Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones has appointed another African American woman as her speaker pro tem.
Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-Lower Shore), who has served in the General Assembly since 2015, will be Jones’ back-up in the 2020 legislative session, the speaker announced Friday evening. The assistant speaker pro tem will be Del. Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery), replacing Del. Darryl Barnes (D-Prince George’s).
The changes were among dozens by Jones to House leadership and committee assignments. The speaker, who made Maryland history as the first woman and first African American to lead the House chamber, was elected by the chamber on May 1, following the death of former Speaker Michael E. Busch (D).
Jones’ office said she made the changes after more than 100 hours of meetings with delegates to “evaluate the needs of the House moving forward.”
Del. Eric G. Luedtke (D-Montgomery) will be the new majority leader. He replaces Del. Kathleen M. Dumais (D-Montgomery), who will become House chairwoman of the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee, as well as vice chairwoman of the Economic Matters Committee.
All six standing committee chairs remaining the same.
* Del. Tawanna Gaines (D-Prince George’s) will become chairwoman of the capital budget subcommittee. Del. Mark S. Chang (D-Anne Arundel) will be vice chairman.
* Del. Veronica Turner (D-Prince George’s) will move to the Economic Matters Committee.
* Other leadership changes in the House chamber include Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s) becoming Democratic caucus chairman and Del. Alonzo T. Washington (D-Prince George’s) becoming parliamentarian.