C. Anthony Muse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
C. Anthony Muse
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Muse in 2023
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| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 26th district |
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| Assumed office January 11, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Obie Patterson |
| In office January 10, 2007 – January 9, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Gloria G. Lawlah |
| Succeeded by | Obie Patterson |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 26th district |
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| In office January 11, 1995 – January 13, 1999 Serving with Obie Patterson, David Valderrama
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| Preceded by | Rosa Lee Blumenthal |
| Succeeded by | Kerry Hill |
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| Born | April 17, 1958 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Pat Lawson Muse |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater |
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Charles Anthony Muse (born April 17, 1958) is an American politician and minister. He has served in the Maryland Senate representing District 26 since 2023. He also served in the Senate from 2007 to 2019.
Before that, he was a member of the Democratic Party. He represented the district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1995 to 1999. Muse has also run for U.S. Senator and for Prince George's County Executive.
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Early Life and Education
Muse was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 17, 1958. He grew up in a large family in the Park Heights neighborhood of Baltimore. At age 12, he moved in with his older brother. He later lived with several foster families before settling with a United Methodist pastor named George Stansbury.
Muse had a challenging time in school, attending several different systems. He began preaching at his father's church when he was 13 years old.
He attended Morgan State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1981. He then went to Wesley Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1984. Later, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Howard University in 1991.
Pastoral Career
Muse started working in the ministry at age 20. His first church was Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Ellicott City. He became known for his lively preaching style. He also added guitars and drums to the church services.
From 1984 to 1999, he was a pastor at the Gibbons-Resurrection United Methodist Church in Brandywine. During his time there, the church grew a lot, from 120 members to over 4,000. After he left, the church faced financial difficulties.
Muse decided to leave the Methodist denomination and become a nondenominational pastor. He then started his own church, the Ark of Safety Christian Church, in Oxon Hill. In 2002, his church acquired the property where the Gibbons-Resurrection church used to be.
The Ark of Safety Christian Church faced financial challenges during the Great Recession. In 2017, the church stopped making its mortgage payments. By 2020, the church was facing eviction from its location due to unpaid rent.
Political Involvement
From 1987 to 1992, Muse worked for the Maryland State Ethics Commission. He became more involved in politics after meeting important Black politicians in the county.
In 1990, Muse ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 27 but did not win. He then moved to Tantallon and was encouraged to run for the House of Delegates in District 26.
Maryland General Assembly
Muse was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 1995. He was a member of the Ways and Means Committee. He did not run for re-election in 1998. Instead, he ran for state senator in District 26 but narrowly lost.
In 2005, Muse considered running for state senator again. He entered the race in 2006 after the current senator decided not to run. He won the Democratic primary election.
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Muse was first sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 10, 2007. He served on the Judicial Proceedings Committee and later on the Finance Committee. He was moved back to the Judicial Proceedings Committee after he opposed a bill about wind energy.
In 2022, Muse ran for the Maryland Senate in District 26 again. He won the Democratic primary election by a small number of votes. He won the general election and was sworn in on January 11, 2023. He is currently a member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.
Prince George's County Executive Campaigns
2002 Campaign
On May 19, 2002, Muse announced he would run for Prince George's County Executive. He wanted to end standardized testing and require uniforms in schools. He received support from religious leaders in the county.
Muse did not win the Democratic primary election, placing third.
2018 Campaign
On June 26, 2017, Muse announced he would run for Prince George's County Executive again. He was seen as one of the top candidates. He presented himself as an outsider fighting against the "political machine." He also received support from local labor unions.
Muse was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing third.
2012 U.S. Senate Campaign
In September 2011, Muse considered running for the U.S. Senate in 2012. He announced his campaign on January 5, 2012. His campaign focused on issues like foreclosures, education differences, and high unemployment.
During the Democratic primary, Muse received support from state religious leaders. However, he was out-funded by the incumbent senator, who had strong support from the Democratic Party. Muse lost the Democratic primary in April 2012, placing second.
Personal Life
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Muse is married to Pat Lawson Muse, who is a news anchor for WRC-TV. They have one daughter, whom they adopted.
Political Positions
Muse is often described as a social conservative.
Development Initiatives
In 1996, Muse supported a bill to provide state money for building FedExField.
In 2011, Muse tried to stop the building of a large outlet store near National Harbor. He believed it would cause too much traffic.
Education
In 1996, Muse introduced a bill to study if mandatory uniforms should be used in public schools. The study recommended against uniforms. However, in 1997, he introduced a bill to require uniforms anyway, which passed in his county's delegation.
Muse also supported making the Prince George's County Board of Education fully appointed. In his county executive campaigns, he later said he would support making the school board fully elected. He also wanted to increase teacher pay and fix older schools.
In 2011, Muse voted against Maryland's Dream Act. This bill would have allowed undocumented immigrants to pay lower, in-state tuition fees.
In 2013, Muse was the only member of his county's delegation to vote against a bill. This bill would have given the Prince George's County Executive control over the county school system's budget.
Environment
Muse was against a bill proposed by the Governor to make Maryland's wind energy industry stronger.
Gambling
In 2011, during a debate about expanding gambling in Maryland, Muse supported allowing card games at casinos. He said card games have fewer social problems than slot machines.
In 2012, Muse said he was against plans to build a large casino near National Harbor. He promised to do everything he could to stop it. The bill passed the Maryland Senate, but Muse was one of only two senators from Prince George's County to vote against it.
Gun Policy
In 2013, Muse voted for the Firearm Safety Act. This law put limits on buying firearms and on the size of magazines for semi-automatic rifles.
LGBT Rights
Muse is against same-sex marriage for religious reasons. In 2007, he voted against a bill to prevent discrimination against transgender people. In 2011, he voted against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland. He worried it might lead to other types of marriage being allowed.
In 2012, Muse attended rallies against the Civil Marriage Protection Act. He also voted against it. He tried to rename the bill to the "Marriage Redefinition Act." After the bill became law and went to a public vote, Muse gave money to groups that opposed it.
However, in 2014, Muse voted for a bill to ban discrimination against transgender people.
Redistricting
In 2011, Muse was the only Democratic state senator to vote against the plan for new congressional districts. He said the legislature was putting politics before voters. He also said they were unfairly changing districts for minority communities.
Social Issues
In 2016, Muse voted against a bill to legalize palliative care for people who are very sick. However, in March 2023, he said he might be open to voting for such a bill in the future.
In 2017, after the Senate President defended a former Supreme Court Chief Justice, Muse called for the President to be criticized. No action was taken.
Taxes
In his 2002 county executive campaign, Muse said he would support removing the limit on property taxes in Prince George's County. In 2012, he voted for a bill that would fully fund school spending plans approved by the County Council. In 2015, Muse introduced a bill to stop a proposed 15 percent property tax increase in Prince George's County.
In 2012, Muse voted against a bill to raise income taxes for Maryland's wealthiest residents.
Images for kids
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C. Anthony Muse's signature
