Hardly a Conservative in the Bunch

Last month, a Baltimore Circuit Court judge ruled Maryland's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional but stayed her ruling until the Court of Appeals can review it.

The Democrat-controlled House last week killed a proposed state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. But several Democratic leaders, including Sen. President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (Calvert), oppose gay marriage and worry that Republicans could use the issue against Democrats in this fall's elections.

Mizeur wrote that she and other progressives are "tired of such calculation and cowardice."

"These games have exhausted gay and lesbian voters," wrote Mizeur, who has exchanged vows with her partner. "Politicians who are too squeamish to stand with us when it counts must be put on notice that they will lose our financial and electoral support."

Mizeur is a Democratic National Committee member who also works for Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) on Capitol Hill. She is widely considered to be a leading contender for one of the three District 20 House seats.

Two incumbents -- Shelia E. Hixson (D) and Gareth E. Murray (D) -- are seeking reelection. Del. Peter Franchot is giving up his House seat to run for state comptroller.

If elected, Mizeur would be the third openly gay legislator from Montgomery County. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. and Anne R. Kaiser are also openly gay.

Mizeur, 33, stresses that her positions on the issues -- not her sexual orientation -- will be the focus of her campaign. She wants to improve access to health care, invest in public education, protect the environment and increase the supply of affordable housing.

Mizeur Stands Up for Dean

Mizeur also appears to be a prolific letter writer.

The same day her letter appeared in the Blade, Mizeur had a separate letter published in Roll Call, a newspaper that serves Capitol Hill.

A week earlier, the newspaper had reported that some party activists were unhappy with Howard Dean 's leadership because the party has been spending too much money.

Mizeur responded by saying Dean's leadership is "remarkably invigorating" because he's investing in state parties, which she says helps candidates "up and down the ballot."