Member, Forum for Rural Maryland, 1996-2003. Board of Trustees, Maryland Historical Trust, 1997-98. Member, Partnership Policy Council on Block Grants, 1997-98; Task Force to Study the Governance, Coordination, and Funding of the University System of Maryland, 1998-99; Commission on Transportation Investment, 1999. Co-Chair, Study Panel to Review Economic Development Financing Programs, 1999. Chair, Task Force on Driver's Education Programs in Maryland, 1999. Member, Task Force on Tobacco Crop Conversion in Maryland, 1999; Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence, 1999-2000; Maryland Competitive Advantage Financing Fund Work Group, 2000; Transit Policy Panel, 2000; Task Force to Study the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, 2000-01. Co-Chair, Task Force on Resource-Based Industry in Maryland, 2000-02. Member, Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation, 2000-03; ; Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, 2010-19 (chair, 2016-17); Task Force to Study Adult Education Services in Maryland, 2001; Task Force on Upgrading Sewerage Systems, 2001-02; Rebuild La Plata Task Force, 2002; Commission on Maryland's Fiscal Structure, 2002-03; Maryland Tourism Development Board, 2002-04; Advisory Committee on the Management and Protection of the State's Water Resources, 2002-04; Task Force to Study the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, 2002-05; Transportation Task Force, 2003; Task Force on the Marketing of Grain and Other Agricultural Products, 2003-04. Co-Chair, Unemployment Insurance Funding Task Force, 2003-04. Member, Task Force on Broadband Communications Deployment in Underserved Rural Areas, 2003-06; Task Force to Study the Dynamics of Elderly and Retiree Migration Into and Out of Maryland, 2004-06; CommunityChoice Advisory Group, 2004-06. Co-Chair, Committee on Unemployment Insurance Oversight, 2005-06. Member, Commission to Study Southern Maryland Transportation Needs, 2006-08; Rural Maryland Council, 2006-09; Task Force on Health Care Access and Reimbursement, 2007-08; Southern States Energy Board, 2007-. Member, Workforce Creation and Adult Education Transition Council, 2008. Co-Chair, Task Force to Review Physician Shortages in Rural Areas, 2008-09. Member, Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council, 2010, 2011-15 (co-chair, health care workforce work group, 2010, 2011-15); Long-Term Care Reform Work Group, Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2010-11. Co-Chair, Task Force to Study Maryland Insurance of Last-Resort Programs, 2012-14. Member, Maryland Agricultural Nonpoint Trading Advisory Committee, 2012-15; Thermal Renewable Energy Credit Task Force, 2013. Co-Chair, Task Force to Study the Applicability of the Maryland Prevailing Wage Law, 2013-14. Member, Task Force to Study the Implementation of a Hub and Spoke Program in the Southern Maryland Region, 2013-14; Agriculture Committee, 2013-, and Energy and Environment Committee, 2013-, Eastern Regional Conference, Council of State Governments. Co-Chair, Task Force to Study Methods to Reduce the Rate of Uninsured Drivers, 2014-15. Member, Work Group to Study Accessibility, Affordability, and Availability of Commercial Motor Vehicle Insurance for Entry-Level Truck Drivers, 2015-16; Phosphorus Management Tool Transition Advisory Committee, 2015-19; Rural Maryland Council, 2015-19; Work Group on Rural Health Care Delivery, 2016-17. Co-Chair, Task Force on the Maryland Clean Energy Center, 2016-17. Chair, Chesapeake Bay Commission, 2016-17 (member, 2007-; vice-chair, 2009, 2014; chair, 2010). Member, Maryland Water Quality Trading Advisory Committee, 2016-. Member, Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission, 2017-19.
Member, Chesapeake Bay Commission, 2019-.
Chair, Planning Commission, Charles County, 1981-85. President, County Commissioners of Charles County, 1986-94. Member, Social Services Board, Charles County, 1986-94. Member, Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, 1986-2019 (chair, 1990-92). Vice-Chair, Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 1992-93 (member, 1992-94; chair, public participation & education committee). Member, U.S. 301 South Corridor Transportation Study Task Force, 1994-96.
Born in La Plata, Maryland, September 1, 1945. Attended Notre Dame High School, Bryantown, Maryland; Charles County Community College, A.A., 1966; Mount St. Mary's College, B.S. (biology), 1968. Served in U.S. Army (military intelligence), 1968-71. Farmer. Owner and operator, Cedar Hill Farm, near Waldorf, Maryland. Board of Directors, Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, 2005-. Maryland Public Policy Conflict Resolution Fellow, Center for Dispute Resolution, University of Maryland School of Law, 2010. Board of Trustees, Physicians Memorial Hospital. Board member, Tri-County Youth Service Bureau; Health Service Agency. A founder of Charles County Christmas in April. Member, 4-H; Farm Bureau. Distinguished Leadership Award, Maryland Chapter, American Planning Association, 1993. Legislator Recognition Award, Maryland Association of Counties, 1998, 2002. Outstanding Rural Legislator Award, Rural Maryland Council, 2000. Distinguished Service Award, Maryland Municipal League, 2002 (municipal super star, 2011; certificate of appreciation, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). Legislative Leadership Award, Maryland Clean Energy Center, 2010. First Citizen Award, Maryland Senate, 2011. Legislator of the Year, Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth, 2012. Outstanding Rural Health Legislator Award, Maryland Rural Health Association, 2012, 2017. Legislative Champion, Park Advisory Commission, 2012-13. Champion for Real Lives, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition, 2013. Disability Community Champion, American Network of Community Options and Resources, 2014. Medal of Achievement Award, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., 2014. John R. Hargreaves Distinguished Legislative Fellow Award, Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, Salisbury University, 2014. Distinguished Service Award, Maryland Hospital Association, 2017. Married; three children.
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