Shelly Hettleman

Shelly Hettleman is a prominent American politician currently serving as a member of the Maryland State Senate, representing District 11. A member of the Democratic Party, she has held this position since 2020, following her tenure in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2020. Hettleman has been active in various legislative committees and has focused on a range of policy issues throughout her political career.

Early life and career

Shelly Hettleman was born on August 26, 1964, in Houston, Texas. She is of Jewish heritage, with her grandparents having immigrated to the United States as refugees fleeing the Holocaust. Hettleman spent her early childhood in various locations before settling in the Baltimore area just before her seventh birthday. She completed her secondary education at Pikesville Senior High School and went on to pursue higher education at Northwestern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1986.

Hettleman's political engagement began during her time at Northwestern University, where she participated in the campaign for Paul Simon's 1984 U.S. Senate bid. Following her graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., and subsequently returned to Baltimore. Her early career included working as a scheduler for U.S. Representative Barbara Mikulski's 1986 Senate campaign. Hettleman then served as a legislative aide to U.S. Representative Ben Cardin until 1990. Afterward, she transitioned to a role as the director of government relations for several Jewish organizations, including the Baltimore Jewish Council and the Jewish Women's Archive. Hettleman also managed Cardin's U.S. Senate campaigns in 2006 and 2012, further solidifying her involvement in political advocacy.

Legislative service

Shelly Hettleman was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015. During her time in the House, she was a member of the Appropriations Committee, where she contributed to various legislative initiatives. In 2016, she endorsed Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Party presidential primaries and later served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, where she pledged her support for Clinton. Hettleman continued her involvement in the Democratic Party by serving as a delegate to the 2020 convention, supporting Joe Biden, and again in 2024, this time pledging her support for Kamala Harris.

In December 2019, following the resignation of state senator Robert Zirkin, Hettleman announced her intention to apply for the vacant Senate seat. Her candidacy received backing from the Baltimore County Democratic Party. In January 2020, the Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee nominated her unanimously for the position, and she was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan shortly thereafter. Hettleman was sworn into the Maryland Senate on February 3, 2020. Initially, she served on the Judicial Proceedings Committee until 2023, when she transitioned to the Budget and Taxation Committee. In October 2023, she was appointed chair of the Rules Committee, following the resignation of Melony G. Griffith.

In January 2024, Hettleman, alongside state delegate Jared Solomon and 20 other Jewish lawmakers, established the Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus, aiming to address issues pertinent to the Jewish community within the state.

Policy focus and district

Throughout her legislative career, Shelly Hettleman has focused on a variety of policy issues, reflecting the interests and needs of her constituents in District 11. One of her notable contributions to reproductive health policy was during the 2017 legislative session when she introduced a bill allowing pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives without a prescription. This legislation was enacted into law. In response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Hettleman introduced a bill in 2023 requiring patient consent before reproductive health records could be shared across state lines. This bill also passed and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore.

In the realm of education, Hettleman has been active in advocating for programs that support students and educational opportunities. She introduced legislation during the 2016 session to create the Maryland Corps, which provides high school graduates with job training, a minimum wage, and educational grants. Additionally, she supported the restoration of budget cuts to the BOOST program, which offers scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools. Hettleman has also called for an expansion of Holocaust education in Maryland schools.

Hettleman has addressed issues related to housing, introducing legislation in 2021 to ensure that low-income tenants have the right to legal counsel in eviction cases. In 2022, she proposed bills aimed at delaying eviction proceedings for tenants applying for rent assistance, although these measures were vetoed by the governor. Her work in housing reflects a commitment to protecting vulnerable populations within her district.

In the area of public health, Hettleman has shown interest in innovative approaches to health care. She voted in favor of the End-of-Life Option Act in 2019 and introduced legislation in 2020 to permit supervised injection sites in the state. Furthermore, she supported the Time to Care Act in 2022, which aimed to establish a state-paid family leave program.

Hettleman has also engaged with agricultural policy, introducing legislation in 2020 to restrict hemp farming near residential areas, balancing the interests of agricultural expansion with community health concerns. Her legislative efforts demonstrate a comprehensive approach to policy-making that addresses a wide array of issues affecting her constituents.

In summary, Shelly Hettleman has established herself as a dedicated public servant in Maryland, with a focus on education, health care, housing, and reproductive rights. Her legislative work reflects her commitment to addressing the needs of her district while advocating for progressive policies within the state.