Adrienne A. Jones

Adrienne Alease Jones (born November 20, 1954) is the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, the first African-American and 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, Jones emerged as the compromise candidate to become Speaker after an earlier vote 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 byThomas E. Dewberry
Succeeded bySheree Sample-Hughes
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 10th district
Assumed office
October 21, 1997
Appointed byParris Glendening
Preceded byJoan Parker
Personal details
Born (1954-11-20) November 20, 1954
Cowdensville, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
Residence(s)Woodstock, Maryland, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County (BA)
Signature

Early life, education and early career

Born in Cowdensville, Maryland, a historic African-American community located near Arbutus, in Southwest Baltimore County. Jones attended Baltimore County public schools and graduated from Lansdowne High School. She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a Bachelor of Arts 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]

Legislative career

Jones has been a member of House of Delegates since October 21, 1997, representing District 10. In addition to being Speaker Pro Tempore from 2003 to 2019, she was a member of the House Appropriations Committee and its public safety & administration subcommittee, among others. 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
Melony G. Griffith, Hogan and Jones enacting law in 2022

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 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]

In April 2022 Jones signed 103 Maryland measures into law together with Republican Governor Larry Hogan and President pro tem Melony G. Griffith. It was the first time that two black women had taken part in such a ceremony as Maryland's presiding officers. Jones represented the house while Griffiths as the President pro tem represented the Maryland Senate.[10]

2006 general election results, District 10
Voters to choose three:[11]
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.{{cite web}}: 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. "Hogan signs bills on public safety, tax credit for jobs, more | Maryland Daily Record". Associated Press. 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  11. "House of Delegates Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
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