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Debra Davis

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Not to be confused with Devra Davis.
For other people with similar names, see Deborah Davis.
Debra M. Davis
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 28th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded bySally Y. Jameson
Personal details
Born (1959-10-11) October 11, 1959 (age 65)
Cheverly, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2 daughters
OccupationAttorney

Debra M. Davis (born October 11, 1959) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 28 since 2019.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as a member of the Charles County Board of Commissioners from 2010 to 2018.

Background

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Davis was born in Cheverly, Maryland, on October 11, 1959. She graduated from Frederick Douglass High School and later attended University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminology, and the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she earned a Juris Doctor degree. Davis was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1995 and to the District of Columbia Bar in 1996.[2]

In 2010, Davis was elected to the Charles County Board of Commissioners, representing the Charles County District 2.[2] During her two terms as commissioner, she gained the reputation as a maverick, often voting against the majority on issues large and small.[3] During her second term, she also served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Local Government Insurance Trust, becoming the first African-American to serve as LGIT Chair.[4]

In January 2018, Davis announced that she would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 28.[3] The district was targeted by the Republican State Leadership Committee in the general election,[5] in which Davis placed third with 23.8 percent of the vote, behind incumbents C. T. Wilson and Edith J. Patterson.[6]

In the legislature

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Davis was sworn in on January 9, 2019. She was a member of the Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2022,[1] and has since served as a member of the Environment and Transportation Committee. She is also the House Chair of the Charles County Delegation and is a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and the Women Legislators of Maryland.[2]

Political positions

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Crime and policing

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Davis supports the removal of school resource officers (SROs) from public schools, noting that SRO programs in Charles County disproportionally affected Black and brown students,[7] and reforms to make policing more equitable and humane.[8]

During the 2019 legislative session, Davis expressed concerns with a bill that would require judges' names to be included in all online records, worrying that the bill would have a "chilling effect" on judges' independence.[9]

In 2020, Davis introduced legislation that would require prosecutors to submit additional information about jailhouse informants before they could testify in a court case to identify whether they have a conflict of interest in the case.[10] She also supported efforts to repeal the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights.[11]

During the 2021 legislative session, Davis introduced legislation that would establish a statewide police use of force policy.[12] The bill died in committee without a vote.[13] She also supported a bill that would require counties to have a citizen review board for law enforcement officers.[8] She also supported a bill to remove the governor of Maryland from the state's parole board.[14]

In 2023, Davis introduced a bill that would establish a division in the office of the Attorney General of Maryland to oversee the Maryland Department of Corrections.[15] The bill passed the Maryland Senate, but died in the House Rules Committee.[16]

Education

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In August 2019, Davis criticized Charles County's "Fresh Start Academy" pilot program, which separates violently disruptive students in kindergarten through second grade into smaller environments, saying that the county school system should instead prioritize improving its ratio of counselors to students.[17]

During the 2021 legislative session, Davis introduced legislation to would expand access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance to eligible college students. The bill passed and became law.[18]

In 2022, Davis opposed legislation to break up the College of Southern Maryland to create a new Charles County Community College.[19]

Environment

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In June 2017, Davis voted against the creation of a Watershed Conservation District in northwest Charles County surrounding the Mattawoman Creek watershed.[20]

Marijuana

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In March 2016, Davis sought to postpone a bill to allow for the growth and dispensing of medical cannabis in Charles County, saying that she believed the county had not fully looked into the issue and wanted to get the Charles County Sheriff's Office involved in the discussion. She voted against the bill when it came up for a vote.[21] During the 2022 legislative session, Davis voted against a bill creating a statewide referendum on legalizing recreational cannabis in Maryland, saying that she did not think the state is not ready for legalization.[22]

Social issues

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In January 2017, Davis attended the Women's March in Washington, D.C.[23]

Transportation

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During her tenure as county commissioner, Davis supported the Cross County Connector, a proposed four-lane highway connecting east and west Charles County.[24]

During her 2018 House of Delegates campaign, Davis said she opposed a bus rapid transit system implemented by the Maryland Department of Transportation as an interim solution while the state studies potential light rail projects in southern Maryland.[3] She supports the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit, a 19-mile rail project from Branch Avenue Metro station in Suitland-Silver Hill to White Plains, Maryland, calling it a "future driver of economic development".[25] In 2021, Davis introduced legislation to provide $25 million toward design and engineering work for the proposed transit line, which passed and was signed by Governor Larry Hogan.[26][27]

Electoral history

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Charles County Commissioner District 2 Democratic primary election, 2010[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Davis 4,823 43.3
Democratic Charles Carrington 2,714 24.4
Democratic Johnnie DeGiorgi 2,093 18.8
Democratic Bob Buehler 902 8.1
Democratic Leo Bachi Eyombo 610 5.5
Charles County Commissioner District 2 election, 2010[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Davis 25,091 55.6
Republican Rick Campbell 20,011 44.4
Write-in 21 0.1
Charles County Commissioner District 2 election, 2014[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Davis (incumbent) 23,484 51.6
Republican Mike Bakir 18,082 39.7
Write-in 3,958 8.6
Maryland House of Delegates District 28 Democratic primary election, 2018[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edith J. Patterson (incumbent) 10,346 27.4
Democratic C. T. Wilson (incumbent) 10,053 26.6
Democratic Debra Davis 8,725 23.1
Democratic Edward Holland 4,561 12.1
Democratic John Coller 4,043 10.7
Maryland House of Delegates District 28 election, 2018[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Davis 34,236 23.8
Democratic Edith J. Patterson (incumbent) 33,383 23.2
Democratic C. T. Wilson (incumbent) 32,793 22.8
Republican Jim Crawford 15,059 10.5
Republican Dave Campbell 15,010 10.4
Republican Maureen Janette Woodruff 13,318 9.3
Write-in 159 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 28 election, 2022[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Davis (incumbent) 28,394 23.2
Democratic C. T. Wilson (incumbent) 27,959 22.8
Democratic Edith J. Patterson (incumbent) 27,792 22.7
Republican James Ashburn 13,867 11.3
Republican Marquita Bushrod 12,673 10.3
Republican Tyrone R. Hall 11,697 9.6
Write-in 160 0.1

References

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  1. ^ a b "Debra M. Davis, Maryland State Delegate". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  2. ^ a b c "Debra M. Davis, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Lagasse, Paul (January 3, 2018). "County commissioner, attorney Davis runs for state delegate". Southern Maryland News. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "LGIT Names Chas. Co. Commissioner Debra Davis, Esq. as Board Chair". Southern Maryland Online. December 22, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. ^ Wood, Pamela (October 15, 2018). "National Republican group targets 15 Democrats running for Maryland House of Delegates". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Ellenberg, Robin (November 7, 2018). "Multiple County Officials Win State Offices". Conduit Street. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  7. ^ Soptelean, Caleb M. (December 17, 2020). "Charles students comment on school officers". Maryland Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Volland, Ryan (October 29, 2020). "Charles' Coates discusses diversity, equity at town hall". Maryland Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Donovan, Doug (February 11, 2019). "Bills in Annapolis aim to allow greater public scrutiny of Maryland judges". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Broadwater, Luke (February 13, 2020). "When innocent people go to prison, jailhouse informants are often to blame. Some Maryland lawmakers want to change the system". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  11. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (October 16, 2020). "House Police Reform Panel Recommends LEOBR Repeal, New Accountability Measures". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (January 28, 2021). "Legislating Police Reform in 2021: 'We Really Do Have to Seize This Moment'". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  13. ^ "Legislation - HB0139". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  14. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth; Gaines, Danielle E.; Gaskill, Hannah (December 8, 2021). "Maryland Will Remove Governor from Parole Process, Limit Immigration Detention after Veto Override Votes". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Ford, William J. (January 25, 2023). "Ombudsman proposed to ensure independent oversight of Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Ford, William J. (September 6, 2023). "Maryland Attorney General Brown headlines conference to improve state's correctional system". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  17. ^ Lagasse, Paul (August 2, 2019). "Public defenders discuss criminal justice issues at forum". Maryland Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Baker, Jordan (July 27, 2021). "New Maryland Law Dramatically Expands Access To SNAP Assistance, Anti-Hunger Services For College Students". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  19. ^ Kurtz, Josh (February 2, 2022). "Senator Stands Alone in Fight Over Regional Community College". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Anfenson-Comeau, Jamie (June 9, 2017). "Charles County commissioners pass watershed conservation district". Maryland Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Anfenson-Comeau, Jamie (March 15, 2016). "Charles County commissioners pass watershed conservation district". Maryland Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  22. ^ DePuyt, Bruce; Gaskill, Hannah (April 1, 2022). "With Scant Enthusiasm, Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Legalization Bills". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  23. ^ Watson, Tiffany (January 25, 2017). "'Nasty Women' march in Washington for women's rights". Maryland Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  24. ^ Newman, Jeff (May 3, 2013). "State, local officials confront 'rain tax' backlash". Maryland Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  25. ^ Kinsey, Darryl Jr. (May 25, 2022). "Cooperation brings needed funds for rapid transit in Southern Maryland". Maryland Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  26. ^ Soptelean, Caleb M. (April 14, 2021). "$5M in current budget for Southern Maryland Rapid Transit". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  27. ^ "Legislation - HB0414". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  28. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Charles County". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  29. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for Charles County". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  30. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Charles County". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  31. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  32. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  33. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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