Tenure

First elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, 2002. Member of the House since 2002: appointed February 18 and sworn in February 21, 2002.

Current Assignments

2013- Deputy Majority Whip

2002- Judiciary Committee

2011- Chair, Family Law Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee

2007- Vice Chair, Montgomery County Delegation

2002- Women Legislators of Maryland

Past House Service

Chair, Juvenile Law Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, 2007-2011; Deputy Majority Whip, 2003-2008; Civil Law and Procedure Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, 2003-2006; Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services, 2011-2014; Gaming Law and Enforcement Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, 2002-2003.

Public Service

President, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2012; Land Use and Transportation Committee, Montgomery County Delegation, 2011-; Maryland Commission on Cybersecurity Innovation and Excellence, 2011-; Land Use and Transportation Committee, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2011-; Co-Chair, Task Force to Study Nanobiotechnology, 2010-2011; President-Elect, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2010-2011; First Vice President, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2008-2010; County Affairs Committee, Montgomery County Delegation, 2007-2010; Maryland Council for New Americans, 2009-; Presidential Elector, Maryland, 2008; Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2008, 2004, 2000; Secretary, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2006-2008; Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2007-; Co-Chair, Task Force to Study Identity Theft, 2005-2007; Communications, Technology and Interstate Commerce Committee, National Conference of State, 2005-2007; Chair, County Affairs Committee, Montgomery County Delegation, 2003-2007; Executive Board, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2004-2006; Steering Committee, Bi-County Task Force on Gang Activity, 2004; U.S. Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committee, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, 2000-2001.

Memberships

Maryland Bioscience Caucus, 2008-; Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Caucus, 2003-; Maryland Green Caucus, 2002-; Co-Chair, Multicultural Community Partnership, Montgomery County Chapter, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1999-2002; Board of Directors and Co-Founder, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, Washington, DC, 1995-2001; President, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Greater Washington, 1985; Co-Founder, Coalition of Asian-Pacific-American Democrats of Maryland; National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; District of Columbia Bar Association (Intellectual Property Law Section); California State Bar Association (Intellectual Property Law Section); Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee; District 16 Democratic Club; Hispanic Democratic Club of Montgomery County; Montgomery County African-American Democratic Club; Women's Suburban Democratic Club; Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts; Organization of Chinese Americans; League of Korean Americans of Maryland; Dialogue on Diversity.

Awards

Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record , 2006; Leadership Recognition Award, Maryland Chapter, National Organization for Women , 2005; Out for Justice Award, Equality Maryland , 2003; Appreciation Award, U.S. Secret Service , 2003; Appreciation Award, Agis Center for Arts and Humanities , 2003; Public Service Award, League of Korean Americans , 2003; Senior Advocate Award, Korean-American Senior Citizens Association-Maryland , 2003; Progressive Leader Award, Progressive Maryland , 2002; Merit Award, Mothers Against Drunk Driving , 2002; Community Service Award, Korean American Senior Citizens Association , 2000; Governor's Citation for Noteworthy Community Service , 1999; Community Service Award, Global Mission Church , 1999; Community Service Award, League of Korean Americans .

Biographical Information

Born, San Antonio, Texas, May 14, 1954; Winston Churchill High School, Potomac, Maryland, 1972; University of Maryland College Park, B.A., Political Science, 1976; School of Law, University of San Francisco, J.D., 1982; Law Clerk, Judge Richard Figone, San Francisco Superior Court, 1981-82; Attorney, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 1983-86; Executive Director, National Democratic Council of Asian and Pacific Americans, 1986-88; U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 1988-93; Attorney, Alexander, Bearden, Hairston, & Marks, L.L.P., 1993-97; Of Counsel, Pena & Associates, P.C., 1997-2001; Legislative Assistant to President, Montgomery County Council, 2000-01; Of Counsel, Gebhardt & Associates, Washington, D.C., 2001-; Married.