Delegates Mark Fisher and Jerry Clark, and State Senator Steve Waugh
Annapolis, MD – Read it for the first time—Delegate Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R – District 29C].
The former Calvert County commissioner and longtime local businessman was formally sworn in Thursday, Oct. 13 in the House of Delegates Chamber in the Maryland State House in Annapolis.
The oath was administered by House of Delegates Speaker Pro Tem Adrienne A. Jones, a Baltimore County delegate who was pinch-hitting for ailing Speaker Michael Busch.
Looking on were members of Clark’s family, several lifelong friends, three current Calvert County commissioners and two former commissioners. Also on hand were several of Clark’s new colleagues, as he joins the Southern Maryland Delegation to Annapolis. Present were Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. [D – District 27], Senator Steve Waugh [R – District 29] and Delegate Mark Fisher [R – District 27C].
“Jerry and I go way back,” said Miller. “He’s hard-working and a consensus builder.”
Clark succeeds veteran legislator and former House Minority Leader Tony O’Donnell, who was appointed to the Maryland Public Service Commission by Governor Larry Hogan this past spring. The Republican Central Committees of District 29C’s two counties—Calvert and St. Mary’s—interviewed eight applicants for the vacancy. Clark’s was one of six names forwarded to Hogan for consideration. On Sept. 13 Hogan telephoned Clark around 9 a.m. to tell him the appointment was his.
“I’ll always have Southern Maryland in my heart but I’ll try to help the whole state,” Clark pledged.
In offering thanks to various people in attendance, Clark began with his wife, Peggy. He also thanked Calvert County Administrator Terry Shannon, adding that “I learned a lot from you. We did a lot of good things for the county.”
As he prepares to familiarize himself with Annapolis, Clark, who resides in Lusby, will return to the hearing room where he worked for 12 years Tuesday, Oct. 18. He is scheduled for an introduction, as delegate, to the board of county commissioners. Clark’s appearance will be followed by the Maryland Department of Transportation’s annual presentation to the commissioners.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
