Hector’s Vision

Engage. Innovate. Communicate.  These three principles will serve as the framework, which Hector will use to best serve the 43^rd district.  For the last 13 years, the 43^rd district has settled for the status quo, and voters have become disconnected from State Government as a result.  Hector hopes to engage with communities, innovate new solutions with local leaders, and communicate with all residents of the district to best represent and advocate unique concerns of the 43^rd in Annapolis.

Community is key.

Baltimore is a city renowned for its thriving neighborhoods.  The 43rd legislative district is no exception: it is a unique patchwork of diverse neighborhoods formed into one cohesive body that we all call home.  Hector’s vision centers on using the strength of our neighborhoods to help our city grow and prosper.  While one function of  a State legislator’s job is to spend 90 days in Annapolis developing constituent concerns into state-wide legislation and engaging in competition with other localities for limited state resources, Hector understands this to be one small facet of the State Senator’s responsibility.

Certain state level officials have suggested Hector’s passion for community engagement would be better served in the City Council arena.  Hector’s vision, however,  involves State and City government working in tandem to re-energize the essence of local government.  Hector sees it as the responsibility of State officials, just like their counterparts in the City, to be active participants in their constituent communities.

Re-imagine solutions to our common concerns.

A re-imagining of how we address local problems will yield dramatic results in the effectiveness of local government.  You can’t open the newspaper, turn on the TV or radio without hearing some elected official drone on about the impact of the economic downturn on local governance.  Hector sees this as a time in which local governance has the unique opportunity to reevaluate best practices and rethink what it means to do more with less.  Through his experience with the Baltimore City Fire Department, Hector innovated programs that did exactly that; rethink more with less.  Using the marriage of local businesses and thriving communities, Hector spearheaded multiple innovative initiatives, including a highly successful smoke detector program for homes across the City as well as many community based initiatives like the Coats for Kids campaign.  In both cases, private industry, city agencies, and communities interacted to the benefit of all.  These types of innovative approaches can continue to help Baltimore’s neighborhoods.   All we need is government that is ready to rethink solutions, rather than wait for money to throw at problems.  Hector is ready to re-imagine solutions to common problems.  Community engagement is a cornerstone of that solution.

A constant dialogue with your Senator

Hector also sees communication as vital, yet severely lacking in the 43rd.  Hector is commited to using tools, such as this campaign blog, to present constituents with a constant stream of information about issues that concern them.  This won’t stop once Hector is in Annapolis.  Elected officials around the country are using facebook, twitter, and other internet media to provide voters with up to the minute information on votes, and the rationale behind votes- this isn’t happening in the 43rd.  Hector will work to use available technology to not only educate, but engage voters in the political process.

As the campaign develops, please check back to this page for detailed plans about how we can leverage community to re-imagine the 43rd.  If you have any ideas, we’d love to hear from you- just shoot Hector an e-mail at hector@torresmaryland.com, or leave a comment below.