Richard Madaleno
Encyclopedia
Richard S. Madaleno, Jr., commonly known as Rich Madaleno, is an American politician
from Maryland
. A Democrat
, he is a member of the Maryland State Senate
, representing the state's 18th district in Montgomery County
, which includes Wheaton and Kensington, as well as parts of Silver Spring, Bethesda and Chevy Chase. Madaleno is chair of the Montgomery County Senate Delegation. He previously served four years in the House of Delegates
.
, Madaleno was educated at Montgomery County public schools and Georgetown Preparatory School
. He then went to Syracuse University
where he earned a BA
in 1987 and an MPA
in 1989.
On leaving university, Madaleno began his career in Maryland government, working first for the Maryland General Assembly's Department of Fiscal Services, which provides staff support to Senators and Delegates. During this time, he was appointed Senior Analyst for the House Appropriations Committee. In 1995, he was hired by then-Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan to work for Montgomery County
's Office of Intergovernmental Relations. He served in that capacity until his election to the House of Delegates in 2002. He is considered an expert in the state budget process and serves on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
opponents in the general election.
In April 2006, incumbent District 18 senator Sharon Grosfeld announced that she would not be running for re-election. Madaleno decided to seek the Senate
seat and quickly established himself as the leading candidate. Indeed, he attracted no primary opponents whatsoever and faced only nominal Republican opposition in November. His was the only open Senate seat in the whole of Maryland that did not see a primary contest. In the general election
, he defeated his Republican opponent by more than three-to-one.
In 2007, Madaleno sponsored legislation to increase the value of the Maryland Refundable Earned Income Tax Credit, an anti-poverty tool. During a special session later that year, the measure was incorporated into a larger tax bill and became law.
In addition, he helped close a tax loophole that was costing Maryland roughly $10 million a year annually by passing legislation that stops a common business practice of artificially lowering taxable profits by paying rent, a deductible business expense, to shell companies controlled by the same parent company.
Madaleno is widely recognized for increasing state funding for Montgomery County over the years. He developed a proposal for the state to pay a higher percentage of the costs for the Washington Metro system, which became law. The Washington Post once called him a "secret weapon" for playing a key role in increasing state education funding for Montgomery County schools. However, he has also led an effort supporting the return of the cost of teachers' pensions to the counties.
candidate. He is also the first openly gay Maryland state senator. Along with Delegates Maggie McIntosh
, Anne Kaiser
, Heather Mizeur
, Peter Murphy
, Mary Washington
, Bonnie Cullison
and Luke Clippinger
he forms part of the eight-strong gay
grouping in the Maryland General Assembly
. His election campaigns have won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
.
Madaleno is a member of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, where he has chaired the Social Justice Council and taught Sunday School.
He and his partner, Mark, have two children. They are Kensington homeowners.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he is a member of the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
, representing the state's 18th district in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, which includes Wheaton and Kensington, as well as parts of Silver Spring, Bethesda and Chevy Chase. Madaleno is chair of the Montgomery County Senate Delegation. He previously served four years in the House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
.
Background
Growing up in Silver SpringSilver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, Madaleno was educated at Montgomery County public schools and Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School is an American Jesuit college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12. It is the oldest all boys school in the United States, and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country...
. He then went to Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
where he earned a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1987 and an MPA
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
in 1989.
On leaving university, Madaleno began his career in Maryland government, working first for the Maryland General Assembly's Department of Fiscal Services, which provides staff support to Senators and Delegates. During this time, he was appointed Senior Analyst for the House Appropriations Committee. In 1995, he was hired by then-Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan to work for Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
's Office of Intergovernmental Relations. He served in that capacity until his election to the House of Delegates in 2002. He is considered an expert in the state budget process and serves on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
Elective office
In 2002, he won one of three seats representing Maryland's 18th District in the House of Delegates. He placed second, out of seven candidates, in the Democratic primary election in September 2002 and, along with his two fellow Democratic nominees, faced no RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
opponents in the general election.
In April 2006, incumbent District 18 senator Sharon Grosfeld announced that she would not be running for re-election. Madaleno decided to seek the Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
seat and quickly established himself as the leading candidate. Indeed, he attracted no primary opponents whatsoever and faced only nominal Republican opposition in November. His was the only open Senate seat in the whole of Maryland that did not see a primary contest. In the general election
Maryland General Assembly Election, 2006
The most recent election to choose members of the Maryland General Assembly was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. The U.S. House election, 2006, U.S. Senate election, 2006, and Maryland gubernatorial election, 2006 occurred the same day...
, he defeated his Republican opponent by more than three-to-one.
Legislative Notes
In the Maryland Senate, Madaleno leads efforts to advance legislation important to LGBT Marylanders. In 2009, he was lead sponsor of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, which would legalize same-sex marriage, as well as a bill to make discrimination against transgender people illegal in housing, employment, and public accommodations. Neither bill was voted on. In 2009, he successfully sponsored legislation with his colleague, Sen. James Robey, to eliminate the inheritance tax paid by domestic partners on jointly-owned primary residences. The legislation becomes law in July 2009.In 2007, Madaleno sponsored legislation to increase the value of the Maryland Refundable Earned Income Tax Credit, an anti-poverty tool. During a special session later that year, the measure was incorporated into a larger tax bill and became law.
In addition, he helped close a tax loophole that was costing Maryland roughly $10 million a year annually by passing legislation that stops a common business practice of artificially lowering taxable profits by paying rent, a deductible business expense, to shell companies controlled by the same parent company.
Madaleno is widely recognized for increasing state funding for Montgomery County over the years. He developed a proposal for the state to pay a higher percentage of the costs for the Washington Metro system, which became law. The Washington Post once called him a "secret weapon" for playing a key role in increasing state education funding for Montgomery County schools. However, he has also led an effort supporting the return of the cost of teachers' pensions to the counties.
Personal
Madaleno was the first person to be elected to the General Assembly as an openly gayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
candidate. He is also the first openly gay Maryland state senator. Along with Delegates Maggie McIntosh
Maggie McIntosh
Margaret L. McIntosh, commonly known as Maggie McIntosh, is an American politician from the state of Maryland. The Chairman of the Environmental Matters Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates, she has been a member of the House of Delegates since November 1992...
, Anne Kaiser
Anne Kaiser
Anne R. Kaiser is an American politician from the state of Maryland and is a lifelong resident of Montgomery County, Maryland. She is currently serving her third term as one of three members of the House of Delegates from Maryland's 14th District, which includes parts of Silver Spring, Calverton,...
, Heather Mizeur
Heather Mizeur
Heather R. Mizeur is an American politician from Maryland. A Democrat, she is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing the state's 20th district in Montgomery County.-Background:...
, Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (politician)
Peter Murphy is an American politician who represents district 28 in the Maryland House of Delegates.-Background:Murphy was born in Washington, D.C., on July 15, 1949. He has both a B.A. and an M.A. from the American University, and an Ed.S...
, Mary Washington
Mary L. Washington
Mary L. Washington is an American politician from Baltimore, Maryland. A Democrat, she was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010, representing the state's 43rd district. She took office on January 12, 2011.-Early life and career:...
, Bonnie Cullison
Bonnie Cullison
Bonnie Cullison is an American teacher, labor official and politician from Montgomery County, Maryland. A Democrat, she was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010, representing the state's 19th district. She took office on January 12, 2011.-Early life and career:Raised in St...
and Luke Clippinger
Luke Clippinger
Luke Clippinger is an American politician and lawyer from Maryland. A Democrat, he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010, representing the state's 46th district in Baltimore...
he forms part of the eight-strong gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
grouping in the Maryland General Assembly
Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
. His election campaigns have won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
.
Madaleno is a member of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, where he has chaired the Social Justice Council and taught Sunday School.
He and his partner, Mark, have two children. They are Kensington homeowners.