"Momma's train moving at full speed," The Baltimore Sun, July 29, 2003

The Baltimore Sun July 29, 2003 Tuesday

July 29, 2003 Tuesday FINAL Edition

SECTION: LOCAL, Pg. 2B THE POLITICAL GAME
HEADLINE: Momma's train moving at full speed
Delegate: Hattie N. Harrison shows no sign of slowing down with a 'Join Momma on the Train' fund-raiser set for Aug. 19.

BYLINE: Greg Garland and Ivan Penn

THEY COULDN'T throw Momma from the train, so Del. Hattie N. Harrison is throwing a party on it.

Harrison is holding a fund-raiser with the theme, "All Aboard ... Come Join Momma on the Train" - a play on the slogan she used during last year's state elections, "Don't Throw Momma from the Train."

The slogan emerged from political infighting between Harrison and Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden, chairman of the Baltimore Senate delegation and the leader of the Eastside Democratic Organization, which Harrison helped found.

The east-side political group ran another candidate in Harrison's place, forcing her to compete against the organization of which she had long been a part. In the end, she won.

Now it appears that Harrison, 75, has even more steam than the east-side political organization thought.

Harrison's fund-raiser, planned for Aug. 19, is sending a strong signal that she plans to be around for a while longer.

Harrison is the longest-serving African-American woman in the history of the Maryland General Assembly with 30 years. She is two years shy of the record set by former Sen. Clarence W. Blount as the longest-serving African-American.

Moreover, she is the first African-American woman to lead a legislative committee. She is the chairwoman of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee in the House of Delegates.

Where Momma stops is anybody's guess.

GRAPHIC: Photo(s), Del. Hattie N. Harrison is the longest-serving black woman in the history of the Assembly.; SUN STAFF