Nearly a year and a half ago, I announced my campaign for the Maryland Senate. I decided to run because I cared very deeply about ensuring that District 33 had representation that reflected their values, including someone who would stand up for working families, fight for our public schools, and protect our Chesapeake Bay. Since then, I am proud of the grassroots campaign that we built with the help of so many supporters and volunteers, who knocked on doors in the heat and rain, who hosted events, and who helped us ensure we had the resources to communicate our message. I am very honored and thrilled to share the news that the people of District 33 have selected me as their next State Senator.

Thank you to my family, including my husband and children, for their support. Thank you also to my team of supporters and volunteers who believed in me and were behind me every step of the way. I am incredibly grateful, and I am excited to get to work for our communities.

I am honored to have the support and endorsement of Ardath Cade, widow of Sen. Jack Cade (R), who served as District 33’s state senator from 1975-1996. In Mrs. Cade’s words:

“I urge you, as you are looking back and forth on the ballot, to give your support to a candidate known for vision, hard work, community concern and integrity– DAWN GILE to serve as our next District 33 Senator.  

In looking at Dawn’s qualifications I see:

• A professional young woman, an attorney, who will be a bright and articulate advocate in the complex process of lawmaking. She is already recognized for the talents she will bring to the Senate and her voice will be heard and respected from the day she is sworn in.

• A person who uses her skills to respond to the needs of whatever situation she finds herself in–focusing on the special issues of military spouses during her husband’s 24 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Army and overseeing an award-winning program providing free legal services to Gold Star families, veteran caregivers, and veteran entrepreneurs.

• A mom and wife, dealing with the issues that we see our children and grandchildren confronting, whose children attend our Severna Park public schools and whose family participates in our neighborhood activities and leads community events.

• A highly ethical individual, without the very concerning financial, business, and ethical blemishes of her opponent.

• A moderate who will stay attuned to the concerns of our District 33, while yet encompassing the broad statewide issues affecting all Marylanders.

It’s not the D or R after someone’s name that defines their effectiveness.  Late Senator Cade (R) stuck to his principles in a deeply (D) Senate, but nonetheless was one of its most influential and respected voices. I know that Dawn, with a (D) after her name, will strive to work as broadly and thoughtfully on behalf of all of us, no matter our party affiliation.

Please give her your support: 

Vote DAWN GILE for Senate, District 33″

-Ardath Cade

I have some exciting news: our new commercial just dropped! It will be airing on televisions throughout District 33 starting TODAY! I am thrilled at how well it illustrated some of my top priorities, including protecting our environment, investing in school safety, and standing up for women and girls, and I am especially proud of my cute little extras. You can watch it below or on Facebook and SHARE it with others!

I have exciting news to share: Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters (International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1563) has just endorsed my candidacy for the Maryland Senate!

I am proud to be endorsed by Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters. Our brave first responders are at the front lines of keeping our communities safe, often at peril to their own safety. It is an honor to have this endorsement, and I am committed to ensuring that our firefighters have the resources and support they need for the protection of our communities.

Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters is among our list of educators, farmers, labor unions, environmental groups, and more who are on #TeamGile. You can check out our full endorsement list on our website. 

Election Day is less than three months away! We’ve worked so hard for over a year now to get to this point — from knocking doors in 100-degree weather to earning the endorsements of many partners and supporters. However, we still have a lot more work to do, and we need more resources so we can pay for the many ways we will be reaching voters over the next three months. The stakes are high, and this will be a very competitive race.

I would be honored if you would help us ensure we are well-funded to win in November. Please join me for wine and pasta on September 13 at Cafe Mezzanotte in Severna Park as we make our last big push toward our fundraising goal. I am thrilled that we will be joined by Senate President Bill Ferguson, as well as many other special guests, including Sen. Sarah Elfreth, Sen. Pam Beidle, and more. I hope to see you there!

Purchase tickets at this link: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dawngford33septfundraiser. Checks may be sent to Committee to Elect Dawn Gile, P.O. Box 1362, Severna Park, MD 21146.

I am honored to be the Democratic nominee for the Maryland Senate in District 33! While mail-in ballot counting will continue through the end of this week, I am so incredibly grateful for the nearly 9,000 voters who believed in me and voted for me.

Our work, however, is not complete. We have a very competitive General Election ahead of us in November, and we cannot run out of steam yet. Our team has been out several days a week knocking doors and talking to voters. We have only 103 days left and lots more voters to meet!

Here are some ways you can help us get across the finish line victoriously:

Saturday, July 30: Join us door-knocking on the D33 Super Day of Action. We’ll be out with Team Andrew Pruski in the Gambrills/Odenton area. Meet us at Four Seasons Elementary, 979 Waugh Chapel Rd., Gambrills, MD 21054 at 10 am. If you want to join us in a Team D33 photo, meet us at Crofton Village Green at 9 am before heading over to Four Season Elementary. Sign up here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/FagntWn4AkOWJvLP_r7mfw2

Sunday, July 31: Meet us at Arnold Elementary School, 95 E. Joyce Ln., Arnold, MD 21012 at noon before we set out to door knock in the Arnold area. Sign up here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/McOFoRycK06mfjTLaPLUDg2 (Note: Volunteer sign up says 10 am; however, due to a conflict, please note that we will be meeting at noon.)

Can’t join us at the above? There are plenty of other opportunities to help! Check out more dates here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/p/0BrHmRWwtkmP1Tffc3GwRQ2 or contact my campaign manager, Brennan, for more information (bmaragh@mdsenatedems.org).

Originally printed in the Severna Park Voice. Full article is available here.

State Senate, District 33

Dawn Gile

What would be your three priorities upon taking office?

First, one of my top priorities is education. I believe that all children should be given the opportunity to learn and thrive in a safe environment, and our public schools need the resources and support to do so. It is imperative that we address school overcrowding as well as teacher burnout and recruitment issues.

Second, helping working families is a top priority for me. Recently, there has been much talk about labor shortages; however, without access to affordable, quality child care and paid family and medical leave, it is difficult for many working families to continue to work. In fact, among my many reasons for running for office is my frustration with the impact that the pandemic had on working families and especially women leaving the workforce. I will work to continue to expand paid family and medical leave, recently passed this last session, as well as access to affordable child care.

Third, I support strong environmental protections, including the need to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. I also believe we should continue to build on efforts to address the impact of climate change.

What would be the greatest challenge you would face in this office?

Initially, one of the greatest challenges I believe that I would face is growing inflation. There is no doubt that inflation has placed an immense strain on Marylanders, particularly on working families and retirees on fixed incomes. Many of the tax relief policies that the General Assembly implemented in the most recent session, including tax relief for retirees and exemptions for hygiene and child care products, are steps in the right direction. I would continue to fight for an expansion of targeted tax relief that is fiscally sustainable and responsible but also provides the greatest support for the most vulnerable Marylanders such as working families and retirees.

I also think we need to ensure that residents have access to jobs with good benefits, and further, that smart policy decisions are made so that small businesses are supported.

What aspect of your background or your experience sets you apart from others running for this office?

Advocacy and public service have long been part of me, as an attorney for the last 15-plus years as well as a military spouse and nonprofit leader. As an attorney, I represent businesses of all sizes in litigation. As for my leadership experience, I served as president of Military Spouse JD Network, a well-respected organization of approximately 1,000 members that advocates for expanded employment opportunities for military spouses and that provides pro bono legal services to Gold Star families and veteran caregivers.

Currently, I serve as secretary of Vigilant Torch Association and Vigilant Torch Foundation, an organization that provides emergency relief assistance and scholarships to members of the special operations community and their families. Additionally, I serve as a trustee on the board of trustees of Rockford University, and in that capacity, I am involved in budget oversight, alumni engagement, and student services. Finally, I have devoted significant time volunteering in my Severna Park community and my daughters’ school.

I decided to run for office because I felt as though the people of District 33 deserved more effective representation in the Senate. With a background of being a mom of three, military spouse, nonprofit leader, and attorney, I am focused on four key priorities: supporting working families, protecting the environment, helping small businesses thrive, and investing in our public schools. I am committed to serving with the same dedication and integrity that I have shown in my many years of advocacy and nonprofit leadership. Ultimately, I intend to work with integrity, responsiveness, and consensus-building to get the job done for the people of Maryland so that we are all given the opportunity to thrive.

Please join us on July 21 at 7 pm for a virtual “Votes for Women” fundraiser with special guest Karen Finney, CNN political commentator, former Senior Advisor for Stacey Abrams for Governor, and former Senior Advisor and Senior Spokesperson for the 2016 Clinton presidential campaign. I am also thrilled to be joined by my dear friend, Mary Reding, attorney, former government executive, and military spouse employment champion.

With Primary Day just around the corner and Election Day in November mere months away, we need to make sure we have the resources we need to win, and reaching voters — let me tell you — is expensive. We need to pay for digital ads, campaign literature, signs, and walk pieces for our organizers, and more to ensure we can run the best campaign possible. I would be honored if you would help me with your support! Tickets are available here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/votesfordawn

I have exciting news to share: Maryland League of Conservation Voters, one of the state’s most well-respected, nonpartisan environmental advocacy organizations, has just endorsed my candidacy for the Maryland Senate!

I am committed to fighting to protect Maryland’s air and water, find solutions to the climate crisis, and create a brighter future for all Marylanders. I look forward to working with Maryland LCV on much-needed measures to ensure our environment is preserved for future generations, and I am very grateful for this endorsement.

Maryland LCV is among our growing list of educators, farmers, labor unions, environmental groups, and more who are on #TeamGile. You can check out our full endorsement list on our website. 

ICYMI: Our spring picnic fundraiser at Sandy Point State Park was a success! The weather was thankfully on our side and the day was a beautiful sunny day on the water. Below are some pictures! We were very grateful to have in attendance Sen. Will Smith, Sen. Sarah Elfreth, Sen. Guy Guzzone, and Sen. Pam Beidle, as well as many other elected officials and candidates, and most importantly, so many supporters and friends.