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Contact: Herb Smith – 202.680.8573       

April 21, 2010

Community Activist Seeks to Unseat 18^th District Incumbent in 2010 Primary

Atterbeary Enters Race to Become State Delegate for Maryland’s 18th District

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND – On the strength of what hopes to be a powerful grassroots effort, local attorney Vanessa Atterbeary seeks to challenge for one of the three State Delegate seats in Maryland’s 18th District in the September 14, 2010 Democratic Primary.  She will officially launch her campaign at an event in Kensington on Tuesday, April 27^th. 

“I am encouraged every day by the response I have received since I decided to launch my campaign,” said Atterbeary. “The ground swell of support that continues to pour in from all across the district is truly inspiring; I think it speaks to the increased role that will be expected of our Delegate in helping to lead Maryland into the next decade.” 

Vanessa Atterbeary enters the world of politics from the legal arena, formerly serving as an Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, where she represented the city on a myriad of civil issues. She currently operates as corporate counsel for a workforce development corporation. She also desires to use the post as a means to rebuild the district’s economy through job creation and improving the quality and standards of education in Montgomery County.  Atterbeary stated that job creation and education are her top priorities. 

“The people of Maryland deserve a government that works together to ensure the prosperity of all its citizens,” remarked Atterbeary. 

Atterbeary is counting on enormous grassroots support and her message of strengthening the economy and innovating new technologies to protect the state’s environmental resources to resonate with voters.  She also envisions the seat as an ambassador for the entire electorate to have its ideas heard. 

With over 13 years of community involvement and organizing experience, Atterbeary has advocated tirelessly on environmental issues in the DMV area, along with working hard to divert more monies to our education system and ensure that each and every citizen has access to quality health care.  She is currently 1^st Vice President of the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Chair of its annual Women’s Legislative Briefing. 

Vanessa Atterbeary, who would be the first African-American woman to be elected as a State Delegate in Montgomery County, Maryland, has a Bachelor’s degree in Government from the College of William and Mary, and earned her Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University.  She lives with her husband Paul in Silver Spring, Maryland.