Tenure

First elected to the Senate in 2010. Member of the Senate since 2011.

Current Assignments

2013- Minority Whip

2013- Budget and Taxation Committee

2011- Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics

2011- Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government

2012- Task Force to Study the Laws and Policies Relating to Representation of Indigent Criminal Defendants by the Office of the Public Defender

2012- Task Force to Study Court Decision Regarding Pit Bulls

Past Senate Service

Judicial Proceedings Committee, 2011-2013; Senate Standing Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting, 2011-2012.

Past House Service 1995-2003

Judiciary Committee, 1999-2003; Family and Juvenile Law Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, 1999-2003; Deputy Minority Whip, 1999-2002; Commerce and Government Matters Committee, 1995-1998; State Government and Civil Rights Subcommittee of the Commerce and Government Matters Committee, 1995-1998.

Public Service

Social Studies Task Force, State Department of Education, 2004-2006; Chair, Carroll County Republican Central Committee, 2003, 1991-1992; Article 27 (Crimes and Punishments) Revision Committee, 1999-2003; Committee on Access to Court Records, 2001-2002; Forensic Sciences Task Force, 2000-2001; Commission to Revise the Election Code, 1996-1997; Task Force to Review the State's Election Law, 1995; Legislative Committee, Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, 1990-1994; Executive Director, Historical Society of Carroll County, 1987-1994; Carroll County Republican Central Committee, 1985-1994, 1985-1994; Cable Television Advisory Committee, Carroll County, 1989-1993; Charter Board, Carroll County, 1992; Chair, Carroll County Historic District Commission, 1992; Carroll County Historic District Commission, 1989-1992; Rural Historic Village Protection Program Advisory Committee of Maryland Environmental Trust, 1990-; Chair, Carroll County Committee for Maryland’s 350th Anniversary, 1983-1984; Acting Director, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1981-1982.

Memberships

Maryland Bar Association (Section of Family and Juvenile Law; Section of Solo and Small Firm Practice), 1996-; Board of Governors, Union Mills Homestead Foundation, 1979-1992; Board of Directors, Preservation Maryland, 1984-1990.

Biographical Information

Born, Olney, Maryland, April 14, 1952; Washington College, B.A., American Studies, 1974; George Washington University, M.A., American Civilization, 1980; University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1996; Political Director, Ehrlich for Governor, 2002; Director of Policy, Governor-Elect's Transition Team, 2002-03; Director of Policy, Office of the Governor, 2003; Policy and Legislative Director, Office of the Governor, 2004-07; Architectural Historian and Historic Preservation Researcher/Writer; Author: Uniontown, Maryland-Walking Tour, 1983; Carroll’s Heritage: Essays on the Architecture of a Piedmont Maryland County, 1987; The Engine of Liberty & Uniontown Advertiser, 1993; Married, Six children.