Maryland Manual 1996-1997 House of Delegates / 77

HOUSE OF DELEGATES BIOGRAPHIES

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

CASPER R. TAYLOR, JR., Democrat, District 1C, Allegany County.
Member of House of Delegates since 1975. Speaker since 1994. Co-Chair,
Legislative Policy Committee, 1994— (member, 1987-94). Member, Spend-
ing Affordability Committee, 1994—. Chair, Economic Matters Committee,
1987-94 (vice-chair, 1978-86). Co-Chair, Special Joint Committee on Eco-
nomic Development Strategy, 1988-91 Member, Joint Committee on Mary-
land Port, 1978-80, Joint Committee on Energy, 1979, Special Joint
Committee on Transportation, 1981-84, Rules and Executive Nominations
Committee, 1987-94, Special Joint Committee on Energy Pricing, 1990-91,
Tort and Insurance Reform Oversight Committee, 1991-93. Chair, Western
Maryland Delegation, 1982-86. Chair, Allegany County Delegation, 1987—.
Born in Cumberland, Maryland, December 19, 1934. Attended Allegany
County parochial schools; University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1956. Served in US
Air Force R.O.T.C., 1952-54. Member, Tri-County Council for Western Mary-
land, Commission to Study Public Service Commission Law, 1977-80, Citizens
Advisory Board, Finan Hospital Center, 1988—, Governor's Commission on
Maryland Military Monuments, 1989—, Governor's Commission on Insurance,
1990-92, Maryland Tourism Development Board, 1993—, Maryland Environ-
mental Trust, 1995—. Past president, Allegany County Liquor Dealers, Dapper
Dan Club, Academy of Political Science, Notre Dame. Member, Elks, Eagles,
Alhambra, Knights of Columbus, Cumberland Hall of Fame, South Cumber-
land Business & Civic Association, Chamber of Commerce, Maryland Wildlife
Federation Board of Advisors, Sacred Heart Hospital. Married. District office:
501 N. Mechanic St., Cumberland 21502, tel. (301) 724-9234. Annapolis
office: 101 State House, 21401-1991, tel. (410) 841-3800

JOHN S. ARNICK, Democrat, District 7, Baltimore County. Member, House of Dele-
gates, 1967-79, 1983-92, and since 1993. Member, Commerce and Government Matters
Committee, 1994— (Chair, ethics & election laws subcomm.), Rules and Executive Nomi-
nations Committee, 1983-92, 1995—, Legislative Policy Committee, 1969-79, 1987-92,
1994— (management subcommittee). House Chair, Joint Committee on Administrative,
Executive and Legislative Review, 1983-86, 1995—. Majority leader, 1971-79, 1987-90.
Chair, Environmental Matters Committee, 1972-79, 1987-90. Member, Economic Mat-
ters Committee, 1983-87. House Chair, Tort and Insurance Reform Oversight Commit-
tee, 1987-92. Member, Special Joint Committee on Energy Pricing, 1990-91 Chair,
Judiciary Committee, 1991-92. Chair, Baltimore County Delegation, 1969-70. Born in
Baltimore, Maryland, November 27, 1933. Attended Baltimore County schools, Calvert Hall
School, Univ. of Baltimore, B.S., 1956. Served in US Marine Corps, 1956-59. Univ. of
Baltimore School of Law, LL.B., 1961. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1961. Member, Maryland
& Baltimore County Bar Assocs. Baltimore County Magistrate at Large, 1966-67. Member,
Governor's Special Committee on the Port of Baltimore, 1987-88, Retail Security Task Force,
1987-88, Energy Overcharge Restitution Trust Fund Board of Trustees, 1987-89, Governor's
Commission on Health Care Policy and Financing, 1988-92, Maryland Greenways Com-
mission, 1990—, Task Force to Review the State's Election Law, 1995— Member, Sons of
Italy. District office: tel. (410) 285-2109. Annapolis office 426 Lowe House Office Bldg.,
21401-1991, tel. (410) 841-3458

RUSHERN L. BAKER III, Democrat, District 22B, Prince George's County. Member
of House of Delegates since 1994. Member, Judiciary Committee, 1995— (family &
juvenile law subcommittee), Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 1995—,
Member, Environmental Matters Committee, 1994. Born in Valdosta, Georgia. Howard
University, B.A., 1982, J.D., 1986. Captain, US Army Reserve. Judge Advocate Corps,
1990-94. Served as Senior Congressional Black Caucus fellow in office of US Senator John
Kerry. Attorney, working for Peoples Involvement Corporation, a nonprofit community
development & social services organization. Former contract specialist & equal employment
opportunity officer. District of Columbia Dept. of Housing and Community Development.
Member, Commission on the Future of Maryland Courts, 1995—. Member, American and
J. Franklin Bourne Bar Associations. Chair, Legislative Committee, Gladys Noon Spellman
Parent-Teacher Association. Member, Maryland Chapter, NAACP, Omega Psi Phi Frater-
nity, Howard University Alumni Association. Married, two children. Annapolis office: 207
Lowe House Office Bldg., 21401-1991, tel. (301) 858-3058, (410) 841-3058