Delegate John L. Bohanan, Jr., a lifelong advocate for St. Mary’s County, filed today for re-election for District 29B. Bohanan represents the southern portion of St. Mary’s County, which includes Leonardtown, Lexington Park and Ridge.=

“I filed for re-election so that we can continue the progress we are making to grow one of Maryland’s rising economic regions, right here in Southern Maryland,” said Bohanan. “I want to work with our partners across the State to work on a very critical aspect of ensuring our continued success – education – so we can strengthen and improve our local educational opportunities for all Southern Marylanders from Pre-Kindergarten through graduate level courses.”

During his tenure in the legislature, Delegate Bohanan has been the legislature’s strongest voice for higher education parity and investment in the State’s regional higher education centers. As chair of the Commission to Develop the Maryland Model for Higher Education, Delegate Bohanan helped design the ten year blueprint for the State’s support of the university system.

Bohanan also worked with the Governor, House and Senate leaders to freeze university tuition for four straight years in Maryland, to keep higher education affordable for middle class students. Bohanan also single-handedly fought for equal funding for all of the State’s regional higher education centers, and helped to dramatically increase state funding support for the Southern Maryland Regional Higher Education Center in California and in Waldorf.

“A strong higher education system is the State’s key to a strong workforce and attracting businesses to Maryland,” said Delegate Bohanan. “The best investment that we can make in Maryland is supporting our university system, community colleges and regional higher education centers.”

Bohanan is the chair of the Appropriations Education and Economic Development Subcommittee and has been a leader in cutting the State’s budget by over $5 billion over the past four years to maintain a balanced budget and safeguard the State’s triple A bond rating.

Since 2007, Bohanan has fought for funding for St. Mary’s County, including a record $28 million in school construction funding for the newly built Evergreen Elementary School, Leonardtown Elementary, Leonardtown Middle School and other important projects,  a 21% increase in State education funding for St. Mary’s County Public Schools. Bohanan, a member of the Appropriations Capital Subcommittee, also advocated for transportation funding, including the funds for a new Thomas Johnson Bridge, the portion of Rt. 4 to the bridge, Chancellor’s Run Road (Rt. 237), Great Mills Road (Rt. 246) and other transportation improvements.

Delegate Bohanan also chaired the House Emergency Medical Services System workgroup, which successfully advocated for funding the purchase of four new Medevac helicopters over two years, as well as improving the training and protocols for volunteer firefighters and rescue personnel across the State.  His efforts this year ensured full funding for the Charles Riley scholarship program that provides education funding to EMS workers and volunteers.

Delegate Bohanan received an 83% favorability rating from the League of Conservation Voters, the highest of the County Delegation, as their scoring for his strong support of the environment.  He has worked closely to provide continued support for the funding of programs that will protect our St. Mary’s River and other tributaries as well as the C