Jolene Ivey

Jolene Ivey
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 47th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2003
Preceded by	Rosetta C. Parker
Personal details
Born	(1961-07-30) July 30, 1961 Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Glenn F. Ivey
Children	5 children
Profession	Journalist
Religion	Methodist

Jolene Ivey (born July 30, 1961) is an American politician who represented the 47th Legislative District in the Maryland House of Delegates. In 2014 she was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, running on the ticket of Attorney General Doug Gansler.^[1]

Background

Delegate Ivey was born of mixed parents but raised by her African American father and stepmother in Washington, D.C. ^[2] She attended LaSalle Elementary School and the Bertie Backus Jr. High in northeast D.C. She graduated High Point High School and then Towson University with a B.A. in mass communication in 1982. She got her master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland in 1992. She later used her degrees to earn a job as Co-Host of "Say Baltimore," at WMAR-TV in 1983. She was a writer and producer for WMAR from 1984 to 1988. In 1988, she served as then-Congressman Benjamin Cardin's press secretary. She is a freelance writer and the director of Media Relations for the Community Teachers Institute.

Ivey is married to former Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey and the couple has five children. Although name recognition may have played a part in her initial election (Ivey's husband is a well known political figure in Prince George's County), her endorsement by The Washington Post and The Gazette, as well as a strong grassroots campaign were other factors in her win over incumbent Rosetta Parker.^[3]

In 2014, Ivey did not run for re-election to her House seat but instead ran for Lieutenant Governor. The Gansler-Ivey team lost to the Brown-Ullman campaign in the democratic primary election, coming in second.

In the Legislature

Ivey has been a member of House of Delegates since January 10, 2007. She was assigned to the Ways and Means Committee and its election law and revenues subcommittees. She was vice-chair of the Bi-County Committee in the Prince George's County Delegation. She also served in the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and the Women Legislators of Maryland.^[4] In her first session in Annapolis, Ivey got her first bill passed and signed into law. HB968 established the Post Adoption Support Services Pilot Program which identifies children eligible for post adoption support services and requires local Departments of Social Services to conduct assessment of the needs adopted children.^[5]

Ivey and Delegate Kris Valderrama share info on House floor

Legislative notes

• voted for the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)^[6]
• voted in favor the Tax Reform Act of 2007(HB2)
• voted in favor of prohibiting ground rents in 2007(SB106)
• voted in favor of in-state tuition for students who attended Maryland high schools for at least 2 years regardless of legal immigration status. (HB6)(2007) ^[7]
• sponsored House Bill 30 in 2007, Establishing the Maryland Education Fund.House Bill 30
• de facto-sponsor House Bill 387 in 2009 - Lawful Status in the United States - Material Compliance with Federal Requirements .House Bill 387

Past elections

• 2006 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – 47th District^[8]

Voters to choose three:

Name	Votes	Percent	Outcome
Jolene Ivey, Democratic	12,860	35.5%	Won
Victor R. Ramirez, Democratic	12,231	33.6%	Won
Doyle L. Niemann, Democratic	11,229	30.8%	Won
Other write-ins	120	.3%

In the democratic party

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Ivey supported Barack Obama and went to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado as a delegate pledge to Barack Obama.

Notes