Attar Prevails Over Ruff in Bid for District 41 Senate Appointment

Baltimore City: So, the other night, Del. Dalya Attar got the nod from the Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee to fill a Senate vacancy. If she gets the governor’s approval, she’ll make history as the first Orthodox Jewish woman in the state Senate.

Attar beat out Malcolm Ruff and a few other candidates during a Zoom interview process. The committee had a tough decision, but five out of eight members voted for her. It was a bit of a nail-biter, honestly.

After the vote, former Del. Angela Gibson, who supported Attar, said it was a fun process. They had a quick seven-minute chat after nearly two hours of interviews. If appointed, Attar would replace former Sen. Jill P. Carter, who stepped down earlier this year.

Attar, who’s 34, has been a prosecutor and was elected to the House in 2018. Ruff, also an attorney, just got his House seat this year. If Attar moves up, the committee will have to find someone to fill her spot in the House soon.

During their interviews, both Attar and Ruff shared similar ideas on keeping kids out of trouble and tackling the state’s budget issues. They both want to make sure the redevelopment of Pimlico Race Course goes well, too.

Attar mentioned she’d hold town halls and community events to connect with everyone in the district. She believes everyone wants a safe place to live and good opportunities for their families.

Ruff, on the other hand, feels he knows the community well and has the support to get things done. When asked about Senate committees, Attar said education is her top priority, while Ruff was more open to various options.

If she gets the appointment, Senate President Bill Ferguson has already hinted that Attar will likely join the Education, Energy, and Environment committee for this session.

The committee members who voted for Attar included some familiar faces, and they didn’t really explain their choices. Gibson, who has a bit of history with both candidates, was part of the group that backed Attar.

With this appointment, the number of lawmakers getting into office through appointments keeps climbing. Attar would be the sixth senator appointed since the last election, and there are more House vacancies on the horizon. It’s a busy time in Maryland politics!