Latin Post presents "Turnout," a series that features leading politicians, government leaders and advocacy groups discussing and debating the most important issues facing the Latino voting bloc.
--

Joseline Peña-Melnyk has an opportunity to cement herself in history as the first Dominican elected in Congress.

Peña-Melnyk represents Maryland's 21st District, which encompasses Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. It's a district she describes as diverse with its African American, Latino, white and other immigrant populations. Peña-Melnyk, however, now wants to further represent the two counties from a bigger stage: the U.S. Congress.

"When I thought of running, I first spoke to my family, to my husband and my kids, and I asked them would they go on this journey with me and they agreed to do so. If they had said no, I wouldn't have had done it," said Peña-Melnyk on running for Maryland's 4th Congressional District, that also includes Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties, which she has been representing for the last nine years in Maryland's House of Delegates, the lower legislative chamber of Maryland's state legislature, known as the General Assembly.

Congresswoman Donna Edwards has been representing the 4th Congressional District, but vacated the role to campaign for a U.S. Senate seat. Edwards is vying for Sen. Barbara Mikulski's, D-Md., seat, after the latter announced her retirement last March. But for the 4th Congressional District race, Peña-Melnyk has competition from within her party as seven fellow Democrats are seeking the Democratic Party's nomination.

Despite the competition, Peña-Melnyk's grassroots campaign has secured the endorsements of several political figures and organizations. She received the endorsements of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' BOLD PAC, a political action committee aimed at increasing diversity in both House and Senate; Poder PAC, which supports Latina congressional candidates; Casa in Action, Maryland's largest electoral group for Latino and immigrant voters; Emily's List, an organization supporting pro-choice Democratic women; and most recently the Latino Victory Fund, co-founded by Eva Longoria to ensure Latino voices are heard at every level of government.

"There aren't that many of us (Latinos) running for office. We need to get in these races, we need to be in the room, and I feel we have a big responsibility to open the doors for others to run as we're doing," Peña-Melnyk said.

In response to being an Afro-Latina who is paving the way for others to become politically engaged, Peña-Melnyk said it is also a big responsibility and it is one she feels humbled and honored. "And I can see it in my district as I mentor young girls. They feel very inspired, and I tell them that if I can do it, you can do it as well," she said, adding that her family, raised by a single mother, came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republican when she was eight years old and later became the first one to graduate college.

"This is a country where the sky's the limit, there's so many possibilities and for us Latinos when we come here with the notion and the idea of wanting to help our loved ones that we leave back home, and it's imperative that we make them proud, and that we work hard, so I'm hoping that my experience helps others as well and that they can say, 'Hey, she did it, so can I!"

Peña-Melnyk recognizes that upon first glance she looks African American, which helps the relations between her and the district, home to diverse populations, including whites, as she's the mother of a mixed-race family. But even with the diverse constituency, Peña-Melnyk said the issues are the same, ranging from employment, wages, healthcare and education.

"I feel that I can represent everyone, not just Latinos, not just African Americans, but also white or any other immigrants because that is what my family is like."

Peña-Melnyk has made health as one of her top issues and it's a matter she wants to continue working, if elected, in Congress, and she has the experience as the current chair of the Public Health and Minority Health Disparities Subcommittee in the House of Delegates.

"That's one of my passions," said Peña-Melnyk about concentrating on health issues, noting Maryland had adopted a health exchange, known as Maryland Health Connection, through the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare.

"I would like to go to Congress and protect Obamacare. They have tried so many times to repeal. In Maryland, I can tell you it's made such a big difference. Prior to Obamacare, we had almost 800,000 people that were uninsured, as result of the Maryland Health Exchange, which came out of my committee, we have covered over 450,000 people."

While she has yet to endorse a presidential candidate, Peña-Melnyk said the anti-Latino and anti-immigrant rhetoric made along the presidential election campaign should further politically mobilize Latinos. 

"If Latinos are not motivated by what is being said -- shame on us. We need to come out and we need to vote. We need to get angry and go to the polls. ... We can make a difference in this election and I hope and pray we come out. It is crime if we don't exercise our right to vote. There's countries where people lose their lives and here we have such apathy. Latinos need to vote and come out.

But for her campaign, Peña-Melnyk said her diverse background sets her apart from her fellow candidates, not just in terms of her family's diversity, but also her previous roles as a public defender, prosecutor and municipal government elected official.

"What sets me apart from all of them is that I've been representing the two counties that make up the 4th [Congressional] District, Prince George's and Anne Arundel, for nine years. No one else can say that. I can say it. ... I know that I can make a difference and no one is going to represent them better than I."

__

For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.