Colin C. Richard – Candidate for Democratic Central Committee, District 15 (Moderately MOCO Candidate Introduction Series)

This post is part of the Moderately MOCO Candidate Introduction Series. If you are a candidate who did not receive this questionnaire via email or need more information, please visit www.moderatelymoco.com/contact. The information in this post has been submitted by the candidate and does not represent the views of this publication.

Basic Information

Political Party: Democratic

Campaign Website: www.ColinRichard.com

Why Are You Running For Office?

I am seeking District 15 voters’ support to bolster efforts to restore voter selection for our representation. Currently, when there is a state legislative vacancy, a political party’s county central committee – not the district’s voters – selects an individual for appointment to fill the entire remaining term. This is common in Montgomery County, where 40% of the county’s current delegation in the General Assembly were initially appointed to their roles. In the last five General Assembly election cycles from 2006 to 2022, every MCDCC-selected appointee that then ran as the appointed incumbent retained the office. This process deprives Maryland voters of the ability to select their own representatives, permits a system in which it is possible for an appointee to be selected entirely on committee votes from outside of the vacancy’s district, and empowers county central committees to bestow seemingly insurmountable incumbency advantages. We can improve this. Let Maryland voters decide. I will work to implement simple, specific updates to MCDCC policy to reflect the placeholder approach (currently used for County Council vacancy appointments) that should mitigate the most negative effects of the current appointment process.

What Is The Biggest Issue Facing Voters In This Race?

The legislative effort to preserve the appointment process is the most significant issue in the decision to elect District 15’s representatives to the MCDCC. In our legislative district, 75% percent of the district’s current state legislators were initially appointed to their roles. In the absence of special elections, the MCDCC should only select placeholder appointees, ensuring that the decision in the following election remains entirely with the district’s voters to select their representation. Selection by a central committee often means a decision by a small group of individuals, primarily from outside the vacancy’s district. The MCDCC consists of 26 members from nine legislative districts. At most four MCDCC members (about 15% of the committee) may be from the same district, enabling the possibility of an appointee’s selection without any member votes from the vacancy’s district.

What Experience Best Prepares You For This Role?

I have been advocating for democratic reforms of the appointment process for years. I encourage all Marylanders to read my January 2026 op-ed analyzing the legislative effort to preserve the appointment process. Marylanders overwhelmingly support special elections to fill vacancies. In the absence of special elections, we can still foster a system that upholds democratic principles through simple, specific updates to MCDCC policies. This change starts at the central committees.

What Would You Like Voters To Know About You Personally?

I am a strong supporter of the foundational principles of a participatory democracy and an inclusive economy. I am an active citizen in the Upcounty, and am focused on efforts to advance good governance, infrastructure, and the future economy. I am a member of the District 15 Democratic Caucus and serve as the Area Coordinator for six of District 15’s precincts for the Montgomery County Democratic Party’s Precinct Organization. I know our district well, have been supporting District 15’s Democratic efforts for years, and endeavor to help restore voter selection for our representation.

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