Edith J. Patterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edith J. Patterson
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| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 28th district |
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| Assumed office January 14, 2015 Serving with Sally Y. Jameson, Debra Davis, and C. T. Wilson
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| Preceded by | Peter Murphy |
| Constituency | Charles County, Maryland |
| County Commissioner, Charles County, Maryland | |
| In office December 2002 – December 7, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | F. Wayne Cooper |
| Succeeded by | Candice Quinn Kelly |
| Member, Board of Education, Charles County, Maryland | |
| In office 1983–1995 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | November 18, 1945 Doswell, Virginia, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Ralph Patterson
(died 2001) |
| Children | Three children (Ralph, Robert, and Anne P. Tuggle), two grandchildren |
| Residences | Pomfret, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | John M. Gandy High School, Ashland, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Virginia Union University, B.S. (biology & chemistry), 1968; Bowie State College, M.Ed., (guidance & counseling), 1973; George Washington University, Ed.D. (higher education administration), 1991 |
Edith Jerry Patterson (born November 18, 1945) is an American politician. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Since 2015, she has served in the Maryland House of Delegates. She represents District 28 in Charles County.
Before this, she was a county commissioner from 2002 to 2010. She also served on the Board of Education for Charles County from 1983 to 1995.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Edith Patterson was born in Doswell, Virginia, on November 18, 1945. She went to John M. Gandy High School in nearby Ashland. In 1968, she graduated from Virginia Union University. There, she earned a degree in biology and chemistry.
After teaching biology and physics for five years in Washington, D.C., she moved. In 1973, she moved to Pomfret, Maryland. She continued her education at Bowie State University. She earned a master's degree in guidance and counseling.
Later, in 1991, she earned a doctorate degree from George Washington University. This degree was in higher education administration. After finishing her studies, she worked as a consultant. She advised groups like the Congressional Black Caucus and the United States Department of Education.
Public Service and Political Career
In 1983, Edith Patterson was elected to the Charles County Board of Education. She was the first African American to serve on this board. In her last year, she was the chair of the board.
Patterson became more involved in politics in 2000. She joined the Charles County Democratic Central Committee. In 2005, she was appointed as a county commissioner. She filled a spot that became open.
She was the first African American to serve on the county council. In 2006, she became the first African American elected commissioner. She served until 2010 but lost her re-election bid.
In 2010, Patterson was elected to the Maryland Association of Counties Board of Directors. This board helps counties work together. In 2012, Governor Martin O'Malley appointed her to the Maryland Higher Education Commission. She retired from the College of Southern Maryland after 37 years. She had directed a program there that helped students.
In 2014, Patterson ran for the Maryland House of Delegates again. She won a close primary election. She then won a seat in the general election. She has also served as a delegate for the Democratic National Committee in 2004 and 2016.
In the Legislature
Edith Patterson officially became a member of the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015. As a delegate, she works on laws for the state.
Committee Work
Patterson serves on the Ways and Means Committee. This committee handles laws about money and taxes. She has worked on subcommittees for election law, education, and local revenues. Since 2020, she has been the chair of the racing and gaming subcommittee.
She is also part of the Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness. This group works to help people who do not have homes. Since 2019, she has been the House Chair for the Protocol Committee.
Other Roles
Patterson leads the Charles County Delegation in the House. She is also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. This group supports African American lawmakers. She has served as a vice-chair for this caucus.
She is also a member of the Maryland Veterans Caucus. This group focuses on issues important to military veterans. Since 2021, she has been the 2nd vice-president of the Women Legislators of Maryland.
Political Views
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Education
Patterson supports the goals of Common Core State Standards. These are learning goals for students. She believes teachers need good training to use these standards.
In 2019, she proposed a bill about private schools. It would have required the state to list all private schools. This would help local areas check for safety and building rules. The bill passed the House but did not become law.
In 2022, she disagreed with a plan to change the College of Southern Maryland. She wanted the Charles County campuses to stay part of the college.
Environment
Patterson helped create a law in 2020. This law bans releasing balloons on purpose in Maryland. This helps protect the environment.
Taxes
Patterson believes in looking at tax rules for businesses. She supports giving tax breaks to new technology companies. This could help Maryland businesses grow. She also wants to create tax-free zones near universities. This would attract high-tech and cybersecurity businesses.
She supports the idea behind Maryland's "rain tax" and "septic bill." These laws help protect water. However, she thinks the state should help people, especially farmers, who are affected by these costs.
Personal Life
Edith Patterson was married to Ralph Patterson. He passed away in 2001. She has three children and two grandchildren. She lives in Pomfret, Maryland.
She is also a member of the Nu Zeta Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. This is a group for African American college-educated women.
Awards and Recognition
Edith Patterson has received many awards for her public service:
- Women Opening the Pipeline Award from the Congressional Black Caucus Education Braintrust (2006)
- Outstanding Achievement in Community Service Award from the Maryland State Teachers Association (2007)
- Women Pioneer Award from the Charles County Commission for Women (2010)
- Service Awards from the Charles County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (2011) and the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland (2011)
- John Thomas Parran Leadership Award from the Charles County Democratic Central Committee (2012)
- Education Leadership Award from the Maryland Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (2013)
- Named one of Maryland's Top 100 Women by the Daily Record in 2017, 2019, and 2021.
