2022 Candidate Profile: Linfeng Chen Runs For Howard County School Board

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Early voting will run from Oct. 27 through Nov. 3 in Maryland. Early voting centers in the county will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day. Patch asked each of the candidates answers to the same questions and here you will meet Linfeng Chen, candidate for the Howard County Board of Education.

Name

Linfeng Chen

Campaign website

https://chen4boe.org/

City or town of residence

North Laurel, MD

Office sought

School Board, at-large seat

Party affiliation

nonpartisan

Education

PhD

Occupation

Structural engineer, 16 years of experience

Family

Yes, my wife: Leying Zhang 43, daughter: Julia Chen 16, son: Jim Chen 13, daughter: Janine Chen 10

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

46

Previous public office, appointive or elective

No

Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for the Board of Education because I want to solve the pressing problems in our school system. I have observed many issues in HCPSS as my eldest child grew from a kindergartener to a 10th grader. Covid made some issues even worse. Some of the most pressing issues include the drop in academic performance, the staff shortage, overcrowded schools, the mental health crisis, school safety, dropped school enrollment, lagged school infrastructure, lack of long term planning, and school start times.

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

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

I am truly unaffiliated with any political party and put students above politics. My independence helps to ensure the best decisions for all of our students.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

We do not have incumbents this time.

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

My top three priorities are: (1) addressing the staff shortage; (2) providing adequate school infrastructure; and (3) improving student physical health and mental health.

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

I am uniquely qualified to be a school board member for numerous reasons. First, I have lived in Howard County for 11 years, establishing roots and getting to know the County and its people well. Second, I have three children in the school system covering elementary school, middle school, and high school. This has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of all three levels and current issues at each level. Third, I have a PhD in engineering, which leads me to always try to find an optimal and cost effective solution to address any issue based on data analysis and scientific evidence. Fourth, I have strong leadership experience within HCPSS. As previously mentioned, I currently serve on the Board of Education Operating Budget Review Committee and have previously served on the HCPSS Science Advisory Committee, Social Study Advisory Committee, and School Calendar Committee. All of these experiences have given me great insights into HCPSS and make me uniquely qualified for the position. I testified many times in front of the Board of Education, including supporting inclusive school calendars reflecting our cultural diversity, supporting the world language program with a wider variety of language offerings, and advocating to include Asian American studies in the school curriculum. Lastly, I am very open minded and can work with diverse groups, seek common ground, and make compromised solutions on complicated issues when necessary.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Be yourself

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

I am the first college graduate in my family and earned a PhD from University of Virginia. My personal journey told me that education can change people's lives. I want to make an educational difference in Howard County Students' lives.