Adrienne A. Jones

Adrienne A. Jones (born November 20, 1954) is the current Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, the first African-American and the first woman to serve in that position in Maryland.[1] Initially appointed by Governor Parris Glendening to fill the vacancy created by the death of Delegate Joan Neverdonn Parker in 1997, she won multiple subsequent elections to the House.[2] In a special session on May 1, 2019, Del. Jones emerged as the compromise candidate to become the Speaker after an earlier vote had resulted in a split decision between Delegates Maggie McIntosh and Dereck Davis.[3]

Adrienne Jones
107th Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
Assumed office
April 7, 2019
Acting: April 7, 2019 – May 1, 2019
Preceded byMichael E. Busch
Speaker pro tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office
January 8, 2003 – May 1, 2019
Preceded byTom Dewberry
Succeeded bySheree Sample-Hughes
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 10th district
Assumed office
October 21, 1997
Preceded byJoan Parker
Personal details
Born (1954-11-20) November 20, 1954
Cowdensville, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County (BA)

Background

Born in Cowdensville, Maryland, a historic African-American community located near Arbutus, in Southwest Baltimore County. Delegate Jones attended Baltimore County public schools and graduated from Lansdowne High School. She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a B.A. in psychology in 1976. She has served as the Director of the Office of Minority Affairs in Baltimore County (1989–95) and is the Executive Director of the Office of Fair Practices and Community Affairs in Baltimore County.[2]

In the Legislature

Delegate Jones has been a member of House of Delegates since October 21, 1997, representing District 10. In addition to being Speaker Pro Tem, she is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and its public safety & administration subcommittee. She also provides leadership through the Legislative Policy, Spending Affordability, Rules and Executive Nominations and Legislative Ethics Committees. She is also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.[4]

Legislative notes
  • Voted for Healthy Air Act in 2006 (SB154)[5]
  • Voted against slot machines in 2005 (HB1361)[6]
  • Voted for income tax reduction in 1998 (SB750)[7]
  • Voted in favor of Tax Reform Act of 2007(HB2)[8]

Election as Speaker

Delegate Jones took over as Acting Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates on April 7, 2019, following the death of then-Speaker Michael Busch. On May 1, the House of Delegates unanimously elected Delegate Jones as Speaker of the House by a vote of 139-0, after Delegates Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City) and Dereck Davis (D-Prince George's County) bowed out of the Speaker's race in favor of Jones. Jones is both the first female and first African-American speaker in Maryland state history.[9]

2006 General Election results, District 10
Voters to choose three:[10]
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Emmett C. Burns, Jr. 29,140   34.2%    Won
Shirley Nathan-Pulliam 28,544   33.5%    Won
Adrienne A. Jones 27,064   31.8%    Won
Other Write-Ins 370   0.4%    

Notes
  1. "BULLETIN: Adrienne Jones Poised to Become Next Speaker". Maryland Matters. May 1, 2019.
  2. "About Delegate Adrienne Jones". DelegateAJones.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-20.
  3. "Baltimore County Del. Adrienne Jones elected speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates". The Baltimore Sun. May 1, 2019.
  4. "Adrienne A. Jones, Maryland State Delegate". md.gov. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  5. "2006 Regular Session – Vote Record 0942". state.md.us. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  6. "2005 Regular Session – Vote Record 0152". state.md.us. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  7. "1998 Regular Session – Vote Record 1229". state.md.us. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  8. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2011-12-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Wood, Luke Broadwater, Pamela. "Baltimore County Del. Adrienne Jones elected speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
  10. "House of Delegates Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
Maryland House of Delegates
Preceded by
Tom Dewberry		 Speaker pro tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates
2003–2019		 Succeeded by
Sheree Sample-Hughes
Political offices
Preceded by
Michael E. Busch		 Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
2019–present		 Incumbent
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