Candidate Profile: Monique Richards Running For School Board

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Candidates in the Democratic and Republican parties will be competing on Tuesday in their respective primaries to see who will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Patch has asked each of the candidates running in select races to fill out a questionnaire, sharing facts about themselves and why voters should choose them to represent their party in November.

Let's start with your name.

Monique Richards

What email should be used to contact your campaign?

info@votemoniquerichards.com

Does your campaign have a website?

https://www.votemoniquerichards.com

What city or town do you live in?
Ellicott City

What office are you seeking?
School Board, at-large seat

Please share with us with your education.

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Bachelor of Science (B.S., Chemistry)

What is your occupation?
Pharmacist - 20+ years

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.
I am married to my husband, Hugh, and we have 3 beautiful children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?
Yes. When I lived in New Jersey, I was elected to serve as a Municipal Committee member in my town in 2013-2015.

How old will you be as of Election Day?
44

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking a school board seat to be an advocate for our students getting the best education.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Not one thing, but many things. I intend to work collaboratively with the other members of the school board to address each one of the issues our children are facing as needed. Our students are not a monolith and the needs of children in Distict 4 may be different from the needs of children 5. Equity in education means giving the children the resources they need, not giving all the children the same resources.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am uniquely prepared to contribute to the School Board because I am not only a parent of children who attend Howard County public schools, I am also accustomed to collaborating, for the greater good, with people who don't always share my values and opinions in my line of work. I have experience leading teams of 20+ highly qualified people, so I can work with 7 other School Board members to accomplish what is best for our children.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

My campaign has focused on school safety and equity throughout HCPSS for all students and school staff members.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

For 15+ years, I have been responsible for leading teams of 20-40 highly qualified business colleagues, scientists, lawyers, physicians and pharmacists, to accomplish the last requirement before a new medicine can be marketed and sold. If I can do that, I can certainly work with 7 other highly qualified School Board members to do what is best for our students.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
"Seek first to understand, then to be understood." (Franklin Covey) It describes the habit of empathic communication.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am interested in becoming a Howard County School Board member because I care about the safety of our students and I want them to receive an excellent education. I can be an advocate for the interests of the children, first and foremost, but in doing so, my support for keeping and attracting the most highly qualified teachers and other school staff members to HCPSS is not far behind.