Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The fight for the House Speaker spot in the Maryland General Assembly provides classic examples of the persuasion of spin and agenda used by both the Republican and Democratic parties, Sen. James Brochin told Towson University students recently.
Brochin, a Democrat who represents Maryland’s 42nd legislative district, pointed to the struggle between Democrats Del. Dereck E. Davis of Prince George’s County 25th District and Baltimore Del. Maggie McIntosh to replace House Speaker Michael Busch who died April 7 after complications with previous non-alcohol related liver transplant and pneumonia.
“Both McIntosh and Davis were perfect candidates and would have made a great House Speaker,” said Brochin, who frequently visits his alma mater, especially a Communication course on persuasion and rhetoric in Burdick Hall.
“One of the things that is taking America down slowly is this whole Democratic and Republican thing,” said Brochin.
Brochin said that the persuasive tactics used by McIntosh and Davis resulted in their defeat because they lost votes.
The battle for the House Speaker finally ended Wednesday, May 1 when Del. Adrienne Jones won the elected votes anonymously to become the first African American and woman to serve in the position.
Brochin explained that there are 47 senators for each District and 141 delegates; 42 of those delegates are Republicans and 99 Democrats. For a candidate to win, he said 71 votes must be acquired for the candidate to become House Speaker. McIntosh had 58 votes and Davis, 38 with neither one of the candidates qualifying.
During the time of the battle for the position, Brochin said that Davis used the support of Republicans, while McIntosh, chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, chose not to use the support of Republicans because of her more liberal stance on issues.
Seeking Republicans favor will help a candidate when their name hits the House floor because this would stir the votes more right opposing the left, Brochin said. The Republican Caucus announced its 42 votes would go to Davis.
To prevent a bitter floor fight and a party split, both Davis and McIntosh approached Jones, the speaker pro tem. Initially, Jones had sought the position but dropped out of the race.
Brochin, who is serving his fourth term as a state senator, then discussed his own campaign, which led him to four straight victories and the loss by nine votes during his 5th campaign. He attributed his loss to disagreeing with other voters about President Donald Trump’s decision to show his taxes.
“The constitution does not state that the president must show his tax returns in order to be a leader for this country,” Brochin said. “If people would like to know this information, simply make it a law instead of making your own curiosity.”
In the 42nd Legislative District, Brochin serves residents in areas including Towson, Pikesville, Cockeysville, Lutherville, and Northern Baltimore County.
Before politics, Brochin taught political science at Towson University. He describes himself as a product of the Baltimore County school system, attending Fort Garrison Elementary, Pikesville Middle and Pikesville High School.