ICE’s Baltimore Field Office Director, block the initial visits of our federal Congressional delegation to the Baltimore ICE facility, it was interesting to hear from her directly as part of this discussion. The session underscored what immigrant families in Maryland are facing every day, questions of privacy, constitutional rights, public safety, and data use that can have real and lasting human consequences. I was especially proud to stand with Latino Caucus Chair Ashanti Martinez as he helped lead this difficult conversation. You can read more about this session in this article from Maryland Matters.

Photo: Members of the Maryland House of Delegates and Del. Teresa Woorman supporting Delegate Nicole Williams and Del. Ashanti Martinez 

The federal perspective was also front and center as Senator Chris Van Hollen (his first MACo as Maryland’s senior senator!) updated us on the 119th Congress. He spoke about the fight against cuts to disaster relief and Medicaid, and the need to rein in prescription drug costs. He reminded us that bipartisan cooperation is essential when it comes to protecting Maryland’s priorities, and his remarks underscored how federal decisions tie directly back to the future of Montgomery County and District 16.

Photo: Delegate Teresa Woorman and Comptroller Brooke Lierman 

I also heard from Comptroller Brooke Lierman and MACo’s Executive Director Michael Sanderson about Maryland’s strained fiscal outlook, how revenue volatility and federal uncertainty are reshaping county finances, and why smarter forecasting and stronger state-local partnerships will be essential. These budget challenges will impact Montgomery County directly, and I am committed to making sure District 16 continues to get the resources it needs for schools, roads and other essential services.

Photo: Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne Jones and Del. Teresa Woorman 

Beyond the panels and sessions, it was so good to chat with Speaker Jones, many of my colleagues from the House and Senate and county partners from every corner of the state, and to hear directly about what’s working in their communities. And I was especially excited to hear Governor Wes Moore close the conference by calling for faster and stronger action on affordable housing. Housing costs are simply out of reach for so many people and I look forward to seeing what proposals the governor introduces this coming session and how they might help more families put down roots here.

Photo: Del. Teresa Woorman and Members of the Maryland House of Delegates supporting Speaker Adrienne Jones

Photo: Governor Wes Moore's conference-closing speech

The most exciting part of attending the MACo for me was that with the legislative session coming up in January, I am getting great information and already working on these issues and will be advancing solutions that matter for District 16. This work will enable me to do my part to make sure District 16 has a strong voice at the table.

Of course, district work continued during the MACo conference, and I left for a few hours to head straight to Bethesda for a meeting with Round House Theatre Executive Director Ed Zakreski, former Maryland State Treasurer Nancy Kopp, and Delegate Sarah Wolek to discuss expanding Round House audiences and ensuring artists have the rehearsal and creative spaces they need to thrive. It was a great meeting and I was happy to be able to participate in it before returning to the MACo conference.

Photo: The crew getting the stage ready at Roundhouse Theatre for rehearsals for The Inheritance.

Thank you for staying connected and for sharing with me the issues that matter most to you. Your feedback helps guide my work every day, and I want to make sure my office is always accessible to you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything we can do for you—contact us anytime at Teresa.Woorman@house.maryland.gov or call my office at 410-841-3454.

Sincerely,

Delegate Teresa Woorman, District 16

P.S. My team and I are spending part of the interim knocking on doors, making calls, and checking in with neighbors across District 16. If you’d like to help us reach more people, sign up here. We’d love to have you on the team!