In her second straight bid for a District 34A House of Delegates seat, Aberdeen resident Marla Posey-Moss pulled off an upset, ousting incumbent Del. B. Dan Riley in the Democratic primary. Now, with the Nov. 2 general election just around the corner, Posey-Moss is planning to redouble her canvassing efforts.

"I don't seek to be a politician, but a legislative leader," the candidate said in a recent telephone interview. She said she got her signs out earlier, picked a brighter color scheme, and spent time in the district's Cecil County section, which stretches from Port Deposit to Joppatowne.

"I make sure that I don't take any voter for granted," she said.

Posey-Moss, 35, teaches high school Spanish in Baltimore County, and has a master's in public policy and management from Carnegie Melon University. She identified herself as a progressive Democrat, and said she's willing to take on issues that others aren't.

For instance, Posey-Moss said that, if elected, she would introduce legislation that would dissuade banks from putting a 24-hour hold on cash deposits, which, for people between jobs or suffering hard times, might cause late fees on checks posted the same day as the deposit. She also said she would take a strong tack on consumer advocacy in Annapolis. She said someone whose car is totaled in an accident, but who wasn't at fault, shouldn't be on the hook if he or she still owed money on that car. 

On education, Posey-Moss supports the popular notion that suspensions should be served in school, and suggests that, with the right technology in the classroom, suspended students could view classes they missed on video screens. She also said high school students who fail classes shouldn't have a choice about summer school.

"I think we need to start looking into mandatory summer school," she said.

Vying for the two District 34A seats in the House of Delegates are Posey-Moss, incumbent Democrat Mary-Dulany James, and Republicans Patrick McGrady and Glen Glass.  The top two vote-getters win seats, regardless of party.  The Democrat from Aberdeen said she's working with Del. James and is hoping they both get elected, but also maintained that they run separate campaigns.

Posey-Moss said she would host regional forums with voters after each legislative session to hear their concerns and thoughts on issues. She also said she would meet with high schoolers before she heads to her first session, which would start in January if she wins. 

"I want to have a forum with the kids to find out what they think the problems are at the school," she said.