From 1993 to 1994, Lehman worked as a spokesperson for Citizens Against the Stadium II, a group that protested the construction of the FedExField football stadium in Laurel, Maryland.[4] After a vote on condemning the Commanders' proposed football stadium was tabled by the Prince George's County Council, she accused the football team of engaging in "the politics of intimidation" by threatening not to work with the city if the resolution passed.[5] Team officials eventually announced that the stadium would be built in Landover after meeting with local residents.[6][7]
In 2003, Lehman began working as an educational liaison to Prince George's County council member Tom Dernoga.[2] In 2007, she began working for delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, who encouraged her to run for public office.[3]
In February 2018, Lehman, who was term limited from running for another term on the Prince George's County Council, announced her candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 21.[10][3] She came in third place in the 2018 Democratic primary, defeating primary opponent Matt Dernoga by only 222 votes.[11]
In the legislature
Lehman in the Environment and Transportation Committee, 2024
Lehman was sworn in as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates on January 9, 2019, and is a member of the Environment and Transportation Committee, the housing and real property subcommittee, and agriculture and open space subcommittee.[2]
Lehman is a member of the Maryland Legislative Transit Caucus and the Women Legislators of Maryland, and is an associate member of the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus.[2]
In 2014, Lehman voted to approve an amendment to the county's charter that would give members of the county council another four-year term opposed to only two consecutive terms.[13]
Lehman opposed legislation introduced by delegate Dereck E. Davis during the 2019 legislative session that would set up a public financing system for county campaigns in the 2026 election cycle, saying that the 2026 timeline was too far away.[14] She also voted against legislation that would lift the ban on developer contributions in county political races.[15]
Environment
In 2012, Lehman promoted legislation introduced by delegate Barbara Frush that would allow the Prince George's County council to require shoppers to pay for disposable bags.[16] The bill was unexpectedly killed in the House Environmental Matters Committee, where it received a 12–11 vote to kill the bill.[17]
Lehman introduced legislation in the 2019 legislative session that would have set strict standards for recycling crumb rubber-modified turf.[18] She withdrew the bill later in the session, but planned to reintroduce it in the next legislative session.[19]
Lehman received a score of 100 percent on the Maryland League of Conversation Voters' 2021 legislative scorecard.[20]
Housing
Lehman introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session that would require landlords to prove they are in compliance with local laws and state statutes when they file a failure to pay rent case.[21]
Taxes
Lehman introduced legislation in the 2020 legislative session that would require corporate combined tax reporting.[22] The bill passed the House of Delegates but did not receive a vote in the state senate.[23] She also cosponsored legislation that would create a multi-state compact to end corporate tax breaks aimed at getting businesses to move across state lines.[24]
Transportation
As a councilwoman, Lehman was vocally opposed to a proposed high-speed maglev train that would run from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, citing concerns over the train's environmental impact, cost, and economic potential.[25] In the 2018 legislative session, she filed legislation that would have provided state income and property tax credits to companies affected by the maglev's construction.[3]
Lehman introduced legislation in the 2020 legislative session that would give local governments veto power over state-backed toll road projects.[26] She said that she would oppose a repeal of existing laws that give Eastern Shore counties the right to block state-backed toll facilities.[27]
Electoral history
Prince George's County Councilman district 1 Democratic primary election, 2010[28]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mary A. Lehman
3,065
41.6%
Democratic
Frederick Smalls
1,994
27.1%
Democratic
Valerie L. Cunningham
1,001
13.6%
Democratic
Sam Epps
865
11.7%
Democratic
Crystal R. Thompson
442
6.0%
Prince George's County Councilman district 1 general election, 2010[29]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mary A. Lehman
19,703
99.2%
Other write-ins
Other write-ins
153
0.8%
Prince George's County Councilman district 1 Democratic primary election, 2014[30]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mary A. Lehman
5,719
100%
Prince George's County Councilman district 1 general election, 2014[31]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mary A. Lehman
18,466
99.0%
Other write-ins
Other write-ins
179
1.0%
Maryland House of Delegates district 21 Democratic primary election, 2018[11]
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