Jakeya Johnson, in pink blazer over Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller’s shoulder, as Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed a bill into law to expand access to contraceptives on Maryland college campuses. The bill started as a class project in Johnson’s master’s degree program at Bowie State University. Photo from the Executive Office of the Governor.
A leading Maryland abortion rights group is throwing its support behind Del. Dana Jones (D-Anne Arundel) in the battle to replace outgoing state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D), who is resigning on Jan. 2, a day before she will be sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee will recommend a replacement for Elfreth to Gov. Wes Moore (D), who has the final say on the appointment. The central committee is accepting applications for the Senate vacancy through Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.
So far, Jones and Del. Shaneka Henson (D) have announced their intention to apply for the job.
In a long written statement this week, Jakeya Johnson, executive director of Reproductive Justice Action, said her group was backing Jones to replace Elfreth, calling the delegate “the best qualified candidate to put in that chair and be ready to safeguard Maryland on Day One of the Trump Administration and new Congress.”
“Delegate Jones has consistently demonstrated the strong leadership our state will need as we face unprecedented attacks at the national level to reduce access to reproductive health services. The reproductive freedoms Marylanders voted for will not survive the next four years without leaders who are 100% committed to our cause,” Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson went on to outline potential threats to reproductive care and women’s health at the federal and state levels, and concluded, “Given what we are facing, this vote may be the most important decision made by the Arundel County Democratic Central Committee in our lifetime to protect reproductive freedom.”
Left unsaid in Johnson’s statement is that Henson has had a mixed record on abortion votes since joining the General Assembly in 2019, voting against certain measures and for others.
State Sen. Clarence K. Lam (D-Howard and Anne Arundel) endorsed Jones on Monday, also citing her support for abortion rights.
“I appreciate Dana’s progressive positions on issues that are important to our communities,” Lam said in a statement. “As the Senate’s only physician-legislator, I am a firm believer that abortion care is health care and that’s why I’ve been a staunch advocate for reproductive rights. In the Senate, Dana will be a champion of protecting women’s reproductive rights, including access to abortions.”
Henson has recently launched what she’s calling Legi-Fax, a “report card” on her legislative record and her ability to deliver for her district. The entries so far look at school construction funding she’s helped secure, along with passing affordable housing and tenants’ rights bills.
The central committee is tentatively scheduled to interview replacements for Elfreth and then vote on Jan. 4, meaning the Senate seat could be filled by the time the General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8. If Jones or Henson wins the appointment, that would necessitate another appointment process to fill a seat in the House of Delegates.
Manis Canning & Associates, a leading Annapolis government relations firm, has added attorney Samira A. Jackson, a former professional sports agent, to its ranks.
After years in private practice in family law and professional sports contract negotiations, Jackson and her mother Edy Lawson-Jackson made history by becoming the first mother-daughter duo to become NFL-certified agents. In her role, Samira provided comprehensive guidance to her clients, including contract negotiations, endorsement deals, legal counsel and post-career planning.
“Samira shares our high standards for credibility, integrity, and teamwork, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Manis Canning,” Nick Manis, managing partner at the firm, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Maryland Auto Insurance, a quasi-governmental entity that provides auto insurance for individuals who may not qualify to purchase insurance in the private market, this week named De’Von Brown as the organization’s new government relations manager. He’ll replace Sandra Dodson, who has represented Maryland Auto in Annapolis for almost three decades and is retiring at the end of the year.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to welcome De’Von Brown and his wealth of experiences to Maryland Auto,” Maryland Auto Executive Director Al Redmer Jr. said in a statement. “We also want to thank Sandy Dodson for her many years of service, her dedication to Maryland Auto’s mission, and her passion for advocacy on behalf of Maryland residents who find themselves struggling to obtain auto insurance coverage.”
Brown is a former legislative director for Henson and has also worked as a media producer at the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. He was chief of staff to Baltimore City Councilmember Antonio Glover (D).
“As Government Relations Manager for Maryland Auto, my focus will be on building strong relationships with legislators, advocacy groups, and industry leaders to help make Maryland’s roads safer and ensure all drivers are insured,” Brown said.
The Maryland Association of Counties elected a new slate of officers and board members at its winter convention this week.
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Jack Wilson (R) is the new MACo president, taking over from outgoing Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D), who is heading to Congress next month.
In his semiannual speech to the gathering, Gov. Wes Moore (D) this week told Olszewski: “You leave enormous shoes to fill. And it’s not just because you’re, like, 6’8″. You’re a champion for every single jurisdiction, from Mountain Maryland to the Eastern Shore.”
Besides Wilson, the MACo officers are:
The board members will be:
by Josh Kurtz, Maryland Matters
December 16, 2024
by Josh Kurtz, Maryland Matters
December 16, 2024
A leading Maryland abortion rights group is throwing its support behind Del. Dana Jones (D-Anne Arundel) in the battle to replace outgoing state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D), who is resigning on Jan. 2, a day before she will be sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee will recommend a replacement for Elfreth to Gov. Wes Moore (D), who has the final say on the appointment. The central committee is accepting applications for the Senate vacancy through Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.
So far, Jones and Del. Shaneka Henson (D) have announced their intention to apply for the job.
In a long written statement this week, Jakeya Johnson, executive director of Reproductive Justice Action, said her group was backing Jones to replace Elfreth, calling the delegate “the best qualified candidate to put in that chair and be ready to safeguard Maryland on Day One of the Trump Administration and new Congress.”
“Delegate Jones has consistently demonstrated the strong leadership our state will need as we face unprecedented attacks at the national level to reduce access to reproductive health services. The reproductive freedoms Marylanders voted for will not survive the next four years without leaders who are 100% committed to our cause,” Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson went on to outline potential threats to reproductive care and women’s health at the federal and state levels, and concluded, “Given what we are facing, this vote may be the most important decision made by the Arundel County Democratic Central Committee in our lifetime to protect reproductive freedom.”
Left unsaid in Johnson’s statement is that Henson has had a mixed record on abortion votes since joining the General Assembly in 2019, voting against certain measures and for others.
State Sen. Clarence K. Lam (D-Howard and Anne Arundel) endorsed Jones on Monday, also citing her support for abortion rights.
“I appreciate Dana’s progressive positions on issues that are important to our communities,” Lam said in a statement. “As the Senate’s only physician-legislator, I am a firm believer that abortion care is health care and that’s why I’ve been a staunch advocate for reproductive rights. In the Senate, Dana will be a champion of protecting women’s reproductive rights, including access to abortions.”
Henson has recently launched what she’s calling Legi-Fax, a “report card” on her legislative record and her ability to deliver for her district. The entries so far look at school construction funding she’s helped secure, along with passing affordable housing and tenants’ rights bills.
The central committee is tentatively scheduled to interview replacements for Elfreth and then vote on Jan. 4, meaning the Senate seat could be filled by the time the General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8. If Jones or Henson wins the appointment, that would necessitate another appointment process to fill a seat in the House of Delegates.
Manis Canning & Associates, a leading Annapolis government relations firm, has added attorney Samira A. Jackson, a former professional sports agent, to its ranks.
After years in private practice in family law and professional sports contract negotiations, Jackson and her mother Edy Lawson-Jackson made history by becoming the first mother-daughter duo to become NFL-certified agents. In her role, Samira provided comprehensive guidance to her clients, including contract negotiations, endorsement deals, legal counsel and post-career planning.
“Samira shares our high standards for credibility, integrity, and teamwork, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Manis Canning,” Nick Manis, managing partner at the firm, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Maryland Auto Insurance, a quasi-governmental entity that provides auto insurance for individuals who may not qualify to purchase insurance in the private market, this week named De’Von Brown as the organization’s new government relations manager. He’ll replace Sandra Dodson, who has represented Maryland Auto in Annapolis for almost three decades and is retiring at the end of the year.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to welcome De’Von Brown and his wealth of experiences to Maryland Auto,” Maryland Auto Executive Director Al Redmer Jr. said in a statement. “We also want to thank Sandy Dodson for her many years of service, her dedication to Maryland Auto’s mission, and her passion for advocacy on behalf of Maryland residents who find themselves struggling to obtain auto insurance coverage.”
Brown is a former legislative director for Henson and has also worked as a media producer at the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. He was chief of staff to Baltimore City Councilmember Antonio Glover (D).
“As Government Relations Manager for Maryland Auto, my focus will be on building strong relationships with legislators, advocacy groups, and industry leaders to help make Maryland’s roads safer and ensure all drivers are insured,” Brown said.
The Maryland Association of Counties elected a new slate of officers and board members at its winter convention this week.
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Jack Wilson (R) is the new MACo president, taking over from outgoing Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D), who is heading to Congress next month.
In his semiannual speech to the gathering, Gov. Wes Moore (D) this week told Olszewski: “You leave enormous shoes to fill. And it’s not just because you’re, like, 6’8″. You’re a champion for every single jurisdiction, from Mountain Maryland to the Eastern Shore.”
Besides Wilson, the MACo officers are:
The board members will be:
Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. AP and Getty images may not be republished. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics.
Founding Editor Josh Kurtz is a veteran chronicler of Maryland politics and government. He began covering the State House in 1995 for The Gazette newspapers, and has been writing about state and local politics ever since. He was an editor at Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, for eight years, and for eight years was the editor of E&E Daily, which covers energy and environmental policy on Capitol Hill. For 6 1/2 years Kurtz wrote a weekly column on state politics for Center Maryland and has written for several other Maryland publications as well. Kurtz regularly gives speeches and appears on TV and radio shows to discuss Maryland politics.
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Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. (See full republishing guidelines.)
© Maryland Matters, 2024
