Michael J. Sopata Democratic Candidate for District 33

Hello! Thank you for visiting my online home!

For Information On How, When, and Where to Vote Please Visit:

https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/index.html

I have lived in District 33, Anne Arundel County nearly my entire life, it is my home; it would be the honor of a lifetime to elevate YOUR voice and address YOUR concerns. There is nothing the people of District 33 and Maryland are incapable of doing and I know we can forge A NEW PATH FORWARD, TOGETHER!

Power & influence belong to the people! I am running to be YOUR delegate!

For far too long we have been subjected to the whimsy and agenda of a small cabal of powerful party insider's who are "rubberstamps" for the elite and well-connected folks (and corporations) they are indebted to.

I am running to break this cycle. My primary goal and responsibility will be YOU & YOUR FAMILY NOT the well-funded, well-connected special interests.

The people of District 33 & Maryland deserve to have their voice heard, and their questions answered.

Please click on the "CONTACT" tab above to reach me directly with ANY & ALL of your Questions, Comments, or Concerns. 

This election we find ourselves at a inflection point.

We can choose the standard path where we elect 'party-insiders' and 'favorites' who are 'rubberstamps' for party bosses and elite special interests who equate great wealth and privilege with power and influence. In short, going down this well-trodden conventional path means families like yours and mine will be a afterthought to these 'rubberstamps' who routinely put their own special interests ahead of ours. OR...

We can ditch the 'rubberstamp' delegates and choose: A NEW PATH FORWARD,TOGETHER!

TOGETHER, WE can address the most pressing issues facing OUR community.

SCROLL DOWN!!! (To Read about the ISSUES I find 'MOST PRESSING" and to discover more "ABOUT ME"

• INFLATION & SKYROCKETING COST OF LIVING
  • HOUSING PRICES ARE OFF THE CHAIN!
    • RENT AND MORTGAGES are increasing while the value of a dollar is decreasing
      • Like more and more people each year, Taylor (my partner) and myself are renters we are NOT unlike many of you struggling to come to terms with rapidly escalating housing costs coupled with stagnate wage growth. 
    • INADEQUATE HOUSING FOR MANY - high demand coupled with high prices has left many out in the cold, literally, this is unacceptable in one of the wealthiest states in the USA. 
  • SOARING, LIFE-ALTERING, FUEL COSTS
    • Like many, Taylor is a commuter, in his case, to Tysons Corner, Va. What was once a simple, albeit long commute, is now a ECONOMIC BURDEN. We find ourselves cutting costs in other areas to compensate for the record high gas prices!
  • FOOD and BASIC HOUSEHOLD COMMODITIES ARE INCREASING FASTER THAN WAGES
• CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
  • We must balance the need for Safe Streets, with the State's mandate to treat ALL equally & fairly
    • My father spent over 30 years in Law Enforcement serving OUR REGION as a Lead Detective/ Investigator on a Joint F.B.I./ MPD Task Force for over 25 years centering on building R.I.C.O/ C.C.E. cases against major criminal drug syndicates. This highly skilled Task Force spanned multiple Republican and Democratic Administrations and has been lauded by multiple Attorney Generals including Janet Reno and Eric Holder. 
    • Federal and State Partnership in working towards goals set by COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS is essential
• AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE INCLUDING ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE
  • Prior to the pandemic, the Opioid Epidemic presented the largest healthcare challenge to the State, countless thousands have fallen victim to overprescribed opioid medications.
    • The pandemic and the isolation accompanying it has caused drug use to surge according to the CDC
      • Access to treatment, including HEALTH AND MENTAL COUNSELING must be expanded!
• PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE STIMULATING ECONOMIC GROWTH
  • I will support the expansion and development of PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS and provide economic incentives that will make Maryland a Global leader in the development and use of sustainable energy.
  • FUEL COSTS & RISING ENERGY COSTS have illustrated that the State MUST no longer be subjected to the whimsy of oil markets.
  • Provide IMMEDIATE RELIEF to Marylanders struggling with skyrocketing fuel and energy prices by suspending the gas tax
  • UPDATE OUR MASS TRANSIT GRID and FIX AGING INFASTRUCTURE BOTH will reduce carbon and lower prices

Please Take the Time to Read a little 'About Me' below:

EDUCATION:

• Ridgeway Elementary School, Severn, Md,
• Old Mill Middle School South, Millersville, Md.
• Old Mill Senior High School, Millersville, Md., Class of 2006
  • High School Superlative: "MOST DEPENDABLE"
• University of Maryland - College Park, Class of 2010
  • B.A. Government and Politics, Cum Laude
  •  Dean's list Academic Scholar (distinction bestowed for "Academic Excellence")
• University of Baltimore - School of Law, Baltimore, Md., Class of 2014

NOTABLE EXPERIENCE:

• National Security Agency, Ft. Geo. G. Meade, Md.
• Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, United States House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
• Office of the Chief Deputy Majority Whip, Justin D. Ross, House of Delegates, Maryland General Assembly
• The Honorable Nancy M. Purpura, the Circuit Court for Baltimore County 
• The Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City Maryland, (Intern)