Laurel resident joins College Park delegate’s staff

She said her new post would not affect her role as West Laurel Civic Association president, a volunteer position she’s held for the last two years.

Peña-Melnyk said Lehman’s writing skills, constituent service and knowledge of the community made her a natural choice for a top aide.

‘‘She’s very well rounded,” said Peña-Melnyk, a former College Park councilwoman who was the second highest vote-getter in last year’s Democratic primary. ‘‘Her résumé is just outstanding,” she said of Lehman.

Dist. 21 includes all or parts of Beltsville, Calverton, College Park, Laurel and West Laurel in Prince George’s County, and Maryland City, Russett, Piney Orchard and Jessup in Anne Arundel County.

Lehman’s predecessor, Dania Sanchez, 22, left Peña-Melnyk’s office to return to college, the delegate said.

Peña-Melnyk said Lehman’s role includes researching legislation, preparing testimony, writing letters, managing the delegate’s office, attending community meetings and responding to constituent queries.

Lehman, who knocked on doors and wrote letters to neighbors supporting Peña-Melnyk during last year’s campaign, said she had turned down a previous offer from the delegate, preferring to stay on Dernoga’s staff.

‘‘We are really going to miss Mary, but we’re really happy for her,” said Dernoga, who praised Lehman for helping solve problems for ‘‘a lot of parents, students and administrators.

‘‘It makes sense for her to expand her public service experience and working for delegate Peña-Melnyk is an excellent opportunity,” he said.

Dernoga lives in West Laurel and is a former West Laurel Civic Association president.

Lehman said she accepted Peña-Melnyk’s second offer for the full-time post in part because she had been fielding fewer constituent inquires since the seating of an elected school board last December. With term limits forcing Dernoga off the council three and a half years from now, Lehman said she saw more opportunity for growth working for Peña-Melnyk.

‘‘It was just all around a good time to start a new chapter,” said Lehman, who was also among 39 candidates for a vacant Prince George’s County school board spot.

While Peña-Melnyk said Lehman was hired for her experience, the delegate said the fact that Lehman is from the Laurel area was ‘‘icing on the cake.”

All four Dist. 21 lawmakers live in the College Park area, although Del. Ben Barnes practices law in Laurel.

‘‘I wanted to hire someone from Laurel because I feel I need to connect with Laurel,” Peña-Melnyk said.

E-mail Steve Earley atsearley@gazette.net.