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The ways that state and local governments influence our daily lives in Maryland are both prosaic and profound. From taxes to schools, street cleaning to dog licenses, there is very little that isn’t shaped or at least influenced by our various levels of government.
Thomas Baden Jr.
In this list, we offer the 40 men and women we believe are the most powerful figures in Maryland’s local and state governments.
Some of these individuals are well known, from the governor and top legislative leaders to mayors and county executives. But some on our list work very much behind the scenes, as lobbyists and representatives of industry, business and labor groups or as advocates for various public interests and causes. While they hold no office, they can play a powerful role in shaping local and state laws and policies.
This group was chosen by our editorial leadership team. We reached out to readers and others for suggestions and perspective.
In these pages, we explore how these men and women view the challenges facing state and local government and what they view are their most significant achievements. We also get a glimpse into the kind of people they are and what makes them tick.
This is the first in a series of Power Lists throughout 2023 that will showcase the most influential figures in law, higher education, banking and other fields, culminating with our Power 100 List of the most powerful people in the state.
You can find all the Power Lists here.
If you know of someone you think is a strong candidate for inclusion on our Power Lists, we’d love to hear from you. Just go to https://thedailyrecord.com/power-list-recommendation-form/ and tell us about the individual.
We hope you enjoy this publication, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions.
Thomas Baden Jr.
Editor
See the Power Government & Lobbyist digital edition here.
Rick Abbruzzese
Vice President
KO Public Affairs
Angela Alsobrooks
County Executive
Prince George’s County
Calvin Ball
County Executive
Howard County
Ben Barnes
Chair, House Appropriations Committee
Maryland House of Delegates
Lorenzo Bellamy
Founder
Bellamy Genn Group
Bruce Bereano
Principal
Office of Bruce C. Bereano
Frank D. Boston III
Founder
Boston Plaust Attorneys
Jason C. Buckel
Minority Leader
Maryland House of Delegates
Bob Cassilly
County Executive
Harford County
Marc Elrich
County Executive
Montgomery County
Gerard E. Evans
Founder
Evans & Associates
Brian Feldman
Education, Energy and the Environment Committee Chair
Maryland Senate
Bill Ferguson
President
Maryland Senate
Hannah Garagiola
President
Compass Government
Helene Grady
Budget Secretary
State of Maryland
Melony Griffith
Chair, Finance Committee
Maryland Senate
Fagan Harris
Chief of Staff
Governor’s Office
Lisa Harris Jones
Founding Member, Attorney
Harris Jones & Malone
Steve Hershey
Minority Leader
Maryland Senate
Michael Johansen
Administrative Partner
Rifkin Weiner Livingston
Adrienne Jones
Speaker
Maryland House of Delegates
Mary Kane
President
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Nancy J. King
Majority Leader
Maryland Senate
Marc Korman
House Majority Leader
Maryland House of Delegates
Ivan Lanier
Founder & Owner
Greenwill Consulting Group
Brooke Lierman
Comptroller
State of Maryland
Eric J. Luedtke
Legislative Liason
Governor’s Office
Nicholas Manis
Managing Partner
Manis Canning & Associates
Wes Moore
Governor
State of Maryland
Johnny Olszewski Jr.
County Executive
Baltimore County
Joseline Peña-Melnyk
Chair of the House Health and Government Operations
Maryland House of Delegates
Timothy Perry
Founder
Perry White Ross & Jacobson
Steuart Pittman
County Executive
Anne Arundel County
Gregory Proctor Jr.
President, CEO
G.S. Proctor
Delora Sanchez-Ifekauche
Principal
Cornerstone Government Affairs
Michael Sanderson
Executive Director
Maryland Association of Counties
Brandon Scott
Mayor
Baltimore
William C. Smith
Chair, Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
Maryland Senate
Jheanelle Wilkins
Chair of Legislative Black Caucus
Maryland House of Delegates
Steve Wise
Senior Partner
Schwartz, Metz, Wise & Kauffman
