2018 Legislative Report Card

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DISTRICT 45BALTIMORE CITY DELEGATIONGRADESENATORNATHANIEL MCFADDENDistrict 45Baltimore CityCNathaniel McFadden is a Senator for District 45 in Baltimore City. A member of the Senate since 1995, McFaddenis the sitting Senate President Pro Tempore, a position that makes him proximate to the Democratic Partyleadership and the machinations of Senate President Mike Miller. Despite decades of political service, SenatorMcFadden lacks force in setting discrete policy agendas and championing issues. In one example of hisallegiance to Mike Miller’s bidding, Senator McFadden articulated support for requiring civilians on police trialboards but later backed out of this position succumbing to pressure from Senate President Miller. Despitehis seniority, Senator McFadden’s 35 years in politics often translate to little for his constituents than securityfor the Democratic Party. Senator McFadden is also on record in support of SB983, an effort to kill cash bailreform in the 2017 legislative session.DELEGATETALMADGE BRANCHDistrict 45Baltimore CityGRADEDTalmadge Branch has represented Baltimore City’s 45th District for 20 years as a Delegate and seven as theDemocratic Party’s Majority Whip. While Delegate Branch has a long history of neglecting a racial justicecommitment to the Black community that overwhelmingly defines his constituency, his support of the MarylandSafe Schools Funding Bill in the 2018 session kept him from a complete failing grade. In this legislative effort, hesuccessfully won earmarked funds to establish 10-12 programs within community organizations that advanceviolence reduction initiatives.Delegate Branch, as defined by his position as Majority Whip, is obedient to the Democratic Party leadershipwhen he votes, and organizes legislator support for bills promoted by the senior party legislators. Similar to thetough on crime approach of SB122, Branch was able to pass a bill that strengthens mandatory minimums andremoves judicial discretion for repeat possession under a range of circumstances. In his testimony for this bill,he asks the chair “Why it is that we continue to allow people with drug-related…[issues] to continue to roamthe street?” While many legislators who represent whiter areas of the city are approaching the drug epidemicwith a public health lens, Delegate Branch continues the party habit of criminalizing and overincarcerating theBlack people in his district.202018 LEGISLATIVE REPORT CARD
BALTIMORE CITY DELEGATIONDISTRICT 45GRADEDELEGATECHERYL GLENNDistrict 45Baltimore CityC+Cheryl Glenn is a representative for the 45th District, in Baltimore City. Outgoing Chair of the LegislativeBlack Caucus of Maryland, Delegate Glenn has been a member of the House of Delegates since 2007. Inher career as a legislator, Glenn has proven herself a leader and forceful advocate, with the capacity to rallypolitical support and shape policy discourse for the general session. The primary sponsor on an effort tomake Baltimore City Public School Board partially elected, Delegate Glenn’s leadership in education reformis a boon to her constituents.However, with limited analysis on racial justice and criminal justice reform Delegate Glenn’s legislative historyreflects sometimes unreliable advocacy. For example, while an important supporter of bail reform, DelegateGlenn initially adopted the bail industry’s narrative around public safety in support of their bill SB983, aneffort to kill cash bail reform in the 2017 legislative session. A leader in the movement to legalize cannabis,Delegate Glenn has lobbied for minority access and opportunity while paving the way for privileged membersof the Black community with strong political access. In neglecting to address criminal justice opportunities incannabis reform, Delegate Glenn shows a gap in the analysis that makes her a less than rigorous advocate forracial justice and the Black community.GRADEDELEGATECORY MCCRAYDistrict 45Baltimore City/Delegate Cory McCray receives an incomplete as his grade in this report. The public accusation against himinvolves a violent outburst directed at a woman who is a justice advocate in Annapolis. Although a formalcomplaint was filed and he admitted to parts of what he was accused of doing, there was no formal disciplinaryaction taken by the state legislature. Due to his unwillingness to make a public acknowledgment of his actionsuntil prompted by the local media, we believe that it is a matter of principle that Delegate McCray receivesan incomplete grade.LEADERS OF A BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE 21
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2018 Legislative Report Card

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