Alec Ross in 2018 MD Governor's race
On Environment:
Ready to confront major polluters
The Chesapeake Bay is one of Ross's big-ticket issues, and he considers himself "pretty far left" on environmental issues, despite having grown up in what he called "coal country." Those who say stopping the runoff from farms--
major sources of pollution--would be bad for economic development are wrong, he said. The Chesapeake Bay is better for the environment and could allow other industries, including organic farming, to flourish, Ross added.
Source: The Diamondback on 2018 Maryland gubernatorial race
Sep 27, 2017
On Health Care:
Favors public option over single payer
Ross has expressed support for a state-run public option. A single-payer system is one in which the government provides health coverage for everyone,
whereas a public option would mean the state setting up a health program to compete with private insurance.
Source: Washington Post on 2018 Maryland gubernatorial race
Jul 26, 2017
On Crime:
Education key to addressing crime
Ross said in the short term, more police presence can drive down crime, but in the long term, he advocates for more resources to city schools. "If you said to me, 'In 10 years, will
Baltimore be a safer place if we double the number of police officers or double the number of teachers?' I think we would be a safer city if we doubled the number of teachers."
Source: WBAL-TV on 2018 Maryland gubernatorial race
Jun 20, 2017
On Drugs:
Let's see response to medical marijuana
Ross wants to see the impact of the sale of medical marijuana before pushing further decriminalization. "If what we see is that by decriminalizing marijuana and/or by medicalizing it,
violence has gone down significantly, absolutely we should move in that direction," Ross said.
Source: WBAL-TV on 2018 Maryland gubernatorial race
Jun 20, 2017
On Education:
One Economy: Internet & content to low-income schools
After college, Alec moved to Baltimore to teach in the City's public schools--6th grade at Booker T. Washington Middle School. Alec saw firsthand the inequities in our school system and implemented programs connecting his students to opportunities in
higher education and conflict resolution. It's also where he met his wife, Felicity, who taught in the classroom across the hall--and continues to teach in Baltimore City public schools today.
Recognizing the inequities that made it nearly impossible for low-income families to get ahead, Alec co-founded a non-profit start-up called One Economy, which helped deliver
high-speed Internet access, educational content and education to low-income communities. One Economy started in a basement and grew into a global organization serving millions of low-income families.
Source: 2018 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website AlecRoss.com
May 2, 2017
On Technology:
Obama/Clinton advisor on internet freedom & technology
Alec was inspired to get involved in politics during Barack Obama's historic campaign in 2008. He joined the Obama campaign at its outset, convening leaders from the technology and innovation sectors to draft new policies that promoted economic
development and government openness and transparency. And after serving on the Obama-Biden Transition Team, Alec was appointed Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In that role, he developed new and creative ways to use
technology and innovation to serve America's diplomatic agenda around the world, and was the diplomatic lead on a range of issues including Internet Freedom and the use of network technologies in conflict zones.After leaving the State Department,
Alec wrote a book titled "The Industries of the Future" which lays out a series of new ideas for ways that everyday workers can seize new economic opportunities and steps that parents can take to better prepare their children.
Source: 2018 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website AlecRoss.com
May 2, 2017
Page last updated: Mar 19, 2019