| Candidate for State Delegate District 23A - http://www.shukoor.com - Added : 2010-09-03 03:04:20 Shukoor Ahmed, of Bowie, is making a second run for the District 23A seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, which runs from Route 50 in Bowie to South Laurel. Ahmed ran unsuccessfully for the office in 2006, but said this time around, he expects to win.
"I'm working harder than I did in 2006 -- although I worked hard then -- and I think my chances of winning look good," Ahmed said. "If the election were held today, I'd probably win because I've reached out to thousands of people and helped constituents with things they need like internships and scholarships"
The 47-year-old Ahmed, who announced his candidacy for the District 23A seat earlier this month, grew up in Hyderabad, India. He came to the United States in 1988 and moved to Bowie in 1992.
Ahmed has worked on local and national political campaigns, including President Barack Obama's and says he believes his experience as the owner of V-Empower, an information technology and Web-based consulting company, is a strong asset he would bring to the office.
"Being an entrepreneur, I believe I can be very useful as a delegate because a lot of what's happening in state government and the economy has to do with creating jobs, and my background as a businessman will be valuable," Ahmed said. "Many elected officials in Annapolis are lawyers, and that's great, but those with technical and business backgrounds are also needed to help with the issues of job growth and creation."
If elected, Ahmed said he'd push for tax breaks for small businesses, which is where he believes new jobs in the state will be created in the future.
"You can't create many jobs on the government level, but I hope it will happen on the small business and entrepreneurship levels, which is why, as a legislator, I'd want to make it (the General Assembly) small businesses-friendly."
Making state services more efficient through using technology to save money is also high on Ahmed's campaign agenda, as is education.
"I'm a big proponent of improving education and was probably the only Democrat in the county who supported charter schools," he said. "I was also the only one who supported the (controversial) ICC (Intercounty Connector highway). Now that it's being built, I want to work to reduce the proposed high ICC toll charges."
In addition to his business and technology experience, Ahmed said he has worked as a volunteer in the area over the years, helping refugees brought to the area by local church groups; volunteering for several years with Winter Haven, which provides shelter in Laurel to the homeless during the winter; and helping Dr. Feroz Padder, of Laurel, set up a free medical and psychiatric clinic in the city in 2008. In 2006, Ahmed received the Governor's Volunteer Service Award.
"My passion is to help people and I've never shied away from hard work," he said.
"I'm not afraid of the challenges ahead in the race," Ahmed said. "I hope and feel that the work I've done in the past will help me win."
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Contribute for Shukoor Ahmed: http://www.shukoor.com/donate
District 23A, Maryland Voting: http://www.shukoor.com/content/voting
Support Shukoor – Become a Campaigning Volunteer for Shukoor Ahmed, the Democrat Candidate for Maryland House of Delegates, District 23A @ http://www.shukoor.com/Volunteer-Support-Candidate-Shukoor-Ahmed
Authority by Friends of Ahmed, Treasurer, David Whyte
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