Among the 47 state senators and 141 delegates taking the oath of office today at the State House, there are plenty of changes.

Anne Arundel County has five new delegates who likely won’t make waves in their first session next year, but their presence changes the dynamics of the county delegation meetings.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We are all filled with anticipation of the upcoming season; song, food, family, celebration and a new legislative session.

The biggest story in Anne Arundel County politics in 2018 was the November election when Democrats gained control over county government and women became a super majority on the County Council.

Anyone who has heard me speak knows that I talk a lot about changing the narrative. As a playwright and an arts educator, I have to measure my words carefully.

Having a big bank account is an advantage for politicians — especially incumbents — but in these local races the opponent with the most money lost.

It is sometimes easy to read too much into a single event, a single outcome of an election. But it would be hard to overstate the importance of Heather Bagnall’s apparent victory in District 33.

Anne Arundel County Democrat Heather Bagnall had to wait 10 days after the election for it to become final, but with the last absentee ballots counted on Friday, she became the newest incoming member of the General Assembly.

Democrat Heather Bagnall appeared to defeat longtime incumbent Del. Tony McConkey Friday night after a week-long count of ballots, a shattering turn of events in one of Anne Arundel County’s Republican strongholds.

Democratic candidate Heather Bagnall could be poised for an upset after absentee ballot counts put her just 196 votes behind Republican incumbent Tony McConkey in the District 33 delegate race.

I’m not someone who likes to talk about myself, I prefer to talk about issues. As an arts educator and 40-plus year resident of Anne Arundel County, I am running to change the narrative in the General Assembly.

In the District 33 Delegates race, The Capital endorsed Tracie Hovermale and Mike Malone (The Capital, Oct. 27). While I respect the reasoning for choosing both these candidates and can think of additional reasons of my own, the absence of a discussion of Heather Bagnall loomed large.

I, like so many, attended the County Council meeting on Sept. 4 to testify to stop Resolution 30-18, however, there was another moment at that meeting which gave me pause.

Heather Bagnall, 44, of Arnold is a Democratic candidate for House of Delegates in District 33.

Playwright, educator, advocate and life-long resident of Anne Arundel County, Heather Bagnall is running for State Senate, District 33.