Caring About Maryland's District 9A Community Runs in the Family

Natalie’s family has been farming in Maryland for many generations, with deep roots in the District. This connection to the community inspires Natalie’s commitment to promoting healthy civic engagement with our government as neighbors, not political enemies. Natalie and her husband, John, took over part of the family farming operation in 1989 and have lived here since 1994.

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Small Business is a Way of Life

Natalie understands the challenges of starting, growing, and operating a small business firsthand because she has lived them. In 2001, Natalie and her husband founded Commonwealth Imports/Natalie Ziegler Designs, a jewelry design and manufacturing firm that sells to independent jewelry stores across the United States. They also continue to own and operate Carroll Mill Farm, growing feed grains and rye for the distillery market. 

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A Life Dedicated to Service

Natalie has served on the board of the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) and the HCEDA's Agriculture Committee, which successfully lobbied the Howard County Council to expand opportunities for farmers. She served with Voices for Children as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the foster care system, and she has volunteered as a reading tutor for adults at South Baltimore Learning Center. As a farmer, she helps to fight food insecurity by growing food for local food pantries. 

 

She is a member of the Howard County Farm Bureau; the Maryland Grain Producers Association; the Maryland Association for Adult Community and Continuing Education; the Howard County Conservancy; the NAACP; the Howard County League of Women Voters, the Ellicott City and Western Howard County Democratic Club and the Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club.

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More About Natalie

Natalie lives in Howard County with her husband John. They have been married 34 years and raised two children in this district who attended our public schools. Natalie earned her B.A. from Oberlin College and her M.A. from Johns Hopkins' School of Advanced International Studies. Her first career was in broadcast journalism, primarily at CNN, where she worked as a segment producer, booking and interviewing guests, writing interviews for anchors, and putting together talk shows.