House of Delegates District  34A  Republican  Republican Sheryl Davis Kohl 

 

Office Sought: House of Delegates  District 34A

Name: Sheryl Davis Kohl

Age:  44

Marriage status:  Married

Website: www.sheryldaviskohl.com

 

Education: 

1980 Fallston High School

1984 B.A. Political Science Albright College

1986  1986 M.P.A University of Baltimore

Work Experience:

1980-85 Groundskeeper, Hunt Valley Golf Club

1985-86 Criminal Clerk. Towson Courthouse

1986-Present Business Owner, Beacon Staffing Alternatives

Previous Political Offices Held:

1994-1998: Elected to Republican Central Committee

2005:  Appointed to Maryland House of Delegates

Brief Biography:

I live in Abingdon with my husband James and am the owner of Beacon Staffing Alternatives in Aberdeen , MD.   I volunteer with the American Cancer Society, Boys and Girls Club of Harford County, the Cal Ripken World Series (host parent), LPGA at Bulle Rock, and the Arc Northern Chesapeake Region.  I belong to the Aberdeen , Harford and Havre de Grace Chambers, the Chesapeake Professional Women’s Network, the Aberdeen Rotary Club and am past president of the Route 40 Business Association.

1.  Why are you running for this office?  

I am running for office to continue to serve the citizens of Harford and Cecil Counties .  There are many challenges facing our state, and I believe I have an important perspective on how to deal with them.  I have first hand experience concerning the importance of small businesses to our economy, as the majority of new jobs come from small business.  We need a leader in Annapolis who understands these issues and who can be a voice for the citizens and small businesses of our community. 

2.   If you are elected, what do you intend to do to improve the quality of education in Harford County ?

If elected, I will bring work diligently to improve the quality of education in Harford County .  As a graduate of the Harford County public school system, I have first hand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities our students face.  Currently, I work with businesses that need employees who are qualified to do specific jobs.  More and more, companies require a high school diploma or GED, and it is vital that high school graduates not planning on continuing their education have vocational skills.  For those that do intend to go to college, I also believe that we must make college affordable and attainable for all students in Harford County and throughout Maryland .

3.  Harford County will have an influx of over 30,000 new jobs in the next six to eight years as a result of BRAC.  What do you intend to do to help Harford County prepare for this dramatic increase in population and need for services?

BRAC is perhaps the most important logistical issue facing Harford County in the coming decade.  It will produce more than 30,000 new jobs and create a housing boom in the county.  While this is a great opportunity, BRAC will also provide challenges that I can help solve.  I will work to have infrastructure (roads, schools) public safety issues, and hospital funding fast tracked for areas affected by BRAC.  In addition, the influx of 30,000 new jobs will create traffic headaches that will affect the lives of everyone in Harford County .  I have worked on transportation issues in the past, including a work group concerning tolls on interstates in Harford County , and believe I am qualified to lead the charge on this issue.  Our county has the potential to greatly benefit from BRAC, but dealing with it will require diligence and common sense in order to move forward in a manner that helps all our citizens.

4.  What in your mind is the biggest problem facing Maryland as it enters the 21st century and how do you expect to correct this problem?  

Education is always an important issue, and I believe creating a stronger and more vibrant education system is the biggest challenge Maryland will face in the 21st century.  It is vital that we make college education affordable so that everyone can reap the benefits that our state and country has to offer.  Education is the silver bullet; without it, nothing can be possible.  By improving both our students’ college prospects, we can guarantee that the next generation will have even greater opportunity than our own.  In addition, with the growth Maryland is expected to undergo, school overcrowding will be a major issue.  I believe that we must attack this problem through both infrastructure and the hiring of more, as well as highly qualified, teachers for our public schools.  If we can do that, the future of our schools and our state will be brighter than ever.