By Carleigh Kenny
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones was described as “a very special guest” during Baltimore County’s third Black History Month conversation because she is the first person of color and woman to hold the position as well as the first to serve as speaker pro tem when she was first elected by her colleagues to the position 18 years ago.
County Executive Johnny Olszewski chatted with Jones on Tuesday via Zoom as they bonded over attending the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree at UMBC in 1976, while Olszewski earned a doctorate in 2017. When he asked how her youth shaped her leadership, she appeared ready to respond.
“I want to encourage people to express themselves,” said Jones, a Cowdensville native who has represented Phoenix, Jackson, and White Hall as a delegate in the 10th District since 1997. “You never know who could be the next senator or delegate, even the county executive!”
Olszewski excitedly returned, “or Speaker of the House!”
Olszewski served two terms in the Maryland House of Delegates as the District 6 face. He spent seven years teaching in Baltimore County schools after college. Now serving as the county executive since 2018, Olszewski took delight in peppering Jones with questions about her successes, barriers and future efforts for racial equity.
“I love public service and this is like the ultimate!” Jones said. “There have only been three African American women to serve as speakers, but look at the talent out there!”
Also serving as speakers were Karen R. Bass of California (2008-2010) and New Jersey’s Sheila Y. Oliver (2010-2014). Bass was the first African American woman in U.S. history to serve as speaker of any form of the state legislature, making her the blueprint.
Each week during Black History Month, Baltimore County is sponsoring a virtual series featuring leaders such as Jones, County Council Chairman Julian Jones, and Board of Education Chair Makeda Scott. Olszewski leads the chats.
“It’s extremely important because only the month of February shows these individual life stories,” Jones said. “It is very important to highlight during the month but my hope is it will show awareness.”
Jones commented on the recent national turmoil sparked by the death of George Floyd. Floyd’s life ended in the middle of a Minneapolis street after being stopped by police and pinned down for about 9 minutes, gasping for air and help. The incident sparked thousands of Black Lives Matter sit-ins, protests, marches and calls for reform among police.
The House Speaker said the recent deaths have forced her and other legislators to enact policies to address the issues.
“We’ve got to go more than that. I established a police reform accountability workgroup,” she said. “It went through hundreds of hearings. I heard from mothers who also lost their sons, heard from law enforcement themselves even get their opinions.”
Jones said two key pieces of legislation resulted from the work. The first she called “the Black Agenda ” as it aims to impact statements in the legislative analysis of criminal justice bills and essentially erase racial disparities in a government office. The other is similar; it requires police-involved shootings sanctioned for questioning as well as improvements overall on the state’s Bill of Rights.
“Everyone has something they’re gifted in,” Jones said in closing with the county executive. “People don’t realize they actually have something within themselves. Smile and get engaged while finding what that gift is! If you’re interested in going into the election field, get your opinion out because people want to hear it!”