Tenure

First elected to the Senate in 1994. Member of the Senate since 1995.

Current Assignments

2007- Senate President Pro Tem

1995 Member, Budget and Taxation Committee (Vice-Chair 2011-2014)

1995 Pensions Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee

2003 Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee

2015 Public Safety, Transportation and Environment Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee

2007- Rules Committee

2011- Executive Nominations Committee

2003- Legislative Policy Committee

2013- Joint Committee on Gaming Oversight

2003- Spending Affordability Committee

2002- Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics

2015 Joint Committee on Legislative Information Technology and Open Government

2001- Joint Audit Committee

1995- Special Joint Committee on Pensions

1995- Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc. (Historian 2016 -)

Past Senate Service

Paycheck Recovery Commission, 2016-2017; Commission on Maryland Retirement Security and Savings, 2015-2016; Senate Special Committee on Ethics Reform, 2012-2014; Standing Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting, 2011-2012; Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee, 2011-2015; Chair, Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 2008-2011; Joint Legislative Workgroup to Study State, County, and Municipal Fiscal Relationships, 2009-2010; Chair, Pensions Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee, 2008-2010; Health, Education and Human Resources Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee, 2008-2010; Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2003-2010; Chair, Baltimore City Delegation, 1997-2010; Joint Committee on Selection of the State Treasurer, 2007, 2003, 2002; Majority Leader, 2003-2007; Management Subcommittee of the Legislative Policy Committee, 2003-2007; Special Joint Commission on Public Safety and Security in State and Local Correctional Facilities, 2013; Senate Chair, Joint Audit Committee, 2001-2007; Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee, 2000-2007; Vice Chair, Rules Committee, 2003-2006; Special Committee on Substance Abuse, 2001-2006; Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 1995-2006; Joint Subcommittee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Land Preservation, 1995-2006; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2002-2003; Joint Committee on Welfare Reform, 1996-2003; Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 1995-2003; Special Commission on Legislative Prayer, 2003; Public Safety, Transportation, Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee, 1995-1999; Public Safety and Policing Workgroup, 2015-2016; Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government, 2011-2014; Senate Committee on Redistricting, 2001-2002.

Public Service

Task Force to Combat Habitual Student Truancy, 2017-2018; Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council, 2015-2016; Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding, 2010-2012; Chair, Baltimore City Delegation, 1997-2010; Education Committee, Southern Legislative Conference, 2008-; Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2008; Maryland State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, 2004-2008; Budgets and Revenue Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2007-; Task Force to Study Raising the Compulsory Public School Attendance Age to 18, 2006-2007; Task Force on Minority Participation in the Environmental Community, 2006-2007; Advisory Committee on the Naming of State Facilities, Roads, and Bridges, 2005-2006; Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes, 2002-2005; Task Force to Study Public School Facilities, 2002-2004; Workgroup for Reorganization Options (DHMH), Council on Management and Productivity, 2002-2004; Advisory Council on Offender Employment Coordination, 2001-2004; Council on Management and Productivity, 2000-2004; Co-Chair, Study Panel on Funding Needs of Trauma Centers, 2001-2003; Baltimore Region Rail System Plan Advisory Committee, 2001-2002; Second Vice Chair, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc., 2000-2002; State Council on Cancer Control, 2001-2013; Historically Black Colleges and Universities Committee, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc., 2001-; Task Force on Charitable Giving (Maryland Gives!), 1996-2001; Commission to Coordinate the Study, Commemoration, and Impact of Slavery's History and Legacy in Maryland, 2000-; Task Force to Study the Maryland Enterprise Zone Program, 2000; State Budget Committee, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc., 2000; Chair, Labor Committee, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc., 2000; Juvenile Offender Aftercare Assessment Team, 1999-2000; First Vice Chair, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc., 1998-2000; Maryland Correctional Enterprise Management Council (formerly State Use Industries Management Council), 1999-; Study Panel to Review Economic Development Financing Programs, 1999; Vice Chair, Task Force to End Smoking in Maryland, 1999; Maryland Comprehensive Transit Plan Transit Advisory Panel, 1998-1999; Governor's Task Force on African-American Entrepreneurship in Baltimore City, 1996-1999; Partnership Policy Council on Block Grants, 1998; Privatization Advisory Panel, Mass Transit Administration, 1997-1998; Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (First Vice Chair, 1998-2000; Chair, Labor Committee, 2000; State Budget Committee, 2000), 1995-; Legislative Black Caucus con't (Historically Black Colleges and Universities Committee, 2001 - ; Historian 2016 - ), 1995-; Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, Baltimore City, 1994-; Jail Industries Advisory Board, Baltimore City Jail, 1987-1988; Off-Street Parking Commission, Baltimore City, 1983-1987; City Council, Baltimore City, 2nd District, 1982-1987; Police Community Relations Council, Eastern District, 1982-; Education Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures.

Memberships

Joseph Fund Board, 1999-2001; Small Business Development Center Network Advisory Board, 1997; Board of Directors, 1 to 1, The Baltimore Mentoring Partnership, 1997; Board of Directors, RAISE, Inc., 1994-1997; Committee of 100 Associated Black Charities, 1994-; Advisory Board, Youth Fair Chance, 1994-; Chair, Urban Services Agency, 1985-1988; Board of Directors, Helping Unite Baltimore (HUB), 1985-1987; Advisory Board, Johns Hopkins Medical Plan, 1985-1987; Advisory Committee, Department of Secondary Education, Morgan State University, 1985-; Board of Overseers, Baltimore Polytechnic High School, 1984-1987; Advisory Committee, National Youth Sports Program, The Johns Hopkins University, 1984-1987; African-American Men's Leadership Group, 1983-1987; Eastside Neighborhood Association, 1983-; Urban League, 1982; Lakewood Chase Improvement Association, 1982-; Board of Directors, East Baltimore Community Corporation, 1971-; Life member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1970-; Baltimore Alumni Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; 100 Black Men of Maryland, Inc.; King David Lodge 18; Prince Hall Free Masons; Eastside Democratic Organization.

Awards

First Citizen Award, Maryland Senate , 2009; Certificate of Appreciation, Maryland Municipal League , 2008; Legislator Recognition Award, Maryland Association of Counties , 2002.

Biographical Information

Born, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1946; Baltimore City College, 1964; Morgan State College, B.A., Geography and History Education, 1968, M.S., History and Social Science, 1972, Doctoral Studies, Educational Administration; Teacher, Dunbar High School, 1968-75; Head, Social Sciences Department, Lombard Junior High School, 1975-1982; Principal, Dunbar Adult Evening School, 1979-1982; Coordinator of Community Affairs, Sojourner-Douglass College, 1985-1988; Head, Social Studies Department, Southwestern Senior High School, 1987-1988; Coordinator, Educational Opportunity Program, Lake Clifton/Eastern Senior High School, Baltimore, 1988-1994; Work-Based Learning Manager, Baltimore Academies, Baltimore City Public Schools, 1997-1998; Facilitator, Lake Clifton/Eastern Senior High School, 1998-; Member, Southern Baptist Church; Married; three children; five grandchildren.