10-15-2023 Women to Watch - Flipbook - Page 19
KIM HAIRSTON
Susan Lee
Secretary of State Susan Lee, 69, has found greater opportunity
to “make this a better world.”
Before her appointment to the position earlier this year, Lee, a
Democrat, represented Montgomery County in the Maryland state
Senate for eight years and the House of Delegates for 13. During
her time as a lawmaker, Lee sponsored legislation that led to the
statewide ban on ghost guns and pushed for changes in family
and domestic violence law, and cybercrime, among myriad other
policy areas.
She was the first Asian American woman elected to serve in
Maryland’s House of Delegates, the first Asian American elected
to the Senate and the first to serve as secretary of state.
“I was really very honored to serve in the Senate and in the House
… for about 21 years,” Lee said. “I have always felt that when I see
an injustice I want to do something about it. I don’t want to be just
a passive spectator,” Lee said.
Lee said she was honored that Gov. Wes Moore gave her the
opportunity to serve as an ambassador for Maryland and lay the
groundwork for the state to lead in industries, like life science and
cybersecurity — “things that Maryland is number one in.”
— Hannah Gaskill
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