“Legislative Agenda and Ethical Values in Annapolis”

In the rough and tumble world of state politics, it can be difficult to keep your moral compass straight and true. The pressures of getting re-elected and needing to “cut deals” so as to move forward on issues of key concern, make it challenging to focus on ethics. Senator-Elect Mary Washington, Ph.D., has been a leader in fighting for affordable access to water, protecting families from unfair tax sales and foreclosures, helping unaccompanied homeless youth get services and support, marriage equality, protection of transgender Marylanders, elimination of the death penalty, implementation of the Maryland DREAM Act, and securing more funding for Baltimore’s public schools. She will share her legislative agenda for Maryland and how she applies her ethical values in Annapolis.

Senator-Elect Mary Washington, Ph.D., is an advocate for Maryland’s 43rd District as a legislator, professor, ally, public policy leader and trail-blazer. Born in Philadelphia, Mary Washington came to Baltimore due to her scholarly interests and dedication to serving at-risk populations. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from The Johns Hopkins University and became an assistant professor at Lehigh University. She is currently a member of the part-time faculty at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

In 2010, Mary made history becoming the first openly LGBT African-American elected official in Maryland – and only the second such state legislator in the country. Senator-Elect Washington has passed landmark legislation that bars the inhumane practice of shackling female prisoners during labor and delivery; sponsored and passed the nation’s first law protecting social media (Facebook) password privacy; secured stronger safeguards from electronic harassment via text or direct messaging; won new restrictions on price-gouging and abusive treatment of consumers by rent-to-own stores targeting low-income and minority communities; and passed the state’s first legislation establishing the community schools model as the statewide strategy for addressing concentrated poverty. Her work as Delegate has earned the trust of her colleagues and constituents on budget and tax issues, as well as, the impact of funding choices on Maryland’s families.