Society of Senates Past
Roster

PATRICIA R. SHER
Democrat, District 18.

Born in Washington, D.C., June 19, 1931.  Attended Greenbelt High School; Montgomery Community College; University of Maryland, College of Human Ecology, B.S., 1983.  Married; four children.

General Assembly:
Member, House of Delegates, 1979-90.  Chair, National Legislative Task Force on Fire Gas Toxicity, 1983-85.  Vice-Chair, Task Force to Study Deaths Resulting from Building Fires, 1985-88.  Deputy Majority Whip, 1987-89; Deputy Majority Leader, 1989-90.  Member, Interdepartmental Committee on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits; Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Economic Matters Committee.  Member of Senate, 1991-95.  Member, Finance Committee; Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing; Special Joint Committee on the Medical Assistance Program; Special Joint Committee on Energy Pricing; Special Joint Committee on Legislative Data Systems; Special Joint Committee on Pensions.  Member, State Roads Commission of MD, 1995-present.  Special Joint Committee on Legislative Data Systems.

Private Career and Other Public Service:
President, New Hampshire Estates Civic Association, 1962.  Democratic Precinct Chair, 1966-78 and 1996-1999.  Founder and member, Friends of RAP (Regional Addiction Prevention), 1971.  Member, Advisory Council on Drug Abuse, 1972-78.  Member, Committee to Repeal Blue Laws, 1976.  Vice-Chair, Task Force to Study Deaths Resulting from Building Fires, 1985-88.  Hornbook Award, Montgomery County Education Association, 1984.  Legislator of the Year Award, Maryland Psychological Association, 1984.  Untiring Effort Award in Promoting Legislation of Cancer Presumption, Maryland State and District of Columbia Professional Fire Fighters, 1987.  Betty Tyler Public Affairs Award, Planned Parenthood of Maryland, 1988, 1992.  Distinguished Service Award, Maryland State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration, 1988.  Ann London Scott Memorial Award, Maryland NOW, 1989.  Outstanding Leadership, Service and Legislative Achievement Award, Maryland Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, 1989.  Award for Promoting Legislation on Behalf of Professional Fire Fighters, Maryland State and District of Columbia Professional Fire Fighters, 1989.  President's Recognition Award, Maryland Society/American Institute of Architects, 1991.  Maryland Senate Legislative Award of the Year, Fraternal Order of Police, 1991.  Child Advocacy Award for Outstanding Service on Behalf of Children, Maryland Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1992.  Outstanding Service Award on Behalf of Maryland Families, The Middle Atlantic Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 1992.  Interdepartmental Committee on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits; State Employees' Health Insurance Advisory Council, 1992-; State Council on Cancer Control, 1993-; Maryland Tourism Development Board, 1993-.  Excellence in Social Work Legislation, Maryland Social Workers Coalition, 1993.  Award for Promoting Legislation on Behalf of Professional Fire Fighters, 1993.  "Senator of the Year," Maryland Association of Psychiatric Support Services, 1993.  Distinguished Service Awards for Dedication to Ending Health Insurance Discrimination for Maryland Citizens with Mental Illness by Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Maryland, and by Mental Health Association of Maryland, 1993.  Certificate of Outstanding Leadership as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, 1994.  Outstanding Legislative Achievement, Montgomery County Medical Society, 1994.  Democratic Precinct Coordinator, 1999-2000.

Personal Comments and Observations:
    "The most controversial issue I was involved with was the abortion issue.  I was one of the Senate floor leaders of the legislation which was the subject of a Senate filibuster during the previous year's session.  After it was enacted by the General Assembly, the legislation was petitioned to referendum.  At the following election, this legislation was upheld by the voters of Maryland by a significant margin.
    "I feel that my most significant contribution was securing the passage of my legislation mandating benefits for treating mental health and drug and alcohol abuse victims.  It was the culmination of 20 years' work by many dedicated people.  This was landmark legislation for the entire country.
    "It is almost impossible to single out one memorable and/or humorous moment, but one of my first was when I was being sworn in as a Maryland Senator.  President Miller gave an extraordinarily beautiful speech about the achievements of many great men and women who had served in the Maryland Senate.  It was an awesome moment which left me overwhelmed, and instilled me with a sense of obligation and a history to which I must live.  Few things in my life have given such a thrill, knowing that I would be a part of it.
    "Another memorable moment was experiencing my first celebration of George Washington's birthday in the legislature.  I have been in the old Senate chamber many times, but as a State Senator sitting in this 200-year-old chamber, on these chairs and at these desks struck many of us newcomers with emotion and tears by the solemnity of the occasion.
    "It is impossible to survive in the General Assembly without the presence of humor--laughter often diffuses the tension.
    "Serving on the Senate Finance Committee with Tom Bromwell and sitting behind him on the Senate floor made me appreciate his humorous contributions.  In the middle of a tense voting session of the Committee, Senator Browell would jump to his feet and sing, in his beautiful baritone voice, 'America, the Beautiful.'  Or in the middle of a rancorous and convoluted debate, he rose and shouted, 'Only in America!'  His theatrics invariably broke the tension.
    "On the Senate floor, it was amusing to watch younger senators, such as Mike Collins, Al Wynn, Bromwell, and others pull off jokes or outrageous pranks on one another to diffuse tense moments.  They were not always dignified, but they were always a joy to serve with and fun to watch."

Compiled March 16, 2000 from the biographical files of the Maryland Manual, ©Maryland State Archives and from materials submitted by Senator Sher dated February 14, 2000.