Reprint from The Gazette

Newcomer Beyer running for House seat in Dist. 18

By Chris Williams, Staff Writer

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Dana Beyer, a retired physician and surgeon from Chevy Chase Village, is running for the House of Delegates in District 18.

Beyer, 54, said her experience in the medical field would serve her well in Annapolis, where her primary focus would be on health care reform.

"I believe if I can help bring universal health care to Maryland in the next four years, I will have done my job," she said. "I know how to make a diagnosis and how to act. We don't have enough of that in Annapolis. Analytical skills, dealing with people one on one, that's what a medical practice is. It's not some abstract policy job."

Beyer said she would be a strong advocate for equal rights, an issue that has become much more important to her in recent years. Because of a birth defect caused by exposure to a powerful female sex hormone called DES, Beyer was born with both male and female anatomy and raised as boy.

"I never really felt comfortable representing myself, so I could never conceive of representing others in a public office," she said. "Only since I underwent gender transition three years ago have I felt comfortable enough in my own skin to go out and speak my mind and work to represent others."

Since that time, Beyer has been an equal rights advocate serving in several organizations. She is a founding member of TeachtheFacts.org, a board member of Equality Maryland, a board advisor for the National Center for Transgender Equality and a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

"Being a member of a rather marginalized group of Americans," Beyer said, "I'm rather sensitive to discrimination issues, whether it's race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity."

Other issues important to Beyer include transportation and education. She would advocate for a dedicated funding source for Metro, expanding the rail system to connect Bethesda and Silver Spring and improving the roads.

"I would like us to see higher quality road materials so we're not filling potholes year after year," she said. "As a surgeon I've learned that you do it right the first time and you don't have to go back and fix it."

While she feels the state has done well with public schools, she feels there is room for improvements, particularly in regard to teachers' salaries.

"We expect teachers to act like professionals, but we don't pay them as professionals," Beyer said, "and as a result a lot of them can't afford to live in the county."

Beyer is one of several Democrats who decided to run in Dist. 18, which includes portions of Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Kensington and Wheaton.

Election 2006

Dana Beyer

Dist. 18, House of Delegates

Democrat

Experience: Retired physician and surgeon

Top issues: Universal health care, women's health, improving roads and public transportation, equal rights, education

For more: www.danabeyer.com