Edith J. Patterson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edith J. Patterson
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 28th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 14, 2015 Serving with Sally Y. Jameson, Debra Davis, and C. T. Wilson
Preceded by	Peter Murphy
Constituency	Charles County, Maryland
County Commissioner, Charles County, Maryland
In office December 2002 – December 7, 2010
Preceded by	F. Wayne Cooper
Succeeded by	Candice Quinn Kelly
Member, Board of Education, Charles County, Maryland
In office 1983–1995
Personal details
Born	(1945-11-18) November 18, 1945 (age 79) 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 and serves in the Maryland House of Delegates. This is a part of the Maryland state government that helps create laws. She has represented the 28th district in Charles County, Maryland, since 2015.

Before becoming a state delegate, Patterson had other important jobs. She was a county commissioner for Charles County from 2002 to 2010. She also served on the Board of Education for Charles County from 1983 to 1995, helping to make decisions about local schools.

Early Life and Education

Edith Patterson was born in Doswell, Virginia, on November 18, 1945. She went to John M. Gandy High School in the nearby town of Ashland.

Patterson loved science and went to Virginia Union University. In 1968, she earned a B.S. degree, which is a college degree in science. Her subjects were biology and chemistry.

After college, she became a biology and physics teacher in Washington, D.C.. In 1973, she moved to Pomfret, Maryland. She continued her education and earned two more advanced degrees. She received a Master of Education degree from Bowie State University and a Doctor of Education degree from George Washington University.

With her knowledge, she worked as a consultant for important groups. These included the Congressional Black Caucus and the United States Department of Education.

Start in Politics

Patterson's career in public service began with education. In 1983, she was elected to the Charles County Board of Education. She was the first African American to ever serve on this board. In her last year, she was the leader, or chair, of the board.

In 2002, she became a county commissioner for Charles County. A commissioner is a local leader who helps run the county government. She was also the first African American to hold this position.

In 2012, Governor Martin O'Malley appointed her to the Maryland Higher Education Commission. This group helps guide colleges and universities in Maryland. To take this role, she retired from the College of Southern Maryland after working there for 37 years.

Serving in the Maryland Government

Patterson was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015. As a delegate, she helps make laws for the state of Maryland.

Committees and Leadership

In the House of Delegates, members work in small groups called committees to focus on specific topics. Patterson has been a member of the Ways and Means Committee. This committee deals with laws about taxes, education, and elections.

She has also been a leader in several groups, including:

• Charles County Delegation: She has been the House Chair for the group of delegates from Charles County since 2016.
• Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland: This group represents the interests of African American communities in Maryland.
• Women Legislators of Maryland: An organization for female lawmakers in the state.

What Patterson Believes In

Patterson speaks at a rally for the Equal Rights Amendment in 2024.

As a lawmaker, Edith Patterson has shared her views on many important topics.

Education

Patterson believes that new school programs like Common Core State Standards can be helpful. However, she thinks it's very important to give teachers the right training and support to use them well.

She also cares about the safety and quality of all schools. In 2019, she introduced a bill to make sure private schools were being checked for fire safety and other rules.

Environment

Patterson wants to protect the environment. In 2020, she supported a law that banned people from releasing large groups of balloons on purpose. This helps protect wildlife and reduce litter.

Taxes and Business

Patterson has said she wants to help businesses in Maryland grow. She supports giving tax breaks to new technology companies to encourage them to start in the state.

She also supports laws designed to protect the environment, like those that manage rainwater runoff and septic systems. She believes it is important to help people, especially farmers, who might be affected by the costs of these new rules.

Personal Life

Patterson was married to Ralph Patterson, who passed away in 2001. She has three children and two grandchildren. She currently lives in Pomfret, Maryland.

She is also a member of the Nu Zeta Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, a community service organization.

Electoral History

This section shows the results of elections Edith Patterson has been in.