[4] In 2008, Mara defeated[7] incumbent Carol Schwartz in the Republican primary for an at-large seat on the Council of the District of Columbia.

In 2010, Mara won the Ward One seat on the District of Columbia State Board of Education with 53 percent of the vote.

[13] In 2011, Mara ran in a special election for the at-large seat on the Council of the District of Columbia.

[17] The D.C. chapter of the Sierra Club and the District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce endorsed Mara in the special election.

[23][24] Mara is a board member of College & Career Connections[25] and Washington Latin Public Charter School.