House Speaker Peña-Melnyk Announces New Committee Assignments, Leadership Structure
Newly minted Maryland Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-District 21) has announced the committee assignments and leadership structure for the House of Delegates during the upcoming legislative session.
This 448th legislation, kicking off Jan. 14, will include: a record number of women serving as committee chairs; a committee focused on labor and government operations; a new caucus focusing on rural issues, and an expansion of the number of subcommittees.
“Consistent with my reputation, I will speak the truth but I will also listen with respect to different points of view,” said Peña-Melnyk in a Dec. 29 statement. “Ultimately, my role is to bring people together to get things done for the 6.3 million people who live here, and the generations to come that will inherit the decisions that we make.”
A new committee on Labor, Government, and Elections has been created, which will be led by Del. Melissa Wells (D-District 40). That committee has been split from the Health committee, which was formerly chaired by Peña-Melnyk and will now be headed by Del. Heather Bagnall (D-District 33).
“I’m grateful to Speaker Joseline Pena Melnyk for the trust she has placed in me and for the opportunity to serve as chair of the Labor, Elections, and Government Committee. This work has always been guided by a simple belief: government should work for the people who form the heart and backbone of our communities. When families are supported, communities are stronger,” she said in a social media statement. “As chair of the Labor, Elections, and Government Committee, I look forward to working with my colleagues and leadership to make thoughtful decisions that strengthen workers, support families, and help Maryland businesses and our government thrive.”
Del. Sandy Bartlett (D-District 32) has been appointed as the new chair of the Judiciary Committee, the first African American and first woman to chair the committee and the former chair, Del. Luke Clippinger (D-District 46), will serve as the Senate president pro tempore.
Barrier-breaker Del. Kriselda Valderamma (D-District 26), whose father was the first Asian American elected to the Maryland General Assembly, will lead the Economic Matters committee, becoming the first woman to do so. She is also the first Asian American committee chair.
Del. C.T. Wilson (D-District 28), who chaired Economic Matters in the previous four legislative sessions, will serve as the House parliamentarian.
Del. Ben Barnes (D-District 21) and Del. Marc Korman (D-District 16) will remain as the chair of the Appropriations and Environment and Transportation committee, respectively.
In addition, Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-District 20), the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, will now chair the Ways and Means committee. Her predecessor, Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (D-District 13), is resigning from the General Assembly on Jan. 14 to focus on her campaign for Howard County Executive.
“I am honored to be appointed chair of the House Ways and Means Committee by Speaker Joseline Pena Melnyk,” said Wilkins in a social media statement on Dec. 29. “Having served on the Ways and Means Committee my entire legislative career, including leading election law and as vice chair of the committee, it is a privilege to take on this responsibility as we advance policies that shape Maryland’s future at this critical moment.”
The full committee assignment and leadership structure is available here.
Upper Marlboro Elects Charles Colbert, First African American Male Mayor
The historic town of Upper Marlboro, the county seat of Prince George’s, elected Charles Colbert as the first African American male mayor and only the third Black mayor in the history of the town. With 115 votes, Colbert led the field of candidates in the Nov. 4 election.
“In the 155 years since the town has been incorporated, we have only had six Black Councilmembers or commissioners. Three of us are currently serving. The only other Black male who was ever elected is serving as vice mayor, a position created this year. We had our first Black commissioners get elected in 2018, and I was the first Black man to get elected in 2022,” Colbert told The Washington Informer.
In Upper Marlboro, the members of the commission are elected at-large and the candidate with the most votes is appointed mayor by the commission.
“It shows the history and the changing demographics of this area, where we now have a 60% Black population as does our council board. It highlights the changes and the forward progress that are being made. For me, I grew up in Clinton and heard many things about Upper Marlboro and the town’s history as an extension of Jim Crow America. The town itself and the city government, has helped to build the Black middle class and it continues to be an anchor for this county. It is important that we have gotten to this point.”
The father first decided to run for political office to ensure his family and neighbors had local development that would improve their quality of life.
“One of the reasons I ran for a seat the first time, was there was a development outside of the town and it ended up being a Popeyes, right next to a Bojangles. I thought ‘We can and should have more options, amenities, and services,’” he said. “I wanted to make sure my daughter was proud of the community she grew up in.”
On the commission, Colbert has worked to bring economic development and civic pride to Upper Marlboro.
“We have done surveys to best guide our efforts in outreach with businesses and developers. There are now other areas of the county receiving resources to assist their economic development. We have been on the back burner for too long,” he continued. “Managing my skills in financial management and contract management will help me determine how to better market ourselves as a town and create an environment for potential businesses to understand that Upper Marlboro is a place to be.”
The newly minted mayor also emphasized he is prioritizing the people as he works to strengthen Upper Marlboro overall.
“Anything that we do or propose has to have a resident feedback component. People who live in this town will be affected by everything we do and we need to ensure we aren’t working in a silo. We are the first level of responsiveness when it comes to government,” he said. “We are on the ground bearing their needs and that is a key foundation of how decisions can be made. We have to make sure that we are being considerate and considering the need and the benefit on how it affects people.”
Seat Pleasant Councilmember Shireka McCarthy, who currently serves as president of the Maryland Municipal League’s Black Caucus, emphasized Colbert’s election is important beyond Upper Marlboro’s history and future.
“Im celebrating this moment as Black men have long been treated as something to fear and not someone to follow. A town with a sundown legacy has elected its first Black man as mayor and that matters deeply,” she told The Informer. “This is not just a win for one Black man, but for Black men everywhere.”