Edith Patterson

Edith Patterson is an American politician currently serving as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 28 in Charles County. A member of the Democratic Party, Patterson has been in office since 2015. Her political career spans several decades, during which she has held various roles, including serving as a county commissioner and a member of the Board of Education for Charles County. Patterson has a strong background in education, having worked as a teacher and later in higher education administration.

Early life and career

Edith Patterson was born on November 18, 1945, in Doswell, Virginia. She completed her secondary education at John M. Gandy High School in Ashland, Virginia. Following high school, she pursued higher education at Virginia Union University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry in 1968. After her graduation, Patterson began her career in education, teaching biology and physics for five years in Washington, D.C.

In 1973, Patterson relocated to Pomfret, Maryland, where she continued her education at Bowie State University, obtaining a Master of Education degree in guidance and counseling. She furthered her academic credentials by earning a Doctor of Education degree in higher education administration from George Washington University in 1991. Following her doctoral studies, Patterson worked as a consultant for various organizations, including the Congressional Black Caucus, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Patterson's political career began in 1983 when she was elected to the Charles County Board of Education, making her the first African American to serve on the board. During her tenure, she held the position of chair in her final year. After serving on the Board of Education until 1995, she became involved in local politics. In 2000, she joined the Charles County Democratic Central Committee, marking the beginning of her active participation in the Democratic Party at the county level.

In 2005, Patterson was appointed by the Charles County Democratic Central Committee to fill a vacancy as a county commissioner. This appointment made her the first African American to serve on the commission. In 2006, she was elected as a commissioner, alongside Reuben B. Collins II, who served as vice president. Patterson's tenure as a county commissioner lasted until 2010, when she lost her re-election bid to Candice Quinn Kelly by a narrow margin. Following her time as a commissioner, Patterson was elected to the Maryland Association of Counties Board of Directors in August 2010.

In April 2012, she was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley to the Maryland Higher Education Commission. After 37 years at the College of Southern Maryland, where she served as the director of the Educational Talent Search program, Patterson retired from her position to focus on her political career. In February 2014, she announced her candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates. She secured her position in the House after a competitive primary and general election, where she received a significant portion of the votes.

Legislative service

Edith Patterson was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015. Since her election, she has been an active member of the Ways and Means Committee, where she has served on various subcommittees, including those focused on election law, finance resources, education, local revenues, and early childhood education. In 2020, she was appointed chair of the racing and gaming subcommittee. Additionally, Patterson has been a member of the Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness since 2016 and has held the position of House Chair of the Protocol Committee since 2019.

Patterson has also been involved in leadership roles within the Maryland General Assembly. She has served as the House Chair of the Charles County Delegation since 2016 and has been a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, where she held the positions of second vice-chair and first vice-chair during her tenure. Furthermore, she is a member of the Maryland Veterans Caucus and has been involved with the Women Legislators of Maryland, serving as the second vice-president since 2021.

Policy focus and district

Throughout her legislative career, Edith Patterson has focused on various policy areas, particularly education, environmental issues, and taxation. During her 2014 campaign for the House of Delegates, she expressed her support for the Common Core State Standards, emphasizing the importance of professional development and training for teachers to effectively implement these standards. In response to concerns raised about Maryland's private schools, Patterson introduced legislation in 2019 aimed at ensuring local municipalities could conduct necessary inspections of non-public schools. This bill garnered significant support in the House of Delegates but ultimately did not advance in the Senate.

Patterson has also shown an interest in environmental legislation, co-sponsoring a bill in 2020 that sought to ban the intentional release of balloons in Maryland. Her stance on marijuana has evolved over time; while she supports its medical use under supervision, she has expressed reservations about legalizing recreational marijuana, labeling it as a potential gateway drug. However, she has supported decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

In terms of taxation, Patterson has advocated for a review of Maryland's regulatory and corporate tax structures, emphasizing the need for tax incentives to support small and medium-sized technology firms. She has also supported the establishment of tax-free zones around research and development institutions to attract high-technology businesses. Patterson has expressed support for Maryland's "rain tax" and "septic bill," while also highlighting the need for protections for those most affected, particularly farmers.

As a representative of District 28, Patterson's legislative work reflects her commitment to addressing the needs and concerns of her constituents, particularly in the areas of education, environmental protection, and economic development. Her extensive background in education and public service informs her approach to policymaking and her dedication to improving the quality of life in her district.