Expanded Platform — Erica Berge Delegate 35B Bold Policy Positions for Cecil County

Erica Berge’s expanded platform provides detailed policy positions on the issues that matter most to District 35B families. This expanded platform goes beyond the core pillars of People, Places, and Community to address specific policy challenges facing Cecil County residents. From government accountability to kitchen table economics, education funding to infrastructure investment, the Erica Berge expanded platform outlines clear, conservative solutions for Maryland’s House of Delegates District 35B.

Cecil County families are working harder than ever to make ends meet. The cost of groceries, gas, childcare, and utilities continues to climb while paychecks struggle to keep pace. At the same time, parents worry about school safety, infrastructure crumbles from neglect, and state government keeps growing. The Erica Berge expanded platform addresses these kitchen table issues with realistic, honest leadership focused on what matters to District 35B residents.

Expanded Platform Priority: Keeping Government Accountable

I believe government should be accountable to the people who pay for it. That means:

• Pushing back on tax and fee increases that make life more expensive for working families, seniors, and small businesses.
• Fighting for budgets that live within their means, just like families do every day.
• Making sure state spending focuses on core priorities like education, public safety, and infrastructure, not bloated programs that do little for Cecil County.
• Calling out policies that overreach into local decision-making or undermine the independence of our towns and county.

Kitchen Table Priorities

Delegates have the power to shape laws and budgets that affect everyday life. These are the priorities I will focus on:

• Affordability: Families should not be taxed or fee’d out of their homes. I will oppose unnecessary increases that make Maryland less livable. As someone who has managed a household of ten, I know how to stretch a dollar, put food on the table, and keep kids clothed. We all understand that we don’t get everything we want the moment we want it, and that just because we can, doesn’t always mean we should. Annapolis needs to take that same approach when spending taxpayer dollars.
• Infrastructure: We need safe highways, reliable bridges, and modern infrastructure that meets the needs of families and businesses. Fees collected for transportation must go toward the roads and bridges Maryland families rely on every day, not diverted into unrelated programs. I will fight to make sure Cecil County receives its fair share of state infrastructure investment.
• Education and Safety: Schools should be properly and affordably funded, with resources for teachers, staff, and students. Parents deserve peace of mind when they send their kids to class, and funding decisions must be fair and sustainable. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future may have started with good intentions, but its one-size-fits-all mandates place unsustainable costs on counties like ours. I will work for school funding that is fair, affordable, and built to last.
• Public Safety and Emergency Services: State decisions shape the funding and policies that keep our communities safe. I will advocate for fair state support for Cecil County’s law enforcement, fire, EMS, and 911 services, while also backing reforms that address juvenile crime with real accountability and meaningful rehabilitation. Families deserve safe streets and neighborhoods, and young people deserve the opportunity to make better choices and build stronger futures.

Realistic, Honest Leadership

Maryland is a blue state, and I understand the challenges of being a Republican voice in Annapolis. I will not make promises that cannot be kept. What I will do is stand up, speak out, and work with anyone willing to listen. I will call attention to the rising costs families face, push back against policies that make life harder, and fight for solutions that put Cecil County first.

As someone raising a family here and serving our community, I know that leadership means making hard choices and putting needs ahead of wants. Our county deserves someone who will not back down and who understands that every decision made in Annapolis should be measured by one simple question: Does it help or hurt the people sitting around the kitchen tables of District 35B?

Representation That Starts With You

I have my own opinions and convictions, but as an elected official, my responsibility is not to speak for myself. It is to represent the people of Cecil County. When the majority of our residents or the well-being of our county point in a clear direction, that is the course I will take.

Our voices have been ignored at the state level for too long. Decisions that should be made by the people who live and work here are being dictated from Annapolis. I believe in returning to the kind of representative government our founders envisioned, one that listens, respects local control, and serves the will of the people.

That is why I am running. I want to make sure every voice in District 35B is heard, every concern is considered, and every decision I make reflects the people I represent. This is about restoring trust, accountability, and true representation in government.